Beyond Education [Jemily]

*Laughter From God*

December 21, 2021
— Emily's POV
Two great things: today is our last day of classes before winter recess and my ankle is like 95% healed. One shitty thing: I just got off the phone with my mother and she, once again, can't make it home for the holidays. Now I have to scramble and find some place to go for break or I'll be stuck on campus like a loser. I rubbed over my forehead nervously as I sat on the edge of my bed and decided what to do. Tara sat opposite me on her mattress and suggested, "Why don't you ask JJ? Didn't she offer her place for Thanksgiving?"

"Yeah, but I'd feel bad. Not to mention embarrassed."

"Emily, she loves you. Knowing JJ she'd probably be all giddy and excited to bring you to her hometown."

I giggled a little, "Yeah you're right, actually... I still feel odd about it though."

She nodded and kindly said, "I know, E, I'm sorry. I'd tell you to come to my place but I'm only allowed one guest and Kate's coming."

I smiled and looked up at Tara, "Oh yeah, how's it going with her?" Tara's been dating this girl, Kate Callahan, since mid-Octoberish. She's pretty cool and she's good for Tara, and I think it's awesome that they're already at the point in their relationship where they're spending holidays with each other. As much as I'm sweating over it, I think it's about time JJ and I take that step too.

"It's going great. She really makes me happy."

"That's awesome, I'm happy for you." I sighed and then groaned in frustration, "All right, I guess I gotta talk to JJ."

Tara gave me a salute and said, "I'm here for ya, Em. You got this." I got up to give her our handshake and then headed out of our dorm. My brain was spitting all kinds of negativity at me as I walked down to the first floor to JJ's place. What if she says no? What if she thinks it's lame that I have no place to go? I tried to rid myself of pessimistic thoughts as I knocked on JJ's door and waited for her to answer. It was 3:30 so I knew she got back from her last class, PreCalc, about 10 minutes ago. Sure enough, she skipped over to the door in a matter of seconds.

"Hey, babe! What's up?"

"Hi uh, is Pen here?"

"No, she's at Derek's."

"Good I... I kinda need to talk to you about something."

Her face dropped, "Oh no. Is it bad? It sounds bad."

"I-It's not. At least, I hope it's not."

She stepped to the side, "Well come in, we can talk about it." I nodded and kicked my shoes off before sitting on the edge of JJ's bed, biting my nails. She took a seat next to me and sighed, "You're biting your nails, it can't be good. What's going on, Emily? You can tell me anything, baby."

I put my head down and quietly murmured, "I uh, I don't have any place to go for Christmas."

"Hmm?"

I looked up at JJ and confided, "My mom can't make it back. Again. So there's no point in me going to DC. I... I don't have anywhere to go."

JJ caressed the side of my face and comforted, "Then you're coming home with me."

I breathed a sigh of relief, "You mean it?"

"Of course, Em. I'm not gonna let you be alone on Christmas."

"Thanks, Jay. You don't think I'm... lame... do you?"

"Why would I think that?" She grabbed my hand and lovingly stroked over the top of it with her thumb.

"Because... isn't it fucking stupid that I don't have anywhere to go? That if I didn't know you, I'd probably be sitting in my dorm all break?"

"I don't think you're lame, Emily. Remember Thanksgiving? When you said you didn't go to DC?" I nodded. "Remember what I said to you about that?"

"How if there was a time when I couldn't go home again that I should tell you?"

"Exactly, babe. And I'm so happy you did."

"But I don't want you to feel like... responsible for me or anything you know? Like you have to drag me along because I have nowhere else to be."

"I don't feel like that. I'm bringing you because I love you too much to leave you alone. You're not obligated to come, but I'd really like you to and I'd feel like shit if you didn't."

I chuckled, "I do want to, actually."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah I think so. East Allegheny could be cool."

JJ smiled widely and beamed, "Oh I can't wait to take you to all my favorite places! And we can go out to eat at Pete's and I'll bring you Christmas shopping at the mall downtown!"

I laughed, "Tara and I knew you'd say all that."

"It's gonna be fun!" I leaned forward and planted a kiss on her lips. She quickly pulled away and squealed, "Ooh I have to call my mom and let her know you're coming!" JJ dug around for her phone and called her mom right away. "Hey, mom!... Hi, yeah— yeah I'm fine... No I'm fine... Yeah I'm good... School's good... Mom! I'm gonna see you in two days and tell you all this! Just listen!... Thank you. Is it all right if Emily comes home with me for Christmas?... It is!?" JJ jumped up and down like a little kid in a toy store. It made my heart burst with joy. She smiled throughout the rest of the conversation, "But there's room right?... Oh, Julia's coming?... Well Em and I will share my room, it's fine... She won't care, mom, she's my girlfriend... Okay... Okay, sure... O-Okay." JJ covered the receiver of her phone and whispered to me, "She wants to talk to you."

I shrugged and took the phone from JJ, "Mrs. Jareau?... Hi!... Hi, thanks so much for letting me tag along... It's kind of a long story but uh, basically we make plans and God laughs, right?... Yeah, you get me... Yeah... Oh no, JJ's fine... I'm looking out for her don't worry." I winked at JJ when I said that, warranting a cute little lip bite from her. "Your daughter is amazing, Mrs. Jareau, I love her a lot... Haha, yeah she's a little much sometimes but it's nothing I can't handle... Oh, I know! Don't even get me started on the shopping!" JJ scoffed and reached up for her phone, trying to take it from me so her mom and I would stop badmouthing her. Unfortunately she was too short and couldn't reach it from my grasp. I chuckled and said into the phone, "All right I think she wants to talk to you again... All right, for sure... Thanks again, ma'am... Bye bye."

I gave the phone back to JJ and laughed when she started scolding her mom, "You two are such bullies!... I do not spend too much time shopping!... It's how I cope with stress!... Ew, mom, I'm gonna do that instead!... Ew, stop!... Ugh, I'm hanging up on you now!"

I laughed and asked JJ, "What did she suggest you do instead?"

"Something R-Rated that we're not gonna discuss." JJ's mood shifted to a happy one as she smiled and straddled me before humming, "You're coming home with meeee!"

"I knowww! Hey, how do you get there by the way?"

"Ugh, don't remind me. I drive."

"That's what I thought. It's not too long of a drive."

"Yeah but I hate it. All the expressways and the fast moving cars and the aggressive people. The whole ordeal makes me scared." JJ sat up and little more and cleared her throat, "Hey um, you wanna do me a favor? Maybe?"

I deadpanned, "You want me to drive, don't you?"

"Yes please."