KENNEDY

Valentine's day or more accurately, Saint Valentine's day, is a day celebrated by sending cards and tokens of love to our beloveds.

After a weird couple of weeks with everything going on in our lives from meeting the parents to Isaiah's father dying in prison, I believe that a day like today will be good. Today we'll get to celebrate us and add the little bit of joy that has been lacking in our lives.

"You are looking extra chipper this morning." Glynn comments as he serves me breakfast.

"That is because I am. It's Valentine's day." I reply the smile on my face only getting wider.

Glynn chuckles, "Ah, but of course, your first Valentine's day in a relationship."

"Yes." I beam looking forward to seeing Isaiah.

I know he is going to go all out today like he always does and even though on Valentine's girls get more out of it than boys do, I have something very special for him as well.

"Well I hope you two youngsters have a wonderful day."

"We will."

Glynn is right, today is my first ever Valentine's day being in a relationship and even though I don't have much experience with this, I believe I will knock it out of the park with what I have in mind for Isaiah.

When my phone pings with a text alerting me of his arrival as has been our norm all semester I quickly get up and push my half eaten breakfast plate aside. I grab my phone, tote bag and Isaiah's gift before rushing out of the kitchen.

"Bye Glynn." I yell halfway to the door.

All I hear is his laughter echoing behind me. He is already used to my excitement when it comes to anything that involves my boyfriend. Plus, now that we have my parents' approval I feel more secure in our relationship than ever. The meeting with my parents went surprisingly well, even though it was touch and go there for a moment. But they approve of our relationship and that is all that matters to me.

When I get to the gate Isaiah is waiting for me leaning against the passenger side door with a huge smile on his face like he always is each morning. He looks good, like he always does and when I get close enough to get a whiff of his scent it's like I'm in heaven because he smells good too.

"Happy Valentine's day Berry." He whispers wrapping his left arm around my waist and pulling me closer.

"Happy Valentine's day Iz." I reply pulling his head down for a kiss that leaves me feeling a little bit lightheaded.

Those are the best kinds of kisses. If I could kiss this boy all day, then I happily would but unfortunately we have other responsibilities like school and work. We pull apart just before it can turn into a full blown make out session. He kisses my forehead and lets me go once he is sure I can stand on my own two legs without stumbling because he knows of the effect his kisses have on me.

"For you." He says pulling a huge bouquet of red roses from behind his back.

"Wow, that is a lot of roses." I exclaim taking it from him.

Isaiah has gifted me a lot of bouquets ever since we started dating but never one this big. Plus, he has never given me roses before, it's always hydrangeas or sunflowers, my second favorite type of flowers.

"It's eighty-two stems, one for each day we've been dating." He explains and my heart swells with love for this wonderful human being who is all mine.

"Awe, that's so sweet, thank you but you shouldn't have, a normal bouquet would have sufficed." I reply feeling how heavy it is.

"Berry count yourself lucky I did not go with one hundred and sixty-three for all the days I've known you." He retorts.

"You wouldn't have."

"Wanna bet?"

"No, I believe you." I chuckle knowing very well what he is capable of.

If there was an award for most loving and caring boyfriend, then Isaiah would have it because not one day has passed since we started dating that I have doubted his feelings towards me. He shows me through his words and actions how he truly feels towards me and I truly feel treasured by him.

"Why red roses though?" I ask bringing the brightly lit petals to my nose for a whiff.

"I know you like hydrangeas but they didn't have any red ones. I know red roses are kind of basic but it's Valentine's day." He explains.

"I love them, thank you and I got something for you." I declare handing him his present.

He takes it from me with a confused look on his face and unwraps it. Inside there's a box with two identical looking bracelets but in different colors with slim display screens on them.

"Thank you but why two?" He asks me inspecting the bracelets.

I place my bouquet of flowers on the hood of the car and turn to him.

"The black one is for me and the white one is for you." I explain taking the white one out of the box and wrapping it around his wrist and doing the same with mine.

"Matching bracelets, cute." Isaiah says making me laugh.

