A year and a half later

''Oh my God, I can't believe this is happening!'' Mads looks at me and adjusts her outfit, her eyes wet from the emotional rollercoaster she's currently living. 

''I'm so proud of you.''

"I know, right? We did it!" I give her a quick hug and after we pull apart, she makes her way to where the rest of her class is.

It's finally their graduation day. They are all wearing their caps and red gowns, as they are lining up, waiting for the ceremony to start.

I feel a bit emotional too, considering the people I love the most are finally closing this chapter of their lives to start their future.

A lot has happened in this past year and a half and it's safe to say that it has been as incredible as I thought it would be.

It wasn't always rainbows and sunshines, it has been tough at times, but nothing that I couldn't handle. I can't believe how much I've grown since I started college.

I'm about to go to my senior year and although I love being here, I can't wait to graduate too. Once I do, I'll move to downtown Boston where I'll focus on my career at The Boston Globe.

Yes, what I thought would be just an internship turned out to be so much more. They officially hired me after one year working there and now I'm a junior assistant editor.

All the effort I put working there paid off. It was nothing close to The Devil Wears Prada, but it did require a lot of hard work and sweat.

I've not only learned a lot, but I also made great friends working there and the greatest thing is that I got to introduce them to Mads and everyone else and they got along really well.

I was never one to have many friends and look at me know. I feel the luckiest person in the world to be surrounded by so many great people.

Working at a magazine is really what I want to do for a living and having the chance to start my career while I'm still at college is an amazing achievement, so yeah, I might not be graduating today, but as I think about it, I'm proud of myself too.

There's another important aspect in all of this, obviously. You're probably wondering about me and Noah.

As he comes to my mind, I look around to see if I can spot him in the crowd and after a few seconds, I finally see him.

He looks serious - too serious - probably thinking that although they deserve this after all these years, the graduation gowns make them look ridiculous. It would be so like him to think that.

I can tell it, by the amount of times he adjusted his cap that keeps falling to the side and how he rolled his eyes, seeming annoyed by it.

He's talking to one of his professors and I wait for him to see me from the distance, as I don't mean to go there and intrude his conversation.

Once he's done, he also looks around and his eyes lock with mine, making my heart twist a little.

I see a tiny smile forming on his lips as he excuses himself and makes his way to where I am.

Once he finally reaches me, he doesn't give me a chance to say hello before his lips are on mine.

"You look so handsome." I put my hands on his chest, and he takes a moment to adjust his cap again.

"Sure, as handsome as one can be dressed like a clown." I let out a laugh and put my hands around his waist, pulling him closer to me.

''Why are you laughing?'' He narrows his eyes at me.

''I knew you didn't like the outfit. You're too grumpy.''

''You know me too well and what can I say, you used to call me Mr. Grumpy, remember?'' He kisses my temple and I can only smile.

I take a step back, getting out of his embrace as I start playing with his gown.

"I'm proud of you."

"I know you are, baby." He kisses the top of my head this time. "I'm glad college is over, although I'm not very fond of leaving you here for another year. You should at least stay at my apartment, you know?" He pouts adorably.

"Not this again. We've talked about this, Noah." I look at him serious this time.

"I know, I'm just saying in case you changed your mind."

"I didn't." He takes a deep breath.

"I don't know if I should love you for being this stubborn or kick your ass."

"You know the answer." He nods.

"You're lucky I'm in love with you."

The thing is, Noah has been insisting that I stay at his apartment as he's officially moving to the penthouse. With graduation, he'll be working at the office in Boston full-time, so even if I'll be here, it makes sense for him to move there.

It's not a big deal as I also have my job there, so we can still meet during weekdays.

He has being trying to convince me to move in with him for the past year, but I insisted that I wanted to stay at the dorm, even if I slept over at his house way too many times.

My decision was based on the fact that I not only wanted to enjoy my time with Mads, knowing that the day where she'd graduate would come and I'd miss her badly, but I always said I wanted to live the college experience as much as possible, so staying at the dorm seemed the right thing to do.

I've decided a long time ago that I have my own life to live and I wouldn't give up the full experience of being here for anyone. Him included.

He never gave up trying to convince me though.

"You should go. The ceremony will start in a moment. I'll be with your parents." I say, while he's still pouting.

