Chapter TWENTY-EIGHT

I kissed Kane goodbye at the door, ten minutes before I knew my parents would be home. He, Trenton and Jessie were walking back to Trenton's house.  I usually would have gone with them, any other time, so saying goodbye now was weird.

   "Sorry we kind of ruined the party," he smirked, hugging me.

   "Ugh, those stupid arrogant jocks ruined it," I said back.

   "I wish you were coming with me," he whispered in my ear, but added, "but have fun, with Georgia."

   I smiled, then kissed him. "Thanks. I love you."

   "I love you," he said, kissing me again. "Let's hang tomorrow."

   I nodded, then he turned and went down the front steps. I watched him, walking away, until they were out of sight.

   My mom was happy to see Georgia, just like I expected. My dad carried in Andy from the car, asleep, and brought him up to his bed. I didn't expect anything from my dad anymore, but I was annoyed that he was still not talking to me. My mom smiled at us, as we sat together, watching a movie.

   "How are you, honey?" she asked Georgia, practically beaming. "How was the party?"

   "It was good, thanks," Georgia smiled, not hesitating.

   "We've missed you around here," she went on. "And Kaylee."

  "Yeah... school's been busy. And I take care of my sisters a lot..."

  "Right, of course. Have a great time, girls," my mom finished, smiling at me.

   In my bedroom, after the movie finished, we laid in my bed together, talking until after midnight. She told me about how her parents' store wasn't doing well, and how how her Mom got a second job, so she'd been staying home even more with her younger sisters. She told me how she'd missed me so much the last few months, but didn't know what to do to fix it.

   "I didn't feel like I fit anywhere, anymore. I'm happy you've found your group, they are great, but... Kaylee has been changing a lot, to be a cheerleader, and -"

   "You'll always fit in with me," I told her, whispering. "You don't have to drink, or smoke pot, to hang out with me or my friends. Okay?"

   She nodded. "Okay. What's it like? Being high."

   I shook my head. "The first time... I just needed to calm down. Honestly, I didn't plan on doing it. But Kyler was back at school, after he... I  just freaked out, Georgia. So Kane and I got high, in his car." She was listening, waiting. "I fell asleep. Then, I was so hungry, thirsty," I laughed. "But it's...  it feels good."

   "I want to try," she told me. "Some day."

   "Really?"

   "Sure."

   "Okay."

   "You and Kane are so... cute. Like, it's like you've always been together," she changed the subject.

   I smiled at her. "He's... everything I needed. I don't know how it happened, honestly. But he kissed me, and told me he's that always loved me." I paused before going on. "Oh, Georgia, my dad hates this. He thinks Kane is going to break my heart."

   "You think he will?" she asked, then yawned.

  "Nah. He couldn't. I think it took us a long time to admit we are good together. We are going to make it work," I replied, curling in towards her.

   She smiled, then yawned again. "I am happy for you."

   "Well, he is going to college in a few months," I added, because I felt the need to get that off my chest all of a sudden.

   "Oh, he won't go to the local college?"

   "I don't know. He doesn't even want to talk about it."

   "It'll be okay, Mar. I just know it," she finished, then closed her eyes.

  "Thank you for the ride," Georgia told Kane the next morning, as we sat in her driveway across town.

   She had to be home by 10 a.m. to stay with her sisters, so her Mom could get to the store. Kane had picked us both up and we drove Georgia home. 

   "You're very welcome. See you at school?" he asked, as she got out of the car.

   "Okay," she said, nodding at Kane. "Bye, Mar."

   As we drove back towards Kane's house, I held his hand and thought about how once it was summer, we could be together all the time. It was really all I wanted. Warm weather, the beach, and Kane.

   "My parents are here," he said, slowing down in front of his house.

   "I just want to be with you," I shrugged.

   "But I just want to kiss you," he grinned.

   "You just want to kiss me?" I asked, teasing him.

   He shook his head. "No. But we got interrupted here... remember?"

   "Right."

   "We don't have anywhere to really be alone. And that sucks," he said, still driving.

   I nodded. "We are not having sex in your car."

   "I didn't even suggest that," he said, then smiled. "I mean, I would, but-"

   I smacked his arm. "We could skip fourth tomorrow?"

   He grinned at me. "We could?"

   "Well, your parents won't be home."

   "I don't want to wait that long," he laughed. "But yes, let's do that."

   A couple of hours later, my mom called my cell phone. She hadn't called me in awhile, as she usually just texted anything she needed to say. I answered, though I was slightly worried about whatever she had to say.

   "Mom?"

   We were at Trenton's, where we always ended up. Jessie was sleeping on the couch next to us - she hadn't been feeling good lately - and Trenton was reading a book. Kane and I were just cuddling.

   "Oh, hey, hon. I was wondering if you can come home to hang out with Andy? I have to get groceries, and he doesn't want to go. Dad is working late on a project..."

