I stood there in front of Uncle Levi inside the faculty room, my shoe tapping nervously on the floor. He hummed while his eyes scanned my final paper, his red pen twirling in his fingers. I've had papers graded by my teachers in front of my very eyes before but there was this unsettling feeling when your own relative was the one doing it – especially if said relative was the reason you're even going to the school.

"It's good," he said, flipping back to the front page after he have reached the last one, "Not your greatest work but so far, yours is the best in your class."

"You're not saying that because I'm your niece, right?"

He chuckled before shaking his head, "I'm saying it as your professor. I did look around for your grades in your other classes and it's quite impressive, you've inherited your father's diligence."

"I'm telling mom that you said him and not her," I joked and he once again laughed.

I had a few minutes left before my last final exam started and I squeezed a little bit of time to see my uncle and asked him about my final paper. The months flew by and it was solidified when the temperature went from a chilly breeze to a full-on freezing temperature. There was one morning where we all woke up and there was a light dusting of snow covering the ground, everybody rejoicing that winter has finally come.

And you can bet that I booked my flight as soon as I got my exam schedule. Tonight, I'm going to go back to America and enjoy home. Goodbye tall bushy trees and scary old concrete building, hello cramped sidewalks and high-rise buildings.

I'm going to eat an extremely large pizza the moment I get picked up from the airport.

"Don't you have a test you need to be answering?" he quipped back, placing my paper on the stack with the others. I playfully rolled my eyes, getting my bag that I placed on his desk and giving him a mock salute, "See you on Christmas."

This was probably the last time that we were going to see each other in more or less a week. Here in front of me was the man who I always looked at as the fun uncle, the one that lets me stay up all night when left to his care. As I grew up, I started to ask tips from him on how to write. He saw my struggle, I never asked him to do anything nor did my mother, but he offered in his volition.

That playful man turned into my mentor.

From the day I arrived up until now, he has been there to look after me. Giving me the sketchbook, monitoring my work, and even letting me stay in his apartment when I wanted to escape; heck, he was even the one who was paying for my phone bill.

Well, of course that was after he had given a lengthy lecture about overseas calls.

He offered me a fresh start and it was just the first semester to many but it felt like it had such a huge impact on me. Bending forward, I wrapped my arms around him, "Thanks Uncle Levi."

This looked creepy if you think that we were the ordinary student and teacher. I didn't care but he did, so just to make things a little less compromising, he placed a fatherly hand on top of my head, "Anything for my favorite niece."

And it felt like we've come full circle again, "I'm your only niece."

"Exactly," redoing our exact conversation on my first day here, "Are you going by taxi to the airport? I can have Andy drive you there."

"I'll take you up on that offer," I accepted, slowly inching away towards the door, "Plus I have to say goodbye to Aunt Janine and Emma as well. I'll be there at maybe four or five."

Once he said goodbye, I went outside the faculty room and rushed towards the lecture hall wherein I had to take my exam. Let's just say that I've had a total of thirty minutes of sleep last night because I was up all night studying for my two finals – one I took earlier and this.

At some point in the middle of the twelve pages I had to answer, my brain was starting to doze off and the proctor was probably ready to send me to the clinic when he saw me slapping my head and pinching myself in order to wake myself up.

I managed to finish it even though I guessed half of the questions found on the last page. Inside my head, I felt like I was walking away from a bomb scene when I turned over my paper and went out of the doors of the lecture hall. Let's be honest, I probably looked like a zombie because of how exhausted I was.

When I arrived back to the dorm, Julia – who had finished her last exam yesterday – was pouting when I entered the room. My side was clean from any mess, a contrast to how it looked like for the duration of the semester, and my suitcase was waiting for me on the floor near my bed. She kept on insisting that I should wait for a few more days but I told her that I wanted nothing more but to spend precious time home.

She was not happy at all, but she clamped her mouth shut and said she understood my side of the argument. I laughed before I promised that since we will have a longer break after the second semester, I would stay for a few more days after the finals.

