Ever since our last conversation, Nico and I have been spending every single second of every single day together. I don't know what he said to Columbia to let them reconsider his admission, but I haven't been questioning it. I'm just happy that Nico and I will finally be in the same state for an entire year.

I'm not sure if Nico's spoken to his dad, but I do know that his mom is moving through with the divorce in the end. As much as I hate to say it, it's the right thing to do for everyone involved.

Speaking of Gillian Bradford, I ran into her the day after Nico and I decided to give our relationship another go. She was in town picking up a cake for some sort of dinner party that she was hosting, and I was leaving work. She asked me if we could talk over coffee. I was skeptical at first, but I could tell that there was a lot that she wanted to say. So, I agreed. She apologized to me for not being there for Nico. When I told her that I'm the wrong person to be apologizing to, she informed me that she had already spoken to Nico; that they had a long conversation about their relationship; and that she was going to work on regaining the time back that she had lost with her son. She told me that I was the next person on her list because she knows how much Nico loves me. I'm never one to hold grudges, and I know how much she intends to work on her relationship with Nico, which is why I forgave her.

I don't know what she was more appreciative of - my forgiveness or the fact that Nico went to the Summer Dance in the end. Just kidding. She was definitely more appreciative of my forgiveness.

And me? I was Nico's date.

And the whole dress situation?

Well, Brooks ended up blabbing to Nico that the real reason why I didn't want to go to the Summer Dance was because I didn't have a dress. I almost forgot that I had bumped into Brooks that day at Milly's when I told the sales lady that I couldn't afford it.

In true Nico fashion, he bought it for me without telling me.

Yup...the day before the dance, Nico showed up to my house with the dress in one hand, and a pink flower - the same kind that he had given me the first time he asked me to the dance - in the other.

"Isabella Cooper, would you do me the honor of accompanying me to the Wilmington Summer Dance?" were the first words out of his mouth when I opened the door.

We had so much fun that night. We've been having so much fun since then.

Nico just picked me up in his canoe and brought us to this public beach. We skipped out on going to his private one because his parents were home discussing the divorce with their lawyers. I know Nico, and when he's ready to open up to me about it, he will. But for now, we're enjoying each other and our relationship.

"Check it out," Nico points to the sky and says. I'm currently laying in his lap, a blanket over us. "How beautiful is the sunset tonight?"

"Almost too beautiful to be real," I say, and he dips his head down to kiss me on the cheek.

"Makes you appreciate all the small things, doesn't it?"

"Yeah. It does."

I angle my head upwards to look at him. And he plants a soft kiss to my nose. "I feel very lucky, BC. Lucky to be here with you. Holding you."

"Me, too," I whisper.

To think how far we've come...

"I always imagined what having you in my arms would feel like," he says.

"Do you feel like we wasted time?" I can't help but ask.

He looks down at me. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, all this time - all these years - I wanted you the same way that you wanted me. But we both didn't know how the other one felt. I guess I can't help but wonder how things could've been different between us had we known from sooner on."

Nico shifts his body slightly - causing me to move just a little - so that he can look at me better.

"I don't regret waiting, though," he confesses. "Because everything led us to this point, and I couldn't be happier. We were so young, BC. I was dealing with a lot. So were you. I don't think that the time would've been right. But now," he says in a different tone, "I can't picture my life without me holding you in my arms." He pauses, leaning in to kiss me. "Kissing you," he says once he pulls away.

"You know? You told me you loved me, and I never said anything back."

He recalls the instance, appearing somewhat embarrassed by the fact. "Oh, yeah."

I turn around to face him completely, cupping his cheek in my palm. "I love you, Nico. I've loved you since the day that I met you."

Bella, Age 7 / Nico, Age 9

Today was the best day of my life. It started with a lemonade stand and ended with a new friend. A crush. Maybe something more.

Mom just picked me up from Nico's house, but I wish that the day didn't have to come to an end. Even though today was my first time meeting him, I feel like I've known Nico my whole life. Everything he said, every move that he made, felt familiar, like I had heard it before, like I had seen it before. In a good way. I don't know if it's because I feel super comfortable around him or if it's more than that. What I do know is that I hope to spend the rest of this summer hanging out with him.

He asked me what I'm doing tomorrow, and if I'd like to come over again. His mom said that it was okay. Now it's my turn to ask my mom.

"So, how was your day?" she asks as she reverses the car out of Nico's driveway.

"The best," I beam.

"Wow, look at that smile," she says of my expression. "What did you three do?"

"We swam, watched a movie in Nico's theatre room, and then, mom, get this," I say excitedly, "they have a private chef who cooks all of their meals. His name is Chef Taylor and he made us pizza from scratch."

"Wow, that's...wow," mom says, stunned. "Wait a minute, did you say 'theatre room'?"

"Uh-huh."

"Damn," she mumbles under her breath. I don't think she intended for me to hear it because mom doesn't like to swear around me.

"Nico invited me back to his house tomorrow. Can I go?"

Mom looks uneasy. "Oh, honey, I don't know."

"Why? C'mom, mom! Please," I beg with my hands pressed together.

"Sweetheart, people like Nico and his family aren't like us. We're not like them."

"Yeah, so? Nico's rich, and we're not. Why does that matter?"

"It's not that," she tries to clarify, but I interrupt before she can say anything else.

"Mom, you have nothing to worry about. Nico's nice. Very nice. And he makes me feel special. Isn't that what's important?"

"Yeah," she chuckles softly. "Yeah, it is."

I look out my window, feeling a wave of emotions - the main one being liveliness. That's what I feel when I'm around Nico - alive.

I turn my head to look at mom, and I can tell that her mind's racing, even though she's bottling her thoughts in.

"Can I tell you something?" I ask her.

"Of course, sweetie," she tells me.

"Nico Bradford is going to be someone special in my life. I just know it. I feel it. The boy from across the pond will be someone special to me."

The End!

To the readers - thank you so much for taking the time to check out Across the Pond! Whether you only read one page or finished the entire story, just know that I am truly grateful for your support.

I would love to know what you thought of the story. What was your favorite part? Your least favorite part? Who was your favorite character? Your least favorite character?

Also, I'm on TikTok! My username is rrwriting. Follow for all things Nico and Bella...and also Brooks and Remi ;)

-RR

PS - be sure to keep reading for Bonus Chapters from Nico's point-of-view!

PPS - It's time for Brooks and Remi to have their moment! I just started writing their story, which will be an enemies-to-lovers sequel to Across the Pond. Stay tuned for updates!!