ace

“That was awesome, Harley!” 

“Yeah,” Harley shrugged. “I’m kind of insanely talented.”

Persephone found her best karaoke partner yet

As always, Persephone had to talk through her boy problems with Kinley. 

“--And he’s all like ‘you need to grow’ and stuff like that. Being all mature about it. But I’m different now. I’m ready. I just want him.”

Kinley looked at her skeptically. “I think he’s right here. Let yourself not be focused on a guy for once.”

“I didn’t excel at college and excel in my career and publish a bunch of research papers because I’m only focused on guys.”

“You know what I mean. He wants you to find yourself.”

“I wish he wouldn’t be so mature all the time. I even brought him back to my apartment from the romance festival and he stopped it from going any further.”

“You what?”

Persephone realized too late she wasn’t meant to let Kinley know about that. “We only kissed. Like I said, he stopped it.”

Kinley shook her head. “You’re a beautiful, smart lost cause, Persephone.”

Persephone and Ray meetup often to go to the gym together, which gives them a chance to catch up on what is going on in each other’s lives.

“Harley is fitting into school nicely,” Ray said. “But she loves threatening anyone by saying her sister is a judge and can put them in jail.”

“I’ve missed you.”

“You have no idea how much I want this. But the Sakura Tea... I want to know that you’re really in the present moment, Persephone. We can’t go any further tonight. I’m sorry.”

And because he can never say no to her, he showed up.

“I’ve given it more time,” Persephone said.

Randolph couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s only been a few days.”

“That’s time.”

“This is the Sakura Tea talking.”

“No,” She replied. “You took so long to get here the effects have worn off. This is all me.”

Randolph didn’t believe her but let her move in closer.

“All the promotions and research papers and money in the world can’t compare to how I feel about you,” She continued. “Why should we waste what precious time we have together by pushing each other away?”

Randolph chuckled. “Did you rehearse this?”

“My apartment is right there. Let’s just go somewhere quiet.”

Fueled by a mixture of the Romance Guru’s words and the Sakura Tea, Persephone made a call.

“I know, I know,” She quickly said. “But hear me out.”

Another trip to the romance festival means another risky visit to the Romance Guru.

“A wise man once said: ‘What is love? Love hurts? Love is love... so go and love.’“

Persephone let his words sink in. “For once I think I like what you’re saying.”

Persephone made sure that Randolph was the last to leave so that they could have a moment to talk alone.

“How have things been for you?” She asked.

“They’ve been good,” He replied. “And for you?”

“Really good. But I do miss you. I never let myself have a moment to myself because I know I’ll just end up calling you.”

Randolph looked away from her, suddenly seeming tired. “It’s been barely any time, Persephone,” He muttered. “Give it a bit more time. For me.” 

He left shortly after that, and the day ended not as well as Persephone had hoped.

Persephone invited her Debate Guild friends to see the new apartment. In order to maintain a feeling of normalcy, she invited everyone, including Randolph. 

“We should’ve all predicted Persephone Ash would get an apartment all in pink,” Elliana remarked.

“I figured I might as well have some fun before I get a proper apartment,” Persephone replied, laughing alongside them.

And welcome the newest edition of the family: Harley Ash. Leila and Ray finally took the next step they have been talking about forever and adopted.

“If you ever have any problems, just call me,” Persephone told her. “I’m a judge. That means I know people. I can get you out of any problem. And your mom Ray raised me too. So I know exactly how to handle her.”

Harley smiled conspiratorially. “Perfect.”

The two instantly got along like they had known each other forever.

And Persephone moved into her first apartment and started her new job as a judge. She spends her days working or visiting with friends and family. Everything was going exactly as she had dreamed of.

And thus Persephone’s college experience ended with her getting a degree in history (with honors).

“Quick, let’s take a picture of us three together. Look fierce.”

Finally Randolph spoke. “I forgave you the second I walked away, Persephone. Did you really think I was harboring some deep rage against you? I would’ve thought you’d known that I could never feel any negativity towards you for long.”

Persephone frowned as tears threatened to fall.

He continued, “I don’t know what you were thinking and I don’t want to know. I don’t need to know. Nothing could ever change the way I feel about you.” Persephone’s heart skipped a beat. “And that’s the issue... I’m a logical man, you know that. But with you, reason is tossed out the window. You could hurt me every single day and I’d still kiss you goodnight.”

Persephone’s voice wavered as she asked, “So what are you saying?”

“Take time for yourself, Persephone. Get that little starter apartment in the city and decorate it as pink as you want because you know you won’t be there for long. Excel at your job and become the strong, assertive judge I know you will be. And don’t worry about me. I’ll wait for you. I’ll wait for as long as you need. Because right now, we won’t work. You’ll hurt me and I’ll let you. And if you decide you don’t want me, that’s fine too. Everything is up to you. I just ask that you give it time.”

Persephone nodded and buried her face in his shoulder in a tight embrace. “I love you,” She whispered. Randolph held her tighter.

Once they were alone, Persephone recited her speech.

“I just needed to talk to you. We graduate tomorrow and so I don’t know if I’ll ever see you again... Since it’ll be much easier to avoid me when we aren’t living in the same small college campus. So I just have to tell you all this now.”

She took a deep breath and continued. “I was stupid and immature and selfish and wasn’t thinking through my actions. You had done nothing but care about me and I had betrayed your trust. I don’t have a good reason for what I did and I’m not going to try to come up with one because there is no reasonable and fair explanation for my actions. But I need you to know that I was so stupid and that I have never regretted anything more in my life. I had essentially lost my mom when I was younger but that didn’t even hurt as much as losing you did. You’re all I think about, Randy. And I just need you to know that I love you.”

Randolph was silent, keeping the bored expression he had equipped throughout her speech on his face. 

Persephone sighed. “I get it. I don’t expect you to forgive me or take me back. I just needed you to know all that.”

Persephone left the building and heading outside. 

“Why do you want me down there?” Randolph asked. “Are you planning on throwing me in the river?” 

“No,” Persephone replied. “Unless the situation calls for it. It would just be a last minute decision though, not premeditated.”

“Less jail time?”

“I wouldn’t go to jail. With my debate skills, I could convince them to throw your corpse in jail. Just please come down.”

That produced a small smile from Randolph. “Okay, okay. I’ll talk. What is it?”

It’s their last debate meeting before they graduate and Persephone feels as though her grief is fresh and stronger than ever. Seeing Bradford at the podium reminded her of everything she loved about him. 

But she wasn’t the only one distracted. Bradford was so preoccupied with Persephone’s obvious distress that he put forth the worst debate of his life.

Once he was done, Persephone approached him. “Can we talk?” She asked. “Somewhere private?”