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In the coming weeks, Laila and Theo were walking on eggshells waiting to hear back from their respective colleges. Laila’s heart was set on Howard. She’d spent hours researching their history and their majors. Her mother insisted she keeps an open mind about Penn State because she wanted her closer to home, but they both knew she needed to do what’s best for her. Laila could sense that Theo was being secretive, there was something about the way he wouldn’t tell her about his day that she first caught onto it. She told herself not to worry about it, and chalked it up to senioritis.
“I like having you here,” Theo said as he flipped a pancake on the stove.
“Yeah, sometimes I miss you when we don’t wake up together,” Laila said as she highlighted dates in her academic planner.
Theo nuzzled her neck before planting kisses on it. “Maybe we can fix that.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, we could move together for the last few months of school,” Theo suggested. “If you’d like to, of course.”
She put down her planner and turned to face him. “Are you sure about this? That’s a big commitment.”
“Yes I’m sure,” he affirmed with a smile and handed her a plate of fresh pancakes. “This relationship is a commitment.”
Laila poured a generous amount of maple syrup on her pancakes before cutting into them. “Yeah, I’d love to move with you but don’t think that’ll be a little tricky seeing as how we only have a few months of school left? Plus my dorm is already covered.”
“I’ve moved in and out of these dorms my whole time here,” Theo chuckled as he plates pancakes for himself. “The bursars will refund your money. Besides, it’ll give us both a taste of what it’s like to live together when we go to grad school.”
Laila furrowed her brows. “What if we don’t get into the same school? What if you realize you don’t like the schools you picked?”
“We’ll figure it out, okay?” Theo took a sip of orange juice.”I don’t want you to stress out more than you already are.”
She stood and sat on his lap, leaning down to kiss him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m just thinking practical, but I wouldn’t mind coming over here more often, maybe after classes and work to get a feel of what it’s like to live with you. It’s different from me spending a few nights a week here.”
“I think it would work out, under one condition,” Theo said with a smirk.
“Hmm?”
“Promise you won’t bring any Johannas Brothers posters?” Theo chuckled as he squeezes her.
Laila burst out laughing and sat on her own. “I can’t make any promises.”
***
The next day, Laila’s heart dropped when she received a rejection letter from Penn State. Out of the ümraniye escort two schools she applied to, Penn State was her safety school, and the realization that she was rejected hit her hard as if it were her last chance. She promised herself she wouldn’t let it get her down but deep down, she was terrified. She supported Theo when he was accepted to Georgetown, but they both knew he’d get in. She was more proud of him than he was. It was the first time he felt as if he was truly accepted into a university, without the help of his family’s reputation and he was proud of that.
The pair were out for dinner on campus when Laila checked the email on her phone and she nearly choked on her food.
“Oh my god,” Laila’s eyes grew wide as she read the email. “Oh my god. I-I got into Howard University.”
Theo wrapped his arms around her from behind and congratulated her. “That’s an amazing baby, I knew you could do it.”
Tears ran down Laila’s cheeks and she felt an enormous weight being lifted off her shoulders. There was hope.
***
The next week, Laila and Theo moved all of her belongings into Theo’s apartment. It was a cold morning and Laila bundled up in her thick winter jacket and she put her last suitcase in the back of Theo’s car.
When they reached Theo’s apartment, Laila was happy knowing this would be her new home for the new couple of months. It was no longer just Theo’s apartment, it was theirs and that made her happy.
“I cleared off a shelf for you in the medicine cabinet in the bathroom,” Theo said as he rested her shower caddy on the floor.
Laila smiled and began unloading her suitcase. “Thank you, I hope it can fit all my hair products.”
“Do you need help unpacking?”
“Sure, you can unpack that bag,” Laila nodded towards her second suitcase.
When Theo opened it, he saw the collection of all of her intimates, including a lingerie set she wore when they visited the Caribbean. “I’d kill to see you in this one again,” he said as he held up the garment.
Laila giggled and continued hanging her clothes in the closet. “Maybe if you’re good.”
They continued unpacking and putting things in Theo’s free dresser drawers. It felt like life was finally falling into place for her. The next week, Theo prepared dinner consisting of chicken parm and a side salad. Laila tried to overlook the messy apartment, but the food was a dealbreaker in terms of sweeping it under the rug.
“Everything okay?” Theo asked before he took a sip of water.
She moved around the food on her plate. “The pasta is a little dry and I think it needs more herbs and spices. Did you flavor the batter for the chicken?”
Theo dropped pendik escort his fork on his pate and rolled his eyes. “I’m trying my best here, I just wanted to have a nice dinner with you.”