"They do more than match. They are smart bracelets and anytime you miss me or think of me, all you have to do is tap it and mine will light up with a different color and message that is already encoded into it.

I show him how it works by tapping on mine three times. His lights up red and the display says I love you.

To say that Isaiah is thrilled will be an understatement as his whole face lights up with pure joy. "I love this, thank you Berry."

"You're welcome. They are also engraved with the date of our first date on the back, yours has my initials and mine has yours." I say taking mine off to show him.

Isaiah takes me by surprise when he picks me up and twirls me around making me giggle. When he sets me down, he kisses me deeply taking my breath away.

"You are the best girlfriend ever. Thank you for my valentine's day gift. I love it and I love you." He confesses when we pull apart.

"I love you too." I reply kissing him again.

A honk from a car passing by forces us to pull apart laughing.

"We better go before we give everyone a show." I say picking up my roses.

"Or get late for school." Isaiah adds getting the door for me.

I put on my seatbelt while Isaiah rounds the car to get in next to me. Being his passenger princess has got to me one of my best highlights of the day. I truly did win the jackpot when it came to the perfect boyfriend. He always takes care of me and puts me first and I try my hardest to reciprocate.

"How are you doing? You know with the whole Caleb being dead thing." I ask him a few minutes into the drive.

He is surprised by my question but I worry about him especially since the night he found out, he literally broke down in my arms crying. "Mom and I talked and agreed to let the authorities deal with his body."

"What about you?" I insist.

"I'm okay Berry."

"You sure?"

"Yes." He assures me with a smile.

It's not of his brightest but it's genuine meaning even though he's still struggling he is doing better.

"Okay."

"But let's not dwell on that, today is all about us." He says taking my hand and kissing my knuckles.

"I like the sound of that." I nod.

Isaiah is right, today it's all about us and our love and even though we have to be in school for most of it, at least we will be together.

When we get to school, Isaiah walks me to my locker so I can drop off my flowers before we head to our first class but we run into our friends before we get there. Kristie is holding a bouquet of red roses as well but they seem to be consoling Wesley about something.

"Good morning guys, what's up?" Isaiah asks them making them turn to us.

"Wes being a baby as usual." Baron replies.

"Happy Valentine's day Wes." I greet him figuring out something is wrong when he doesn't pick me up like he does every morning.

"What's so happy about this day?" He retorts.

"It's a day to celebrate love." I reply with a confused look at his attitude.

"Yes for people in love but it sucks for single people like me." He pouts.

It makes sense for Wesley to be in a foul mood today. He is always sulking around about being the fifth wheel of the group. Usually we can cheer him up but today being the day where love is all around it'll be hard for him to ignore.

"I'm sorry Wes, here, take this." Kristie offers handing him a single rose stem from her bouquet.

"I don't want your pity rose." Wesley pouts before walking off with a slouch.

"Wes come back." I call out.

"Let him go, we will talk to him later." Baron says and we all agree that it's for the best at the moment.

The four of us catch up for a bit before we realize that we only have a few minutes before the warning bell goes off so we part ways.

"These won't fit in here." I comment when we get to my locker.

I pout when I realize that the bouquet is too big for my slim locker unless I want them to be all squished yet I want to preserve them for as long as I can.

"I did not think of that when buying them." Isaiah replies sheepishly.

"It's okay, I still love them. I'll drop them off in the Art room." I say grabbing the books I'll need for the first three lessons of the day.

"Will they be safe there?" Isaiah asks me.

"Who's going to steal them?" I shrug.

"Okay then, I guess I'll see you at lunch." Isaiah says kissing me softly.

"Lunch." I mumble with a nod.

He smirks at me, kisses my nose before skipping off to his first class. It takes me a moment to get over my daze and get to my Art class so I can stash my bouquet away in time for my first class.

"Wow that is one huge bouquet." Miss Sandy comments when she sees me walk in.

"I know, it's from Isaiah." I reply with a happy smile.

"That boy sure is smitten."

"I know... I was wondering if I can keep it here, it's too big for my locker and I don't think my arms will be able to handle carrying it around all day." I request her.

