Road Trip [#Wattys2015]

Chapter 17

We were back in the car going home. Grandpa George was going to come to our house so that we could announce my decision to my mother and the next day he was heading off for his place, but I was gonna have to leave as soon as school was back from spring break and head off with my partner for Europe -Grandpa George predicts that that would be the first station- that meant two things. One, I only had two weeks left of my life being what it is and two, I only had two weeks left with Maia.

Of course I still hadn't announced the news to either of them, but I was going to as soon as we were back from this road trip. Once again, that was supposed to be a fun road trip, and it was. I mean, if you exclude me having my heart broken, me finding my long lost grandfather, Jackson going through an identity crisis and Maia, well, also having her heart broken, this was the most fun we've ever had together.

"I've changed my mind." Maia said, and it took me a second to realize she was not talking to me.

"Really?" Grandpa George replied interested.

"Yeah, you were right that I was setting my goals too low. I don't wanna get married anymore, I mean I do but that's not my main priority in life. I wanna be a scientist."

"That is interesting Maia. It's good that you're having bigger dreams for yourself." He and Maia smiled satisfied and that's when Jackson went in.

"I've changed my mind too."

"What did you say you wanted to be Jackson?"

"A pilot." Jackson cringed while saying that.

"Oh, that's right. Like your father." Grandpa George recalled our conversation from two days ago.

"Yeah. I don't want to be like my father anymore. I want to be an artist." Jackson's face glowed when he said that and so did everyone else's in the car.

"How great." Grandpa George said with excitement. "I've never really pictured you as an artist." He continued.

"Us neither but then we heard him sing." I said with pride and patted my friends shoulder. He looked as if he might blush which was quite interesting considering Jackson never blushed.

We dropped of the Everson Siblings at their house when we got there and then made our way to mine. And that was the part I was nervous about, announcing my choice to my mother.

I'll skip the part where we walked in and had diner because there aren't many things to say about it, besides the fact that my mom and Grandpa George had many things to catch up on and seemed to know each other pretty well. Then he started talking to her about the new addition they were making to Sunday Paranoia and the job that I was going to be a part of.

"Well, how long will he be gone?" My mom looked sad, but also excited for me.

"That depends on how good the new project goes but I'm guessing a year." He clarified.

"Wow that's... big." My mother turned to me. "Are you sure you're ready for that kind of commitment? And most importantly, are you sure you're gonna be eating well out there in Europe?" My mom grew more motherly and concerned with every phrase.

"Yes mom I'm sure." I reassured her but jokes on me if I thought that it was going to stop all her questions.

"Are you going to be wearing a jacket when you have to? It's really cold in Europe you know. And are you going to call me more than once a day?"

A lot of other questions followed after that but I just nodded them all off.

When we were done I walked up to my room, and just because I was feeling a little risky I decided to do something I never do.

I opened my math book.

I went to the first pages because god knows I haven't been keeping up with my math homework and tried solving the equation that seemed easy but, of course, was going to turn out really fucking complicated coz that's just math. -And also a really good philosophy for life.-

The equation started off like this: 6(5(-5.25)+9)+3 which looked really simple but my mind was already wondering of to something else.

Focus! I repeated to myself and brought my mind back to that trick Maia had taught me. I tried to concentrate on the equation the way I had on that napkin that day, and then, slowly...

=6(-26.25+9)+3

=6(-17.25)+3

=-103.5+3

=-100.5

I did it. No cheating off someone else's paper, not begging Maia to text me the answers and braiding her with ice-cream, not hiding a calculator under my desk, just me.

I take out my phone to send a picture to Maia and capturing it "Are you proud of me now?" To which she responded moments later with: "Wow good job! But as much as I hate to break it to you, that equation is from like two semesters ago. ;)" Sure it was. "hey I just did math homework on my own will, who cares what semester it's from I deserve a price!" We kept talking like that for a while and I was constantly contemplating on whether to drop the bomb on her and tell her I'm leaving or ask her out. In the end I did non, because even though I had made a huge decision that day, I'm still a big fat wuss.