Candy & Simon

Candy wasn't sure she could straight into Ollie's eyes. A part of her felt bitter that she hadn't stayed in contact with him. But he was still in high school. She was at the university. They were in completely different worlds. Only, she'd really liked him. She liked his family.

Family. She still felt empty inside. She'd spent more than a year with a roommate who'd transitioned. He'd finally decided to go on his own when he found a job in Lincoln. He wasn't that far away, but he was on his own now and Candy thought it best if they didn't contact each other for awhile.

Yes, she'd been afraid she might be a wife of some kind to him, and she didn't want that. They would always be friends, but nothing more.

And here she was with Simon. It was as if they'd moved to the speed of light with their relationship. Maybe it had to do with a new year. They'd spent the night together on New Year's Eve. She'd practically moved in with him.

It was cosy and all so fresh and new. She wanted to remain prickly about it, but she couldn't say no. It was so much better than being alone. Funny, how life worked that way. She wasn't thinking of falling in love and then it happened.

She was certain her grandmother would have said it was an illness of some kind. How could she be so smitten by a pretty boy? Did he even know how to work?

He was a fine arts major. How could he pay the bills? Not even a part-timer.

Candy took a deep breath. Had she gone lower than she expected? It was hard to think positive, sometimes.

"We best be going," Simon smiled with a paper bag of goodies from the bakery. "Xander's expecting us."

Her throat felt raw as if she was waiting for a bitter cold. She felt shy and undeserving. Would his brother know they were more than just friends? Their one-night stand kept multiplying.

She felt a little faint, but he took her hand as if he would be her strength to navigate what was ahead of them.