It was the final week for both Harris and Isabella's exam courses, and they were swamped with assignments and exams they needed to pass.
 
In a moment of frustration, Isabella slammed her keys down and buried her face in her arms. The looming deadline had her feeling trapped—none of the melodies she'd composed for the final project felt good enough. The chords fell flat, the melodies seemed predictable.
 
"Isabella," Harris called, snapping her out of her frustration. 
 
"Oh, babe?" she responded.
 
"Let's go," Harris suggested, tossing his jacket to Isabella.
 
"What? Where?"
 
"For a drive."
 
They hadn't gone on one in a while, not since the previous winter. Harris would always initiate these impromptu adventures with a simple glance and a "drive?" But recently, their schedules hadn't aligned for such escapades.
 
"I need to finish—"
 
"You won't get anything done when you're this stressed," Harris interjected.
 
 
"But I have to."
"Think about it in the car. Come on."
 
"Harris, seriously—"
 
"You've been at it for hours, Isabella. I can tell you're frustrated, and that's not going to help. Let's take a drive."
 
Isabella gazed up at Harris, her brow furrowed.
 
"It's like 4 AM..."
 
"Exactly. No traffic," Harris responded with a grin. Isabella scoffed, but the lure of a late-night drive eventually pulled her in. Slipping on her jacket, they left the room, engaging in casual chatter as they headed to the car.
 
"Why aren't you sleeping?" Isabella questioned as they got into the car.
 
"I did, woke up, and you weren't there."
 
"You could have gone back to sleep."
 
"And you could have called it a night."
 
As Isabella fastened her seatbelt, Harris reminded her, "I know the deadline is looming, but you've got to eat and sleep properly."
 
"I'm connected," Isabella confirmed, her phone automatically linking to the car via Bluetooth.
 
"Requests?" she inquired, and Harris left the choice up to her this time.
 
Since last winter, these drives had become a routine. Isabella relished the sensation of driving with the windows down, although perhaps it was more about driving with Harris. She appreciated how he'd hum in satisfaction whenever she played a song he enjoyed, or how he'd softly mumble the lyrics whether he knew them or not. She adored the small smile that graced Harris's lips as they cruised down familiar roads. And she cherished those moments when he praised her music choices or voiced irritation at reckless drivers. Yet, the most unforgettable memory was when the car in front of them abruptly braked, and Harris instinctively did the same, extending an arm to prevent Isabella from lurching forward.
 
"Sorry," he had apologized.
 
That was the moment Isabella realized she cared for him even more. At times, she worried she was being too obvious, that her feelings might weigh on Harris.
 
"Are you okay?" Harris asked.
 
"Yeah, why?"
 
"The songs you've played today... They're sad."
 
 "Oh, sorry, I—"
 
"No need to apologize. I actually like it."
 
"I like anything you play," Harris said, his words sending Isabella's heart aflutter.
 
"Isabella, seriously, are you okay?"
 
Isabella nodded slowly. "Yeah, just stressed."
 
"You sure?"
 
"Yes. The deadline has been getting to me. My results aren't satisfactory, that's all."
 
"Then... Are we okay?" Harris inquired, his tone gentle.
 
"Huh?"
 
"We've been so busy."
 
"Why? Do you miss me?" Isabella teased, but Harris's earnest response caught her off guard.
 
"A lot." After a few moments of silence, she replied softly, "Me too."
 
"This road seems never-ending," Isabella observed with a light laugh, to which Harris agreed.
 
"I know! We've been on it for like three songs." As if on cue, they spotted a light in the distance.
 
"Flip the pick!" Harris urged.
 
"Wait, I've lost it," Isabella confessed, frantically searching her pockets and the seat.
 
"How did you lose it?"
 
"As you said, I hadn't used it for like ten minutes!" she defended.
 
"Found it!" she exclaimed, flipping the pick and prompting Harris to turn left.
 
"How far are we going?" Isabella inquired.
 
"Until we stumble upon a worthwhile stop," Harris responded.
 
"If we take this right, we'll head to the beach," Isabella noted, showing him the pick.
 
"Our fate is decided," she chuckled.
 
"We'll stop at the beach, then," he decided.
 
"We've got about an hour left, so you can sleep."
 