"Oh since the stress of uni is done for now," she started as I sat down on my bed, undoing my shoelaces, "What's the progress between you and Adam?"

My head snapped towards her direction and she merely smiled at me sheepishly. I groaned, falling back onto the mattress, my hands covering my face at the reminder of the said boy. Our meetings have been sparse because we were both extremely busy. However, that moment we shared during the last time I visited his apartment was engraved inside my head.

Something had definitely changed between us.

"If I say nothing, will you believe me?" I replied and I sincerely doubt she will. Then again, I also had something against her. If she wants to play the relationship card, then I could as well, "And when will you finally introduce your guy? You've been going on dates with him for months."

Since I managed to turn the tables on her, she pouted and looked the other way, "Fine."

"We still have a few more years to find out," I told her, returning to the topic about Adam, kicking off my shoes from my feet, "We still don't know how far it'll go yet or if it will even end up somewhere."

"But you like him, right?" she fired a question that if I was asked a few months prior, I would have denied completely. It was different now, I've come into terms to what I really feel about him and if the panging jealousy or flustered moments weren't enough, my erratic heartbeat surely was.

I hugged my knees to my chest as I nodded, "Yeah, I do."

"There you go," she grinned, "Just put in a little effort."

That was the idealistic scenario, but let's be realistic right now. Liking somebody is never enough, effort will not always bear fruit, and most of the time, you're just going to sit there with a love that is never reciprocated. It's bitter, it's heart wrenching, it tastes like salty tears, but it's the truth. Life is not like the novels we write with the happily ever after where the high school sweethearts get married years in the future and gets a child that is somehow a perfectly mix of their features.

Usually couples break up before they even reach a year together.

Again, I've had crushes and dates before Justin. The first one ended harsher than his, if that was even possible, because unlike with him, I was never able to enter a relationship with the boy. I cried when he moved away and I've never talked to him since.

My heart is still flooded with memories of the times we spent together but it wasn't treacherously painful, it slapped me more with a sense of nostalgia.

Still, I'll humor her, "You're right."

I looked at my watch and sighed, standing right back up and grabbing a comfier pair of shoes. I was just waiting for Meg to get back so I could properly say goodbye to her and Julia before I go to the apartment building. I told Adam that I would be spending an hour or so with him while I wait until it was time for me to leave.

Taking the shoes I just took off, I kneeled down next to my suitcase and unzipped it so I could place them inside. I stilled when I saw the neatly wrapped box inside along with a paper bag that had a Christmas design printed on it. I saw as Julia hummed, hiding her face behind her laptop and I smiled, looking at the cards of each present – Julia and Meg.

I guess they snuck it in when I was away.

"Don't open it yet," she requested, "I don't like it when people open presents I gave them in front of me."

I placed it back inside along with my shoes before I zipped it up and locked my luggage. Just in time, Meg came knocking at the door, her eyes as tired as mine but she tried portray an enthusiastic disposition, "Finally done."

Standing up, I went over to my bedside drawer to take the two gifts I placed there. Walking up to each girl, I handed them their presents with a smile, "Thank you for the past five months."

"Is this going to be a teary goodbye?" Meg snorted, but took the gift with a smile of her own, "I'm not going to be any part of it because I know for sure that I'm going to see you after break."

"Meg's right," Julia piped in, "I'm not saying goodbye because we'll see each other again next month."

It was different from when I said goodbye to my friends before I went here. They were bawling and we kept on embracing each other, promising that we wouldn't lose contact. They claimed that even though we've already separated before because they had to move for college, it was more devastating because I was moving to a different continent.

"I'll get your souvenirs and such," I laughed as they walked up to me and we did a small group hug, "I'll see you girls next year."

I was forever thankful that these two took me under their wing when I first arrived. Julia was always cheerful yet had a mature side to her when the situation arises. Meg was sarcastic most of the time, but she's always the one ready to let loose and remind us to do the same.

