Destined to be?

Chapter 34

Sarah

As soon as I got out of Brayden's car I rushed to the mailbox to check to see if any large envelopes were inside.
large envelopes meant good news.
Small envelopes could be good but more then not they are usually rejection letters.
Opening the metal lid only to find that nothing was there, completely empty. Which means.
Placing my key on the lock and twisting as i bursted inside going to the kitchen table to sift through the envelopes.
Trying to find one with her name on it.
"Looking for this?" Mom asks, holding up a very thick envelope in the air.
"She got in." I say, feeling the shock and excitement of that knowledge pouring throughout me.
"Can I ask why her mail got sent here?"
"Well she practically lives here anyways." I state. going to grab the letter only to find that she held it up further in the air.
We were about the same height so I could easily just grab the papers from her but i was stopped by the look on her face. One that meant that she wanted more information because she knew I wasn't telling the full truth.
"Ok fine. I may have come across an unmail unsealed set of papers that were 'completely y' filled out and stuffed into an envelope, put a stamp on them with our return address and mailed in her application for her."
Owning up to what I did because there was no way I could get out of this one.
"So she doesn't know?"
"Nope. But I'm telling her tonight. She is coming over for dinner, Brayden too."
"Brayden huh." She says with a sly grin causing me to moan out in frustration.
"We are just friends now mom." For some reason the mention of my breakup hit my parents differently. While dad was just fine with the information, mom still seems to think that we will get back together someday.
Which is really annoying but also a mom thing i guess. Being the artist that she is she gets ideas in her head and this seems to be one of them.
"I'm going to go get changed but they should be here in an hour." Squeezing the package to my chest not sure who is going to be more excited, me or amara.
By the time that i come back down stairs everyone is already gathered in the kitchen. Dad, still working over the stove while mom stands by his side offering moral support as Brayden and Amara are sitting on the island.
Not even denying the fact that I'm using this as a way to make my own anyconnect not seem as big.
"Hey girl. What are you hiding behind your back?"
Mom had already let dad know what was going on, watching as he put the pan on the back burner before turning around to catch her reaction.
Slowly I pull the envelope out, both Brayden and Amara's eyes widening. Both assume the same thing.
"Why didn't you tell me that you applied to a college. Which one, where did."
"This isn't mine." I say loud enough so that she could hear over her own words. Confusion in her eyes as I hold the envelope to her. "It's yours."
"University of Maryland. I found your application and sent it in. I hope you're not mad at me."
Watching as Brayden turned to her, she was frozen in place as if she had become a statue.
Taking a step, unable to gouge her reaction. If she was happy or angry or if she was shocked. Well she was definitely shocked that one was easy.
"Big envelopes are good?" She finally gets out. "They wouldn't send all that information if it wasn't good news right?"
"Why don't you open it and find out." As the package held its sturdy form waiting for her to step forward and take it.
Everyone was quite as she grabbed onto the edge. That was her last slow movement as she hurriedly ripped open the tab and dumped all the contents onto the counter. Picking up the only white piece of paper inside.
Reading the words aloud.
"Miss Kensley, we are pleased to announce that your application was accepted. As well we would also like to offer you a full ride scholarship for your choice in the criminal justice major! OMG. This can not be real. I mean, I never thought that I would actually get in. This is like one of the top schools." Still holding onto the paper she latched onto me and pulled me in for the biggest jumping hug as we spun around the kitchen while everyone else clapped in joy.
"I can't believe this." She says again as we come to a stop as she rereads the letter again.
"Believe it. You deserve this. You are going to be the best detective crime officer ever."
"Do they have a good arts program? Maybe there is a school nearby that you could attend so that we could be together. Can you imagine that? Both of us in college together like we always talked about."
"Actually that's something else, that's the other reason why I wanted everyone here." I say with more seriousness in my tone, feeling the excitement still buzzing through the air hoping that it stays.
"I actually made a decision about college." Trying to keep my head held high even though every pair of eyes was now directly attended to me.
"What is it, spill?" My best friend knocked me on the shoulder kiddingly.
This was it. Nothing left I can do but just flat out say the plan.
