Vino started the engine of his car as I strapped on my seatbelt. I hugged my backpack closer to me as I tried to hide my body. I was still wearing my blue camisole and shorts from last night. I could forget to bring extra clothes some other time but no, I had to forget it when I slept at Vino's.

I still blame Lily for telling me about the after-party on such short notice. The only thing I thought I needed was some sleepwear because, obviously, I wouldn't sleep in my gown.

Vino had offered to lend me Caela's clothes but I declined. I couldn't just wear her clothes without her knowing.

We remained silent within the first few minutes, although I caught Vino giving me side glances.

The previous night definitely brought back so many memories from our high school days. And our dance—it felt like a dream. It felt wrong but there were many instances that Vino's presence made me feel nervous and excited at the same time.

"There's a paper bag at the back," he mumbled, prompting me to glance at the backseat. "It's for you."

"For me?"

He nodded. "Go get it."

I smiled and reached for the paper bag. I pulled the tape that was sealing the bag and peeked inside the box. There were a few keychains, a ref magnet, a t-shirt, and boxes of my favorite chocolate.

"Caela insisted that I should give some other chocolates but I told her that's what you love."

I felt a blush creeping up my cheeks and I had to bite the insides of my cheeks to suppress a smile.

"You bought this for me? Thanks."

"Yeah, I figured that's what you'll like. Well, if you still like that."

I beamed and assured him, "I still like it.".

"Thank God," he mumbled and let out an exaggerated sigh of relief.

I took out a box and began opening it. I pulled out the foiled chocolate and unwrapped it. I extended my hand and asked Vino if he wanted some, but he shook his head. I broke one triangle and popped it into my mouth.

"What?" I asked Vino who was grinning.

"I just remembered something."

I narrowed my eyes at him as I put the box of chocolate inside the bag.

"What is it?" I asked in between chewing the chocolate.

"It's nothing..."

My eyes widened as a vivid memory popped into my mind. It had happened sometime in sophomore year.

"I also remember something," I said instead.

"What?"

"Someone also gave me a Toblerone on my birthday eight years ago."

Vino's grin widened, but he kept his eyes on the road.

"Really? He must be a great guy."

"Well, he didn't hand it to me personally. He simply slipped it into my bag."

"And wrote a happy birthday note?" he asked.

I chuckled. "But I knew his penmanship too well so I also knew it was him."

"Yeah, that wasn't so smart of me." He laughed.

I leaned back on my seat and glanced out the window to hide the grin on my face from Vino. I bit my lower lip as I looked back at him.

"Thanks for these," I whispered, gesturing at the paper bag on my lap.

"No problem."

Vino hit the brake as we approached the intersection. The inside of the car was almost silent except for the faint tune playing on the radio.

"By the way, sorry for sleeping in your room."

"Hey, no worries," he answered, finally glancing at me. "But I still don't understand how you ended up in my room. Brian wanted to tease you so badly but I told him not to."

"He still did."

"But he toned it down a little. I swear. Plus, Jeff couldn't help laughing," he replied. "How did you end up in my room?"

I gripped my backpack and breathed in before responding. "You told me to open the third door."

My tone sounded more accusatory than I intended to.

The car moved forward as Vino shifted gears and we turned right.

"What?" he asked, and his voice was a little higher. "I didn't tell you that."

"You did. When I was about to sleep."

He scratched the side of his neck and furrowed his eyebrows, but he still kept his eyes on the road.

"I didn't. I told you, the third room."

"Really?" I asked, tilting my head towards him. "I heard you said, 'door'."

"Why would I say, 'door'? Why would a person say you should sleep on the third door?"

"I don't know. Why would you?"

He chuckled, taking a glance at me. "You misheard me. Were you drunk already? You barely finished your second mug."

I leaned back, surprised that he had counted how many mugs I had last night.

"I was tired," I replied in a soft voice.

"Understood." He nodded. Then he grinned and said, "Don't worry, no one else will know you decided to sleep in my room."