"Yeah, yeah, I'll go." He then rolls his eyes and I smack his arm.

"It will be over soon. Now, go." I push him to go, because I have a feeling he wouldn't move otherwise.

Once he's already a bit far away, I call his name and he turns to look at me.

"I love you." He smiles before he answers me.

"I love you more." With that he joined the rest of our friends and I made my way to where David and Clarice were sitting.

I think his parents are used to me by now. His mom is still not my biggest fan, but at least she doesn't seem bothered that much that we're dating.

It wasn't easy to get to this point. It all started with the product launch and after that, David and my dad only increased their partnership and now both companies are even better than before.

Still, it was hard for them, ups and downs, a bit of a crises when the economy went down a bit, but they are smart enough to have managed it perfectly.

Clarice tried to convince Noah that he should be with someone more suitable for him, but after a few parties that I'm sure were planned just to throw me under the bus with her socialite friends, she finally seemed to accepted me.

Let's just say that I didn't allow myself to be intimidated by any of them, so Clarice realized that I'm not just a naive girl. I'm smart and with a self confidence that I wouldn't have a couple years ago, so that definitely helped.

I focus back on the ceremony that started a few minutes ago, I don't want to miss it. As it goes on, I look at each of my friends with fondness.

Mads speech as valedictorian was incredible just as I thought it would be. Ever since I met her, I had no doubts she'd be the chosen one to represent her class.

Once the ceremony was over, we went to have lunch with Noah's parents, before we met the rest of the group for the graduation dinner Mads has been planning for months.

Today was a perfect day and I couldn't be happier for my friends.

I am torn between spending the night at Noah's apartment or my last night at the dorm with Mads, but Noah surprisingly understood that I need to be with Mads before things change completely.

Our last night as roommates is filled with popcorn, movies and a lot of tears as we go through all the memories we've shared these past years.

''I'm going to miss you so much!'' She side hugs me as we're sitting on the floor.

''I'll miss you too, but it's a good thing you'll stay in Boston too." I smile with her arms still around me.

''Yeah, but it's different, I won't get to live with you.''

''Well, you'll live with Mark, so I guess it's even better, right?''

No one is surprised that Mads and Mark are finally moving in together. We thought they wouldn't wait until college was over, but Mads said something about being a ritual passage from college to adult life.

I totally get her.

I'm just waiting for Mark to propose to her. She's not expecting it, but Mark and I talked about it and I know he plans on doing it soon.

''You have to promise me that we'll continue to have dinner just the two of us at least every other week."

''Sure. Besides, I'll be here, you can come visit or call me anytime you want, you know that.''

''Of course, don't think you'll get rid of me that easy. I'll still text.'' I laugh, because she never lost her habit of texting more than I consider normal.

''So, how is Noah dealing with this whole thing? I mean, graduating and you not wanting to move in with him. He's too quiet these days.''

Noah always opened up with Mads - in his own way at least - but this past month he's actually quiet. Not only with her, but I think with everyone. There's just so many things happening in his life that closing up a little is his way of dealing with it.

He's working more than ever, he's moving to his penthouse, he's about to win the young entrepreneur of the year award and I'm staying here, so our dynamic will change.

It took me a while to understand how he functions, but once I got it, it became easier to deal with the moments he needs to be quiet.

''He's ok, I guess. It's not that I don't want to move in with him, I do, I just want to finish college first. You can't judge me, you did the same with Mark.''

"True." She nods, knowing that I have a point, although she always said that Noah and I are different, because and I quote "we're too intense for just regular dating", whatever that means.

As if her relationship with Mark wasn't. She just doesn't see how much of a drama queen she is.

''Speaking of you and Noah, have you seen the newspaper today?'' She gets her copy of the USA today and start reading what I assume is the lifestyle section.

"We know that two of the biggest tech companies joined forces in an unexpected way less than two years ago. We always thought that David Allen would buy Alfred White's impressive company, but turns out that they are partnering in a different way, not only in business. Noah Allen, who is not only his father's successor, but is on the run to win the most important award in the country for young businessmen, is dating Emma White for almost two years now - the same time as the companies joined forces. At first it seemed like one of those modern stories of parents matching their kids for the sake of the business - or for money, although I won't go down that road - but our sources say that David was highly against the relationship at first, not to mention that one look at them together and you can say there's definitely love in the air. Who would have thought?''