There was still a barrier between us but I was determined to tear it down.

They helped me with my luggage down the stairs and right before I went out of those doors, we shared another embrace. They waved goodbye as I slowly walked out, wheeling my suitcase with me.

I ordered a taxi, just like my first time arrive to that building. Mainly because it was none of my interest to drag this suitcase from the university to there, especially because the only thought occupying my head was a good night's sleep.

I entered the building and said hello to the man at the desk. Uncle had placed me under the lists of residences so I wouldn't need to have somebody else get me from downstairs. Besides, I've been here so many times that I knew this guy already.

Just a door before where the Kingsley's were residing, I knocked on the wood and it swung open. Adam grinned at me, his hand pressing his phone to his ear. He stood back and gestured for me to come in, him still speaking to the other person, "No, Sienna arrived."

I shot a glance before I secured my suitcase against the wall; whoever he was talking to, I was sure that he or she knows me or else Adam wouldn't have mentioned my name. Before I could subtly ask though, he pointed towards the other side of the room, "Help yourself to the snacks in the kitchen."

He sat down on the couch, releasing a long sigh as I went over the cabinets in order to retrieve some food. He continued on with his call while I grabbed the biggest bag of chips and headed to his fridge in order to get us a couple of drinks.

"She's not my girlfriend," he chuckled although it was slightly restrained. I froze for a second to look over my shoulder to see him staring at me. I quickly turned forward again, feeling my cheeks quickly heat up as I tried to balance everything in my arms. My face was tilted downwards so he wouldn't see my blush, placing everything on the coffee table in front of him, "Soph, I really appreciate it but we already talked about this."

A small pang in my chest resonated around my system and I bit my lip because I didn't know how I wanted to react. I shouldn't be jealous, it's a given that they're always going to talk because they're best friends. Besides, I have no right since it wasn't like I was his girlfriend or anything.

But I was not entirely sure what he thought of me as well.

He was silent for a while, probably sensing that there was something wrong with me. I shook my head, still not meeting his eyes, "Sorry, I'll just head on to next door while you finish that call."

Before I could turn around, he reached out forward and wrapped his strong hand around my wrist. It glued me to place. Slowly gazing down to him, my expression softened when I saw him looking at me with all the attention in the world.

Perhaps it was just an illusion because I was quickly reminded of the person he was talking to, "I know, Soph."

Soph, Soph, Soph.

I wonder when you will talk to me with as much affection as you talk to her.

Remembering the emotions he suddenly displayed when I was talking to Justin, I now understand what he felt. No matter how much I knew that it was only platonic, there was a fear that there was something much more.

I was being selfish, I knew that.

Clenching my fist, I didn't know if I should blame it with the constant throbbing of my head because of my exhaustion or because a thousand things were occupying my mind that all logical thoughts turned into a blur.

But I bent down and pressed my lips against his.

I felt his hand on me loosen and his phone drop onto the couch cushion. It didn't even last for more than a couple of seconds because my eyes widened in realization, leaping back with my hands covering my mouth and this gave me a good view of his face. He was as red as a tomato and I was sure that I was as well.

"I'm sorry!" I gasped, hastily turning around and heading for the door, grabbing my suitcase on the way. I quickly rushed to the apartment next to his, banging on the door for somebody to answer. When Andy opened it with a slightly annoyed expression, I almost dived inside, screaming at him to close the door.

"What the hell?!" I yelled, my legs giving out and my body sinking to the floor.

"I should be asking you that question," he said, approaching me and lifting me back up to my feet by pulling my arm.

"Drive me to the airport right now!" I demanded, pulling him with me towards the door. If I wait a minute more, Adam might knock here and everything would be over.

"What's going on?" he asked when I swung the door open, I only managed to take one step outside when I felt Adam grab my hand to stop me from moving. He opened his mouth, though he failed to say anything and the red on my face still hasn't subsided. Andy finally connected the dots by observing my flustered face and his sudden disability to form any coherent sentence.

