It should be easier as I get older, but it seems to be doing the exact opposite. When graduation hit, I was so excited for my summer with my friends but as each day passed, it meant I was one day closer to being further away from them. A few days after graduation, Isaac flew back to Rhode Island to start a summer internship and that was only the start. Eventually, Greyson had to get back to Los Angeles and before I knew it, it was my turn.

You'd think I'd be used to distance by now. I'm no stranger to being away from the people I love, the people that have made my life worth wild and been there for me. My dad first left for tour when I was two years old, and was gone for nearly six months only seeing him when there was a bit of a break between shows. And that wasn't always the case. I grew up used to having a father for half a year, but I knew he'd always come back. No matter where in the world he was, we always had the same night sky to look at and that gave me some peace of mind.

And at the very least, I had my brothers around but then freshmen year of high school hit and Greyson moved onto UCLA. It was easier knowing he was only two hours away whenever I wanted to see him and most weekends he'd drive up to spend at home. I thought having him away was hard, but it didn't nearly match up to senior year of high school. Not only was Greyson gone, but so were the twins and Felix. Today it's me that's moved away, and it doesn't feel any easier. Not with most of my family scattered around California and Isaac over three thousand miles away.

It's a weird adjustment. One I thought I was ready for but the longer I sit in this apartment, the more I worry that I may not be. That it won't get easier, even with the longer I spend away from them.

"Alright, I think that'll work," I hum at my handy work, staring at the new dishes I organized in our small amount of cabinet space. They're neatly stacked with each other and placed based on size to ensure everything fit. Despite the lack of cabinets, the place is way more spacious than either of us were expecting but the fact that I have my own place is the best feeling. For so long, I've been dependent on everything and everyone around me. Now, my only choice is to trust myself and Felix.

We spent the summer in Malibu figuring out where we wanted to live before find the perfect apartment online. When we came to see it in person, we instantly knew it was the one for us. Just enough room for two without feeling like we're going to suffocate each other. The living room is the first room the door opens to, supporting a bigger table while the kitchen holds a breakfast nook and our in-house washer and dryer. The bathroom just outside the door to our bedroom. And the best part is the walk-in closet big enough for both of us.

I reach for the empty box sitting on the floor next to my feet when my phone starts ringing on the counter. My lips curl up when I see Riker's name on the screen along with a goofy picture of him sticking his tongue out at the camera.

"Hey Riker," I cheerful answer the phone, squeezing it between my ear and shoulder as I collapse the cardboard box against my chest and carry it out into the living room to put with the rest of them. "What's up?"

"Just wanted to check in with you," he answers as I settle against the emerald green velvet couch. "See how the moving in is coming along."

"It's great! I just finished unpacking the kitchen and we set up the living room before Felix left for training camp this morning," I explain, leaning back into the cushions letting my blonde hair rest behind the couch from the high ponytails it's in.

"They already have him back training?" Riker questions.

I bob my head, "Yeah, the new seasons starts up right when he gets back. He's pretty excited about it since his rookie season went so well."

"That's good," he exhales. "Are you nearly done with unpacking?"

"Almost. I got through a lot today," I fill him in. "Only have a few boxes left but we're really just waiting on the bed frame we ordered to get in. It was supposed to arrive the day we moved in but got delayed for whatever reason."

"Did you-?"

"Yes, I called," I laugh. "There's not much we can do about it. I can complain all I want, but it won't get here any faster than it's already coming. Thank you though."

"Yeah, yeah," he groans. "I get it. My baby sister is all grown up now. Doesn't need her big brother to come in and fight all her battles, or even help. I still can't believe you didn't want me to come help you move in."

"Rik, I am always going to need my big brothers," I smile softly. "But you were busy getting settled back in for your second year and I didn't want you giving that up to help me. Besides, I wanted to handle this with Felix."

"I get it," he sighs. "You're doing okay though? Excited about starting your classes?"

I hum my answer, "I'm a little nervous but, I know it's just jitters. It'll be fine after I get there."

"Of course, it will be," he promises. "I was nervous my first day too."

"Really? Mr. Pro School was nervous his first day?" I tease. "Are you nervous this time around?"

"No, I'm just excited now."

"Good," I smile to myself. "I should probably get back to unpacking, but I'll see you in a few days?"

"Absolutely," he agrees. "Love you, Vee."

"Love you too," I say before ending the call. A yawn leaves my lips after resting my phone on the couch cushions, raising my arms above my head to stretch out my back and arms. It's nearly seven and with only a few boxes left to unpack, I know that I can get it finished tonight but I can't bring myself to get off the couch and just when I think I'm ready to finally get up, keys jiggled in the lock.

"Hey baby," Felix comes in with his duffle bag strapped to his shoulder. His hair slightly longer, the sweat from practice bringing the curl out in his hair and a grin curls up on my lips as I lean my head back to look at the door.

"Hi," I hum as he walks over, leaning over the back of the couch to kiss me. "How was practice?"

"A lot of work," he laughs as he walks around the couch and settles down next to me, resting his arm on the back of the couch, allowing me to scoot over and curl up against him. "How was your day?"

"Good," I smile softly. "I unpacked everything almost. Just a few more boxes that I can probably get done tonight and then we are officially moved in."

"It looks good," he takes in the room. "I'm sorry I wasn't around to help you."

