Chapter 6: Xander's Surprise Visit

Xander pulled up to Ren's dorm, a U-Haul trailer hitched to the back of his sleek black motorcycle. He grinned to himself, excitement building in his chest. He had been planning this surprise for weeks, and finally, the day had arrived. He killed the engine and stepped off the bike, his dark blue eyes scanning the crowded quad for a glimpse of Ren's long, wavy dirty blonde hair. As he loaded the U-Haul with boxes and bags of books, Xander couldn't help but think about how much Ren loved reading. He had always been fascinated by her passion for books, and he loved surprising her with new titles and authors. This time, he had gone all out, filling the trailer with everything from classics to contemporary bestsellers. Ren was in her psychology class, oblivious to the surprise waiting for her. Xander made his way to the classroom building, his short, wavy dark brown hair drawing admiring glances from passersby. He was used to the attention, but his eyes never left the building, searching for Ren's familiar figure. As he entered the classroom, Xander spotted Ren sitting in the back row, her emerald green eyes fixed on the professor. He smiled, his heart skipping a beat at the sight of her. She looked stunning, her dark freckles scattered across her nose like constellations in the night sky. Xander waited until the professor dismissed the class before making his move. He strode across the room, his long strides eating up the distance, and Ren looked up, startled. "Xander!" she exclaimed, surprise written across her face. Xander grinned, pulling her into a tight hug. "Merry Christmas, bookworm," he whispered, his voice low and husky. Ren laughed, hugging him back. "What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice muffled against his chest. "I brought you some presents," Xander said, pulling back to reveal the U-Haul trailer behind him. "I figured you could use some new reading material." Ren's eyes widened as she took in the sight of the trailer, filled to the brim with boxes and bags of books. "Xander, you can't be serious," she said, her voice full of wonder. Xander chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I'm completely serious," he said, pulling her into another hug. "I love seeing you happy, and I know how much you love reading." As they hugged, Ren felt a sense of joy and excitement wash over her. She had missed Xander so much, and this surprise visit was just what she needed to brighten up her day. Together, they unloaded the U-Haul, Xander teasing Ren about her height as they lugged boxes into her dorm room. Ren rolled her eyes good-naturedly, laughing as Xander pretended to struggle under the weight of a particularly large box. As they worked, Ren couldn't help but notice the way Xander's eyes sparkled with amusement, or the way his hair curled slightly at the nape of his neck. She felt a flutter in her chest, her heart beating just a little bit faster. She was grateful for this surprise visit, for the chance to spend time with Xander and forget about her grumpy demeanor for a while. As they finished unloading the U-Haul, Ren turned to Xander, a smile on her face. "Thank you," she said, her voice sincere. "This means a lot to me." Xander's face softened, his eyes filled with affection. "Anytime, bookworm," he said, pulling her into another hug. "I love you." Ren's heart skipped a beat as she hugged him back. "I love you too," she whispered, feeling grateful for this surprise visit, and for the love they shared.