"I've decided that I want to take a year off from school."
Silence.
Not one of them knowing what to say as I swallow, hearing the action as if it was played through a loudspeaker.
"Are you sure that's a good idea sweetheart?" Mom asks. Which is the last person I thought would have a problem since she herself dropped out of college.
"I'm not saying that I will never go, I just. I want some time where I don't have to worry about classes and assignments. I just want to. I don't know. Take a break from it all."
"What are you planning on doing on his year off?" Dad chimes in.
"I don't know. I honestly haven't really thought about that."
"Don't you think that it would be better if you went off to college even if you only took a couple classes just so you can have that experience?" Mom asks.
"Yeah maybe you could audit some of the classes at Maryland just to see. Then we could be together." Amara adds in.
"You can always choose not to go later but I think that you would like college if you gave it a chance." Braydens chimes in, adding to all of their opinions. All except for dad who was staying strangely quiet.
"I don't get it. Just last year you were so ready for college. Making sure you had all your classes getting all those extra college credits. Do you really want to flush all that work down the drain." Hearing those words from my best friend hurt a little because she was right. If I chose not to go to college then all of the nights I had stayed up to finish projects and papers. All the headaches and worry and anxiousness.
College was my plan.
Getting scholarships to pay for classes and making sure that my grades were as perfect as they could be and filling all my elective spaces with even more rigorous classes when I could have actually chosen something fun.
Most if that need was so that i wouldn't have to put more strain on my parents workload by dumping more bills into their laps. After everything they have done for me this was something that I could do to help out.
Only now.
Well we weren't hurting for money. Moms art selling so well after establishing her name with the story that will forever be held close to her work. Considering that pain and suffering seem to go hand in hand with making a great artist. Then with dads new rank at his office, they were each bringing in a good amount of money.
That was no longer an issue.
Pressure to attend college and collect a degree was something that schools had always pushed us towards. Every grade gearing you up for the next one, preparing you, conditioning you to move ahead.
Logically that would be the next step. Going always felt like something that was the thing to do. Not really a choice. More of a decision that had already been programmed into us.
Of course I did have moments when I thought that college would be a fun experience. Being on campus, going to classes, living in dorms. Having that freedom.
Only it wasn't really freedom.
Larger campus, more grounds, more choice in classes and activities yet still bound to going to each one. Following a life based on the school's schedule.
In a way that seemed like a good idea. To have that structure, to know that I would have something to do and somewhere to be.
Looking into each of their faces. Each of them, so sure that I should go to college. Practically hearing the turning of gears as they all tried to think of ways to convince me and to talk some sense into me, so to speak.
Just another moment in my life when other people seemed to think that they knew what was best for my life.
Glancing over at dad who's entire face seemed to be relaxed as his arms crossed loosely over his chest. A drastic difference from the scrunched up eyebrows, wide eyes and slightly ajar mouths. Though he wasn't completely at ease. Pupils dancing around in circles on the ground, shoulders pulled stiffly back and I could tell by the hollowness in his sheets that his teeth were closed tightly together.
"Dad? What do you think?"
His eyes coming up to meet mine, stance, unmoving.
"Well I have a few different thoughts on this. First one is that I want to keep you home. You're my daughter and I will never want you to leave home but I know that you will someday. That parts just inevitable, just one of the clauses of being a parent." He says with a small smile and a shrug. "Then I think about my college days and all the experiences, both good and bad, that I gained over that period in my life. Moments that are different for everyone and I don't want you to miss out on that. In the end it's your choice kiddo. College will always be there, whenever you're ready for it. If that's not now then that's ok."
Rushing over to my dad giving him a hug as I hold back the tear that wants to escape out of the corner of my eye. My dad has always been the one who seems to understand me better, the one who is always on my side no matter what. Even when mom had semi sided with the detective about the possibility that I could be lying. He stood up for me and was on my side at every moment.
"Thanks dad."