August 30th.

Massachusetts, Cambridge.

8:00am, Sarah and Carinas Dorm Room.

He shook the bag so the contents rustled lightly. Hopefully, the smell of sweet chocolate and still warm pull apart pastry would linger out of the bag and be a comfortable, rather pleasant way to wake up.

That's what he was hoping for.

It started to work he noticed, when her eyes seemed to tighten even closer together, and a small, slightly adorable moan escaped. Asking the world if she really, really had to get up yet.

"Chocolate crossiaaaants..." He drew out the last word in his morning tone. One he had perfected just for her. A warm, soft, slow voice. If he was too loud and over enthused she'd probably whack him for waking her up too quickly. Summer wasn't so bad. But winter time was a little more tricky. 'It was to cold' she would mumble out still half asleep, clasp on to him as if her life depended on it.

But then there was the one time when she stayed over at his and he did the ol' gentle jabs in her side.

Never again.

She had some serious reflexes and landing on his luckily carpeted floor wasn't his preferred way of getting out of bed.

She definitely woke up after that though. After the dull thud on the ground and Chucks shocked, drawn out 'owww' woke her up enough to apologise. He may have milked it a bit but her apology was well worth any fall.

The paper bag with the delightful little treats touched her nose gently, trying to see if the smell was stronger a little nearer to her.

Bingo.

She crept her hand out from under her blankets and clasped at the bag, crinkling the folded down top in her fist.

His smile disappeared though, when she moved her hand over to the other side of her bed and dropped the bag.

Maybe not bingo.

"Damn." He shook his head ready to apologise for waking her up. He thought he really had it sussed this time.

"Morning Sarah...sorry about waking you up."

But then her hand came back and lifted up to curl around the back of his neck. He was on his knees and her gentle pull forced him to lean his upper half on her bed.

Her eyes were slowly opening properly, but before he could see even the faintest flash of blue he was completely on her bed, lips on hers and being kissed rather enthusiastically.

Ok. So, so, sooo bingo.

She pushed at his chest gently as their lips parted and she let her forehead rest against his. Her eyes remained closed for a few seconds longer, then she leaned back a little and gazed at him with still slightly sleepy eyes.

"Good morning Chuck."

"Hey Sarah." He blinked a little then swiped a hand through his messy hair.

He kneeled back down on the carpet ready to ask her how her first night was. He was planning on coming to see her last night but his parents plane became delayed and he ended up spending a lot longer at the airport than he expected. He didn't mind though, he wouldn't see his parents in a while and he was pretty sure his mom was silently praying that the plane got completely canceled for the day.

Then he realised that Sarah was probably wondering how on earth he even got into her room.

"You accidentally left your spare key in my room yesterday." He quickly explained. "So I thought it would be nice to come and see you this morning since it's your first morning waking up alone. And, but.. is that a little weird? I mean I thought it'd be OK..I guess, I guess I should have probably knocked."

"Accidentally," she replied with a smirk.

"Huh?"

"Nothing," she shook her head, still smiling. "You bought me croissants?" She turned and grabbed the bag, sitting up in bed.

"Yeah!" He nodded and sat up on the edge of her bed. "I went to a small café about a ten minute walk from here. It was amazing walking past and smelling them so you know, thought I'd get us something."

"Wait." Sarah looked at him with a raised eyebrow, while opening the brown bag. "You went for a walk? How long have you been up for?"

"Well it is eight," he quickly checked his watch. "Fifteen and you know? We don't start today so I thought I'd make the most of it..we could go look around the town if-" Chuck suddenly stopped talking when Sarah flung out of the covers and crawled over him, not exactly gently. Her knee connecting with his groin a little painfully.

"Oww...!..What? What is it?" He almost toppled off the too small, single bed.

"Shit! Shit! I mean shoot, shoot!" She started racing around pulling open her new draws that she neatly folded her clothes into the night before. "Oh my freaken god! I'm late!"

"For what!?" His eyes darting back and forth, going big and wide when she quickly started stripping in front of him. He coughed a little.

"Class!"

"We don't start today?" He said rather confused. She was pulling up her stockings so fast that he was sure she was going to rip a hole in them.

"You don't but I do!" She said throwing on her flowery short dress. "We have some stupid meet and greet. And I am late! We started at eight!" She ran into her small mirror rummaging through her makeup bag. "Stupid alarm clock didn't freaken work."

Chucks eyes glanced to her bed side table. "Ah..i think it did it looks like you pressed snooze.."

"What?" She called as she turned around, brushing the make up brush over her cheeks.

"No-nothing," he quickly said. "Stupid alarm clock."