"Of course, put them right by my window, they'll brighten up the room for the day." Se replies pointing towards where she wants them.

"I was definitely born in the wrong generation." Miss Sandy comments under her breath as she helps me set the bouquet up.

Her words make me smile but I do not comment.

"Thank you Miss Sandy, I'll see you later." I say excusing myself.

"Kennedy wait." She calls out to me before I can leave. "I'm actually glad you stopped by, I was going to wait until our lesson to give you this but since you're already here." She says reaching for a large envelope that is on her desk and handing it to me.

"What is it?" I ask confused

"They wrote back." She answers with a smile that leaves me even more curious.

"They who?"

She gives me a look that answers that question for me. I look at the logo and stamps on the envelope and all my questions are answered.

"Really?" I mumble trying not to get too excited.

"Yes." She nods.

To be safe so my parents wouldn't accidentally find my mail from Yale I'd put the return address as Miss Sandy's with her permission. I know my parents will find out but I'd rather know first before we get into a whole argument for nothing.

"Open it." She says looking even more excited than I am.

With shaky hands knowing my whole future depends on this, I open the envelope and pull out the multiple documents inside. I only have to read the first line to know all I need to know.

"I got in!" I gasp with glee.

I already knew that I was going to get in but this just confirms it for me and make its more real.

I am going to Yale!

"Wow, that's great. Congratulations Kennedy, I knew you could do it." Miss Sandy says hugging me.

"Thank you Miss Sandy, for believing in me even when I did not believe in myself." I sniff tears welling up in my eyes.'

I am not an emotional person but at this moment I cannot help it. This acceptance letter is the key to the future I have been envisioning for myself.

"My pleasure, now the rest is up to you. Go out there and make me proud." She replies.

"I will." I promise her.

I want to share this news with Isaiah so bad but the bell indicating the beginning of classes rings meaning I will have to wait till lunch.

"Now off to class you go before you're late."

"Yes miss, thanks again."

"Anytime Kennedy, I knew you could do it." She replies.

I put the envelope in my tote bag and rush to my first class just in time but I still get a warning look from my teacher. I apologize and take my seat but I am floating on cloud nine. Today is the best day I have had in a very long time.

The gleeful smile on my face does not fade until lunch time rolls around.

"What's got you smiling so big?" Kristie asks me when I sit down for lunch at our usual table.

Everyone is here and even though I'd have preferred to tell Isaiah first, they will find out sooner rather than later so why not.

"I got into Yale." I announce.

Congratulations, hugs and cheers fill the table for the next few minutes as they all celebrate my win.

"Congratulations Berry." Isaiah says as he pulls me in for a hug.

"Thank you Iz." I grin and kiss him.

"I'm surprised yours came in this early, most of us will have to wait until as late as April or May." Kristie says as she goes through my acceptance letter.

"I was just as surprised as you are." I reply.

"Congratulations princess." Wesley expresses being happy for me.

"Thank you Wes." I reply and just to lift his mood up even further, I push my lunch box towards him knowing how much he likes to eat my food.

His face lights up in happiness as he digs in while I pick what I can from his lunch tray. Seeing Wesley's smile turn upside down after the morning he's had makes me happy. We spend the rest of lunch talking about what we are excited for the most when we join college. For me it's getting to explore my creative abilities without any restrictions.

College is going to be an awesome experience and now that I know I got in I cannot wait to graduate high school and begin the next phase of my life.

The rest of the day is just as smooth as the first half and before I know it Isaiah is dropping me off at home a few minutes after midnight. It's this late because Isaiah dropped by at Frosty Dream after his shift at The Mayfair with a picnic basket full of all my favorite foods. We had a cute date after closing ending the day perfectly.

"Goodnight Iz." I say hugging him. "And thank you for today."

"My pleasure. I will see you tomorrow."

"Definitely. I love you." I confess.

"Not more than I love you." He counters.

"Debatable." I tease.

To settle the score Isaiah kisses me in a way that leaves no doubt in my mind.

