The Summer That Changed Me

Chapter 21

That explains all the tears and why Sandy didn't want me seeing the papers on the table. I swallow a lump in my throat and nervously bite my lip.

"Well how long do you have to stay there for?"

"Not sure yet. If it goes good, it could be months."

"What if it goes bad?"

Cory sighs and nervously scratches his neck.

"I'll be put back into the foster care system until someone else wants to take me in."

My eyes start to well up with tears, and Cory takes notice. He rubs his forehead and sighs.

"This is why Sandy and I didn't want you to know yet."

"So when did you plan on telling me?"

"I was gonna tell you when I was ready Olivia. It's a lot to take in for me too."

"When are you leaving?"

"Someone is supposed to come pick me up Saturday."

"It's Thursday right now."

"Yeah, I know."

My bottom lip starts to quiver, and Cory must've seen because he immediately wraps me in his arms. All my tears finally spill out, all over his shirt and all over my cheeks.

"You can't leave Cory!"

"Olivia, it's not my choice. I'm not 18 yet, so I can't legally make my own choices."

"They can't make you go!"

"But they can."

I start hitting my hands on Cory's chest, and he sharply intakes a breath.

"No! I won't let them! What're we gonna do when you're gone? Skype every night? That just won't be enough!"

"I know darling, that's why I think we should bre----"

"NO! We must started dating. I'm not going to lose you because of something like this! I won't let it happen Cory!"

"It would be easier."

"No it fucking wouldn't. We just started dating Cory. Plus, you were the one that was so hellbent on dating me in the first place."

"Then maybe this'll be a test for our relationship. See how strong it is."

"I don't want to test it! You're not leaving and we're not breaking up."

"I have to start packing."

"See! You don't even fucking care, damn it. You should be fighting with the system to stay with Sandy!"

"No, it's pointless. They're stronger than I am."

"So you really don't care about us."

"Yes I do Olivia. See, this is why I didn't wanna tell you."

"Why? Because I make it complicated? Because it would've just been easier to leave without telling me where the fuck you went? I get it. I don't really matter to you."

"It would've been easier..."

"So that's how it is? Because it would've been easier on you, ya just go ahead and plan to do it? How do you think I would've felt if I woke up one morning and you weren't lying there in bed next to me? Pretty damn awful. I'd always be asking myself what I ever did wrong and where you went."

"Sandy would've told you eventually."

"Cory, you don't even fucking care about our relationship. I can see that now. I don't know how you honestly feel, but I love you."