"Is my make up OK? I didn't even get to have a shower and my hair is so knotty!" She quickly brought her hair up into the messiest of buns. "Late and I look like a mess on my first day."

"You look beautiful," Chuck truthfully told her. "You don't even need makeup. But it does look good."

"Is it even?" She asked, standing a little closer to him.

"Is what in even?"

"My makeup!"

"I..uh yes? Very, uh, very even." Chuck nodded. "Beautiful..even."

Despite her lateness he made her smile. "You're so biased."

He was about to reply when she threw her satchel over her shoulder and slipped her feet into some black, laced up canvas shoes.

"Bye!" She called.

"Bye!" He stood up and held the bag of croissants. "I guess you don't want one of...and she's gone. Ok.." He stood a little awkwardly in her room. "Right."

"I will take one!" She quickly jogged back in opened the bag in his hand and plucked a still warm chocolate croissant out. "Thank you!"

His smile grew as he watched her leave for the second time. "You're welcome. I love you..and OK, you're gone again..."

He turned around, looking at the blankets strayed out on the floor. Deciding to make her bed for her he leant down to pick up the fitting sheet when he heard another set of footsteps.

"What'd you forget this tim-"

She leant up, a little breathless and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. "I love you too." Her smile softened. "Heaps."

He wanted to, more than anything wrap her in his arms and suggest that she already fake a sicky. But he checked his watch again and grabbed her by the shoulders. Turning her around he gave her a gentle push. "Go!"

"Bye!" She grinned over her shoulder as she left the room again, hopefully for the last time.

Although, Chuck wouldn't really mind.

"Ugh. Do you guys have to be so noisy?"

Chuck flung around with the bed sheet in his hand. "Carina!?" The confusion was clear in his voice. "What are you doing here?"

"..." Carina walked over and flopped out on Sarah's bed. "You know Sarah and I got a double room right?" She pointed to the flowery room separator. Both her and Sarah weren't too sure on the curtain that hung down the middle of their room. But they thought they'd give it a go.

Chuck slapped his forehead. "I can't believe I forgot." He laughed a little. "When I came through the door I saw the curtain but I didn't really think about it."

"Can you pull it down?"

"What the curtain?"

"Yeah," Carina nodded. "It's like we're in hospital."

Chuck agreed and unhooked the curtain. "I'm surprised you guys even put it up."

"One of the women down stairs gave it to us. Insisting it was a good idea and that we needed privacy."

"Hmm," Chuck shrugged and folded up the material. "How's Morgan?"

"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" Carina pulled a face as she sat up from the bed and let out a long yawn.

"I was asking you because you know, you guys kind of sort of date? No?" Chuck really wasn't sure where Carina and Morgan stood. Morgan was still a little nervous around her when it came to the 'dating' aspect. So Chuck promised he'd try to do a little digging.

"Chuck. No. You are not good at getting information out of people so don't even try." Carina stated. "Sarah agrees with me."

"I, I wasn't even trying!"

''Whatever." Carina walked over and looked through her still packed suitcase. "I can't believe Sarah has to go today."

"Yeah I know." Chuck nodded,giving up on the idea of trying to help Morgan. He finished pulling up the covers on Sarah's bed.

"Are you making her bed?" Carina snorted a laugh. "Wait. You didn't stay over did you!?"

"Nah," Chuck shook his head. "I wouldn't do that to you." He grinned.

"Good." Carina pointed at him. "Because I don't want to hear-"

"Carina I get it." Chuck blushed. "I'm gonna go now.."

"You're such a prude!"

"I am not!" Chuck backed towards the door.

"Wait!" Carina quickly held the door open. "I'm hanging out with you and Morgan today. So meet me at the dining room."

Sarah liked to socialize. She wouldn't call herself a social butterfly but she usually found it pretty easy to make friends. She would be lying though, if she said she wasn't nervous for her first day at uni. A new class, new people, a new town. It was a lot to take in.

And turning up late to her first lecture of the year didn't help.

Her eyes scanned the room quickly. That terribly awkward moment of the door opening, pausing the rooms conversations. The professor, with thinning grey hair and blacked rimmed glasses turned to her.

"Hello there!"

"Hi.." She lifted her strap of her satchel up her shoulder, a nervous habit she's had since she was thirteen. "Sorry I'm late."

"Not at all, not at all. It's always a little tricky to find your way on the first day."

