Page 101 of Spring Awakening

“It’s me,” she whispers, looking between him and his phone. “I was sure it was going to be Buff.” He clicks his phone open so she can see his home screen. It’s her, but Buffy is there too.

“God,” she groans. “I don’t know if I can say I love you anymore, but I have a very deep affection for you.”

“So your mum says,” he replies, and she rests her forehead against his shoulder. She kisses him there, as he thought she would.

“Shh! Okay, so I spoke to Frankie, and I can group all my holidays right. So, if I use one week every other month, and you use your holidays in groups, we can see each other at least once a month! I’ve worked it out so we’re here for my birthday, and then we can spend Christmas in Scotland, because I’m pretty sure the Dougals have a Boxing Day game every year. And Franksaid on weeks I don’t have meetings I can work from home, which means I can work from Scotland, so some of those times can be like two weeks long. I’ll barely even miss you.”

“But this is the first Christmas in your home,” he whispers.

“Not to sound like a cheesy wooden plaque from TK Maxx, but you are my home. I love my house, but I want to spend Christmas with you. We could be at the side of the road in your car. I don’t care. Dad will, though, so we should be at your place.”

“You’re the greatest part of my life,” he says. “What other spreadsheets do you have?”

Mali smiles. “So many! I have a Buffy one. I think he’d like a front-seat carrier, because he likes to look out of the window on drives. Isn’t that right, Buff?” Buffy rubs his face against Mali’s stomach, so she must be right.

“Uhm, a money one. So, okay, with the Goliath sponsorship I’m assuming we’ll get but not on time, because I’m waiting for the post,” she says, her hands flying around the air, “but there’s another version for if we don’t get it, and what I make from work and renting out the outbuilding, and what you could save from your wages—you could be bought out in like a year and a half. Two years, max,” she says, showing him the calculations she’s done. “Then, Scotland might be great and you wanna stay there anyway. But then we can save for a new house or something, but at least you’ll be out. It’ll be your choice.”

Zach blinks, half the information going straight over his head because all he can think about is Mali wants to keep him. She wants to spend her own money (which he’ll never take) to get him back to her. Fuck, she truly might love him back. She’s showing it with more than words. He wants to show her too.

“You’re making sure we see each other,” he whispers, and she frowns at him.

“Yeah. I love you, and I’m sure I’ll love you forever, but I want to make sure we do. Or that we have the chance to.”

“Do you wanna go on a real date with me?”

“Yes,” she replies instantly.

Zach blinks. “Wait, what?”

Mali laughs. “Why are you shocked?”

“I—”

“Zach,” she whispers. “I want to move your mum in. I wake up early to walk to work with you. I have a thousand-row-long spreadsheet so I can figure out every possible way of seeing you for the next two years, and you didn’t think I’d wanna go on a date?”

“Well, to be fair, I didn’t know you had the spreadsheet.”

She laughs. “You really didn’t know?”

He rubs his hand against her leg. “I hoped, but I couldn’t really think beyond that.”

“I’ve wanted to date you for the longest time.”

“Can I tell you something?” he asks.

“Always.”

“I don’t want to leave you,” he whispers. “And I’m not as good as you at spreadsheets, but I promise I’ll send you the voice notes. And here…” He pulls up his note app, which is just a long list of words right now. They only make sense to him, but he scrolls to the top, and in bold it reads “Reasons to get Mali to visit Scotland.”

She looks up at him with tears in her eyes. “You wanted me to come?”

“I didn’t know how to ask you to be long distance with me, because I know you hate it, but I thought if there were other reasons for you to visit, I could trick you into spending three years with me.”

Mali smiles. “I don’t care where you are. I’m going to love you anyway.”

“Yeah?”

Mali nods. She leans up, her nose brushing his, and before the kiss, he says one more thing.

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