   For weeks, my parents basically ignored me. They didn't call, they didn't talk to me much at all, or ask me to babysit. But since I had asked them the favour of hosting Kaylee's party, now, it seemed, we were back to normal, just like that. I didn't want to go home and hang out with Andy. I'd gotten used to doing whatever I wanted, really. But I did want to be in my mom's good books, again.

   "Uh, yeah, I guess. Can Kane come over? I mean, Andy probably misses him," I answered, hoping it would work out in my favour.

   "He sure does. Will you two stay for Sunday dinner then?" she asked.

   "Oh. Right. Um, will dad behave? Because Kane and I-"

   "Yes, I will make sure of it."

   "Okay."

   When I hung up, Kane was looking at me, confused.

   "So, we are going to my house to hang out with Andy. And to stay for Sunday dinner," I told him, unsure of how he'd react to this. We hadn't been in the same room together as all of our parents in awhile.

   "Oh," he said, but then I could see that he realized something. "But, it's Sunday! My parents will be at your  house tonight. Therefore my house will be empty..."

   And I hadn't even thought about this. "Kane, I just agreed to Sunday dinner. Tomorrow, we will be at your house, alone..."

   He smiled at me, but tried again. "But... we could... tonight."

   "Tomorrow," I said again. Trenton started laughing, listening to us.

   "Sunday dinner," Kane said, then sighed. "I just got used to Sunday-get-high-and-watch-Netflix."

   I burst out laughing, and then he was kissing me, and I almost wanted to change my mind. Almost.

   "Kane!" my brother yelled, running towards the door as we entered. Suddenly I realized that I had missed my brother, too.

   "Hey, dude," Kane hugged him. "How'd you get bigger again?"

   Andy laughed, and then pulled Kane into the family room.

   "Thank you guys for coming to stay with him," my mom told us, smiling at me. "I'll be back to start dinner in an hour."

   The three of us laughed, playing board games and hide and seek and before we knew it, my mom was back and my dad was home, surprised to see us there. Bruce and Carla arrived a short while later.

   I sent Andy to go wash his hands to get ready for dinner, and then Kane followed me into the kitchen. I smelled tacos; my stomach growled. It sort of felt strange that Kane and I were there, now, as it had been months of doing our own thing, basically avoiding my dad.

   "Hey you two," Carla said happily, when she saw us.

   Kane nodded, obviously unsure of how this was going to go down. I glanced at my dad, who was stirring the meat on the stove. He didn't look over, but that was okay, because it was better than a fight.

   Dinner went went, everyone on their best behaviour. I assumed it was because Andy was there, crunching away on his tacos, oblivious to all of the adult drama around him. Kane and I escaped to the front porch after we helped clean up.

   Sitting together there felt like that cold evening on Christmas Day, when he'd given me a ring and asked me to be his girlfriend. But it was now April, the snow was mostly gone and we had two months of school left. So much had happened and changed since September, but for a moment, it felt like it was just us, together, as the sun went down.

   "You cold?" he asked, moving closer to me.

   I nodded, so he slipped his arm around my waist. I dropped my head onto his shoulder. A couple cars drove by, and I could hear a child laughing down the street. But all I could think about was how we were finally in a good place, and how - in my head - nothing could change that.

   "I opened my letters," Kane broke the silence, again.

   "You did?" I asked.

   "Yeah."

   "And?"

   He took a deep breath. "I got in to MSU, so somewhat local, and WMU... in Michigan."

   "So... great. Two great schools, right?" I said, my heart pounding in my chest.

   "Yeah, for sure." He was looking away.

   "Great," I said again. This felt so strange.

   "I'm going to stay, okay? MSU is good, and I'm not leaving you."

   "Kane. You can't base your education and your future on... us," I said, but it came out sounding wrong.

   "I can. And I will."

   "No. I don't want you to regret anything. Or blame me for -"

   "Blame you? I'm choosing this. I'm choosing you," he said loudly, annoyed at my words.

   "But what if -" I stopped myself. But of course I was thinking it.

   "What if what?" he yelled, then took a deep breath.

   I sighed, turning my body away. "I don't want to fight about this again."

   "Then you shouldn't make it seem like you don't want me to stay." He was upset, clearly, and tears started pouring down my face. I hate this so much but I just knew I couldn't be the reason he didn't go to college where he wanted to go.

   "Of course I do," I said quietly. He wasn't looking at me. "I can't wait to spend the whole summer with you, but -"

   "What's with the buts? And what ifs? What the hell is going on with you?"

   I looked at him now, seeing tears in his eyes, too. This was the last thing I wanted right now, but I knew it had to be said. I loved him too much to let him change the course of his future for me.

   "I want you to have the best. I don't want you to be held back by me."

   "Marley, don't you get it? You're the only reason I exist. You're the reason I breathe. I have loved you since the moment you were born, and -"

   I stopped him by kissing him, both of us crying. And in that moment I knew it didn't matter where he went to college, because nothing could tear us apart.