Mads finishes reading the rest of the section and she looks at me, before handing me the newspaper that has our picture on it, like we're some important celebrities or whatsoever. This is so weird, I don't think I'm that important, but I know this is because of Noah.

He has been getting attention due to his work at Allen Industries and even had his face on a few magazines as the bachelor of the year.

I know he's way too good looking, but come on, it's a bit too much. He doesn't even like all the attention and I can't help the pit of jealousy in my stomach when I see some girl trying to be noticed by him.

"You guys are in the newspaper."

I nod focusing my attention on her. I don't say anything, because I'm too absorbed making a flashback to everything that happened to us ever since I laid eyes on Noah at the library my first day on campus.

We've come a long way. It's true what they said in the paper. Who would have thought that that rude guy would end up being the love of my life?

I look at the our picture and it really does look like we're in love, because we obviously are.

"Promise me that when you get famous, you won't forget me."

"That's not going to happen, Mads. You'll be the famous one winning a pulitzer or a nobel, or something like that."

We go on talking about our future until it was time to go to bed.

I went to sleep late while Mads passed out an hour ago, just because I kept thinking of today and all those things.

We woke up early to make sure we finished packing Mad's stuff and once she has everything in perfectly tagged boxes, I also organized my side of the room.

I grab the pink photo frame that Mads gave me that very first day and I look at the picture in it with a smile on my face.

It's a bonfire we did at my backyard in Hellertown. Mads and Abby threw me a surprise party for my birthday last year and everyone is there. It was the first time that our house was that full and it truly felt like home.

All my favorite people were there, except for Ryan, who was travelling with his family in Europe, so he couldn't come.

Mads and Mark are sitting next to each other, Tyler is making a funny face while showing his tongue to the camera, Abby is laughing hard, Olivia and Kevin are just smiling, Cindy - who became a good friend of mine - is standing by the barbecue grill and my dad is standing next to Noah, who is holding a phone with Ryan's face on it as we face timed. As for me, I'm running to make it in time for the timer to shoot, just enough to get to Noah's side and have him hugging me with his free arm.

That was it. It's not a perfect photo, but it is perfect at the same time.

Mads said when she gave me the gift that it was for me to put a picture of my friends, but it turns out that it's more than that. It's my family.

I put the frame back in it's place and I take a look at Mads empty side. We just finished loading her car so she can go to her new apartment. By we, I mean Noah finished loading her car.

He came very early this morning to help us.

I look out the window and I see them putting the last box in the car, but not without their typical argument, which I'm sure will end with Noah telling Mads that she's annoying and Mads telling Noah that she can't stand him. You know, the usual.

Just when finish cleaning, a few minutes lates, the door opens and Noah and Mads are back from the parking lot.

"Are you ready?" He looks at me and I nod, grabbing my bag from the bed.

"Oh, my babies. You two have fun." Mads hugs me before rushing to Noah and hugging him tight, just to have him rolling his eyes. 

"Fine, fine, let's just go." He still gets annoyed with her bubbly personality and I love them both for that. I won't tell him that I saw the tiny smile on his face though. 

Whatever argument they had, which later I learned it was because she thought he wasn't being careful enough with the boxes, it's now gone and they are back to loving each other.

Somethings will really never change.

I guess one of the reasons why Noah didn't mind that I stayed with Mads at the dorm last night is because we'll spend the next fifteen days literally 24/7 together.

He's taking me to Paris.

As he holds my hand tight and whispers in my ear that he loves me, while we go to the car that will take us to the airport, I can't help but think that if there's a more perfect way of ending this chapter of our lives, I don't know.

I'm ready for whatever the future will bring us, because I know he is my forever.

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Hey Lovely Readers,

It's been a while - not to say forever! - but I woke up today feeling like finishing the epilogue that has been waiting to be finished for so long.

I hope you enjoyed this last chapter of Emma & Noah's story! I do love how this turned out, so I hope you like too. I have a few bonus chapters ideas, but I won't commit to when I'll be posting. Just being honest here.

Let me know your thoughts and what would you like to see next on their story? Any ideas from you for the bonus chapters?

Lots of Love,

Me