Moving On

Fall 2033 - Britechester, Illinois
Smith/Gates-Watson household - Ethan is 23, Adam is 23, Lily is 23

It's the start of a new year, the final semester for Adam Smith and the almost final semester for his twin Ethan.

At least, Adam hopes this is his final semester. He had gotten behind and hadn't been able to fix it like Charlotte had with her own problem.

But it's okay, he tries to tell himself. Just get through this semester and then he can go to Sulani to be with Charlotte and begin a new career and life on the other side of the world. It's strange to think about, but also exciting and something he's eager to get to.

Life is already different for Ethan even though he still has two semesters left of college. Lily finished her degree from Windenburg University and moved back across the Atlantic and came to live with him instead of going back to Arcadia. 

It's like they're already living out married life, even if Ethan is still going to classes each day.

Lily has a job at a local law firm as a paralegal. She was excited to get the job and still is excited to go each day.

But it's also a bit of a strain on her energy and emotions sometimes. She doesn't always have time to finish her work at the office and has to come home to do some some research for the upcoming trials when all she wants to do is get into that bed and cuddle close to Ethan.

Ethan hasn't talked to his friend Denise yet this semester. They don't have any classes this year and he's seen her around campus, but she hasn't said anything to him and so he hasn't said anything back. He still has her number but things ended so weird between them last semester that he's not even sure if he can text her.

So instead Ethan focuses on his classes and the robotics show that semester.

And of course the gaming competition. He can't say no to a gaming competition.

Adam relaxes between his classes shooting some hoops on the small driveway outside their rented house. 

Sometimes he thinks he could have tried out for the university's basketball team and had his education entirely paid for. 

But eh, he knows he's not really that interested in basketball. He'd rather dig in the dirt and rocks around town instead.

***

Somehow, Ethan and Lily found time one afternoon between studies and research to go out to eat together. It may be just at the local fast food place, but that at least counts as a date.

They both know they needed a date just like their teen years together.

After eating, they take their bikes for a ride through town as night begins to fall.

"Let's stop here," Ethan calls out to Lily as they reach the little bridge over the river in town.

"Why are we stopping?" Lily asks.

Ethan drops to one knee, reaching into his pocket for the little box he'd been hiding there for a week now. "You know I love you, right?" he asks. "I've been waiting for the right time to ask. Will you marry me?"

Lily lets out a gasp, then squeals. "Yes!" she says. "Yes! Yes!"

Ethan puts the ring on her finger before standing, and Lily smiles wide at it before wrapping her arms tight around him. 

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Adam has graduated! His ceremony will come up in a separate post. Ethan has just one semester left, so he and Lily will stay in Britechester through the spring. I'm still not sure where they'll live after that.