Never One To Ask (Book 2) (Completed)

Chapter 3: Obviation

Picking up the sheers, I make deliberate, yet careful cuts to my sandy, brown hair. I watch as bits of long hair strands land in my faucet. My head feels lighter as I make my way to the back. It's probably going to be uneven, but I'm too oblivious to care. As I continue to cut, my mind works on other things; the scissors a mere distraction to my thoughts.

Today, I went to my counselor's office before the last period. I wanted to speak with her about my recent PSAT scores and what it means for my future, hoping she'd give me insight on a possible career choice. She told me that various programs and schools had contacted her specifically about my scores and are eager to work with me on building my educational resume as their student.

She went on to ask me about my interests and dream jobs, as well as what I plan to do for college. After establishing that I'm interested in criminal justice, computers and protecting the world from hacking, she offered me a course in computer science to study cyber security. As a cyber security analyst, I would develop computer software to prevent cyber attacks among various networks. She said that I could one day be the one to stop a major attack on one of america's largest businesses. She told me that I had the science and mathematic skills to back it up, and that I would excel in any area of computer science that I choose.

I left her office feeling really good about my plans; that is until I got home from school. My mother was on the phone with my counselor and she was explaining that the School of Cyber Defense in Colorado would love to have me as their student for my upcoming senior year of high school. They offered me a paid internship at its college campus nearby that would eventually lead to a job there. My mother explained it all to me, the deadlines, the forms needed, and even the fact that it is a boarding school.

She told me I'd make a lot of money doing something that I'm greatly interested in, all in just a year's time. From there I could pretty much go to any school I wanted to, or just stick around and climb the corporation's ladder of success. I think it's all a great idea and I believe that I can do it. They're practically giving me opportunities that I'd miss out on here in Virginia.

But, the only thing stopping me is leaving him; my boyfriend, Jasean. To move more than a thousand miles away from my family is also a factor, but my mom promised to be there every step of the way. As for me and Jay, we'd be right back where we started, on two opposite sides of a tablet screen.

It's all too much to think about, and too many people to talk to that all have varying opinions. Papa says it's too far and that I should wait for the next opportunity. Mom says I should go. Grandma thinks I should "follow your heart," she told me. But, my heart doesn't agree with my mind. So, my first instinct was to change my appearance, a change that I could be in charge of.

I look up from all of my hair in the sink, quickly throwing it all in the trash so that it's out of sight. I breathe a sigh of relief, feeling accomplished. What stares back at me is quite the opposite. The blunt, stringy cuts in my hair make it look choppy and ugly. I begin to cry once I realize what I've done. My hair is no longer the same length; the most of it laying in the trash can.

Heaving uncontrollably, I find myself running down my apartment's hall, searching for my abuelita. I know she can fix this, she used to be a hairdresser in the Dominican Republic. I find her sitting in the living room, enjoying a Spanish telenovela on the tv. She nearly spills the coffee in her hand once she notices my deranged appearance; causing me to cry even more. I place my head into my hands, sobbing.

"Mi niña, qué pasó?" She questions with a concerned frown. She quickly jumps up from the couch in her 65 years of age, without an ounce of hesitation. She hugs me and pulls me toward the kitchen, taking the sheers from my hand. "Es okay. I'll fix it, chica," she explains in a soothing voice. She pulls in a chair from the dining room, gesturing for me to sit. I do so and allow my grandmother to cut my hair into a beautiful layered bob. Since the back is excessively shorter the front, she has to make it symmetrical.

The girl that stares back at me now in the mirror looks more mature and classy than a couple of hours ago. I like it. I shake my hair and play in it with a smile, watching as it whips and bounces with ease. If only making my decision were as simple as getting a haircut.

******

Jay grabs my hand, placing it on top of the park's wooden picnic table. I look up at an airplane flying up above us as he sweeps a tendril of hair away from my face.

"I like your haircut," he says.

"Really?" I question. He nods with a dimpled smile.

"It makes you look edgy, and more mysterious." I giggle at his statement and play with my fluffy hair. As I swivel my head this way and that, my gaze eventually falls on a figure walking down the hill towards the park. I wince to get a closer look since the boy looks familiar. The boy's wandering eyes finally meet mine and I immediately lose the flush in my cheeks. "Yeah, like that."

The blonde boy wearing a leather jacket and plain, white t-shirt with nice shoes is my ex-boyfriend; Kevin. Though Jaylen warned me that he was here, I didn't think I'd ever have to come across him in this neighborhood again.

"No." I say while squeezing Jay's hand. "No."

"What?" Jasean looks concerned. I look down, covering my forehead with my free hand. I stand, and pull Jay away from the bench. I look back to see if Kevin notices me. I think my new haircut has thrown him off a bit, so he doesn't bother to take a second look. "Keri, stop. Talk to me."

I look up at him and for once I can't speak. "K-Kevin," I say before hugging his chest. "It's Kevin, my ex."

"Really? Let me meet him," he replies with an amused grin. I shake my head against his chest, pleading with him not to move.

"No, Jay. You don't understand. I hate him. I can't." I try to explain to him in so many words that Kevin is not someone I would ever want to talk to again.

"Then let me do all the talking." Jasean crossly lets go of my hand and begins to make his way towards Kevin.

"No!" I yell. My eyes start to water as I pull him closer by his shirt. "Please, Jay?" He looks into my tear-brimmed eyes and I think he finally understands.

"It's okay, ma. I got you." He holds me close and rubs my back. "Why's he here?" I shrug as I sniffle back tears.

"I don't know, he moved away after we broke up," I say. "I think I know why, but I could be wrong," I mutter to myself.

"What was that?"

"Nothing, let's just go inside." I lead him up my apartment building's steps, stopping on the second floor. After noticing my mother's absence, we make ourselves comfortable on the living room's couch.

"You wanna tell me what that was about?" Jay questions as I lay on top of his chest. I shake my head against him.

"We have bigger things to worry about," I mutter. I tell him about the offer from the School of Cyber Defense; leaving out a few minor details.

"It sounds great, K. You should go for it." I watch as he takes the remote, flipping through the channels. "Where is it?"

"Colorado," I murmur against his chest. He stills, looking down at me with nothing to say.

"Colorado?" He repeats while shaking his head. Finally, he sighs, breathing deeply. "Well, if you really want to go, we can make this work, ma. We'll have the summer together, winter break, spring break. I'll visit you any time I can, even if it's just for a little while," he assures me.

I shake my head with a laugh. "You'll be a freshman in college. You won't have any time for me." I look up at his blank expression.

"What are you sayin', K?"

"I'm saying that... maybe this is where it all ends, ya know?" Jay regards my solemn tone with a frown. "I'll go to Colorado and you'll be in Maryland and we'll slowly drift apart, even if we don't necessarily mean to. It's bound to happen."

"No. You're mine forever. That's never going to happen, ma. No matter how far you are, I'll always find a way to get to you." He pulls me into a kiss, running a hand through my short hair. "I love you."

"I love you too."

"And I think you should apply for it. Go for your dreams. I don't want you to let me or anyone else ever get in the way of that, okay, ma?"

I nod my head and snuggle him closer. "Just what I needed to hear from you."