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"Oh, I can't wait to see you in a cap and gown again." My grandma smiles.
"I'll probably start in the summer. I highly doubt I still have a job at the clothing store, so I assume I'll have the free time."
"Has anyone reached out yet?" Jolie asks.
I shake my head. "Just Denise to tell me I don't need to come in each day. I mean, she probably just doesn't want to say the inevitable. It would be too awkward to be around each other all day now, not knowing what to do or say. But—" I take a deep breath, letting the pain of knowing things will never be the same with Ben's family fade away—"I do need to complete an internship to graduate, so I was thinking about going to the counseling center by our house and seeing if they would let me do it there."
"That's a great plan. And definitely a better option than remaining at the clothing store," my grandma says.
"You see the counselor at Berkeley tomorrow, right?" Jolie inquires.
"Yup. Ten. I might even wait around until lunch for a pretty girl I know who goes there."
"Oh, have I got some competition?" Jolie raises her eyebrows.
"Never." I lean over and give her a quick kiss as our dinner arrives.
The food is delicious and definitely does a good job of reminding me of Jolie and I's time in Mermaid Town. Makes me ache to go back. To where it felt like the rest of the world couldn't touch us. Where it was just us, the troubles of life leaving us for a little while.
"Me too," Jolie says low beside me. "I want to go back too."
I squeeze her knee under the table, hoping she understands that we will. Someday.
"You didn't." I laugh.
The waiter comes towards us, carrying a tray with three slices of cake, one with a burning candle in the center of it.
"Of course we did." Jolie smiles.
The waiter sets the plates of cake down, chocolate, a strawberry on top, with more chocolate drizzled in a design atop it.
"Well, make a wish grandma's boy," my grandma urges.
I think for a second, trying to figure out what to wish for. Until finally words begin to form in my mind.
I wish for more moments like this.
I blow out the candle, and Jolie kisses me on the cheek before we begin eating the cake. Once we're done, my grandma pulls a wrapped package out of her always huge purse and hands it over to me. I open it to find an amazing painted hoodie inside, a whole outfit really.
"Thank you. You know I'm wearing this tomorrow."
"You're sure you like it?" she inquires.
"I love it. Thank you."
She nods, and Jolie places a small box on the table beside me. I take the top off and find a silver chain link bracelet inside, a black rectangular piece in the middle with silver writing. Bringing it closer, I get choked up as I read it.
Live as though life were created for you.
I look over at her, swallowing around the lump in my throat and nod. She nods too, these words meaning as much to her as they do to me.
When we get into the car, my grandma turns down street after street, refusing to tell me where we're headed. But soon, it becomes evident. The flashing lights on a huge Ferris wheel begin to be able to be seen. Loud music blares the closer we get. Excitement builds in me as my grandma drives around the parking lot until she finds a spot. I hurry to get out and help Jolie out before opening my grandma’s doors.
"Now does this scaredy-cat status extend to rides?" I tease Jolie.
"I'll have you know I got on my first roller coaster at eight, thank you very much." She chuckles.
"Uh huh." I look over at my grandma. "I already know you're getting on every single ride."
