Beyond the Lesson (TXS)

Thanksgiving

Wednesday
Thanksgiving Day

When Maira said we'd be cooking for Thanksgiving to make it feel more personal, I thought that 'we' included her and everyone else but it's literally just been Verena and I in the kitchen cooking as they taste whatever we finish preparing. It's fine though because truly those two couldn't cook cereal if it didn't include just milk and the cereal itself forgetting the bowl. "You know cooking is the sexiest skill anyone can have?" Verena says and I chuckle.

"Thought it was playing the guitar." I say and she shrugs.

"Well it's the sexiest skill for me and you do it exceptionally well baby." She says and pecks my lips making me smile.

"You were honest about moving in together right?" She looks at me with a confused look.

"Yeess? Why wouldn't I be baby?" She asks with slight amusement and I shrug.

"Just want to make sure it wasn't just spare of the moment type thing." She stops prepping and turns fully to me.

"Was it a spare of the moment thing with you?" I shake my head and she comes closer to look up at me. "Then we're still doing it. In 6 months, I'll submit my transfer back to California, you'll be graduated and we'll move in together." She says saying the plan out loud and I smile.

"Good." We kiss.

"Aye not over the food!" Lucas says taking chips out the bowl.

"It's called love Lucas it makes the food taste better." Verena says and he nods.

"True." He says and goes back to the living room. Food finally gets done and we sit down at the dining table. "Can I say something?" He asks and we all nod stopping our other conversations. He clears his throat. "Um I just want to say I'm thankful for all of you here. Even through what might be the toughest thing I've ever dealt with, you've guys stood beside me and I appreciate it. Thank you for digging me out of a hole I made for my self and thank you for loving me. That's it." He says and sits back down where Maira kisses him.

"Well since we're saying speeches," Maira stands up. "I have something to say." She says and takes a breath. "I'm pregnant."

Our forks drop at the same time. "Forreal this time?" I ask and everyone's eyes meet mine. "She had a scare last month. She didn't tell you so you wouldn't freak out." I tell Lucas and he looks at her.

He stands up and grabs her hands. "Is this forreal baby?" She nods with tears falling and he kisses her. "We're having a baby?"

"Yes." They hug tight and Verena holds my hand and smiles at me. "I thought you'd freak out."

"I am but I'm definitely more excited. I'm gonna be a dad." He breathes out and kisses her passionately.

"Congratulations you two. We have to go baby clothes shopping as soon as we get back to Colorado." Verena says and Maira nods excited. I wish I could add to the excitement with my potential news but I don't want to jinx it. We go back to eating and talking mainly about baby names. I suggested Sa'Yir if it's a boy and Saylor for a girl. Verena liked the named Sa'Yir a lot she started joking our names together with it making my heart swell with her thinking about having a family together.

Dinner ends and we're all relaxing watching the Turkey Bowl. "Anyone want dessert?" I ask and everyone nods. "You want ice cream baby?"

She smiles and nods repeatedly. "Yes please baby."

I kiss her and then get up. "Cool. Lucas come with me." I say and he kisses Maira and then her belly making her blush and then we head out to the ice cream shop, well. "How do you feel?" I ask him as we drive.

He smiles. "I'm nervous of course. But Talia man, I'm-I'm going to be a dad. I mean this is amazing." He breathes out in excitement.

"You know I'm proud of you?" He looks at me. "You're doing great already by supporting and being happy about this. Not many people are especially at our age." He nods agreeing. "You're going to be great, the both of you."

"Thanks Talia. Now where are we actually going because we just passed the shop like two blocks ago?" He asks and I chuckle and smile brightly.

"Can you stop here?" I ask the driver and he lets us out a few blocks away from the ice cream shop.

"Why are we here?" Lucas asks and I smile.

30 minutes later of stressing out over it, I got the perfect one for her. "Think she'll like it?" He nods repeatedly still in shock. "Alright let's go get their ice cream and head back before they start doing a search party for us." I say and we head back to the car.

We make it back with the ice cream. "Damn where'd you guys go, back to Colorado?" Maira asks and we chuckle.

"No. It was a long line and so many options to choose from." I say and Lucas smiles knowingly.

"Well thank you baby." Verena says and we sit back on the couch and watch Mulan. Did you know there was a second one? Holy shit!

Night finds us and we retreat to the backyard and light the fireplace to make s'mores and enjoy the night. "Thank you." I say and Verena looks at me. "I didn't say it earlier but thank you."

"For what baby?"

"For loving me. You have no idea how much that means to me." She smiles and kisses me.

"Well thank you for the same. I never thought I'd find it especially not in my student but I'm glad I did. You mean so much to me." She says and I reciprocate the kiss.

Friday

We're unfortunately leaving today to go back to Colorado. Yesterday we just relaxed all day not wanting the day to pass us by and just enjoyed each others company. And today is no different, we're all just laid up on the couch to enjoy the last bit of being able to show affection towards each other before we have to act like we don't exist. It hurts knowing I won't be able to sleep next to her tonight or even kiss her. But like I said I'm willing to wait. Even if it's for 6 months or 6 years, I'd wait for Verena. No doubt about it. I just hope she'd wait for me. "Why can't we just stay here forever?!" Maira whines as we pack the car.

"Because we still have school and our English teacher is literally with us so we can't just ditch." Lucas says and Maira looks at Verena.

"I honestly forgot." She says and we all laugh.

"Think I did too for a moment. I love hanging with you guys. We have to do it again."

"Oh I've already got spring break planned out. So-" Lucas covers her mouth.

"Let's get through Christmas first baby." He says and she rolls her eyes and they get in the truck.

Verena sighs. "This is gonna suck."

I nod. "Yeah it is. But we got it right?" She nods.

"Of course." She says and I kiss her reassuringly and then we get in the truck and we set off to the jet to take us back home. We've got this.