Letters to My Romeo

1. One.

"Jesse? Time for you to get up! It's graduation day!"

I groaned when my mom jumped onto my bed, trying to get me up. I soon sat up and ran a hand through my hair. "What time is it?"

"Six fifteen."

I blinked and took a big, deep breath. "In the morning?"

My mom nodded, grinning, and shook me. "Yes! Yes, it is, and I woke you up early because I have a surprise for you and I couldn't wait any longer! A-and your father's outside and we were both waiting on you to get up but you wouldn't!"

I chuckled a bit. "Stop shaking me! I'll be up in five minutes, mom."

"I'm not giving you time to get dressed! You have pajama bottoms on?"

Staring daggers at my mother, I gave a small nod. "Yes."

Without a word, she dragged me out of bed and down the stairs. Somehow I had the time to yell out a "Goodmorning" to my little sister, Samantha. She said nothing, just glaring at me - probably because she was only in the tenth grade and not graduating.

Mom burst through the screen door on the porch as if it wasn't about to fall off of it's hinges and glanced over at my dad.

"Atticus! Get off your ass and stop smoking, give Jesse his surprise!" Mom grinned and ruffled my hair, jumping up and down. My dad simply put out his cig and stood up, reaching into his shirt pocket and bringing out a key.

He put it in my hand. "Around back, son." He said, pushing his glasses up. I furrowed a brow and slowly began to walk to the back.

"Is this going to be another one of your jokes? I didn't appreciate it last time! And what's with the key - what does it lead to? Narnia?" I asked, crossing my arms.

What I didn't expect to see was a 1967 Chevy Impala sitting in our backyard.

That was surprising.

I screamed, and jumped up and down and all that jazz, not realizing my whole family had come out and stood behind me. I turned around to face them, kind of startled but still too happy to not hug each and every one of them.

"Son, she's yours if you want her." My dad said, laughing.

"I do! I doidOIDOIDOIDOIDO!" I screamed and looked back at the car. "Oh my god, does she even work?"

"She works." My dad said, and brought out his smokes. He tapped it and pulled a cigarette out, grinning. "And you can take it to your college."

"Here's the thing." My mom had to stop my excitement for one moment to tell me this, "It isn't... there are a few chinks in it and we couldn't afford to fix them, but what with your pay when you begin your job we know you'll be able to."

I blinked. That was a downside but I was sure it was a small price to pay. I had my own car, I was moving to California, I was going to get a life!

"Now, son," Dad put a hand on my shoulder and mom scoffed.

"Atticus, don't do th-"

Nah, it's okay mom, let him tell me what he needs to tell me." I said, and smiled up at my dad.

"What are you going to name her?"

Well, that was surprising.

"I.. don't know." I murmured and ran a hand through my hair. "I really don't. I guess i'll have to tell you after I graduate..?"

Mom laughed and rolled her eyes, "Mhm. You probably already know wht you wish to name her. Well, we'll be inside, and you can come in and get ready when you're done."

Once more, I thanked my parents and turned to look at my car (of which I had already affectionately named "Beetlejuice" after my favorite movie). I cleared my throat and looked at the key.

Today was going to be fun. Fun was going to be today.