I slapped him in the arm. "Hey."

He laughed. "Don't hit me. I'm driving."

I chuckled. "Sorry. But you said, 'door'."

"I'm pretty sure I didn't. Do you want to ask the gang?"

"Oh, please don't," I groaned. "But hey, your room looks nice."

He shook his head, but a tiny smile played on his lips. "Thanks, I guess."

"And you really framed a front page of the gazette."

"Told you," he was quick to reply. "That was a memorable victory. Plus, I love that shot and you wrote that article."

I was stunned and I felt my heart did a somersault. How could I possibly respond to that? He framed the article because I wrote it? Or was it just a coincidence that I wrote and he really wanted to frame it? Would he frame it if I weren't the one who wrote it?

Damn you, Vino Williams. Why do you have to say such things?

I couldn't come up with a good response, so I just nodded at him.

During the rest of the drive home, we talked mostly about the reunion. He had asked a few questions about the planning which we hadn't talked about during the party. He also pointed out the things he liked the most including the food—even if he had already told me about it the night before. Then he told me that he would be going out for lunch with his college friends after driving me home.

"That's nice. You still have time for them," I commented.

"Yeah. They were my block mates since our first year."

After about a twenty-minute drive, we arrived at our house. Vino parked on our driveway, and I waited for him to turn off the car's engine before reaching for my gown in the backseat.

Vino stopped me, his face was inches away from mine, and I could smell a faint minty scent. He whispered, "I got it."

I nodded and hopped out of the passenger seat just in time as Mommy and Alex walked out of the front door.

"Vino," Alex screamed in excitement. "Oh my God, I haven't seen you in a long time. How are you?"

If Alex wasn't my sister, I would think that the two of them were very close friends.

"Why are you dressed up like that?" she asked in horror as she watched me walk towards the house.

"Funny story. I forgot to bring extra clothes," I answered like it wasn't a big deal. "And I didn't want to wear my gown on the way home."

I glanced back at Vino who was carrying my black dress, careful enough not to let it touch the ground.

Vino entered the house and Mommy started preparing snacks for him as Alex and Hadley asked him questions after questions.

I stood on the corner near the TV like a lamp post.

Alex glanced at me and creased her eyebrows. "What are you doing standing there? Go change. We'll keep him entertained."

I knew by entertained, she meant bombarded with questions.

I walked away from them with the paper bag and dress in tow, but I took a last glance at Vino. He was already looking at me, and I mouthed sorry. He smiled at me and nodded like it was no big deal for him even if my sisters were already interrogating him.

The minutes went by quickly, and my sisters had been talking to Vino for the last thirty minutes. They were delighted to see Vino and so was Mommy.

I glanced at the wall clock, and it was already a quarter after ten.

"Aren't you supposed to go out for lunch with your college friends?" I asked Vino, interrupting Hadley's next question.

Vino was too courteous to excuse himself from the conversations, so I thought I would do him a favor.

"It's alright. It's still early anyway."

"Oh, sorry," Alex started. "We didn't know you have plans for today."

"A few more minutes won't hurt," he replied.

After ten minutes, he expressed his thanks for the food and bid goodbye.

"I'll see you around." He gave my sisters a shy smile before turning to look at me. In a soft whisper, he said, "I'll see you tonight?"

I nodded. "Yeah. I'll see you tonight."

My sisters and I watched as he back out of our driveway. He gave us one final wave before finally driving down the street.

"I hope I can find someone like him. I'd love my boyfriend to be like him," Hadley expressed in a dreamy voice.

"Who said we'll allow you to date already?" Alex asked.

"You won't be entering a relationship as long as I'm single," I added jokingly.

"Does that mean I won't ever be dating anyone?" Hadley asked, my joke backfiring at me.

I ignored Hadley's comeback because her first remark tugged my heart. It was saddening to think that I wish Vino was my boyfriend.

Grace was one lucky girl.