Indigo fiddled with the camera settings, still somewhat unacquainted with the differences between her last one. Noah and I chatted while she worked on figuring it out. Despite all my sadness, I was really excited for him. While Indigo and I would be staying on campus for our first years of university, he would be going straight into a real apartment; the perks of being a rich kid I supposed. He said it wasn’t anything too fancy, but it would still be a lot nicer than trying to fit your entire life into a dorm room. Indigo even had it better than me considering that she would be rooming with another friend of ours who had also gotten into the Institute. I unfortunately would have to wait to see what type of person my randomly selected roommate was. Noah having an apartment would be perfect for when I came back for the holidays though, giving us plenty of space to just be alone together. I’m sure my dad would insist I sleep at home – there was no way in hell he’d willingly let me have a sleep over with my boyfriend even if I was 18 now – but we would make do with whatever time we had otherwise.

Indigo’s camera began beeping as she initiated the self-timer and she came scurrying over to hop into the pool with us, practically climbing over Noah in her haste. As we scooted in to make room, I glanced over at my two favorite people in the world and took a photograph of my own in my mind. I would be missing these moments everyday I was in Del Sol Valley chasing my dreams. But I would find my way back to them. One way or another.

I posed right before the camera flashed.