Mei

Your chest tightened a little as you looked down at her carefully. 'Meg…'

'I know,' she said quickly. 'I know it’s not simple.'

And somehow that made it worse. Because if she’d been pushy about it, maybe it’d be easier to laugh off.

But she wasn’t. She was being careful and she was being real.

You exhaled slowly and moved to sit next to her on the couch, leaning back against the cushions a little. 'Trinidad still home, yuh know.'

Megan nodded immediately. 'I know.'

'Ah still have tings dere.'

'Your family.'

'Yeah.'

'Your friends.'

'Mhm.'

'Your job.'

You groaned softly at that one. 'Unfortunately.'

That finally got a laugh out of her.

But your expression stayed thoughtful. 'Moving cross de world not small, Megs.'

'I know.'

'An’ LA expensive bad.'

'You wouldn’t be alone though.'

You glanced at her.

Megan sat up a little straighter now, eyes serious behind her glasses. 'You could stay with me.'

You immediately snorted. 'Meg—'

'I’m serious.'

'You say dat now till ah start leavin’ skateboards all over de floor.'

'I already trip over your stuff anyway.'

'That was one time.'

'That tiny skateboard headphone thing attacked my ankle yesterday.'

You burst out laughing instantly. 'It literally smaller dan meh hand!'

'And somehow still dangerous.'

You shook your head while Megan continued staring at you with that same impossible sincerity.

'You wouldn’t need your own place right away,' she continued more softly. 'Not until you figured everything out.'

Your chest warmed a little despite yourself. 'Still need money though.'

'We’d figure it out.'

'Visa stuff too probably.'

'Okay, paperwork would suck...' She admitted.

'Exactly.'

'But we’d still figure it out.'

You looked at her quietly for a second. 'We?'

'Yes, we.'

The certainty in her voice hit embarrassingly hard. Megan shifted closer automatically, knees bumping against yours on the couch cushions.

'And honestly?' She continued, getting more animated now, 'you basically live here already.'

'Ah been here less than a week.'

'And somehow your stuff is everywhere.'

'That because you keep stealing it.'

'You left your headphones on my couch for eight hours the other day.'

'Cause ah was using dem!'

'And your beanie’s are spread all over my room.'

'Cause yuh wear it.'

'And your skateboard lives by my door now.'

You pointed at her dramatically. 'Dat one valid.'

'It completes the apartment aesthetic.'

You wheezed laughing while Megan grinned proudly. Then suddenly her expression lit up, 'Oh my god.'

That tone immediately made you suspicious. '…Wha’?'

'If you moved in permanently,' she started excitedly, 'we could fully decorate together.'

You groaned instantly, 'Here she go.'

'No listen—'

'Megan—'

'Spider-Man corner.'

You buried your face in your hands.

'Spider-Man posters.'

'Meg—'

'Spider-Man mugs.'

'Please—'

'Spider-Man blankets.'

'Yuh making dis place look like a five year old bedroom.'

She gasped loudly, 'A cool five year old's bedroom.'

You laughed helplessly while she grabbed your arm dramatically.

'We could get one of those little neon signs!'

'Oh lord.'

'And shelves for your boards!'

'Dat one actually sound nice.'

'I KNOW.' She looked way too proud of herself. 'And your hoodies would finally stop mysteriously disappearing because they’d already be here.'

'You mean because yuh does thief dem.'

'Borrow. Emotionally.'

You snorted loudly.

Then her expression softened again almost immediately, 'You’d really think about it though?'

The sudden vulnerability in her voice made your chest ache. You looked down at your hands quietly. '…Yeah.'

Megan went still.

You swallowed once before continuing carefully. 'Ah not saying tomorrow.'

'I know.'

'An’ ah not saying definitely yes either.'

Her face fell just slightly before she caught it. You noticed anyway.

'But,' you added softly, 'it not a no.'

That made something hopeful flicker across her face instantly.

You sighed quietly. 'Sometimes ah does think about it.'

'Really?'

'Mhm.'

You glanced around the apartment slowly. At the couch you’d fallen asleep on, your skateboard leaning near the TV, one of your hoodies folded over the chair beside Megan’s, pieces of yourself already scattered everywhere.

Then back at her.

'Especially when yuh look at meh like dat.'

Megan melted immediately, 'How am I looking at you?'

'Like yuh already plan de rest ah yuh life.'

'…Maybe I did.'

Your face went hot instantly, 'Megan!'

'What?!' She laughed, 'I’m just saying!'

You groaned and shoved her lightly while she grinned harder.

Then quieter, she softly mutters, 'I just really love having you here.'

The softness of it settled somewhere deep in your chest. Because the scary part was you loved being here too.

---

The grocery store was freezing. Like unnecessarily freezing. You walked through the automatic doors and immediately folded your arms tight across your chest.

'Why every store in America feel like ah refrigerator?' You complained under your breath.

Megan laughed softly beside you while grabbing a shopping cart, 'You’ll survive.'