"It's okay," I hum as I snuggle closer to him, resting my head gently on his shoulder. "I need your help hanging everything up on the wall though."

He nods, "Tomorrow, alright? I'm thinking we order in and watch movies for the rest of the night after I shower."

"Good, you need a shower. You're all sweaty," I scoot back, a teasing grin on my face.

"Oh, yeah?" He asks with a playful grin, leaning over to rub his hair on me and a laugh falls from lips as I land on my back on the couch. It feels good to be this free with him after our year apart, and I can't imagine being anywhere else. Not ever.

"Felix!" I squeal, squirming when he starts tickling me. "Stop!"

"Okay, I'm going," he laughs and gets up, but not before kissing my cheek.

The corners of my mouth curl up as he walks down the kitchen towards the bathroom, I sit up and grab my phone off the couch cushions. Deciding to search for the nearest pizza parlor, hoping it'll arrive before Felix is finished in the shower. Being away from him for a year taught us both a lot about ourselves. It took a while to adjust at first, and we didn't see each other nearly as much as we wanted to but we survived.

There were days I thought we might not. That we may fall apart, but we figured it out. We made it work for us, and I'm glad we found the strength because I wouldn't trade this for anything in the world. He's become a permanent piece of my heart, and if I've learned anything from my parents, it's that sometimes we can be stubborn but doesn't mean time won't heal our wounds.

Which, granted isn't always the case for everyone but it is for us. I know it in my heart that no matter what happens or what the future throws at us, it's that we will come through it together. We're meant for each other.

"That was fast," Felix says twenty minutes later when he walks out from the bathroom, ringing out his hair with the towel wearing nothing but a pair of basketball shorts. He turns back for a second to toss his damp towel into the laundry basket before returning to the living room.

"There's apparently a place just around the corner from here," I grin, and point at the pizza set out on the coffee table as I settle onto the floor in front of it. He settles down next to me as I open the box, showing half of my favorite and half of his. A usual order for us whenever we get a pizza.

"That's good for us then," he chuckles and grabs a slice as I start the movie before grabbing my own. We're nearly two movies in when Felix begins stretching out his neck, rubbing his shoulder.

"What's wrong?" I ask, my attention leaving the screen and the half empty box of pizza to concentrate on him. The look of discomfort leaving his face when he sees I notice.

"Nothing," he shakes his head.

"I know that face," I turn towards him slightly. "Don't try and cover it up."

"Okay, okay," he laughs and holds his hands up in defense. "It's not that serious. I'm just a little sore from practice is all."

"You could have just said that," I hum softly as I rest my hands on the couch behind us, lifting myself back up onto the couch and scoot over to sit behind him. I rest my hands on his shoulders, feeling the tension in his muscles before I even start putting pressure to work out the knots.

He presses into the couch, groaning quietly when I dig my thumbs into his skin. Letting out a breath of air, I lean over his shoulder and rest my arms over his chest. "Better?"

"Much," he nods and leans into me. "I could get used to this."

"Oh, yeah?" I ask before leaning over, kissing his cheek. "Good thing you can then, right?"

"I did say forever," he chuckles, rubbing his thumb over my forearm.

"Yes, you did," I hum softly, relaxing slowly as my eyes slid shut and for a moment things are quiet. I don't need to look at Felix to know he's thinking about something, and before I can even ask him what it is - he's saying it.

"Marry me."

It takes a second to make sure I hear him right but then my eyes open and I slowly sit up to realize that I'm not hearing things. "What?" I ask as I sit up, leaning back into the couch.

He hums and bobs his head, get up from the floor to sit next to me on the couch. "Marry me."

"Felix, you can't be serious," I gasp and meet his eyes. "I'm seventeen."

"You're going to be eighteen by the end of the week," he argues. "I'm not asking you to marry me tomorrow, Nicks. I'm asking you to marry me in the future, that could be a few months or years. Just promise to marry me. To be my partner in life forever."

"Felix," I smile gently.

He shakes his head because he knows I'm not taking it seriously. "I love you more than I even thought was humanly possible and our year apart made me realize how much I want to spend every day with you. I never want to lose you. I want a forever with kids and grandkids and fights and make-ups. I want all of it and I want it with you, and only you."

My heart starts hammering in my chest as I rest my hand on his jaw, guiding him to my lips and feeling every bit of truth he spoke. "Ask me one more time," I whisper when I pull away, resting my forehead against his.

"Stevie Margaret Alexander, will you marry me?" He asks me again and I can feel it in my chest that this is my path. It's always been my path, walking it side by side with Felix in my life.

"Yes," I nod and grin when he wraps his arms around my waist and causes me to tumble onto my back with his force. He finds my lips as he hovers over top of me, kissing my cheek before meeting my eyes.

"I don't have a ring."

"It's like this was a spur of the moment thing," I tease and reach up, untangling the thin black elastic from my ponytail before holding it out to him. "Until we get a real one."

Felix lifts himself up to wrap the elastic around my finger, a smile growing on my face as he laces our fingers together and it feels like no matter what happens. We're in this together from here on out, and I can't imagine doing it with anyone else. My heart is his for the rest of our lives.

This chapter took me forever to write but is also my favorite one? Make sense? I don't think so, but I hope you enjoyed it! I have two more chapters planned for you all and they're the ones I'm most excited about.