Chapter 34: Whispers in the Orchard

"My dad actually asked me point-blank today if I had finally decided where I'm applying for college next fall," James murmured into the serene quiet of the night, his fingers idly tracing absent patterns across the fabric of Lily's jacket sleeve. Lily went completely still for a fraction of a second, the practical, looming reality of their upcoming high school graduation pressing heavily against the romantic bubble they had built over the past few days. "What did you tell him?" she asked softly, turning her face slightly into his shoulder.