'Ah actively freezing.'

'You’re from the Caribbean.'

'Exactly.'

She snorted quietly and bumped your shoulder with hers before automatically reaching for your hand again like she’d been doing it her whole life.

And honestly? You were starting to notice that about her. The automatic things.

The way her fingers searched for yours without thinking, the way she gravitated toward your side in every room, the way she’d touch your back lightly while passing behind you, the constant contact. Always.

You tried not to think too hard about how much you liked it.

The two of you wandered aisle by aisle together while you hunted down ingredients for the doubles; chickpeas, flour, turmeric, cumin, curry powder, scotch bonnet peppers and tamarind sauce.

Megan pushed the cart beside you while you searched shelves with the seriousness of somebody conducting scientific research.

'Geera,' you muttered to yourself. 'Need geera.'

'What even is geera?'

'It important.'

'That explained nothing.'

'Correct.'

You reached up onto the shelf for a spice jar, hoodie lifting slightly at your waist. Megan’s eyes immediately drifted toward you, then stayed there.

You noticed instantly. '…Wha’?'

'Nothing.'

'That face mean sometin’.'

She looked entirely unashamed. 'You’re really pretty.'

Your face warmed immediately. 'Meg.'

'I’m serious.'

'Mhm.'

'You’re shopping for doubles ingredients and somehow still look cool doing it.'

You snorted softly while tossing another spice into the cart, 'Yuh standards low.'

'My standards are actually extremely high,' she corrected, 'You’re just unfairly cute.'

Before you could answer, movement nearby caught your attention. A girl maybe a few aisles over had gone visibly still staring at Megan. Then whispered something frantically to her friend.

You noticed Megan notice it too. The tiny shift in her shoulders, the way she instinctively adjusted her cap lower.

Your chest softened a little. Without even thinking about it, you nudged the cart gently away from her.

'Ah go grab de peppers.'

Megan looked at you immediately. You just smiled softly, giving her space, giving her a second to breathe.

Recognition happened constantly now. You were learning that. Sometimes people only stared, sometimes they whispered, sometimes they approached nervously like they were afraid they were interrupting something.

And Megan was always kind about it, always sweet. But you could tell it tired her sometimes too.

So while the girls worked up the courage to approach her near the cereal aisle, you wandered toward produce instead in search of scotch bonnets, cilantro and green onions.

You moved slowly through the section, absentmindedly spinning one of the peppers between your fingers while your headphones rested around your neck.

The tiny Spider-Man skateboard clipped to them knocked softly against your chest when you leaned down for another pepper.

Then, your chest tightened slightly. Because Megan wasn’t beside you anymore.

It was stupid. She was literally a few aisles away talking to fans, probably taking pictures, and still completely visible from here if you leaned slightly.

But after spending days somewhat attached at the hip, the sudden absence felt weirdly noticeable.

You glanced back automatically. And almost immediately, Megan looked up like she’d sensed it.

Her eyes scanned quickly over the store before landing on you near the produce section. The second she saw you, something in her visibly relaxed.

The fans were still talking to her excitedly but now half her attention had drifted back toward you already. You smiled faintly to yourself and turned back toward the peppers.

Thirty seconds later, arms wrapped around your waist from behind.

You laughed softly immediately, 'Dat was fast.'

'I lost you.'

'You did not lose meh.'

'You disappeared.'

You turned slightly in her arms to look at her, 'Megan, ah was across de aisle.'

'Still.'

She looked entirely serious about it too.

Behind her, the fans who’d been talking to her were still standing there smiling like they’d just witnessed the cutest thing alive.

One of them quietly covered her mouth. Another whispered, 'Oh my god.'

Megan barely even noticed, too busy tucking herself against your side again immediately.

You looked at her helplessly, 'Baby…'

'What?'

'You know yuh coulda stay wid dem lil longer.'

'I wanted you.'

The answer came so quickly it almost hurt. It made your face warm instantly.

One of the fans made a tiny emotional squeak behind her.

Megan finally seemed to remember other people existed and looked back quickly.

'Oh—sorry.' She laughed awkwardly.

The girls shook their heads immediately, 'No no, you guys are adorable.' 'We didn’t mean to interrupt.' 'You literally look married already.'

You choked instantly.

Megan, meanwhile, looked way too pleased by that statement, 'See?' She said proudly, turning back toward you, 'They get it.'

'Megan!'

She grinned while tightening her arms around your waist one more time before finally letting go, 'Okay, okay,' she laughed, 'I’ll stop harassing my girlfriend in public.'

'You literally start de harassment.'

'And I’ll continue it later too.'

The fans burst out laughing while you buried your face in your hands dramatically.

'Ah cyah stand dis gyal.'

Megan just looked smug, then immediately grabbed the shopping cart from your hands before you could push it yourself. Because apparently being clingy wasn’t enough, now she needed to push your groceries too.

By the time you finally reached the checkout line, your hands were freezing. You stood there rubbing them together miserably while Megan unloaded groceries from the basket beside you.

