Shane
Yesterday I did what I needed to do, I visited my mom and Alex and then even had time to hang out with Bri at the flower shop. It was actually kinda nice and definitely cathartic I needed it and I was glad it had happened. the original plan was that I would stay in Jefferson with my dad until Friday, of course I ended up coming here alone which I was more than happy about, because my dad wasn't here I got to do all the healing I needed too, by myself. my dad called my aunt last night and said he would be driving down this afternoon, I guess I could stay here too, but I felt like leaving would be far more beneficial, I had my time here now my dad could have his and I could go back to northview where I belong. I could go to the lake, see my girlfriend and feel normal, finally after a year I could move on.
I sat at the kitchen table in my Aunts sunny breakfast nook, she had made a southern spread for my last meal here, bacon, eggs, biscuits and homade strawberry jelly bought at Hudsons. "well Shane im sorry that your leaving so soon." my Aunt Jackie spoke as she scooped jelly onto her biscuit. "its just better if im not here with my dad Auntie." I responded as I lifted up my orange juice for a drink. "I haven't liked that man for a long time." my uncle Rick chimed in he was a big broad man, a linebacker type if you will. " my Aunt and Uncle had seen the scratch on my forehead and I told them what had happened with my dad, they knew my relationship with him hadn't been right for a long time. "Shane your uncle and I had a serious conversation last night." I put my fork down on my plate and met my aunts eyes. "We would like to offer our home up to you if you want it, you could move back here, be with your friends, be closer to Alex and your mom. of course it would be your choice but we think it might be good to be away from your dad and move back home with your family." I loved my Aunt Jackie, and I didn't doubt my uncle Rick would be a good father figure, but leaving Northview felt wrong, it felt like I would be abandoning my real family. "that's a lot to think about, I don't know if I can leave northview." My uncle understandingly nodded his head, "you don't have to decide now, besides you would probably want to finish out the year in Alabama." Returning to Jefferson high school, it was strange to try to picture even though a year ago I was a student there. but I couldn't imagine myself there anymore, I tried to envision myself back on Jefferson football field wearing blue and silver instead of Northview green and gold. it seemed disloyal to play for any football team but my Golden eagles. "yeah ill think about it, ill see how the year finishes out." and I guess I would think about it, even though I loved my school moving in with my Aunt was a chance to get a away from my dad and considering how things were going it may not be a chance I could pass up.
I finished my breakfast and then hit the road, I had called Colin last night to tell him I was going to come to the lake house, and not to tell Julia because I wanted to surprise my girlfriend. although I couldn't help it the whole ride over to the lake all I could think about was the thought of leaving Alabama and moving back to Jefferson. there was pros and cons, cons being leaving my girlfriend, abandoning my football team and all my new friends, pros are having actual parents agian, getting to reunite with all the people I used to be friends with and maybe even a second chance with Bri. it was gonna be a hard decision and I hoped spending time with my friends and talking it over with my girlfriend would help me to decide. I pulled up to the lake house at around 3 it was a 2 story wooden cabin, all my friends came running out to greet me when they heard my car door slam. It was great to see them all a welcome change from Jefferson, it finally felt like spring break. We spent the afternoon out on the lake, Colin questionably steering the boat around, then we had dinner and everyone went separate ways as night fell upon us, Julia and I found ourselves on the dock dangling our feet in the water and catching up.
"So how was everything in Jefferson?" She asked me kicking her feet and splashing up the water. I shrugged my Shoulders. "it was good, my Aunt was really happy to see me." I told her omitting any information on my run in with my ex girlfriend although im not sure Julia would care she really trusted me. "how was your mom and brother?" I started off into the distance, not able to make eye contact with her. "they were fine I got to see them for a while, Julia I need to talk to you about something." I brushed past the subject of my mom and Alex it was a touchy one for me. not that the subject I was about to talk about was a easy one. "yeah what's up." Julia grabbed my hand with her little one, despite being in the lake water all day it was surprisingly soft. "my aunt and uncle want me to move in with them back home." Julias sweet expression she normally wore dissipated and her face morphed into a somber kind of expression. "oh well if that's what's gonna make you happy ill support you." I gave her a soft smile. "I haven't decided if im gonna go yet." Julias face instantly showed a wave of relief. "so you might stay here then?" I nodded my head. "I have until the end of the school year to pick, there's things I love about Northview and Jefferson. I thought I finally got closure this trip home but now my Aunt kinda opened my Jefferson chapter again." Julia put her head on my shoulder. "that's the thing about moving around a lot you never know what your true home really is." Julias dad was a military recruiter so her and her family had lived in 5 states since she was born, she had been in Northview for 4 years now and was hoping she would get to finish out her senior year here. "I guess home is where the people you care about most are." I told her trying to weigh which of the two cities I had lived in possessed the most people I cared about most. "for me that's Northview easily." Julia spoke with confidence. that was easy for her to say considering her family got to go with her everywhere. " I don't know where home is for me." I admitted to my girlfriend, She lifted her head off my shoulder and then leaned in and kissed me. "that's okay you've got till may to figure it out."
