I really want you to hate me

Chapter 23

Rebekah

Dani:How's dinner with your family?

I looked down at the phone on my lap, reading the text quickly, hoping my mother wouldn't catch me. I arrived at home 2 hours ago, helping my mom prepare the food before my father's arrival.

"I have to go to the bathroom." I excused myself, going to the bathroom. I smiled down at my phone, opening the chat.

Me: Good, the food is great

Dani: I'm happy to hear it

Dani: I miss you

My heart skipped a beat at the text.

Me: I miss you Dani

Dani: <3

I wanted to spend as much time with her as I could, but being in the closet made it hard to take her home with me, showing her to my parents. I glanced at the screen for the last time, before heading back to the table.

"Sorry." I apologized again, before taking my seat.

"So, Rebekah. This is your last year, were you thinking about what do you want to do after you graduate?" The fork stopped on the way to my mouth.

"I-"

"I was thinking you could go to university." My mom cut me off.

"That was my plan too." I nodded in agreement. I loved to study, I was smart, I had potential. I didn't have a job, and I didn't really know what I wanted to do later in my life. I loved books, but people don't pay you for loving books. So yeah, university was a great idea. And if it was not a problem for my parents, I was down for it.

"Your mother and I were talking and we decided that it would be the best if you would go to Cambridge."

"In England?" My eyes widened in shock. England was away, so far far away. Even if I could get in, even if my parents could pay for it... It was an ocean away from my life. From Dani.

"Do you know any other famous university named Cambridge?" My dad joked, my mother laughing a little. My stomach sank a little.

"England is really far from here."

"This is the 21st century, everything is just a fly away. I fly every other week."

"All my friends are here." I said.

"Who? Addie?" I wasn't sure that she knew how hurtful her words were.

"Other children would be very grateful for an opportunity like this." Dad leaned back on his chair, all his attention on me.

"I'm grateful." I was grateful. But I didn't want it. Or I did. I wasn't sure. "I just... I just wasn't thinking that far away."

"Graduation is not that far away."

"I meant physically. I thought about a place in the US."

"England is a big opportunity." I sounded ungrateful, my mother made me sound ungrateful. I wasn't. I just didn't want to leave. I didn't really know what I wanted to do. Because right there, I didn't want to leave Dani, Addie. But who knows what will happen months later? Maybe the thing between Dani and I won't work out. Maybe something will happen and our friendship with Addie would fail. Maybe everything would work out with everyone and I would still go to Cambridge.

"I know, I just-"

"Alright, Rebekah. Let me rephrase it." Dad stood up, pouring a glass of wine for my mother and himself. "You go to Cambridge or nothing."