'You alive?' She asked softly.

'Barely.'

'You’re so dramatic.'

'Dis store got industrial AC.'

Megan laughed quietly under her breath while setting the flour beside the chickpeas on the conveyor belt. The cashier—a woman maybe a few years older than you—looked up halfway through scanning items.

Then paused slightly. Her eyes drifted towards you. The beanie, the curls, the oversized hoodie, the skateboard tucked against the cart.

Then she smiled, 'You guys find everything okay?'

'Mhm,' you answered absentmindedly while organising bags back into the cart. 'Eventually.'

'That’s good.'

Beep. Beep. Beep.

You barely paid attention while she kept scanning. Your focus was mostly on getting outside again before your Caribbean bloodline froze solid.

'I like your accent.'

You looked up politely, 'Oh. Thanks.'

'Where’re you from?'

'Trinidad.'

Her eyebrows lifted immediately, 'Wow.'

You nodded once before going back to fixing the bags in the cart, missing the way Megan had gone completely still beside you.

'You’re here visiting?' The cashier continued.

'Mhm.'

'That’s cute.'

Another beep. You shifted the tamarind sauce carefully so it wouldn’t crush the bara flour later.

'LA treating you okay so far?'

'Still deciding,' you admitted honestly, 'Every building feel fake.'

That made the cashier laugh. Okay. Maybe she did laugh a little too hard. Megan’s eyes narrowed immediately.

You, meanwhile, remained completely oblivious while trying to stop the peppers from rolling away inside the cart.

'So how long are you here for?' The cashier asked.

You shrugged lightly, 'Not sure yet.'

'You should let somebody show you around properly.'

That finally made Megan look up sharply.

The cashier smiled at you again. And then—unfortunately—she looked directly at Megan and saw the glare. Not even subtle either.

Megan was standing there with one hand resting possessively against your lower back, eyes narrowed slightly behind her glasses like she was mentally preparing for battle.

The cashier visibly faltered, '…Oh.'

Instant silence.

You blinked slowly between both of them, then immediately looked at Megan, '…Wha’ happen?'

'Nothing, baby.' Megan answered instantly.

The cashier suddenly became very interested in scanning chickpeas.

Beep. Beep.

The atmosphere got weird so fast you almost got whiplash.

You frowned slightly, '…Okay?'

Megan’s expression softened immediately the second you looked at her. 'You ready?'

'Mhm.'

The cashier finally cleared her throat awkwardly and turned the card reader toward you.

'That’ll be $64.82.'

You reached for your wallet automatically. But before you could even pull your card out—Megan had already paid.

You stared at her, 'Meg—'

'Too slow.'

'Baby—'

She ignored you completely. One hand immediately grabbed the cart while the other settled around your waist again. Possessive with close, constant contact.

Before you could even process what was happening properly, Megan was already steering both you and the cart toward the exit. Or more accurately, steering you.

Because she trapped you between herself and the shopping cart handles, arms basically caging you in while she pushed forward.

You burst out laughing instantly, 'Megan!'

'What?'

'Yuh drivin’ meh like groceries!'

'You’re precious cargo.'

'You jealous over de cashier?'

'No.'

'Yes yuh are.'

'I’m literally not.'

Her face said otherwise.

You twisted slightly to look back at her while she kept pushing the cart forward with you trapped against it, 'Megan.'

'She was flirting with you.'

Your eyebrows shot up, 'Wha’? No she wasn’t.'

Megan stared at you like you’d just said the sky was green, 'Baby.'

'She was askin’ questions!'

'She asked if somebody should show you around LA.'

You blinked once. Then twice, '…Oh.'

'Exactly.'

You started laughing immediately, 'Megan, yuh actually get jealous.'

'She was looking at you.'

'You sounding real possessive right now.'

'I AM possessive.'

That only made you laugh harder.

'Megan,' you wheezed, still trapped between her and the cart while she pushed both you and the groceries across the parking lot, 'yuh really out here beefin’ wid a cashier.'

'She wanted your number.'

'She wanted me to bag de groceries faster.'

'She was flirting.'

You turned slightly in her hold, still smiling helplessly. And honestly? The jealousy should not have been this cute.

Her hand stayed firm against your waist while she glared ahead dramatically like she was still offended by the entire interaction.

Your chest softened instantly, 'Hey.'

Megan finally looked at you. Still suspicious, still clingy, still holding you close like somebody might snatch you away.

You smiled softly, then leaned in and kissed her. Right there in the middle of the parking lot, slow enough to make her immediately melt.

Her grip on your waist tightened instinctively while the shopping cart rolled to a stop beside you.

When you pulled back, her forehead almost chased yours automatically, 'Nobody takin’ meh from yuh, okay?'

Megan looked at you quietly.

You brushed your thumb gently against the sleeve of her hoodie, 'Ah love you too much fuh dat.'

The expression on her face softened so completely it almost hurt to look at, '…Yeah?'

