The drama was behind them now.
At least for a while.
With Emily gone and the whispers quieted, Michelle finally had space to breathe. The sun was shining, the campus felt softer, and her heart was finally calm.
And Steve… Steve was still there.
Even more present than before.
A Quiet Escape
Steve had texted her that morning:"Pack your hoodie and wear comfy shoes. I'm kidnapping you (romantically)."
Michelle smiled at the message, excitement buzzing in her chest.
An hour later, he picked her up and drove them out of the city. They ended up at a hidden trailhead near a lake, surrounded by tall trees and soft birdsong.
"I thought you could use a break," Steve said, lacing his fingers with hers.
"You thought right," she replied, leaning her head on his shoulder as they walked.
A Lake, A Boat, A Moment
He'd even arranged for a small rowboat. It was a little clumsy, a little crooked, but perfect.
Michelle laughed as she wobbled getting in. Steve steadied her with both hands, teasing, "I promise not to let you fall in… unless you push me first."
They floated to the middle of the lake, just them, the ripples, and the breeze.
Michelle let her fingers drift through the water.
Steve leaned back, watching her.
"You look happy," he said softly.
She turned to him. "I am."
He leaned in, their foreheads touching.
"I don't say this lightly, Michelle," he whispered. "But I think I'm falling in love with you."
Her breath caught.
Then she smiled, heart wide open.
"I think I already have."
A Kiss That Said Everything
The boat rocked gently as their lips met — slow, deep, and full of everything they'd both been too afraid to say until now.
It wasn't rushed.
It wasn't perfect.
But it was real.
And when they pulled back, both smiling like fools, the world felt still — like nothing and no one else existed but them.
Sunset Promises
They sat on the shore as the sky turned orange and pink, his arms around her, her head tucked under his chin.
"I want more days like this," she whispered.
"Then we'll have them," he said.
"Even after college?"
He smiled down at her. "Especially after."
Michelle closed her eyes, heart full.
Because sometimes, after the storm, comes a calm so beautiful… it feels like falling in love all over again.