“It’s fine, really,” Laila reassured him. “I know cooking isn’t your biggest strength but it’s not bad. I know you’re used to cooking for one.”
“Things aren’t always going to be perfect, Laila,” Theo said. “I love and care about you so much and I don’t want us moving in together to throw a wrench in our relationship. It’ll just take some adjusting.”
Laila nodded and met his blue eyes. “You’re right. I’ve never experienced this before. I’m just used to living with my parents.”
“And I’m used to having maids.” Theo shrugged. “But I don’t mind cleaning, I always get around to it.”
“Then let’s set a schedule,” she said flatly. “How about we choose Sundays to clean the apartment and throughout the week, just try to pick up after yourself.”
“Deal.”
For the next few weeks, things got easier. Theo was the king of making breakfast, but luckily, his cooking skills improved and he actually began to enjoy it. They slipped into a routine of chores around the house and making sure things were neat and tidy. After a while, it stopped looking like a guy’s college apartment and more of a home.
It came to a halt when Laila received a call from her mother. Her Uncle Reggie passed away from a heart attack the next week. She loved her uncle but she didn’t know him that well. Laila and Theo made the long trip down to Philadelphia to attend the funeral and it was nice to her cousin, Nia again for the first time in years. After the funeral, at the repass, Laila’s mother and she spoke privately about the possibility of her cousins, Nasir and Sabrina moving in. Laila agreed, and that same day, Laila packed up the few belongings she still had left in the room, including the Johannes Brothers posters. It was the least she could do for her cousins.
Things felt back to normal when they returned home for classes. Laila was away at her Black Women’s Alliance meeting for the next hour, which gave Theo the perfect opportunity to sneak off to Newport in search of the ultimate promise. He knew he was ready to marry Laila.
He found himself in Heim Jewelers, an upscale jewelry school in the heart of town. He didn’t know much about engagement rings, but he knew he wanted to put one on Laila’s finger.
He browsed the jewelry counter until his eyes fell upon it– a classic solitaire ring. It was beautiful and simple and he was sure she’d like it, but she never struck him as ordinary.
“Is there something I can help you with, sir?” the older, greying woman behind the bostancı escort counter asked.
“Yes, I’m looking for an engagement ring,” Theo said confidently.
“Do you know what style she likes?”
“Um, we haven’t talked about it but I think she’d like something classic, nothing too flashy but nothing too plain either.”
“Do you have a photo of her?” the woman asked. “Sometimes can narrow down gem color once we know her eye color.”
Theo pulled out his phone and showed her a smiling photo of Laila.
“What a beautiful young woman.” she smiled. “A white gold band would look gorgeous on her skin tone.”
Theo’s eyes fell upon an oval-shaped diamond ring with several small diamonds wrapped around the band. It was beautiful and it was just enough.
“Wonderful choice, Mr. Alfond.” the jewelry counter woman said. “This one is quite popular with young couples these days. This one is definitely a best seller.”
Theo furrowed his brows and shook his head. “I’m not sure I want it, then. I don’t want my girlfriend wearing something everyone else has.”
The woman shook her head and looked through the glass counter at the rings. She pulled out a solitaire on a rose gold band. “Do you think she’d be interested in this?”
Theo held the ring in his hand and examined it. It sparkled underneath the light beautifully, but he didn’t like the color. “I think it would disappear on her hand, it’s too close to her skin tone.”
The woman assisted Theo around the room for as much as they could stand before Theo exhausted his options. There was nothing there that seemed like Laila’s taste.
“Have you given any thought into designing her ring instead?” the woman finally asked.
For the next few hours, Theo and the jeweler sat down and wrote down his wants and needs of the ring, including setting and stone. He put down a five hundred dollar deposit to begin the designing process.
Laila came back from her meeting happy and feeling empowered. The e-board was so welcoming and during the meeting, they all spoke about a range of issues including colorism and how black women are portrayed in the media. They kept it lighthearted too when they put on music and talked about post-grad plans. Everyone was excited to hear that Laila got into Howard.
“You’re gonna be a Howard woman,” Aaliah said as the pair met up for hot cocoa. “That’s a big deal.”
Laila pulled the hot beverage closer to her lips and took a sip. “I know, I feel like I need to pinch herself. Did you get in anywhere?”
Aaliyah took the top of her cup and blew on it. “Yeah, I got into UCLA for Bioengineering.”
“Wow, that’s amazing,” Laila said as her eyes grew wide. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks, girl,” Aaliyah said. “There’s nowhere to go but up.”
*Sorry if this chapter is a little short and uneventful! I hope you enjoyed it! Next chapter will be the final chapter!*
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