Chapter &
Chapter 6
After landing. I got over a dozen messages from Daxon.
[Where did you go? Why didn’t you tell me?]
[Skylar, I’m really disappointed this time. Such a huge decision and you didn’t even talk to me about it?]
(Sorry, I was just so pissed earlier. Please call me when you see this, okay? Let’s talk this through.]
I glanced at them, removed him from my priority notifications, and switched to a new phone number.
The group discussion interview was about to start. These random distractions weren’t on my agenda.
But the second I logged on, I saw a familiar name.
1 was thinking about the odds of it being someone with the same name when he turned on his camera.
Kieran smiled briefly, showing his bright teeth. The smile was so quick I almost wondered if he was smiling at me.
But how could I run into him here?
No time to think about it-the group discussion started.
Going for the early bird advantage, I volunteered to speak first and laid out my argument.
Right after I finished, I heard Kieran say calmly, “I totally agree with what the previous student said. I’d also like to add…”
I was kinda stunned and had to pinch myself hard to snap out of it.
Kieran’s logic was crystal clear, and several of his follow-up comments really elevated my points.
The second the interview ended, he called me.
Turns out he was in Palo Alto too. We chatted about how the interview went and made plans to hit up California’s Great America Park the next day.
When I saw him in person, I was still kinda dazed.
Wild that we’d be this lucky-applying to the same school and ending up in the same video interview.
We chatted while waiting in lines and realized we liked the same band, same author, even the same cafeteria window back in high school.
It wasn’t until we got on the roller coaster that it all hit me.
“Scared?”
He reached out his hand, but I was too shy to take it.
The coaster started going backward and picking up speed. I couldn’t help screaming.
That’s when a warm hand firmly grabbed mine.
For a second I couldn’t tell if my heart was racing from the ride or from him.
Getting off the coaster, tears just started streaming down my face uncontrollably.
I turned away, not wanting him to see me looking like a mess.
But he pulled me into his arms, gently patting my back. “Deep breaths. Let your heart slow down.”
1 struggled a little, and he let go, disappointment written all over his face.
I said quietly. “You were holding me too tight. I couldn’t breathe.”
He looked down and smiled shyly. “How about I hold you looser?”
Chapter 6
I nodded and moved into his outstretched arms. The gende embrace made me feel so secure.
After the roller coaster, Kieran kept holding my hand and wouldn’t let go.
We waited in line for ride after ride, just like all the other couples in the park.
When the Ferris wheel reached the very top, Kieran suddenly whispered in my ear:
“We’re boyfriend and girlfriend now, right?”
My face suddenly burned hot, and I was too shy to know how to answer his question.
He thought I was gonna bail on him, so he leaned in closer, his breath falling right by my ear.
“Skylar, you’re not gonna go back and get back together with that asshole, are you?”
“Of course not!” My immediate answer made him chuckle.
He pulled my hand up and placed it on his heart. “I’m flying back tomorrow. I really can’t leave without an answer.”
‘So when are you coming back… My boyfriend?”
The sunset hit his profile, and his eyes were sparkling with light. Burning tears dropped onto my hand.
