loverboy

chapter eighteen.

I got home that night and went straight to my room to continue my pity party I was having for myself with my non stop flow of tears that just kept coming. My makeup was smudged and running, but I couldn't be bothered to care. Once I got myself together I somehow managed to fall into a fitful sleep, curled up in my blankets with a hollow feeling deep in my chest.

In the morning, I was eager to make a change. I couldn't stay here anymore, not in the same household as Alec. Not after he ripped my heart out into small tiny pieces and then stomped on the remains. There's nothing holding me back anymore, not since I finished high school anyway. I could move across the country if I wanted to. I still have Blaze, but I know he'll understand whatever decision I come to. I'd already applied to a few colleges and scholarships in the past, but I was still awaiting for any responses. I had no motivation to get out of bed for the day, wanting to sulk in my own despair for a little while longer, so I just didn't. Eventually, about halfway through the day there was a knock on my door. I looked and Blaze peeked his head through before entering fully.

"Hey buddy, how are you doing?" He said in a gentle tone as he sat carefully on the edge of my bed.

"Awful." I replied shortly. I'd assumed Alec filled him in on what happened so I didn't feel the need to do any explaining.

"I figured. Is there anything I can do for you?" He asked, reaching out and tucking my hair behind my ear in a brotherly manner.

"Is killing Alec out of the picture?" I asked, hopeful.

"Sadly yes. I'd get sent to prison and then there'd be no one here to take care of my baby sister." He said with a sad smile on his face.

"I assumed as much." I replied, slumping back against my pillow. Blaze opened his mouth to say something else, but it got drowned out by the cordless house phone ringing.

"Why do we even still have that phone? We all have cell phones." I said over it's annoying repetition.

"Because we are civilized human beings." He replied before he left the room to go answer it. I didn't know what his answer even meant in regards to the question, but I just shrugged it off. A few moments later Blaze re entered my room, phone rested between his chin and shoulder.

"Yes . . . okay . . . sure, she's right here." he was saying. He picked it up and held it out toward me. I looked from it to him with a baffled expression but he just nodded in encouragement and placed it in my hand. I put it up to my ear slowly and exhaled slowly.

"Hello?" I asked.

"Hello, is this Delaney Scott?" the female voice on the other end of the line asked.

"Yes it is, and who is this?" I asked in return.

"Hi Delaney, this is a representative for the University of California San Diego and I was calling to inform you that the scholarship you applied for with our school has been granted to you." She informed me. I was shocked, to say the least. I never truly expected to actually get any of the scholarships I'd applied for and this was my top choice.

"Oh my gosh, thank you so much. You have no idea how much this means to me." I breathed, completely overwhelmed.

"Thank you, we look forward to your enrollment at our campus. All expenses paid, as long as your GPA remains at a sustainable level, as I'm sure you're already aware of. It would also be prefered if you were to arrive here in San Diego as soon as possible and attend the campus to get a tour and set up your classes." She said.

"Yes, thank you for the opportunity. You won't regret it." I replied.

"I'm sure we won't. You have a good day, Miss Scott." She said before the line went dead. I clicked the end button on the phone before setting it down. I didn't know what to do next. I guess I needed to leave, sooner before later. I opened my laptop and scrolled through the website with different airlines and flights, searched for the most affordable one to California. I eventually settled on one with Southwest and booked it for tomorrow morning. I would have scheduled it for tonight, but knowing myself I was not going to have everything packed and ready to go in that time frame. Once that was finished, I decided I'd better get started. Folding each individual article of clothing and packing them into boxes proved to be a rather tedious task and once I'd filled a total of four boxes I finally had it all packed away. All that was left were bedroom items and toiletries that I could take care of later.

Before settling in for the night I found myself wandering back to Blaze's bedroom, still cautious of the fact that Alec could be home and looking around the corner before making the swift feat from my bedroom across the hall to Blaze's. I knocked twice before entering, finding him sat in his computer chair at his desk, typing away furiously at his keyboard.

"Hey, what's up? What was the phone call about?" he asked noticing my entrance.

"I got the scholarship to UCSD." I said quietly. He spun around in his chair, eyes wide and a smile crept onto his face.

"Oh my gosh that's so great! When do you leave?" He questioned.

"Tomorrow morning." I murmured, looking down at the ground and back up to meet his eyes.

"Holy crap, so soon." He commented bewildered.

"It's a 4 year full ride, Blaze." I breathed, still not able to quite accept it myself.

"I know, this is what you've always dreamed of. I'd thought you'd forgotten about college and all that these last few months." He said, putting his hand on my shoulder and giving it a light squeeze.

"I've just been a little . . . distracted." I trailed off. With some last encouraging words from Blaze I left his room and retreated back to my own, calling it in for the night. I was out like a light once my body was underneath those covers, despite the anxious feeling I couldn't shake about the day to come.