Faults, Scars, and Guitar Strings

Chapter 62

Chapter 62

As much as Dylan claimed not to want to talk about it he sure talked about college a lot. He brought it up that night at my house. "What if I went here instead? Then I could commute."

"Dylan," I pushed the papers away, "Can we please not think about it? I know you have a lot to think about, but this is senior year. I really want to try and enjoy it, don't you? Don't you want to have fun?"

"Of course I do but I thought it would be easier if I figured this out first."

"You're going to stress yourself out more by rushing. Try forgetting about it for a while. Apply to the colleges you're interested in then forget about it. Forget about it and have a fun senior year. Eventually it'll hit you and you'll realize what the right decision is."

"I'm being a jerk aren't I?" he asked.

I shook my head, "I didn't say that."

"But it's true. I've been a jerk. I'm sorry; my parents are finally getting to me by being so strict."

"It's okay," I smiled sadly. "I know they are hard on you. I just miss the old Dylan."

"What do you mean?"

"The Dylan that wanted to enjoy today, the Dylan that didn't always worry about the future, and the Dylan that was never mean or strict towards anyone; I miss him."

"I'm so sorry, I know I've been different, but I can't handle my strict parents anymore."

"Tell them you're thinking hard and you're taking it seriously. Maybe they'll lay off for a while."

He sighed, "Yeah maybe."

"Let's do something to get our mind off it," I suggested. "We can go into town or we can hang out here. I was thinking about baking some cookies, help me?"

He smiled, "I think I can handle that. Thanks Kayla."

"It's what girlfriends are for," I smiled. "I love you, and as terrible as you've been acting lately I understand, and I'll never leave you."

"I'll never leave you either, that's why this decision is so hard."

"I'll be traveling for tours and promoting anyway so no matter how many miles are between us, you'll always be right beside me."

He kissed my head, "That makes me feel a lot better."

"Good," I stood up, "Now let's bake some cookies."

He stood up beside me, "That's a good idea."

I set out all the ingredients for the cookies, making substitutions for certain foods like my nutritionist and trainer suggested, and Dylan worked on how we would decorate the cookies. I started measuring while Dylan mixed and my mom came to visit in the middle of all of it. "Hi mom," I smiled. "What's up?"

"What are you two up to?"

"Baking cookies, we're taking a break from homework."

"I stopped by to bring you some dinner. I baked an extra casserole so I know you're eating healthy. I know you too well and I think you proved me right."

"Thanks mom," I laughed. "My nutritionist and trainer went shopping with me earlier to buy foods too. You know I can't resist cookies."

"I need to get going because your father is expecting me back, but you'll be over tomorrow for dinner right?"

"Yeah I'll be there."

"Good, love you."

"Love you too."

"Want me to warm this up?" Dylan asked.

"Yeah can you put enough on a plate for the both of us and microwave it? We can eat it while the cookies are baking."

"Good plan."

"By the way, did you talk Jack?"

"Yeah, him and Maria are having a pretty rough time. It doesn't seem like either one wants a long distance relationship."

"I know Maria doesn't, but neither one knows whether they'll be apart or not."

"I think that if they don't have faith in a long distance relationship then they should break up now rather than later. I'd hate to see them strain their great friendship because of a messy break up."

"That's true," I sighed, "I feel bad for them because they're such a great couple. They started out as friends and they always had a great connection."

"I think they still will, but maybe they need space to figure things out first."

"If that's what works for them."

"Not every couple can be like us," Dylan kissed my head.

I smiled, "I know."

We finished the cookies and ate our dinner before getting back to finishing homework. Dylan went home at 10 o'clock for his curfew and a half hour later there was a knock at my door. I walked downstairs to answer it and Maria stood on my porch with a tear-stained face.

"Oh no," I said knowing why she was crying. "You did it didn't you?"

"I'm not sure whether he initiated it or I did, but it's done."

"Come in and tell me what happened."

She came in and sat on my couch, "He started talking about how hard a long distance is going to be because he found out I didn't get into college in New York."

"Maria I'm so sorry I know how much you wanted it."

She nodded, "Thanks. Anyway, I got mad and started yelling at him about how he gave up on us. He insisted he wasn't giving up he just didn't think long distance would be good for us and maybe we needed a break."

"What did you say?"

"That I loved him."

"And he said?"

"That he loved me too, but we needed a break. I knew it wouldn't do any good to argue so I agreed and came here."

"I'm sorry, he's a jerk. You can go to college here, raise your grades, reapply to that college in New York, become all successful, and show him what he's missing. If it's really meant to be he will realize how stupid a break up was."

"Thanks Kayla."

"Of course," I smiled. "It'll be okay. We're still going to have a great senior year."

She nodded, "I think I will go to college here. At least then I can get my grades up while still being around my friends."

"Exactly, it'll be okay."

Maria stayed at my house for the night and we called in sick the next day to hang out at home instead. Maria needs a day to calm down before seeing Jack again and I volunteered to help. Lolita stopped by at noon to drop of lunch.

"How you feeling?" Lolita asked Maria.

She shrugged, "Okay. I miss him already, is that stupid?"

"Of course not, you were together for over a year."

"Lolita is right," I assured her. "If Dylan and I broke up I would miss him five minutes later. It'll take a while to move on."

"It was only my first serious relationship so I guess it couldn't last forever. I'll be okay."

"We're still staying with you," Lolita said. "We can have a girl's day. No boys or boy talk allowed."

She laughed, "I'd like that."

"Good," I picked up my phone, "And I'll call Anastasia."

"We will come to my house," Lolita suggested, "Because you know how amazing my spa room is. It is exactly what you need to get your mind off Jack. We'll have a spa day and order pizza and eat tubs of ice cream."

Maria laughed, "Just don't forget the chocolate."