The Summer Before he Left

Chapter 13: Drew

        "I told you it was a good idea." I said when we were done with our list, "Only one problem, you're not allowed to be with me."

         "Oh I know, I came up with a plan while we were writing this." she said.

          "Oh really, what is this plan you speak of?" I asked her.

         "You are going to meet my parents."

         Oh no. This is not going to be good. I knew she was going to say that. Why? Just why! "Uhhh, are you sure?"

        "Yes, we are both going to casually walk into my house and then we act like normal human beings and we will act like good people, okay?" Then without giving me time to respond she answered for me, "Okay. Maybe if you give them a good impression and then we explain about you going to the Army, and how we will probably never see each other again.." at the point her voice started to choke, then she shook her head and got back on subject, "Maybe, just maybe they will let this happen."

         "I don't know if it will work but I guess we can  always try?" I said shakily.

         "That's the spirit!" she said exited. Then our first costumer walked in. Which brings me to other questions I should ask her about our list. How are we going to find time for all of this with work and all? I mean she should be quitting pretty soon, when we were talking one day she told me she didn't even have to get the job she chose to, so she can quit whenever she wants too. So many questions, so little time, I need to get to work..

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        "Okay here is the plan, we walk in and then we walk upstairs to where they will be watching TV like they do every night. When they look really confused you go shake their hands and ask them how they are doing, just for my amusement." I frowned at her, and she smiled back. "Then we will both sit on the couch and start to explain our situation and we are all going to act like good people. Okay?" she answered her own question again, "Okay. Now let's go."

          It was right after we had just got off of work that day and we were standing right outside her back door and I was nervous as hell. My knees were shaking and I kept fidgeting with my hands. This has never happened before which is really scary. First anxiety attack maybe?

          We opened the door, walked in and it was kind of weird to think that this was the first time I have been to her house, I don't know why but it just was. It was a nice place, had a lot of decorations. We then walked slowly up the stairs and my heart started to race faster each step we took. This was not going to end well. I hardly even noticed she had ahold of my hand. When we were close to the top she let go and whispered, "You got this." I shook my head, trying to fake my confidence.

        We finally were at the top of the stairs and just as she said her parents were sitting there watching TV staring at us in pure confusion. We slowly walked up to them and I shook there and hands and asked how they were doing. They were still really confused, they almost forgot to shake my hand when I put it out in front of them. Then they just looked at each other in this way that kind of said "I told you so." Blair and I then took a seat on the couch just like she had said in the plan.

          "Hello parents!" she said trying her best to sound very enthused. "This is Drew as you guys well know, Drew, parents. Parents, Drew." she said pointing to each of us as she said it. If she was trying to act normal, she wasn't very good at it. She kicked my leg.

         "Hi parents." I said trying to be funny, but apparently it wasn't because Blair was the only one who thought it was funny.

        "We would like the discuss some VERY important things with you guys and we would really, really, really appreciate it if you would listen, Okay?" again she did that thing where she answers her own question before anyone else gets a chance. "Okay. Now let's begin." she looked at me and smiled, she was actually having fun with this and I was freaking out. "You guys don't like Drew, but you guys haven't even met him. You don't know how charming he is, or how he makes me feel like I am the only one that matters. He honestly is one of the best guys I know, but I never would have guessed that if I wouldn't have gotten to know him. I honestly think I am in love with this man, and you taking him away from me doesn't mean you're taking away some guy that I randomly have a crush on and will get over soon. It means you're taking away one of my best friends."

          When she said that I turned and looked at her and she looked at me, she was so tempting, I really needed to kiss her at the moment, but I held myself back.

          Her mom finally spoke up, "I'm sorry that we did that, it's just the age difference and you are so young and we didn't know." After she said that Blair's dad looked at her mom like she was crazy.

       "This doesn't mean we will let you two be together." her dad said. My heart sank.

         "Wait there is more." Blair quickly said. "Drew would you like to explain?" she asked me. I really didn't want to, she was a good speaker. But I continued onto our story anyway.

         I didn't give a bunch of details I just got right to the point. "I'm going to the Army."

         I could tell her dad was suddenly interested. "Tell me about it."

         I cleared my throat and went on, "I leave for a base in Georgia in August, then by December I will be deployed to Afghanistan to be in the infantry."

         "Oh, wow." her mom said in astonishment.

           Then Blair spoke up, "So you see chances are after this summer, we may never cross paths. We will be leading completely separate lives. So you might as well let us be together while we still can. It would really mean a lot. Honestly." she said, you could tell that first part was hard for her to say.

          Her parents looked at each other and her mom had this sympathetic look on her face. I was holding my breath as the suspense grew. Her dad finally spoke up, "Fine, you guys can be together these last three weeks we are down here. Except you must tell me at all times when you are going to be together and what you will be doing."

            Blair and I just starting smiling. "Oh yes that is not a problem." I said. Then I added, "Thank you guys so much, you have no idea how much this means to me."

          "No thank you, for your service." her mom said.

           I smiled and nodded, "Well I best be going, I got a big day ahead of me tomorrow." then I stood up.

          Blair got up too and surprisingly took my hand in hers and we walked back down stairs. Then we walked out to the dock together. "See that wasn't so bad was it?" she asked.

         "I guess it didn't go as bad as I was expecting." I said.

           She wrapped her arms around my waist and I held her tight. "Good. Okay, my house tomorrow morning at 8 be there be square. Oh and wear something to run in. Which would probably be best if you could like walk over here or if you have a car you could drive?" she said.

          "Oh I have a truck." I said.

           "You have a truck and you never told me?" she said in astonishment.

           "Huh, guess I forgot to tell you that."

           "Yeah I guess you did." she said.

            "I better go now." I said letting go. I kissed her on the four head and she slipped her hand in mine. I then got in my boat, undocked it, and started it up. "Goodnight Blair. Be ready tomarrow. Okay?" I said and without giving her time to answer I answered the question myself. "Okay."