I walk into the house with my slightly withered but still gorgeous bouquet in hand whistling a happy tune. After the best Valentine's day ever all I want to do is find a vase for my flowers and call it a night but that plan comes to a halt when I enter the kitchen to find my parents in there sitting under dim lighting like stalkers. I gasp and nearly fall when I turn on the lights to see both of them glaring at me.

"Fuck you scared me." I gasp holding onto my beating chest.

My mother gives me a scolding look for my language. "Jane Kennedy Foster! It's past midnight on a school night."

"I know but Isaiah and I had Valentine's day plans." I reply.

"You should have called or texted." Father retorts.

"You were not here." I shrug.

I never tell them about my plans because they are never here and never bother with me unless I am getting into trouble. It's perfect for me and they usually don't care as long as I am not up to mischief but for some reason tonight they do.

"Is there something you would like to tell us?" Father asks narrowing his eyes at me.

"Umh... Happy valentine's day." I shrug.

"No, not that... I got a call today." He adds.

"Okay..." I trail off not knowing what he is talking about.

"From Dean Sanders at Yale, he wanted to congratulate me on yet another Foster getting admitted." He says and I immediately go pale.

"Oh shit."

"Oh shit indeed." Mother retorts.

"I can explain." I stutter trying to find a way to get out of this.

I knew they were going to find out sooner or later but I did not think that it was going to be this soon. They look angry which is to be expected but I'm still hopeful that once we talk they will understand.

"Yes please, explain to us how you thought you could get away with getting into Yale for an art degree. Are you out of your mind?" Father yells.

There goes any chance of us having a proper mature conversation.

"No and if you would stop yelling and let me explain the maybe we can have this conversation like civilized adults." I request them.

"Oh now she wants to talk about being a civilized adult after going behind our backs." Mother scoffs.

"Because I knew how you would react and I was right." I cry feeling frustrated at how this conversation is going.

At this rate they will never calm down long enough for me to express how important this is to me. Oh how is wish Astrid was here, it would be nice to have her, the golden child as back up but she is in DC for work so I guess I don't have a choice but to go at it alone.

"Jane Kennedy what were you thinking?" Father asks looking very disappointed in me.

"I was thinking that this is the twenty first century and we have the right to choose what we want. I am going to Yale out of respect for you but I am not going to pursue something I do not love or have a passion in." I answer.

"But an Art degree? Do you want to embarrass us? How will you support yourself with an art degree?" Mother asks.

"I don't know mother, I will figure it out and besides being a starving artist is a risk I am willing to take." I reply.

"Did she just say that to us?" Father asks getting angrier at my words.

"I am going to pursue what I applied for whether you like it or not." I decree.

"That is not your decision to make. We pay your tuition and support you so you will do as we say." Mother asserts.

"No!"

"No?"

"No. It's either Art at Yale or no degree at all." I declare standing my ground.

"Are you giving us an ultimatum?" Father asks getting up from the stool he was perched on.

"Yes I am." I say with a bit of a quiver in my voice knowing I am either about to get everything I want or loose it all.

"Not in this house you are not. As long as you live under my house you will not study Art." Father announces.

"Is that your final decision?" I ask them.

"Yes." They both nod.

"Well then, I guess I do not have to stay under your roof." I reply and with that I leave the kitchen and skip up to my room.

Ten minutes later I come back into the kitchen dragging a suitcase behind me.

"And where do you think you are going young lady?" Mother asks when she sees the bag.

"Away from both of you." I reply grabbing my car keys. "Being under your roof is not going to stop me from living my dreams so instead I am stepping away from it." I say adamant my mind already made up.

"Jane Kennedy Foster you better get your ass back into your room or you are grounded for life young lady." Father yells.

"Oh yeah what else is new?" I scoff exiting the kitchen through the connecting door to the garage making sure to slam it for good measure.

I toss my suitcase in the trunk and drive away from there resisting the urge to cry. I feel like I am in zombie mode as my GPS directs me to a destination that my fuzzy mind is too preoccupied to comprehend.

When I pull up at the familiar gates only then does it register that I am at the Carter residence. It's late but after the guard sees that it's me behind the wheel, I am allowed to go in. The GPS brought me to the last location I input into it which is Isaiah's house. I consider turning back but I realize that with Astrid gone I do not have anywhere else to go but here.

