Everlasting Love

everlasting love [9]

*Samantha's POV*

10 MONTHS LATER

"....happy birthday dear Samantha, happy birthday to you!" Today was my 17th birthday, I looked around the room and saw everyone that mattered to me in my life which was basically just all of JJ's family, his parents, brothers, his grandmother and great grandmother. No one from my family was there nor did I mind because I can feel what it truly feels like to be loved by family that even if my own grandfather and his wife were in my life, I don't think they would be capable of showing me this amount of love. Sure, they put a roof over my head, food in my belly and nice things like clothes, my car and anything else I may need but they cannot by my love and affection.

JJ is now a senior in high school and now only 5 months away from graduating. Although he truly had his heart set on playing for the University of Wisconsin, having mono really set him back in the recruiting process, but he still managed to get a full ride to Michigan which is great. We have had a couple of fights about what him and I were going to do once he goes away and we're still not 100% sure. I don't think I could handle going to the same high school without JJ there with me, I still didn't have any real friends of my own and the only people I would ever hang out with in or outside of school were JJ's buddies and they totally accepted me as part of the package when it came to hanging out with him. I had been talking to my agent recently about possibly going out to New York more often and doing more shows. Now that I'm older, there are definitely more roles for me to be playing out there and I know there are a lot of casting agents interested in getting me out there to audition for some of them. I was considering becoming emancipated from my grandfather in order for me to move out to New York by myself and work as many hours in the week as I wanted since I would be a legal adult at that time. I would also like to skip a year and graduate in May alongside JJ and my with my grades that definitely could be an option. I have to keep myself busy while JJ is gone because I know he will be busy with football and I cannot be a distraction to him. As tough as it's going to be, I'm going to have to learn to be apart from him which may be close to impossible since we have been friends forever. We still want to be together and I told him I'd come out to see him as much as I could.

I was sitting at the kitchen counter when Connie came in and stood across from me, "Hey kiddo, feel any older yet?" I smirked and put my chin in my hands. "I don't know, they only thing I am feeling is the stress of all the decisions of being older." She looked at me confused as if to tell me to explain to her what I was talking about. I went on and explained to her the plan I had about graduating earlier and leaving for New York when JJ leaves for Michigan and how I have all of these opportunities and jobs that I can get when I'm out there.

"There's this other couple at school who has been dating as long as JJ and I and they seem to be freaking out about their relationship crumbling when they both leave for college in a couple months, I don't understand why JJ and I aren't as stressed out as they are. Does that mean we don't love each other as much as they do?" I asked Connie, "Oh don't be silly Samantha. You and JJ are crazy about each other, and quite honestly I've never seen two people love each other as much as you two do at such a young age. You see, the other couple you know are insecure about their relationship and to me it sounds like they aren't mature in their relationship. In the back of their minds, they know it's not going to work out between one another once they go their separate separate ways, where as you and JJ know you will always find your way back to one another."

I hope she was right, JJ was my other half. I couldn't lose him just yet. I was deep in thought and I didn't hear JJ come up behind me and wrap his arms around my waist. He kissed my neck and whispered in my ear. "Happy Birthday babe." He said as he held out a little box in front of me. "What on earth is this?" I asked as I swirled around in the stool to wrap my arms around his neck. "Just a little something for you, it's not much. I don't make that much money! But I promise, one day when I'm playing in the NFL I'll buy you a beautiful diamond necklace for your birthday!" I smacked him in the chest and laughed. "Since when have I become materialistic J? You know just your kisses are enough of a birthday present for me!" He put one hand on my face and the other one ran down my back, "Speaking of which, I have your other present up in my room for later!" I giggled and kissed him back. "Ugh, get a room you two...so gross!" Derek said as he walked into the kitchen to grab another piece of birthday cake. "I'll remember that when you have your own girlfriend one day. I'll tell her you can't kiss her because you think kissing is gross!" I directed JJ's attention back to me, "So I've been thinking lately..."

"Okay my love, and what exactly have you been thinking about? How much you want to strip me down and make sweet, sweet love to me?" he joked, I laughed. "Not quite, although I can't say it's not on the back of my mind!" he gave me a naughty look and I kept talking just to distract us from getting off track from where I was going with our conversation. "So I think I'm going to graduate with you this year and then head to New York when you are in Michigan. I made up my mind tonight about it." He looked at me for a second and for the first time in a while I couldn't read his expression, he just kind of had a blank look on his face. "Okay, alright. That's cool, I mean I can't expect you to come with me or wait here for me. You have to follow your own dreams too right?" It seemed as though he was giving himself more of a pep talk then he was having a conversation with me. "Like I've told you many times before, I'm gonna come see you as much as I can which I'm sure will be more times then you think! Besides, you'll be so busy with football you'll totally forget about me." He looked me in the eyes and put his hands in my hair, "I will never forget you. That is impossible, okay? We can totally make it through this. If anyone can, it's gonna be us." He smiled and I completely melted into him. He was my rock and I don't think I could ever live without him.