Page 159 of How We Began

“You’ll see. Hurry up!”

We ran down the stairs and got to the doors, pushing through. Outside, I realised what he was excited about. It was a perfect summer storm: the rain slashed down in sheets. The temperature was warm and muggy, even the rain was tepid.

Ben tugged me toward the lawns and the pond.

“I was so hoping this would happen before I left,” he shouted through the loud din of the rain hitting the pond.

We were drenched through, my feet sliding in my flip-flops. At our tree, he pushed me against the bark as the rain slid over our faces and his mouth came down on mine.

How many romantic moments we can have? In such a short space of time we’ve had a fair few.

This was a good one.

He lifted me and I wrapped my legs around him, my hands clutching his soaking hair. Completely hidden by the summer leaves, his hand ran under my clingy T-shirt, sliding over my bra, creeping around the back to unclasp the hook.

“Benjamin!” I exclaimed a little hoarsely.

“What?” he asked, smiling against my lips, hands still determined.

“I still have to come to this campus next year. I don’t want to be known as the girl who shagged by the pond.”

He lifted his face away a little. “Okay, Lilah, but I do think we should get you home and out of these soaking clothes before you get sick again.”

Again…

Ben doesn’t know I still spend most of my time feeling so anxious that I gag constantly, a rolling worry of nausea washing over me in waves every time I think of what the next couple of weeks have in store for me.

“I think that’s a very wise idea, Mr Chambers,” I replied, kissing him some more. I loved the rain on his face. I kissed it off his lips as it slid down his face. “I don’t think I can walk in these dangerous flip-flops, though. You’ll have to carry me.”

He laughed as he carried me all the way across a very wet campus, me with my legs clamped around his waist.

16th June

More study. I’m determined to pass the exam on Monday. Meredith is also cramming. We’ve given up talking in person. We know we’ll get distracted and it’ll be another wasted afternoon like the Grease one.

We text instead, and occasionally bump into each other in the kitchen. Even Tristan has been told to stay away, which I think is hilarious. Tristan, not so much.

Ben and I are still studying together all the time, but it’s getting quieter and quieter between us. Not in a bad way, but what do you talk about with someone when you know they are going to be gone in a few days? It's not like you can say, “Darling, can you remember to get some bacon the next time you go shopping?” or “Shall we go to the pub Saturday afternoon and read the papers?” There’s a certain limit on safe conversation right now, so we just communicate without words instead.

17th June

That exam went much better. That is how they are supposed to be. A fifty-fifty toss-up between what you actually know and what you can bluff.

I reckon that was a success. I rewarded Ben for his hard work and determination to make me study with a huge snog as we walked away from the exam desks.

Judging from the look we got from the adjudicator, that’s not the way you’re supposed to leave the examination hall.

18th June

I think it is time to have my diary review and look back on all the things I have achieved since starting at Uni.

I, Lilah McCannon, came to university to escape a boring life that I hated.

I fell in love with the boy next door.

I had an on-the-side relationship with the boy next door.

I ended an on-the-side relationship with the boy next door.