 
"It's okay—"
"Sleep, Isabella. You haven't slept yet.It's the whole point of this trip, to get you away from your assignments. Catch up on sleep while you can, okay?" Harris's sincerity shone through his eyes, even as they remained on the road.
 
They reached the beach, and Harris parked the car. Stepping outside, he stretched his limbs while gazing at the horizon, the rising sun meeting the tranquil waves. His gaze settled on the beautiful sight for a few minutes before he heard the car door open and close. Turning around, he found Isabella approaching sleepily.
 
"Why didn't you wake me?"
 
"You were tired."
 
"I wanted to see the sunrise too," Isabella said as she joined Harris's side.
 
"Let's get closer to the sea," Harris suggested. Together, they walked across the sand until they reached the shore.
 
Isabella took a deep breath of the sea-scented air, feeling the mist on her skin as the waves caressed the shore. Seating herself, she pulled Harris down with her, ignoring his protests about getting sand on his pants.
 
As they watched the sunrise, the only sounds were the gentle lap of waves and the calls of distant birds welcoming the new day. The sun's rays painted the sky with hues of yellow, orange, and light blue. Isabella realized that this moment of tranquility was exactly what she needed—to escape from their hectic university life, if only briefly.
 
Glancing at the person beside her, she found Harris's gaze on the horizon.
 
"I'm glad we caught the sunrise," Harris commented, still staring at the breathtaking sight.
 
"Yeah, me too. Thank you, Harris," Isabella replied with a melancholic smile. Harris turned to her, their eyes meeting.
 
"I like you a lot," Harris confessed.
 
Isabella met his gaze and felt her heart flutter. "I like you too," she admitted, savoring the feeling of saying it aloud.
 
Harris's smile grew wider at her response. The rising sun illuminated his face, making his eyes sparkle. Without saying another word, he reached out and gently took Isabella's hand, their fingers entwining naturally.
 
As they continued to watch the sunrise together, their hands clasped, it felt like time had slowed down. In that moment, all the stress and worries of their university life melted away, leaving behind a profound sense of peace and connection.
 
After the sun had fully risen, they decided to head back to the car. Isabella stretched and yawned, feeling more refreshed than she had in days.
 
Harris opened the car door for her, and as they settled into their seats, he turned to her with a soft smile. "Feeling better?"
 
Isabella nodded, her heart filled with gratitude for Harris's thoughtfulness. "Much better. Thank you for taking me on this drive."
 
Harris started the car, and they began the journey back home. The world outside was now bathed in the warm light of day, a stark contrast to the quiet darkness of their late-night drive.
 
As they drove, Isabella couldn't help but reflect on the significance of that morning. It wasn't just about catching the sunrise; it was about finding solace in each other's company, about being there for one another during their most stressful moments.
 
"I'm sorry for being so stressed lately," Isabella said, breaking the silence in the car.
 
Harris glanced at her and shook his head. "No need to apologize, Isabella. We all have our moments of stress. What matters is that we're here for each other."
 
Isabella smiled, feeling a deep sense of gratitude for having someone like Harris in her life. "You're right. And I'm really lucky to have you."
 
Harris reached over and gently squeezed her hand. "I feel the same way about you, Isabella."
 
As they continued their drive home, their hands remained entwined, a silent yet powerful testament to the bond they shared. The challenges of their final exams and assignments still lay ahead, but in that moment, they knew they could face anything as long as they had each other.
 
The drive back was filled with laughter and conversation, a stark contrast to the quiet introspection of the early morning hours. They talked about their plans for the future, their dreams and aspirations, and the adventures they hoped to embark on together.
 
By the time they arrived back home, the stress of the looming deadlines had lost its grip on Isabella. She felt reenergized, ready to face her assignments with a renewed sense of purpose.
 
As they got out of the car, Harris turned to her with a mischievous grin. "Ready to conquer those assignments, my love?"
 
Isabella chuckled and nodded. "Absolutely, babe!."
 
They headed inside, hand in hand, knowing that whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together. The late-night drive and sunrise had been a reminder of the strength of their bond, a bond that would carry them through the ups and downs of their journey together.
 
And as they settled back into their routine of studying and supporting each other, they held onto the memory of that morning—the morning they watched the sunrise and found solace in each other's company, a morning that had strengthened their love and deepened their connection.