Star-Crossed Survival

Martin and Ria were walking in the woods. It was late afternoon and they were on their way back to the school bus that would take them back to the dentist's office. The sun was shining and it was hot, but neither of them minded. They walked slowly, enjoying each other's company.

They had been dating for about a month now, ever since Martin transferred to the university where Ria studied. Martin had joined the dental program at another school, but he was sick of the place already. He wanted to transfer and came to this school because his friend Sami had told him it had one of the best programs in the country. Sami warned him that this program required a lot of hard work, especially in anatomy classes, so he knew he needed a distraction. And then he met Ria, sitting behind him in a lecture hall. She smiled at him when she handed him some notes, and he didn't stop thinking about her again until these woods.

Ria had grown up in a small town and went to the same school all her life. She loved the graduation ceremony and thought she'd be satisfied with that experience forever, but then she met Martin and decided she could be even happier if she could live near him during their studies. So here they were, wandering through this beautiful forest together as if it were nothing out of the ordinary.

"So what are we going to do tonight?" asked Ria. "I can make us something nice."

Martin looked at her appreciatively as she spoke. She was his first girlfriend and he found her really beautiful, both physically and mentally. Her voice was soft and gentle, like a whisper in his ear while he slept peacefully. He liked how she smelled like apples when they kissed or held hands on a walk through the city streets - his mother used to say apples always reminded her of love and romance. And Ria's smile warmed his heart every time he saw it - it made everything seem better than before, no matter how bad things were just moments before. She always looked like she understood what he thought about even though he hadn't said anything out loud yet - that was one of his favorite qualities about her; for someone who seemed so young and sweet on the outside, she could also be surprisingly mature inside - like on this walk through these woods, for example; Martin hadn't known how to bring up their relationship or talk about tonight's plans without sounding awkward, but then Ria did it herself without hesitation or uncertainty.

"Well," said Martin slowly as they walked through the trees into the light of day again after dusk fell over them earlier today "I think we should try our first official date."

Ria gasped happily. "You mean... like... on a date?"

"Yes!" said Martin happily as well, encouraged by her reaction "I don't know if you want to go out with me somewhere..."

"Oh yes! I do!" said Ria enthusiastically "I'd love that!"

"But we can probably only afford some kind of cheap food," continued Martin "because that's all we can afford right now."

"That's okay!" said Ria brightly "I don't mind cheap stuff!"

Martin smiled even wider now; in addition to being beautiful inside and out and mature for her age, she also seemed very down-to-earth too! He remembered how Sami told him that girls from small towns were usually more practical than girls from big cities so maybe that explained it... but regardless of why she acted this way, Martin couldn't stop smiling because this girl seemed perfect for him by every measure! Even though they'd known each other for only one month so far - and even though they'd never kissed or even held hands yet - there was no doubt in his mind that they were meant to be together forever! He wanted to tell her all this but held his tongue; he wanted their first kiss under moonlight not under these trees bathed in sunlight but there would be time for that soon enough! Now instead he just kept silent as they walked further together past these trees towards home - because they had talked enough already; now it was time for action!