Home Away From Home

Chapter 3

Meanwhile, shortly after Valerie and Zack left, the Conan residence was a mess. Sally kept yelling at Nick for being stupid for letting them go.

"You should've gone after them!" Sally yelled at her only son.

"Mom, I couldn't. They want nothing to do with us. Just leave it." Nick said.

"And you believe that? Valerie only says these kinds of things when she's hurt or going through pain! You've known her for the past 15 years, you should know that!"

"Of course I know it! Even though I knew she was lying, there was something in her voice. The way she said how she and Zack are a bother and they always cause problems, the way she said it was as if she believed that."

"Well, how about you make her believe that its not true."

"How mom? How!?! I've always tried! Don't you see that she and I aren't as close anymore?"

"Oh, darling I see it. I just don't want to believe it."

"Why mom? Why? Why don't you want to believe it?"

"Because I would think that my son would never ever give up. You never give up, Nick. Never! All of a sudden you do? Why?"

"Maybe I wasn't giving up. Maybe I just stopped trying." He noticed the disappointment in her eyes.

"No. You didn't stop trying. You gave up. Trying and giving up are two different things. And you Nick, gave up."

"Mom, I don't want to talk about it right now."

"It's always the same thing with you! Every single time we try and talk about these kind of things, you push it away. You need to talk to me, Nick. What's bothering you?"

"I don't know."

"Yes you do."

"No I don't."

"Yes you do!"

"I want to go to the military!" He spit out. He didn't want to say it, but his mom was just nagging and he just couldn't take it anymore. He looked at her face, there were no emotions. "Mom, before you yell or say anything, I just want to say that I've never wanted anything more in my life. I just want to fight for our country. I can't fight for myself, so I'll fight for this country. Just mom, please. All I need is your support."

"No." She kept her face stern.

"No?"

"No. I will not let you go off to the military."

"But why mom? Why? You asked me what was bothering me and I told you. Why can't you just support what I want, for once."

"Nick, you'll get killed out there. Look at your father. "

"Dad is still alive. "

"Okay, but after he finished off military, did he ever come home? No, he didn't. He started a new life, without us. He has a wife and kids. He's moved on from us. He forgot about us."

"Mom, I may be his son but I will never be like him."

"And how do you know that? Everybody becomes someone they never wanted to be. It happens. He said that he would always love me and all of a sudden he came back and he realized he no longer wanted me." She held back her tears.

"But mom, I will never leave you."

"He said the same thing." She said as she walked away. Nick meant it. His mom gave him everything. He will never leave her. Going to the military is all he wants to do. He will get his mom's support. He will do everything he can. But first he needs to settle things with Valerie. He looked at his watch; it's been 4 hours since they left. Maybe Valerie's still awake. He walked to his room and looked outside his balcony. One thing he loved about his room was that Valerie's room was right across from it. Her lights are still on. Good, he smiled to himself. He's still glad that she always keeps that window open. He climbed out of his room and into hers. Valerie screamed.

"Calm down, it's only me." Nick said.

"Nick? What are you doing here? It's late."

"We need to talk." She looked at him confused.