Page 65 of Just Me

“Yes.”

“All right, I'll see you there.”She walked past Bastian and he leaned over to kissher cheek. She continued past me with a face that was on fire. I couldn't help my grin.

“Would you mind if Bastian and I made dinner?”

Dr. Wright smiled, big and prettyin response.“I would love that.”

“Dominic is joining us tonight as well. He wants to see you, Bastian, and he has some things he wants to share.”Mr. Wright said cryptically.

“Thank you, sir, for calling him.”

“You had enough to handle last night.”

My attention turned to Bastian,“Maybe we could stop by a grocery store after you pick me up from school?”

“Sure.”

Though it was the end of February, the weather warmed up as we made our way along the quiet country roads. With a day as glorious as this one, it was easier for me to push the ugly ordeal with Brad from my thoughts. I tilted my head back so I could look up at the sky—so bright a blue, with wisps of clouds that looked like white brush strokes across an azure canvas. Bastian was right, looking up into the vastness made you feel so small. It really did put things into perspective.

I squeezed his arm and signaled for him to pull over and as soon as he did, I climbed off. He shut down his bike and met my gaze with a look of concern. “What's wrong?”

“I think you should stay to finish out high school and be with me. I think we should march ourselves right into your parents’home with Mr. Wright, my uncle and your brother and tell your parents as much. We should stand up to them and maybe with an audience they'll be less inclined to follow through on their threats. Damn it, Bastian, we need to live our lives and not the ones they're trying to force on us. What do you say?”

He shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans with a smile.“I say you're fucking incredible.”

“Can you get out of the apprenticeship now and still be able to rejoin them in the summer?”

“Yes.”

“I want to walk down the halls in school holding your hand. I want to see your face at my locker. I want to secretly hold hands in English and share lunches together. I want to make love to you when the mood strikes. I want to laugh with our friends and go to parties. I want to live like a teenager while we are teenagers. Your parents have no right to take that away from us.”

“Agreed, but I have a confession.”

“What?”

“I wasn't going back. I had already decided to stay. The rest of my stuff is arriving today.”

My eyebrow rose slightly at that. “Really?”Tidbits of conversations with him and Dr. Wright popped into my head as I narrowed my eyes at him.“What did Dr. Wright say to you?”

He looked uncomfortable,“She told me she was glad that I took their advice and decided to stay, reminded me I was welcome to a guest bedroom and she let me know she cleared it all with the school. Since I've already taken all of my exams, I can basically audit all the classes.”

“When did you talk to her?”

“Repeatedly, since the day I left.”

“Fought harder.” I muttered.

“What's that mean?”

“Nothing, just an answer to a riddle. So you're staying. Are you going to stay at the Wrights'?”

“For the time being, yes.”

Joy filled me and I launched myself into his arms. When he pulled me close and held me there, yes, that was exactly what I was talking about.

***

As soon as we pulled into the school parking lot, the stares started. When we climbed from the bike and walked hand in hand through the doors, the whispers followed. Bastian walked me to my locker and on the way countless people welcomed him back. When we parted for homeroom, he kissed me long and hard right there in the middle of the hallway. After morning announcements, he was waiting for me and together we walked to English.

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