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“You mean now that you’re staying?”
I paused. “Was there ever a fear that I wouldn't?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess there was always a fear that you’d use this opportunity to leave. And no one could have blamed you for it. Not even me.”
I slipped my free arm around her shoulders. “I’m sorry I made you feel that way.”
“It’s okay. I’m just glad you’ve made the decision to hang around.”
“I’ve got too many options on my plate not to.”
She snuggled into me. “So, any idea what you might do after you graduate?”
I snickered. “No fucking clue. I mean, there are plenty of avenues. So I’m finding. But they all require a great deal of money. Money I might not have at my disposal if I move in with my stepmom.”
“Why’s that?”
“I mean, I’ll be helping her with bills and such. Neither of us will have a ton of money. At least, until she gets through the official divorce with my father. Which you know he’ll drag out in an attempt to get her to shut things down instead of raking him clean.”
“I hope she drags his ass through the mud.”
“Me, too. He fucking deserves it. But if my father’s coming at us this hard, I can only imagine what she’ll go through during the divorce.”
“You think you might stick around and help her with that?”
I shrugged. “I honestly have no clue. I’m still just trying to not fail my classes. That’ll be the key to getting a decent enough job to support me while I’m on my own.”
“Did you ever think you’d say those words?”
“Actually, no. I didn’t, to be honest.”
She giggled. “They sound good. I know you can do this. We all know you can’t. And you won’t fail your classes. Because you have me and Allison and Michael to help you get to graduation.”
“I still don’t know how I ended up with friends like them.”
She scoffed. “Me, you asshole. I was your ‘in’ with them.”
The two of us laughed as we rushed across the road. Cars honked at us as our laughter grew, and we continued running until we got into the shade. We stood there, panting and eating our ice cream cones as the autumn breeze kicked up. We began to shiver as we stood to catch our breath.
“Still a damn good cone,” she said.
I smiled. “You’re right about that one. But you haven’t answered your own question.”
“What?”
“What are your plans after graduation, smarty pants?”
She started walking again. “Well, it was to move with Allison into an apartment near her college campus. But I’m not so sure about that anymore. I mean, she and Michael are becoming a thing. And I’d hate to be a constant third wheel because I’m living with her. Plus, I’d really like to do something with my doodling and love for graphic design. And I can’t afford a four-year institution.”
“What about two-year? Or whatever?”
“That’s an option, if I go part-time. But none of the community colleges around where Allison’s headed have those programs. Which means I’d be on my own.”
I held her close. “You’re not alone, so long as you have me.”
The two of us talked and laughed as we made our way to her house. I wanted to walk her home. I wanted to make sure she got there safely. Especially since the sun had fully set. I was still paranoid from that night. I wouldn't head toward my house until I knew she was safe within hers. But, as we slowly approached her home, we heard voices.
Her mother’s voice, and a man’s.