You laughed softly, 'Yeah, baby.'

She stared at you for another second like she was trying to memorise the moment.

Then immediately buried her face against your shoulder dramatically, 'You can’t say stuff like that when I’m emotional.'

'You emotional every day.'

'Exactly.'

You grinned while wrapping your arms loosely around her.

The parking lot lights glowed softly overhead, cars passed somewhere nearby as the grocery bags rustled gently in the cart beside you.

And Megan stayed tucked against you for another few seconds longer than necessary, like reassurance wasn’t something she’d ever get tired of hearing from you.

---

The second you and Megan stepped back into the apartment, warmth wrapped around you instantly.

Not just from the heating. But from her, from this place, from the weird growing feeling that this apartment had already started becoming yours too.

Megan locked the door behind you while you headed toward the kitchen with the grocery bags. Immediately, arms wrapped around your waist from behind again.

You laughed softly, 'Baby.'

'She was flirting with you.'

'There it is.'

Megan buried her face dramatically into your shoulder, 'I didn’t like it.'

You turned slightly in her hold, smiling helplessly, 'Yuh know ah only want yuh, right?'

'I KNOW.' She groaned loudly, 'That’s not the point.'

You snorted quietly while setting the groceries onto the counter, 'Yuh was lookin’ at dat cashier like yuh wanted fuh fight she.'

'Maybe I did.'

'Meg!'

'She was annoying.'

'She ask meh like three questions!'

'She laughed too hard at your jokes.'

'Ah didn’t even make jokes!'

'You existed near her in a beanie. Same thing.'

That made you laugh so hard you nearly dropped the bag of flour.

Megan stayed glued to your side the entire time you unpacked groceries. Literally glued. Hands on your waist, chin on your shoulder, following you from counter to counter while you tried getting ingredients organised.

'You know doubles require concentration, right?'

'Then concentrate.'

'Yuh distracting meh.'

'Good.'

You shook your head affectionately while tying your curls back loosely before shuffling your playlist as music started playing softly from your phone speaker nearby.

Soca, obviously.

Megan instantly perked up when you started pulling ingredients out, 'Wait, wait, wait—are you making them now?'

'Mhm.'

Her eyes widened, 'Right now, right now?'

'Yes, Megan.'

She gasped dramatically, 'MY doubles.'

You snorted quietly, 'Yuh acting like ah making yuh luxury cuisine.'

'It is luxury cuisine.'

You laughed while mixing flour into the bowl with warm water, yeast and salt. Your hands moved automatically while Megan hovered nearby watching like you were performing magic.

Honestly? She looked at you like that a lot lately. Like even the smallest things you did fascinated her.

You were halfway through seasoning the chickpeas in the pan when—

Ding dong.

Both of you froze.

You blinked.

Megan blinked harder then immediately frowned, '…No.'

The doorbell rang again. And then came the aggressive knocking.

'Megan we know y’all are home!'

Sophia.

You burst out laughing instantly while Megan looked genuinely betrayed.

'No.' She repeated, horrified.

The knocking got louder, 'LET US IN.'

Daniela this time.

Megan physically slumped against the counter, 'I hate them.'

You wheezed laughing while walking toward the door.

Behind you, Megan grabbed your hoodie dramatically, 'Don’t let them in.'

'Baby—'

'I wanted alone time!'

'You literally see dem today.'

'NOT THE SAME.'

Another knock. Then Lara’s voice, 'If nobody opens this door I’m ordering pizza.'

Megan gasped, 'She would never survive Trinidad.'

You laughed harder and finally opened the door. Chaos entered immediately.

Sophia spotted the bowl on the counter and pointed dramatically, 'DOUBLES.'

Daniela gasped loudly, 'OH MY GOD.'

Yoonchae immediately kicked her shoes off by the door, 'We live here now.'

'You absolutely do not.' Megan muttered darkly from the kitchen.

The girls all paused then slowly turned toward her.

'…Why does she sound grumpy?' Lara asked carefully.

Megan crossed her arms, 'I’m not grumpy.'

'You look like somebody stole your lunch.' Daniela said.

Sophia narrowed her eyes suspiciously, 'Did rehearsal kill her spirit finally?'

You snorted softly while going back toward the stove, 'Nah,' you started innocently, 'she jus’ jealous because—'

Suddenly, hands grabbed your face as Megan kissed you directly mid-sentence.

You made a surprised noise against her mouth while the girls exploded instantly behind you.

'OH MY GOD.' 'SHE SILENCED HER.' 'THAT WAS SO SUSPICIOUS.'

Daniela pointed dramatically, 'YOU WERE ABOUT TO EXPOSE HER.'

Megan pulled back just enough to glare at all of them while still holding your face, 'No she wasn’t.'

'Yes she was!' Sophia shouted.

Yoonchae’s eyes widened slowly, '…Wait.'

Then she pointed at Megan, 'You got jealous.'

Megan looked offended, 'I do NOT get jealous.'

All the girls stared at her silently, you included.

