E P I L O G U E
From: [email protected]
Subject: So, Thanksgiving
Dex,
I am writing to you today in the spirit of Thanksgiving. Truly, it is a lovely time to share with your loved ones, is it not? I hope to find an answer for this little query of mine: Will you be going home for Thanksgiving?
This is forwarded to your concern in the spirit of Thanksgiving. Your full cooperation in providing a quick and truthful response will be greatly appreciated.
(Okay, no, seriously. Please tell me you're going home too. I missed you, Dex.)
Hadley
* * * * *
From: [email protected]
Subject: YOU BET!!!
had,
why, madame, i believe you are in luck!
i have all but packed my things and prepared myself for the long and arduous journey home. indeed, thanksgiving is a wonderful time. many thanks are to be had, i believe.
(get it? "had"???)
(i am awesome.)
(tell me i'm awesome.)
dex
* * * * *
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: YOU BET!!!
Dex,
My, what a relief! I wish you all good things and safe travels, kind sir.
(I do hope you know that I am cringing right now. Please leave those puns behind when you go home.)
Had
* * * * *
From: [email protected]
Subject: GASP
had,
me? leave my puns behind? how dare you! do you think a monster of me? i would never leave my children behind!
you appall me, madame.
dex
* * * * *
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: GASP
Dex,
More puns are coming? Oh god. I'm pretty sure I can still cancel my flight last minute...
Had
* * * * *
From: [email protected]
Subject: i am disappointed
had,
where did I go wrong? did i not raise you well enough to teach you the value of my puns? we've been friends for nearly three years now.
i shall reflect on my actions and mourn your total lack of sense of humor. i am grieving, hadley. i just changed my shirt to black, if you must know.
dex
* * * * *
From: [email protected]
Subject: Well, so am I
Dex,
I do believe it is not that I lack a sense of humor, but that your sense of humor is on a lower level than mine. If anything, I should be the one grieving. I thought college would change your ways, but alas, I have been mistaken.
However, since I missed you, I am overlooking this lapse on your overall growth and maturity. I shall still look forward to seeing you this break.
Hadley
* * * * *
From: [email protected]
Subject: i have never been so insulted in my life
had,
subject says it all.
dex
* * * * *
From: [email protected]
Subject: Fine
Dex,
I'll admit it. I may or may not have laughed at your pun. However, I would like to reiterate that it is in no way truly funny. I attribute my laughter to the fact that I miss you.
Had
* * * * *
From: [email protected]
Subject: remember?
had,
you were the one who wanted to go to different colleges. ha!!!!! joke's on you!!!!!
but yeah. i miss you too.
btw i heard a new pizza place opened up back home. you get to make your own pizza and everything. we should go.
dex
* * * * *
From: [email protected]
Subject: I do remember
Dex,
On my worst days, I regret it so bad I want to drop out and join you there.
And yeah! I heard about that too. I was actually just about to bring it up. When's your flight? When do you actually get home? We should definitely go.
Hadley
* * * * *
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: YOU SHOULD
had,
DROP OUT, I MEAN. (just kidding.......... sort of.)
i'd be there by wednesday morning, if all goes according to plan. i think sadie and colin won't be coming till thursday morning and henry couldn't actually catch a flight in time for thanksgiving so he's coming friday night. should we wait for them and go there after thanksgiving instead?
dex
* * * * *
From: [email protected]
Subject: Actually...
Dex,
I was thinking we should go alone. Just the two of us.
Hadley
* * * * *
From: [email protected]
Subject: jesus christ
had,
for a second there, i thought you were asking me out on a date.
dex
* * * * *
From: [email protected]
Subject: Well this is awkward but
Dex,
I really am.
Hadley
* * * * *
From: [email protected]
Subject: WAIT
HAD,
LIKE A DATE DATE? A REAL DATE??????????
DEX
* * * * *
From: [email protected]
Subject: Yes
Dex,
A date date. A real date. If you're up for it.
Had
* * * * *
From: [email protected]
Subject: LET ME MAKE THIS CLEAR
HAD,
I DID A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH AND THIS CAME UP:
"A date is a meeting of two people where at least one has a "romantic interest" in the other. "Romantic interest" can either mean having romantic feelings towards another. The feeling can either be described as love, crush, or simply wanting to find out if there is a possibility for romantic relationship."
ARE WE ON THE SAME PAGE?
DEX
* * * * *
From: [email protected]
Subject: We are
Dex,
Definitely the same page.
(I am coughing. And possibly choking. Why are you making this so much more embarrassing than it already is?)
Had
* * * * *
From: [email protected]
Subject: am i dreaming?
had,
in all seriousness, are you sure? you're asking me out? on a date date?
dex
* * * * *
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: am i dreaming?
Dex,
I'm pretty sure.
Had
* * * * *
From: [email protected]
Subject: HOLY SHIT
HAD,
IT'S A DATE.
DEX
* * * * *
A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S
i'd like to think of this book as a takeoff point for better works to come. i have challenged myself with different sub-goals when i set out to write this book and i'm happy to report that i--or at least i feel like i--have succeeded in achieving them.
thank you, patty (ennitsud) for the constant support on this story, and for beta-reading nearly all the chapters and being there from the moment of this story's conception. you were always positive and supportive and i couldn't have done this without you.
and to you, dear reader: i hope you've enjoyed this as much as i enjoyed writing it. i'm a little sad and a bit lost now that this is over as i am so attached to these characters, but i shouldn't be, and neither should you.
more stories are waiting to be written.
thank you for reading!
love you,
sam xo
There's a bonus chapter featuring Dexter and Hadley in college posted under La Vie en Rose, which you can find on my profile.
This story also has a spin-off entitled "Truth Be Told." It focuses mainly on Colin and Sadie. Do check it out if you're interested to read their story.
You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net