Not Just a Rebound

• See Me Off/Change Of Plans

I mixed two chapters together since they were so super short separately (hence the two names). This chapter is still short regardless but Read on!

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I groaned as I pulled my luggage out the trunk and set it on the sidewalk as dad waited.

"You can do it" he encouraged.

I sent him a glare stronger than Medusa's before closing the trunk. Me carrying my own bags in his way of saying "hey you graduated and you're eighteen now so my job is done here. Although I won't be seeing you for a few months I'm going to let you suffer before you get on this plane because I love you"

"I love you" he repeats for the third time since that's how many times I've had to lug these bags around.

I ignored him before pulling my carry on over my shoulder and raising the handle on my suitcase. I started walking into the airport. Within a few hours I'll be on a plane on my way to another state where I'll be spending the next few years.

I sighed as I followed dad through the people.

** A Few Hours Later

I tapped my nails on the door of the cab. It pulled up in front of the building and I seen her. She jogged over to the cab to pay the guy as I got out and got my bags out the trunk.

She smiled at me before taking the suitcase from me. "Welcome back"

I smiled as we walked to the building. "I've missed it as always"

We walked in the building and walked to the elevator.

"Mom is upstairs?" I asked before pressing the button.

Alexis shook her head. "She went to get food. She should be on her way back"

*

I set my bag down by my dresser then sat on the bed.

"So you're really doing this?"

I slowly nodded. "Yea I guess so"

She nodded. "Coming here was step one"

"I know but there will be no two"

"So you're not moving in with him?" she laid on the bed.

"I can't"

"Why not?"

"What if something happens?"

"Like?"

"What if it doesn't work out? What if as soon as we start school we drift apart? People change and what if we change? I don't want to do that right now. It's too much pressure. "

She nodded in understanding. "Have you told him that?"

"I will just not right now. He doesn't know i'm here yet."

"How come?"

"I'm kind of delaying the inevitable"

She shook her head. "Ahja"

"I know I shouldn't but I need to find a way to word it so he knows that it's about me not him. You know?"

She nodded. "But the 'it's not you it's me' card sounds like you're breaking up with him."

"See that's the thing, I don't want that but I suck at wording"

She sat up, crossed her legs and looked at me. "Tell me what you want to tell him "

I mirrored her before speaking. "Dominic, I love you but-"

"Stop right there, sounds like a break up. Try again"

I sighed before starting again. "So...Are you sure we're ready to move in together? " I waited for her reaction.

She nodded in approval.

I continued. "I feel like it's too soon, although we've been together for almost three years, and I know we love each other but maybe we should wait a while just to see how things play out. "

"How what things play out?" She lowered her voice to sound masculine.

"You've been here for a year Dom, you've had time to adjust but I haven't and maybe when I get used to everything it'll be different "

"But you've come here every Summer so what's there to get used to?"

"I need to adjust to the school life. I need to get into a good place before I rush into something else new"

"I think you're ready" she was back to her normal voice.

l sighed. "I sure hope so"

***

"So you don't want to move in because you're not ready and not because you want to break up?"

l nodded. "Yes"

He slowly nodded in understanding. "Okay l understand, I didn't think about all of that"

I didn't say anything I just continued playing with the top of my sock like i've been doing throughout the whole conversation.

"I'm not mad" he assured me.

I looked up at him.

"Just promise me two things. One, at least sleep over once in a while. Two, DON'T SCARE ME LIKE THAT "

I laughed at the second one. "I can do the first one but I can't promise the second"

"Why not?"

"Just because now it'll be funny"

He shook his held. "That's evil"

I shrugged before laying back onto his bed.

"You have to bring stuff over to have here"

l nodded. "I haven't gone shopping yet but you'll have to come with me so you can bring stuff back"

"Is this Saturday fine? I have to work all week"

I nodded. "yea its fine"

"Alright so i'll take you to the Palisades then maybe we can go out after"

"Its a date then"

"Of course"