Megan faltered slightly beneath the collective disbelief. Then immediately looked at you instead, 'She was flirting with you.'

The room went silent for half a second. Then every single girl screamed.

'OH MY GOD.' 'MEGAN’S POSSESSIVE.' 'I KNEW IT.' 'She’s actually whipped beyond repair.'

Meanwhile you were laughing so hard you physically had to lean against the counter for support while Megan buried her face into your shoulder dramatically.

'I hate all of you.'

'No you don’t.' Sophia replied instantly while stealing a chickpea directly from the pan.

Megan looked up immediately, 'HEY.'

And just like that, the apartment dissolved into chaos again. Warm, loud and crowded.

The girls arguing over who got the first doubles while music played through the speakers and Megan stayed glued to your side the entire time anyway.

Honestly? It already felt a little like home.

---

The apartment stayed loud for a long time after that. Way too loud for the size of the space, honestly.

Sophia nearly burned her tongue trying to eat the doubles too fast. Daniela somehow got pepper sauce on the sleeve of her hoodie and acted like she’d been mortally wounded. Lara kept stealing chickpeas directly from the pan every time you turned around.

Meanwhile Megan remained attached to your side like a very jealous backpack. Every few minutes her arm would slide around your waist again, or she’d lean against your shoulder, or tug lightly on your hoodie strings just because she could.

The girls noticed immediately, obviously.

Sophia pointed midway through her second doubles, 'She’s still being possessive.'

'I am NOT.'

'You literally haven’t stopped touching her for twenty minutes.'

'That’s normal.'

'That’s concerning.' Yoonchae corrected.

You laughed softly under your breath while plating another doubles carefully.

Megan just wrapped herself around your back again in retaliation.

'See?' Daniela pointed dramatically. 'Koala behaviour.'

'I hate all of you.'

'No, you don’t.' Lara said through a mouthful of food.

Watching them all squeezed around Megan’s apartment felt strangely comforting.

The girls sprawled across the couch and floor like they’d been doing this for years. Music still played softly in the background, empty grocery bags remained abandoned near the kitchen island.

And somehow, you fit into it naturally. Like there’d always been space waiting for you here.

You were rinsing dishes when Sophia suddenly spoke again, 'So when are you moving here?'

The entire apartment went quieter immediately. Not silent, but quieter.

You paused slightly at the sink. Megan froze too.

Your eyes lifted slowly toward Sophia, '…Wha’?'

Sophia shrugged casually from the couch, 'You and Megan act married already. I’m just asking for the timeline.'

'Sophia!' Megan yelped instantly, face going red.

'What?' Manon snorted. 'She’s right.'

Yoonchae pointed at you with half a doubles in her hand, 'You already have designated spots for your stuff here.'

Lara nodded seriously, 'And Megan looks physically ill whenever you leave a room.'

'I do not.'

'You followed her into the kitchen three times tonight.' Daniela deadpanned.

Megan opened her mouth, then closed it again. Because unfortunately that was true.

You tried hiding your smile while drying your hands slowly on a towel.

The girls looked at you expectantly now, waiting.

And honestly? A week ago you probably would’ve laughed the question off completely. But now…

Now the idea didn’t feel ridiculous anymore.

You leaned back lightly against the counter, '…Ah doh know yet.'

You rubbed the back of your neck slowly, 'Ah mean…' You shrugged faintly, 'Ah think about it.'

The room got very quiet.

Sophia’s jaw dropped dramatically, 'WAIT REALLY?'

You laughed nervously. 'Lil bit.'

'A LITTLE BIT?!' Daniela nearly shouted.

Megan looked like she’d stopped breathing entirely. You glanced at her briefly, recalling the exact conversation you'd already had with her, before continuing softer this time.

'Ah like it here.'

That made something warm flicker across Megan’s face instantly. You noticed. And unfortunately it made your chest ache a little too.

'But,' you added carefully, 'it complicated.'

The girls settled down slightly at your tone. Because yeah it was exciting. But, again, it was complicated.

You looked down at the towel twisting lightly between your hands, 'Moving countries not simple.'

'No.' Lara agreed gently.

'An’ if ah move here…' You laughed quietly under your breath, 'LA expensive bad.'

Daniela snorted, 'That’s true.'

'Ah would need steady work.'

'You could definitely find work though.' Sophia said quickly.

'Maybe.'

'You absolutely could.' Megan added immediately.

You glanced over at her. She was watching you carefully now. So careful that your chest tightened slightly.

'Still need time though,' you continued softly. 'Need figure out visa stuff. Need save money. Need sort tings out back home first.'

Yoonchae nodded thoughtfully, 'That makes sense.'

'An’ ah can’t just randomly move in two seconds.' You added with a small laugh.

'You'd move in here though, for sure.' Megan blurted instantly.

Every single person in the apartment turned toward her.

At hearing Megan accidentally launch it into the middle of the living room like a grenade, it made your entire face burn.