After getting my suitcase from the trunk I drag it up to the front door and ring the doorbell. I half expect one of the Senator's bodyguards to open up but I am surprised when instead it's the Senator herself. I know that Isaiah is an insomniac but it looks like his mom is as well.

"Hello Senator Carter." I greet shyly.

"Kennedy? It's one am in the morning. What are you doing here?" She asks opening the door wider to let me in.

It's a valid question because I look like a crazy girl showing up at my boyfriend's house in the middle of the night but he is all I have.

"My parents and I had a nasty fight. Astrid is in DC so I was wondering if it's okay for me to stay here for a few days while things cool off with my parents or until Astrid comes back." I request her.

She is allowed to turn me away and I can get a hotel room since I am eighteen but I really need Isaiah right now and she seems to get that because her face softens and she smiles at me.

"Of course dear, stay as long as you want." She says giving my arm a comforting squeeze.

"Thank you." I whisper my voice clogged with emotion at her kindness.

"Would you like something to eat? I can make you something." She offers.

"Thank you but I'm good." I reply.

"Okay well, I'll leave you to go up to him. You know where his room is right?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Kennedy." She calls before I can walk away.

"Ma'am."

"Everything is going to be okay." She says and pulls me in for a hug. "I do not know what happened but I am here if you want to talk about it. Stay as long as you need."

It takes everything in me not to cry. "Thank you Se..."

"Do not complete that sentence." She scolds making me smile.

"Thank you Rebecca." I correct.

"Much better." She says patting my hair comfortingly.

So this is what it feels like to have a loving, caring and affectionate mom. I have definitely been missing out.

"Go up to him." She says a few moments later.

I leave her in the foyer as I carry my suitcase up to Isaiah's room. The light under his door lets me know that he is still awake as is expected so I knock gently.

"Come in mom." He calls out.

I smile knowing me showing up here in the middle of the night with my suitcase is going to surprise him. But still I open the door and let myself in. He is seated on his study desk with multiple books and his laptop open in front of him with Ruby nodding off on her dog bed next to him.

My adorable nerd.

He turns around startled by the sound of the wheels on my suitcase. "Berry?"

"Hi." I wave shyly standing by his door.

He gets up and approaches me pulling me in for a much needed hug. "Not that I am not pleased to see you but what are you doing here?"

"My parents found out about Yale and we had this big fight. I left and came here, your mom let me in." I explain.

"You should have called me I would have picked you up." He says pulling away.

"I wasn't thinking when I left. I just got into my car and drove. I ended up here because I couldn't go to Astrid's, she's in DC." I reply.

"You know you are always welcome here." He says picking up my suitcase and taking my hand leading me further into his room.

"Your mom said the same thing." I say with a sad smile.

"She's right."

"Thank you."

I take a seat on his bed and kick off my shoes lying back on the bed. Isaiah joins me and pulls me into his arms so that my head is lying on his chest.

"Sorry for interrupting your study session." I apologize.

"Do not be sorry. I am glad you chose to come here." He assures me kissing the top of my head.

"Thank you. We should stop having our sleepovers like this." I comment.

"What do you mean?" He asks.

"Our sleepovers seem to happen when our lives aren't going so well." I explain lifting my head up to meet his eyes.

"I quite like it actually because it means we are each other's safe space." He says and I completely agree with him.

"Do you think it's healthy that we are this addicted to each other?" I ask him looking at our linked hands and matching bracelets.

"I would be worried if we weren't." He replies making me smile. "Don't worry Berry, everything will be okay." He assures me kissing my forehead.

"I know."

I lay may head back on his chest and relax. Everything in my life is so uncertain right now and I should be freaking out but I am not.

Had this happened before I met Isaiah then I would be in full panic mode but with him I know that things will work out. I don't know how or when but I know that they will and that is enough for me at the moment.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I know I am two days late to the party but still happy Valentine's day my darlings. I love you all so much and thank you for your continuous support.