Sarah smiled a little. The room looked nice, a lot different to her last years classrooms It was so odd seeing all these faces looking back at her and not recognising any of them. Not even Jackson. Yeah, apparently he got some 'other opportunities' presented to him at Stanford university. Which Sarah was secretly, or not so secretly, happy about. Seeing him at school and out and about after his obvious flirting and her, regretfully, letting him do it was just awkward. She couldn't even look at him again.

"Take a seat." The professor broke her out of her thoughts and gestured towards the seats going up in levels.

"Uh OK, thanks." Sarah nodded and walked to the closest seat up the front.

As she placed her bag on the floor next to her she glanced up at the middle two rows. Either the girls sitting in the back row of seats had known each other before or they were very quick to make friends.

She felt nervous and she hated it. She didn't want feel this. She hadn't felt like this since her first year at elementary school.

She felt shy.

Dammit. Relax. It's my first day. I can do this.

"Alright," The man clapped his hands. "I know you're all going to groan and moan but lets start with a nice meet and greet."

Oh man.

"Now, this is not High School any more so you can call me Robert, or Mr Arbuckle.I'm a law professor and-"

I wonder what Chucks doing.

Chuck ruffled his hair with his towel trying to dry the ends, before he flopped down on his pillow. The communal bathrooms were a little to get use to and his shirt was still damp from it falling on the wet floor.

Him, Morgan and Carina had a rather entertaining day to say the least. His ear drums were still pounding from the piercing voice over the speakerphone every twenty seconds. Letting people know what was on offer for the orientation week and what activities the university board had planned. There was even a concert that night which Morgan and Carina seemed particularly thrilled about.

He didn't know if Sarah would be up for it though, she still hadn't arrived back from her first day. He was sure she would have been back at twelve but her text at lunch told him she would be late back, having to 'get to know the other students' and 'touring the uni'.

Apparently it took over nine hours.

His sympathy for her was undeniable.

With his back on the mattress and his head laying on his pillow he thought that he could get use to this. Peace and quiet when he wanted it. Ready cooked meals at six every night. Although that was yet to be judged. And studying something he was genuinely interested in...yet to be judged too. But from his first day, he liked this place.

The knock on the door jolted him out of bed quickly and he opened it wide. Sarah seemed to sigh in relief when he answered and she immediately moved herself into his chest, wrapping her arms around his waist and burying her face into his shirt as if she wanted to hide from the world.

"Are you OK?" He asked as his forehead crinkled into a concerned frown.

When she didn't answer he wrapped his arms around her back and kicked the door shut with his foot.

He held her for a long minute, before speaking again.

"Hey?" He unwrapped his arms from her and placed them on her shoulders. Gently pulling her off him he studied her face. "It wasn't that bad was it?" He was suddenly very worried for his first day.

She swallowed and shook her head. "No.." She cleared her throat as she looked up at him. "I don't know." She looked a little pale.

"Was it a long day? Come sit down." He led her over to his bed where she sat on the edge of it and stared down at her hands.

"It was long," Sarah nodded then wiped her eyes with the palms of her hands. "And I'm being stupid."

"You're not being stupid." Chuck assured her as he wrapped his arm back around her shoulders. "First day of university is of course going to be scary, different and you know it always starts bad

"Yeah," Sarah nodded. "All the girls are like...loud. Which is good," Sarah quickly said. "If you want to study law, sure. But it's like they knew each other before class even started." She continued. "I was literally the girl in movies who sits by herself all day."

"You didn't talk to anyone?"

Sarah shrugged. "I missed you."

He gave her a small smile. "I missed you."

"It's kind of weird not having you in my class." Sarah replied as she glanced around his room. "Or Carina, Steph, Georgia.."

Chuck gave her an encouraging smile. "It'll get better I promise."

"You promise me do you?" Sarah ducked her head a little and looked up at him.

"Yup. Did you not know I can see into the future? Tomorrow will be a grand day."

Sarah bit her lip to stop her grin. "I don't have to go back till next week," her mood brightened a little. "Anyway, you're right." She stood from the bed and spun to face him. "Everyone's first days suck. Ok not for Amy but-"

"Who's Amy?"

"Think of Jill and Heather...combined."

Chuck joked with a dramatic shiver. "I feel for you."

"I don't mean to act judgemental," Sarah said. "I'm sure she's nice. I just, I'm not sure we have the same...interest..or the same I don't know."

"Why? What kind of interest does she have?"

Sarah smiled a little. "Let's just say she talks loudly...about girl things and things that would make me blush in front of you."

His grin turned curious. "Tell me!"

"No!"

"Come on..." Chuck wriggled his eye brows as he bounced on the bed. "I want to know what would make you blush in front of me."

Sarah turned on her heels and rolled her eyes. "Lets just say she's not a virgin."