Megan froze, then slowly sank deeper into the couch cushions. '…I mean temporarily.' She muttered weakly.

Sophia screamed immediately. 'OH MY GOD.'

'You asked her to move in already?!' Daniela shouted.

'I DIDN’T.'

'You literally just did!'

Lara immediately pointed between the two of you. 'Wait... have you guys already had a conversation about this?!'

'…I—I wasn’t supposed to say that out loud.' She admitted quietly.

'No kidding.' You groaned.

Megan buried her face into a pillow while the girls dissolved into chaos again.

You couldn’t stop laughing. 'Megan.'

'What?!' Her voice came out muffled through the pillow. 'I’m being PRACTICAL.'

'You’re being whipped.' Lara corrected.

'Violently whipped.' Manon added.

You shook your head affectionately while Megan finally looked back up at you. And there it was again. That sincerity, that terrifyingly genuine hope.

'You know you could most definitely stay here though.' She said quieter this time.

The room softened immediately. No teasing, no chaos, just honesty.

Megan sat forward slightly now, elbows on her knees. 'I mean it.'

Your chest tightened. 'Baby…'

'You’d have time to figure things out,' she continued carefully. 'You wouldn’t need to rush finding an apartment right away.'

You looked at her quietly. 'And you wouldn’t be alone here.'

Something about that line hit deeper than expected. Because beneath all the jokes and clinginess and flirting, that was the real thing.

You wouldn’t be alone.

Megan kept talking softer now, 'You could work things out gradually. Find a job you actually like. Get settled properly.'

Daniela pointed suddenly, 'Wait.'

Everyone looked at her.

'You guys are having an actual adult conversation.'

Sophia gasped dramatically, 'Ew.'

That broke the tension instantly.

You laughed into your hands while Megan rolled her eyes.

'Can you all shut up for literally one second?'

'No.' Yoonchae answered immediately.

Still, the warmth lingered afterwards. Because even while the girls started arguing over the last doubles again, your mind stayed stuck on the conversation.

On the possibility of it all. And it scared you a little how much you wanted it.

---

Eight months later, LA still didn’t feel fully real sometimes. Not in a bad way. Just strange. Like you’d accidentally stepped into somebody else’s life and somehow never left.

The weirdest part? You almost had left.

A week after that night on Megan’s balcony, you’d flown back home to Trinidad with your chest hurting so badly you thought something might actually be wrong with you.

Leaving Megan at the airport had nearly killed both of you emotionally. She cried first, which immediately made you cry. Which then made both of you stand there hugging in the middle of departures looking genuinely miserable.

'I hate this.' Megan mumbled into your shoulder for probably the fiftieth time.

'Baby, ah literally comin’ back.'

'Not fast enough.'

You laughed quietly through the lump in your throat. Then kissed her again anyway, just one more time, and one more after that.

Because suddenly every goodbye felt too short.

Back home, everything had looked smaller somehow. Not worse, never worse. Just different.

Familiar streets, familiar heat wrapping around your skin the second you stepped outside the airport, familiar voices drifting through open windows.

Home, real home.

Your mother cried when she saw you. Your father nearly cracked your spine hugging you. And Kai?

Kai looked at you suspiciously for exactly three seconds before immediately checking your hands, '…Where de gift?'

You burst out laughing instantly, 'That de first ting yuh askin’?'

'You leave de country an’ come back empty-handed?'

'Ah itself is de gift.'

Kai narrowed his eyes, 'Nah.'

You grinned. Then casually added, 'Anyway, ah movin’ to LA.'

Silence.

Kai blinked slowly, '…Yuh joking.'

'Nope.'

That conversation had lasted three hours. Mostly because Kai acted personally betrayed by the entire concept, 'You cyah just move to America!'

'Apparently ah can.'

'Wha’ about me?'

'You surviving.'

'No ah not.'

Meanwhile your parents had been surprisingly calm about it. Not emotionless, definitely emotional but very supportive.

Your mother sat with you at the kitchen table late one night while paperwork covered half the surface. Visa documents, printed applications, job listings, apartment research.

You’d looked exhausted. Terrified too, honestly.

Your mother reached over and squeezed your hand gently, 'You love she.'

You stared quietly at the papers, '…Yeah.'

'And yuh happy?'

You smiled before you could stop yourself, '…Yeah.'

That had been enough for her.

The process after that moved both painfully slowly and terrifyingly fast all at once. Work shifts dragged endlessly as every customer suddenly irritated you because your brain was already somewhere else entirely.

LA, Megan, a future you could almost touch now.

You’d spent late nights scrolling job listings with Megan asleep on FaceTime beside you.

Graphic design jobs, printing companies, skate shops, creative studios. Anything remotely connected to design or skating or art.

And every single night Megan would mumble half-asleep through the phone, 'You’re gonna make it here.'

Eventually, you quit your job. That felt terrifying. Walking out after your final shift made your stomach twist so hard you thought you might throw up.

