Fate's Playbook

Chapter 35 - Friends Till The End

"Friends are the family we choose for ourselves." - Edna Buchanan

Nora was practically bouncing with excitement as she walked into her dorm, eager to tell her best friend Lily all about her amazing one-month anniversary date with Luca.

"Lily! You won't believe how amazing today was!" Nora exclaimed as she practically skipped into the living room where Lily was sitting.

Lily looked up and smiled at Nora's enthusiasm. "Tell me everything!" she said, patting the couch next to her.

Nora plopped down next to her and started gushing about her day. "Luca picked me up at 9 am and we went to the zoo first. You know how much I love animals, so it was perfect. Then we had lunch at this cute little restaurant near the zoo and he was so romantic. After that, we went to the carnival and played all these games, and Luca won me this huge teddy bear." Nora showed Lily the teddy bear, grinning from ear to ear.

"And then the last surprise... he blindfolded me and led me to his car. We drove for about 20 minutes before we stopped and he took me to this deck by the lake. It was like he recreated one of my favorite picnic scenes from 'To Catch a Thief.' There were roses and pillows and candles, and we watched the sunset together." Nora's voice grew soft as she talked about the final surprise.

Lily could see the emotion in Nora's eyes and knew there was more to the story. "That sounds amazing, Nora. What else happened?" she asked gently.

Nora took a deep breath, her heart pounding. "Lily, I realized something today. I think I'm falling in love with Luca. I didn't want the day to end because I didn't want to stop being with him."

Lily's eyes widened in surprise. "Wow, Nora. That's big. How do you feel about it?"

Nora shrugged, a mix of emotions on her face. "I'm scared, to be honest. I've never felt this way before. What if he doesn't feel the same way? What if it's too soon to be feeling this way?"

Lily put her arm around Nora and hugged her tight. "Nora, you have to trust your feelings. And you have to talk to Luca about it. You guys have something special and you deserve to know where you stand."

Nora leaned her head on Lily's shoulder and sighed. "You're right. I just don't want to mess things up."

"You won't mess things up, Nora. Just be honest with him, like you're being with me," Lily said, giving her a reassuring squeeze.

Nora nodded, feeling grateful for Lily's support. "Thanks, Lily. You always know what to say."

"Of course, Nora. That's what best friends are for," Lily said with a smile.

Nora hugged her again, feeling lucky to have Lily in her life.

Nora and Lily were snuggled up on the couch, a bowl of popcorn between them as they browsed through Netflix. Nora turned to Lily and said, "Hey, I wanted to ask you about your relationship with William. How's it going?"

Lily's face lit up with a smile. "Oh, it's going so well, Nora! William is amazing. He's so sweet and caring, and he always knows how to make me laugh."

Nora couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. She wished she could gush about Luca in the same way. "Tell me more about your dates with him," she urged.

Lily happily obliged, recounting every detail of their dates, from the romantic dinners to the fun activities they did together. Nora listened intently, her mind wandering back to her own date with Luca earlier that day.

As the night wore on, the two friends chatted about everything and anything, from their favorite TV shows to their hopes and dreams for the future. They laughed and joked, and before they knew it, it was well past midnight.

With a yawn, Lily stretched and said, "I think it's time for bed. Thanks for hanging out with me tonight, Nora. You're the best."

Nora smiled back at her friend. "No problem, Lily. It's always fun hanging out with you." As she climbed into bed, she couldn't help but think about Luca and the wonderful day they had together. 

The next morning...

The smell of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon filled the air as the group of friends sat down for breakfast at Jasmine's.

As they settled into their seats, Nora couldn't help but feel grateful for the people around her. She looked around the table, smiling at each of her friends in turn. They had been through so much together, and she knew that she could always count on them for support.

"Good morning, everyone," William said, breaking the silence. "How did you all sleep?"

The group responded with various answers, and the conversation quickly turned to school. With exams coming up, they were all feeling the pressure.

"I'm so nervous about this psychology exam," Elle said, fidgeting with her coffee mug. "I feel like I've been studying non-stop, but I still don't feel prepared."

"I know the feeling," Lily agreed. "But we just have to keep pushing ourselves. We've got this."

Nora nodded in agreement, taking a sip of her coffee. "Yeah, we've all worked so hard to get here. We can't let a few tests get in the way of our goals."

Luca reached over and took her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "You're right. We just have to stay focused and keep pushing forward."

As they continued to chat, Nora couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with emotion. Looking around the table, she realized how much these people meant to her. They had been there for her through thick and thin, and she knew that she would do anything for them.

"Hey, have any of you guys been to that new study spot on campus?" William asked, changing the subject. "I heard it's really nice."

The group eagerly started discussing the new spot, and Nora felt a sense of warmth wash over her. These were the moments that made college so special. The late-night study sessions, the early morning breakfasts, and the endless support from her friends.

As they finished their meals and said their goodbyes, Nora couldn't help but feel grateful for the people around her. She knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would always be there to support each other. And with that thought, she left Jasmine's, ready to tackle whatever came her way.