"...neither are you."

Sarah smiled at him. "I know. You think I don't know that?"

"Ha!" Chuck laughed. "I know you know I know that you know."

"Ugh." Sarah shook her head as she opened up his wardrobe. "Too tired for your childish ways."

"I have you know Sarah, that this.." He stood up from his bed and pointed at himself. "This is full-grown man."

"Your shaving cream and razor say it all." Sarah grinned to herself as she peeked into his wardrobe, impressed that his clothes were already all neatly folded away.

Chuck patted his cheeks. "Seriously I don't know why I was the last one out of everyone to start getting a beard."

"Stubble."

"Huh?"

"You didn't grow a beard you started getting stubble." She smirked.

"Oh hey, you just wait." Chuck gave her a playful look. "Watcha looking for anyway?"

"Nothing," Sarah answered as she took his gray Radiohead shirt out from its shelf.

He smiled. "Such a stealer."

"Mmhm," Sarah nodded. "I'm going to go and have a sit down shower for an hour."

"The best kind of showers." Chuck agreed.

"What's for dinner?"

"Apparently it's meatloaf."

Sarah nodded. "I'm feeling neutral. What about you?"

"I'm willing to give it a try."

"Yeah. OK, well I'm off." Sarah said as she walked past him running her fingers along his chest.

"Oh..OK.." Chuck nodded.

Sarah smirked as she opened his front door. "Care to join me?"

"I, uh, I ….wh-wait what?"

"JOKING!" Sarah blushed. "I was just kidding..Like, we haven't-you..we haven't had-" She paused for a second. "We have communal showers."

"Oh yeah!" Chuck nodded and had to laugh. "I just had one and you know-" he tilted his head slightly giving her that look that made all her bones feel like a pile of goo. "You know I love you."

"Yeah..." Sarah nodded then cleared her throat. "I'll see you at dinner." She closed the door and quickly bolted for the stair case.

"Sarah!" Carina almost bumped into her friend. "How was your first day?"

Sarah looked up. "Carina!"

"Are you OK?" Carina raised an eyebrow. "You're really red."

Sarah hung her head back as they climbed the stairs. "I just made a joke to Chuck and it kind of... It was a lame sort of joke."

Carina looked at Sarah, interested. "Try it on me."

"What?" Sarah asked as they started walking out through the courtyard.

"The joke, try it on me. I'll see if I laugh."

Sarah smiled a little. "...No it's OK."

"Ohh..." Carina grinned widely. "It's one of those jokes."

"What jokes?" Sarah asked as they climbed the stairs to their floor.

"A sex joke."

"I do not say sex jokes."

"But you do, do Chuck."

Sarah couldn't help but laugh. "You're ridiculous you know that?"

Carina stayed silent as they walked past a group of people. "How did law go?"

Sarah shrugged. "Ask me in a weeks time."

"That bad?"

"I'm exaggerating."

"Are you homesick?"

"Wha-ha..already? No!"

Carina raised her eyebrows but chose to ignore the high pitch 'no'. "Why have you got one of Chucks shirts?"

"I dunno.." Sarah responded as she unlocked their room door and chucked the shirt on the bed. "You got rid of the curtain I see."

"It was horrible," Carina replied as she sat down on the bean bag she stole from her house before leaving.

"Yeah," Sarah laughed. "We don't need it."

"So what's up with you and Chuck then? You're still red."

Sarah rolled her eyes as she fell on her bed.

"Like a beetroot," Carina continued.

"OK thank you!" Sarah stopped her friend. "It's nothing."

"Hmm..."

"Hmm?"

"You know Sarah. We live together now, I'm your best friend and you need to remember that I will do anything for you."

"I don't forget any of that."

"Good." Carina smiled. "You don't have to tell me everything but I find myself to be quite the listener."

Sarah grinned. "You have the job Carina," she teased.

Sarah and Carina walked down the hall with two of their neighbours in the residence hall. A girl, Jenny, who was from Japan and going to medical school at Harvard. She had a quiet confidence about herself which Sarah liked.

The other girl was Rebecca who seemed just as genuinely nice as Jenny. She was from Texas and Sarah had almost already fallen in love with her accent.

Both girls hadn't known each other before but made sure to send a few emails to each other when they found out they were room mates.

"That's pretty cool you are both going to medical school." Sarah said as they came to the end of the stairs.

"Yeah. At least your late night study sessions will be in sync."

"That's a good point," Rebecca laughed. "Um, do y'all know where we even have dinner?"

"I think we may have to go down there.." Jenny pointed to the light at the end of a small corridor.