He rolled his eyes, slapping my hand away to free himself from my grasp, "I don't want to be part of any lover's quarrel you two are having," and with that, he slammed the door to leave the two of us in the hallway.

With my cousin's choice of words, he unknowingly made this situation a lot more awkward than it already was. I tried to shake off his hold but he was determined not to let me go. He started to pull me back towards his apartment and my mouth was threatening to yell.

I didn't.

"Adam?" I questioned and he closed the door behind him, blocking it with his body. He released me and I instantly took a huge step back, hiding my hands behind my back.

"How rude of you, Sienna Clark,"

Remember how I was practically scarlet because of my actions? Well, when he spoke, all color was drained for my face and now I was seriously wondering if this was even alright for my health.

"Arriving only an hour before you have to leave for the airport, kissing me out of nowhere, running away, and now you look like the last place you want to be is here," he listed off and I gulped audibly, my fingers squeezing each other, "Are you going to add any more insult to the injury?"

My mouth just kept on opening and closing like I was some guppy. He was waiting for an explanation and I didn't even know what I wanted to say in the first place. I shouldn't have kissed him, I shouldn't have ran away, I shouldn't have allowed jealousy to get the better part of me.

But most of all, I shouldn't have fallen for him the way I did.

"I'm sorry," I murmured, looking down towards my feet, "Please just forget anything and let's pretend it never happened."

Apparently, that was the wrong option because instead of nodding in understanding like I predicted him to, he strode forward, making me shut my eyes close in nervousness. I felt his figure stop right in front of me and I was actually dreading the worst, "To hell that I'll forget about that."

He pulled me by the arm, clasping a hand on my waist and I felt him capture my lips with his. Like the previous one, my eyes widened in surprise and I was ready to pull away, but his strong grip on me didn't allow it.

His eyes were closed and the hand he used to pull me slowly slid down until he took my own. He interlaced our fingers together and I felt my body relax. Slowly closing my lids, I lost myself in the kiss.

It wasn't picture perfect, it wasn't swoon worthy like in the books, but this is what surprisingly satisfied my thoughts. All those confusion was flushed away by the feel of him and the more our lips moved together, the more I leaned into him.

And now I figured out what was our thing. It was the spontaneous moments in his apartment that were far from the romance books where we're supposed to have our first kiss in the middle of the field with the breeze carrying our emotions around, or where we should be having our last one just minutes before I leave the airport.

The thought that I had to go back to America was what made me pull away. He rested his forehead against mine, releasing my waist in order to cup my cheek tenderly in his palm, "Alright?"

"How rude of you, Adam Nicholas," I whispered breathlessly, "Kissing me like that and knowing well enough that it's going to make it harder for me to leave."

"Maybe that was my intention in the first place," he smiled, that same cheeky grin on the first day we met on the airplane. It lifted the seriousness of the situation, making me laugh and shake off his hold on me. I wrapped my arms around his torso and rested my head on his shoulder, "I'll miss you."

"I'll only be gone for three weeks," I reminded him, nuzzling my face onto his neck. It was crazy to think how fast we were able to remove the gap between us. For months, we've been circling each other with the idea of our feelings hanging around.

It was almost amusing when we had to go our separate ways because we heard Uncle Levi knocking on the door. Our goodbye was as normal as it could be, the heavy tension between us being ignored completely. I smiled at him when I was being pushed by Andy into the elevator and when those metal doors started to close, I tried to imprint his image into my brain.

Three weeks were going to be a lot hellish than I thought it would be.

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I'm dancing right here because my babies kissed and it was freaking adorable. I love how just two chapters ago I was saying they were going to be a slow burn but hey, nothing is official yet.

Next chapter is my absolute favorite and it's not because of Adam and Sienna scenes but because you'll see Sienna back home and in her natural element. This is the Sienna I'm completely in love with. 

I don't have much to say so for now, just leave a vote, comment, and follow. I love you guys so much and I shall see you all next chapter.