Fix: A Two-Part Story

Spring, age 18

Spring, age 18

I never thought I'd make it this far.

Three years ago, if anyone asked me if I would make it to this day, I would have laughed in their face. Now, I am hours away from being a high-school graduate.

I made it to graduation.

Simultaneously, I have done the bare minimum for someone my age per the expectations of society, and it is also the greatest accomplishment of my life, to date. It's like I unlocked the 'average teenager achievement'.

Never before did I think I'd get here. Hell, not even during my time at Holden did I think I would make the grades to graduate. I had to have the lowest grades ever but fuck it was enough. I'm convinced the school was either paid off or they made some sort of clerical 'adjustment' to keep someone from repeating senior year for the first time.

I am officially done with school. At least for the next year. Gap year here I come.

At the end of summer, the four of us are getting an apartment in Port Sheridan. We will get a killer spot in the Upper End close to campus and all the cool places I never got to explore when I lived in the Lower End. The two places are so disconnected that the hesitation I felt at the idea of moving there vanished once Gerry said exactly where the apartment would be. It made the odds of running into anyone from my old life fucking astronomical.

Fuck. I can't believe this shit. Like how did everything turn out so good? Seriously, fucking how?

Two years ago, I was destined to wind up like my father regardless of my naive belief that I was in control. Now, I have everything that kid wanted. Literally fucking everything. I have the security of not having to calculate every move and just be a fucking teenager. Friends, family, and opportunity.

The only thing that I am missing is her, but I've accepted the fact that what happens will happen. I can't force it. That will only take away from what it could be, and I will not let that happen.

But something's different lately. Ever since that party things have slowly changed. The whole acting like we were together thing broke down some wall that was up. Her body language changed. She looks at me and I feel something more. We touch each other every chance we get. Nothing excessive, just small things here and there more so than before. Sometimes I even wake up holding her (because of course for some reason she is still sleeping in my room) and I don't let go until she wakes up. Just having this new contact has satiated something inside me. There is something there that I am still too much of a coward to do anything about.

I can't have everything. It'd be too good to be true. I'd be spoiled at that point. No. I will take what I can get with a huge smile because I've already got more than I ever believed possible.

I swear I'm the luckiest bastard in the world.

***

The doorbell rang for the third time causing Gage to cuss. He knew it was the packages they ordered and that he had to get there before the driver gave up only to leave a 'Sorry We Missed You!' slip. Rounding the corner to the foyer he nearly slid into one of the high back chairs.

"One second," he yelled. Moving away from the foyer he entered the small entryway for the front door. On the other side of the door stood the delivery guy. "Sorry about that. How are you doing today?" Gage tried his best to be polite.

"Almost the end of my route, will be better when it's over," he said, holding out the electronics signature pad. "If you could sign here, I'll start unloading the boxes."