"Yeah that looks right." Carina nodded. "I can hear people."

They made their way down the hall and opened the door to the well-lit room with large tables spread out. There were about fifteen plus people and it reminded Sarah exactly of last years school cafeteria.

"I can smell meatloaf," Rebecca guessed. "That or something meaty."

"Hey there's Chuck and Morgan." Carina pointed them out. "Typical already eating."

Sarah chuckled as she watched Chuck chewing enthusiastically. "Do you guys want to come sit with us or..?"

"Yeah?" Rebecca asked and looked at Jenny who seemed almost relieved at the idea. "Yeah we will thanks."

"Hey! Carina, Sarah!" Morgan jumped up. "Sit, sit.. hey you guys have already made friends? Why am i not surprised."

"This is Jenny and Rebecca," Carina introduced. "They are going to medical school and no Morgan, please no-"

"Oh! Really?" Morgan cut her off. "I have this really sore arm recently and I was wondering if-"

"We haven't even been to one class yet!" Rebecca laughed. "I don't think we can diagnose you yet, sorry."

"Damn worth a try." Morgan shrugged. "I'm Morgan by the way and this guy is Chuck Bartowski... the yin to Sarah's Yang."

Sarah sat herself down next to Chuck and reached for his hand under the table It was warm and soft, comfortable. "Thanks Morgan." She laughed quietly.

"Oh are you two going out?" Rebecca asked. "How long have you been together?"

"We like to think of them already married," Carina grinned.

"Nine months?" Sarah looked at Chuck. "I think?"

"November the 15th," Chuck nodded. "That's when took you out and- and then I asked you if you wanted to make it more regular..I can't remember if i actually asked her if she wanted to be my girlfriend." Chuck said looking back at Jenny and Rebecca. "But that night was, you know probably where id say we got together." Chuck dug his fork around on his plate. "Best night ever."

Carina looked at their two new friends and raised her eyebrows, silently telling them to get use to it.

"Sentimental is this guys middle name," Morgan said breaking the quiet atmosphere.

"Oh my god!" Rebecca finally blurted out as looked at Jenny then the others and back to Chuck and Sarah. "You guys are to fregin cute!"

"So 15th of November huh?" Sarah asked as she hugged his arm. They were in the common room making use of the pool table and couches and large screen tv. There was a large group of them there. All the freshmen trying to get to know at least a few people early on.

They were meant to go to a concert but the weather decided to be a little nasty so it was postponed until tomorrow

Chuck turned around from the bookshelf and gave her a crooked smile. "I seriously have a babbling problem."

"Was it really your best night ever?"

"That an every other night with you since."

She crinkled her eyes a little and looked down at the floor. "I love you." She looked back at him and gave him her most radiant smile.

A clap of thunder made her jump a little. "Woah that was loud."

"Hey," Chuck looked at her. "You haven't said much tonight- woah OK that one was almost scary." He said as the loud rumble continued.

"Chuck," Sarah said looking up at him.

"Yeah?"

"I get homesick."

10:00pm

Carina and Sarah's room.

"Second night in and he's already staying over." Carina said out loud.

"I swear you won't even notice me." Chuck called back.

"You know you guys could have just stayed in Chucks room."

"I'm not ditching you," Sarah said as she rested her head on Chucks chest. "Especially not in this weather."

Carina smiled in the dark. She was extremely thankful that Sarah didn't decide to stay in Chucks room. "Thanks."

"You could always invite Morg-"

"You said I wouldn't notice you!"

Chuck quickly buttoned his lips, "Mmfsorry."

"I wonder if you're even allowed to share rooms here." Carina said. "Especially with boys. I bet you there's some sort of rule."

"Probably is," Sarah murmured as she wiggled herself in her new Radiohead t-shirt to get comfy.

"It's weird being away from home."

Sarah agreed. She was definitely a family, mom and dad person. She already missed them. "It took me about five nights of solid effort and stamina to get mom to learn the basics of Skype."

Carina chuckled. "I love your mom but she is hopeless on the computer."

"Tell me about it."

"Is Chucksicle asleep?"

Sarah draped her arm across Chucks torso and smiled when she felt his hand trace circles along her back. "Remember he's banned from talking?"

"Oh yeah!" Carina chuckled. "So Sarah do you remember when you told me that Chuck wa-"

"No! No shut up I don't know what you're talking about."

"What's this?" Chuck spoke up.

"Chuck no." Sarah warned. "Carina I will put that curtain up if you don't stop talking right now."

Carina laughed loudly."Oooo, the curtain."

Sarah chuckled. It was hardly a threat.

"Stupid curtain."