Because suddenly there was no backup plan anymore, no safety net. Just faith. Faith in yourself, faith in Megan, faith that maybe this insane decision would somehow work out.

Then one morning your visa got approved. You’d stared at the email for almost a full minute before your brain processed it properly. Then immediately screamed loud enough for Kai to come running into your room thinking somebody died.

Instead he found you crying on the floor clutching your laptop.

'…Oh.'

'AH MOVIN’.'

Kai groaned dramatically and collapsed face-first onto your bed, 'America thiefin’ everybody from me.'

Packing your life afterward felt surreal. Skateboards wrapped carefully in bubble wrap, clothes folded into boxes, posters peeled slowly from your walls.

Headphones, shoes, tiny random pieces of yourself accumulated over years. Your room slowly stopped looking like yours.

Meanwhile Megan was absolutely unbearable the entire time. She wanted updates constantly, pictures constantly, FaceTimes constantly.

One night while you were taping another box shut, she gasped loudly through the phone, 'Wait.'

You looked up suspiciously, 'Wha’?'

'THIS MEANS YOUR STUFF IS GONNA LIVE HERE.'

You burst out laughing, 'Baby, calm down.'

'No, because your hoodies are gonna be in my closet.'

'They already does end up dere somehow.'

'And your boards by the door!'

'Mhm.'

'And all of your Spider-Man stuff!'

'There it is.'

'We’re getting shelves.'

'For de boards?'

'For the Spider-Man collectibles.'

You wheezed laughing while Megan grinned proudly through the screen.

By the time the boxes finally shipped out to LA, the whole thing stopped feeling theoretical.

It was happening, it was actually happening.

Then finally, a month later, you stood in the airport again. Only this time with a one-way ticket.

Megan met you at arrivals looking seconds away from emotional collapse. The second she saw you, she genuinely started crying, again.

'Megan!'

'I can’t help it!'

You barely got your suitcase dropped before she crashed into you hard enough to nearly knock you backward.

'You’re here,' she kept repeating against your neck. 'You’re actually here.'

You couldn’t fully believe it either.

The first few months were messy, adjustment messy. You got homesick sometimes, really homesick. Certain smells, certain songs. Random moments where you missed Trinidad so hard your chest physically hurt.

Megan learned quickly how to spot it too. She’d find you quieter than usual and immediately drag you somewhere comforting. A Caribbean restaurant, a beach, a late-night drive with soca playing too loud.

Sometimes she’d just hold you quietly in bed while you talked about home.

And through all of it, she never made you feel guilty for missing somewhere else. That mattered more than she probably realised.

Work took longer. Applications, interviews, freelance jobs first, small design gigs, custom graphics for local skate shops, sticker designs, t-shirt prints, logos.

Eventually one company noticed your work properly. A skate and streetwear brand looking for somebody who could do both graphic design and physical print work. Boards, signs, merch, clothing, everything.

You’d walked out of the interview trying very hard not to throw up from nerves. Then got the call two days later, you got the job.

You screamed so loudly Megan thought somebody got hurt. Instead she found you crying in the kitchen holding your phone, again.

Apparently you cried a lot now. LA had done that to you.

Now? Life finally felt steadier. Not perfect, but real.

You woke up beside Megan almost every morning, your skateboards actually did line the apartment walls now, half the closet belonged to you as the Spider-Man problem had spread aggressively throughout the apartment despite Megan pretending to complain about it.

You paid for groceries now, bills sometimes too. Megan still argued every single time you tried sending her money.

'You live here too.' You’d insist.

'You’re my girlfriend.' She’d argue back.

'And?'

'And I like taking care of you.'

'Baby.'

Eventually you compromised. Mostly because you started making enough money that Megan physically couldn’t stop you anymore.

Your designs started getting printed onto actual boards in stores.

The first time you saw one hanging in a shop window, you stood there staring at it for almost ten minutes. A girl from Trinidad, designing skateboards in LA, actually building a life here.

It still felt impossible sometimes.

But at night, when you came home exhausted and found Megan asleep on the couch waiting for you, or when the girls crowded the apartment for movie nights, or when you caught yourself automatically calling LA 'home' during phone calls with your parents…

You realised something quietly.

You hadn’t lost your old life, you’d just built another one too.

---

The apartment was finally quiet. No rehearsal schedules, no screaming girls stealing your food, no deadlines. Just soft rain tapping faintly against the windows and the distant glow of LA stretching endlessly outside.

You padded back into the bedroom carefully balancing two mugs of tea while Megan sat against the headboard waiting for you.

The second she saw you, her entire face softened. There it is, that look, the one she still got after all these months. Like she couldn’t fully believe you were real.

You smiled immediately, 'Wha’?'

'You made me tea.'

You snorted quietly while climbing onto the bed beside her, 'Baby, is literally tea.'

'Made by you, though.'

'Mhm.'

She took the mug from your hands carefully before instantly leaning over to kiss your cheek, then your jaw, then the corner of your mouth. Just because she could.

