Note: A few steamy screenshots in this one, though as usual, nothing explicit and no actual nudity.

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I can’t believe the semester’s over already. Where did the time go?

I feel like so much has changed since the summer… And not just for me. For my siblings and Clara too.

I mean, Clara got engaged, got pregnant, nearly broke up with Florian, and made up with him, all within the past four months.

Gus found the courage to come out, became friends with Emma again, got elected to student council, and just had his 16th birthday last week.

Luc traveled all over Europe, played concerts in front of sold-out crowds, and met a girl who sounds like she could be the love of his life.

And me? Well… I think I might have found the love of mine, too.

These past few months have definitely been a rollercoaster for all of us… But we made it through.

And in just two days, Clara and I will be back home in Windenburg for our Christmas break.

I really can’t wait to see my family again, especially Luc. He should be getting back just a day or two after Clara and I get home. And it’ll be awesome to see Onkel Stefan and his family again, and grandpa Josh too… They’re all visiting this year for our Christmas party.

It’s so funny, when I was a kid, I always hated how crowded our house is at Christmastime. There were so many grownups and all this boring conversation and no one to talk to but Luc and Clara (who were both in the height of their “let’s make Joce’s life miserable” phase).

But now, I look forward to it every year. I love seeing all my family again, and this year will be especially fun, since we’ll all finally get to meet Luc’s new girlfriend too.

I just wish going home didn’t mean having to leave Mark behind.

He’s working all day tomorrow, so today will probably be the last time we see each other before I leave for home. We’re meeting up at the park in a little while – there’s been a rare December heatwave around here, and we want to drink up the last of the sun and warmth while we can.

And I want to drink up the last of him while I can too.

It will be weeks before I see him again. The thought alone is enough to make me want to cry… How the hell did Clara last months without Florian?

It’s been just over a month since the day we finally got together. And it’s been the greatest month of my entire life. I love him more than I’ve ever loved anything…

And I think I’m finally ready. My heart already belongs to him. And I want to give him the rest of me, too.

We’ve been taking things so slow, and he’s been such a gentleman about everything… But it’s time. It just feels right.

With Elliot, it never did. But with Mark, I just know.

I can feel it.

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