You laughed softly, 'Yuh extra affectionate tonight.'

'I’m always affectionate.'

'Yuh clingy.'

'And you love it.'

She was right.

The blankets tangled around both of you almost immediately once you settled properly. Your legs slid beneath hers automatically while Megan tucked herself against your side like she belonged there.

Because, honestly, she did.

Your apartment looked lived in now. Not hers, yours. Both of yours.

Your skateboards lined one wall beside framed posters and random prints from your job, hoodies mixed together in the closet, tea mugs left beside the sink earlier from that morning. Tiny pieces of a shared life everywhere.

Megan rested her chin against your shoulder while blowing gently across her tea, 'You smell like paint again.'

You laughed quietly, 'Work.'

'I like it.'

'Mhm.'

'It smells like you.'

That made your chest ache a little.

You turned your head slightly and kissed her forehead softly, then her cheek, then finally her mouth.

Megan immediately melted into you with a tiny happy sigh, 'There she is.'

You murmured against her lips.

'My favourite person.'

You smiled helplessly, 'Yuh real cheesy these days.'

'These days?' She looked offended, 'I’ve always been cheesy.'

'Yuh not wrong.'

She grinned proudly before kissing you again anyway. Small kisses this time, one after another. On the cheek, jaw, nose and then your mouth. Like she physically couldn’t stop touching you.

Eventually you settled back properly against the pillows while Megan half laid across your chest.

The rain outside got a little heavier, the apartment stayed warm.

You ran your fingers slowly through her damp hair while she traced lazy shapes against your stomach beneath your hoodie.

Then you let out quietly, 'Ah think Kai finally stop bein’ mad at meh.'

Megan laughed softly, 'No he didn’t.'

'He still upset ah didn’t bring back gifts.'

'You moved across the world and that still wasn’t enough for him.'

'Ungrateful.'

She smiled against your shoulder, 'When’s he visiting again?'

'Summer probably.'

Megan perked up immediately, 'Really?'

'Mhm. Him and meh parents wanna come see LA.'

Her face lit up instantly, 'Oh my god wait that’s actually gonna be so fun.'

You laughed softly at how excited she looked, 'Yuh already planning.'

'Obviously.'

She sat up slightly now, fully invested, 'We have to take them everywhere.'

'Everywhere?'

'Yes.'

'Baby, LA huge.'

'And?'

You snorted.

Megan started counting dramatically on her fingers, 'The beach, the studio, your work, my work... maybe and your skating spots.'

'Yuh forgetting Kai only care about food.'

'That’s true.'

'And annoying meh.'

'That too.'

You both laughed quietly. Then her expression softened again while looking at you.

'You know…' she murmured, 'sometimes I still randomly remember you actually live here now.'

Your chest warmed instantly, 'Yeah?'

'Mhm.'

She tucked herself closer again immediately, 'Like earlier today when I walked into the kitchen and your tea mug was already there.'

You smiled faintly.

'And your shoes by the door,' she continued softly, 'And your boards everywhere. And your little Spider-Man stuff slowly taking over my apartment.'

'Our apartment.'

Megan froze, then looked up at you so fast you nearly laughed, '…Our apartment?'

You immediately got shy, 'Ah mean—'

'No, no,' She grabbed your face instantly, 'Say it again.'

You burst out laughing while she kissed you before you could dodge away.

'Our apartment,' she repeated happily against your mouth, 'Oh my god.'

'Megan—'

'You called it ours!'

'Cause it is ours!'

She looked genuinely emotional about it, actually emotional.

You cupped her cheek gently while smiling softer now, 'Baby.'

'I’m happy.' She admitted quietly.

The sincerity in her voice hit you immediately. Not loud, not dramatic, just real.

'I know life gets crazy sometimes,' she continued softly, fingers threading through yours beneath the blanket, 'And work is stressful and schedules suck and we’re both tired all the time…'

She looked at you carefully, 'But I really love this life with you.'

Your chest hurt instantly. The good kind of hurt. The kind that made you realise how lucky you were.

You leaned forward slowly and kissed her again, longer this time.

Your hand sliding gently into her hair while hers rested warm against your neck. When you pulled back, she chased one more tiny kiss automatically, then another.

You laughed quietly against her lips, 'Yuh addicted.'

'To you? Extremely.'

You shook your head affectionately while pulling her back down against your chest again.

For a while neither of you spoke. Just listened to the rain and held each other.

Megan eventually traced tiny circles against your ribs absentmindedly, '…You know what my favourite part is?'

You hummed softly, 'Wha’?'

'You came back.'

Your throat tightened unexpectedly.

Megan kissed your cheek gently, 'Even when it was scary.'

You looked down at her quietly, '…Worth it though.'

Her eyes softened immediately, 'Yeah?'

You smiled before pressing another soft kiss to her forehead, 'Yeah, baby.'

And wrapped up together beneath warm blankets, tea slowly cooling beside the bed, rain falling outside your shared apartment in LA—

You realised something quietly. You were happy too.