My name is... Valerie

Chapter 2: Moving On?

~Valerie~

Saturday

"Val we need to talk the lawyer... he came by and umm" I knew what this was about my custody. AJ was currently 20 years old, in college and no job. I had just turn 17 and was a senior in High school also unemployed. My parents only wanted us to concentrate in school.

"So I-I, what did he say?" I was afraid. More like terrified they would take me away from AJ claiming he was unemployed and staying in his University therefore had no ability to be my legal guardian. In my opinion what better guardian than my partner in crime as kids and now a companion in one of my most challenging moments to face.

"He worked something out for our situation, well more like mom and dad ensured our life incase anything were to ever happen." My parents were always organized and liked to have plans as back ups incase anything in life took a turn for the unexpected. It's moments like this I am extremely grateful for that quality in them.

"So I'm not being taken away by the state?"

"Nope, it's going to take you more than that to get rid of me." he tried to laugh but it wasn't sincere like it used to, it would take time for a new normality to settle in. None the less I appreciated his efforts.

We were both in the living room. He had come over when he heard noise for the tv. I turned to face him. "AJ what is going to happen now? Well we both don't have a job and you don't stay here anymore." I shifted my body to the other end of the couch where he was seated. I couldn't keep my eye contact with him for long, averting my gaze to my hands when I finished. I didn't want to face him if he was going to leave me in this house alone.

"Well..." he rubbed the back of his neck he wasn't entirely sure either. "Mom and dad finished paying the house before... their accident." I could tell it was hard for him it was hard on the both of us. "So they left the house to us along with their two cars but dad's truck umm..." I didn't expect there would be much left of dads truck not from how bad everything was. It was hard enough having everything remind me of them even if the truck somehow miraculously worked I wouldn't want it anywhere near me, it only make everything more painful. 

"Your car, my car and the bike." I finished for him. AJ had a car mom and dad had gifted him on his third year of college so he could travel from school to home in the vacation. Dad said he had had enough of always having to go and get him. AJ didn't complain however because it was an upgrade from the truck both of us learned to drive in. It was an old standard pickup truck it had some of the paint chipping away. I remember dad saying 'It's old metal if you crash it will take a lot to cause damage. Why buy a new one? Teens are a menace on the road. Kid's being your first time driving you will be danger on wheels.' he teased then laughed his contagious laugh echoing throughout the house. Dad sold the truck after three months of me having a license and got me a 2012 white toyota corolla which I absolutely loved. Dad said I was much better at learning how to drive. I not once got into an accident or lost control but I did how ever enjoy the speed. AJ on the other hand had somehow managed to back up the truck into the tree in the front lawn and ran over some bushes in a near by neighborhood. I couldn't help but smile a little at the memory and also feel my eyes well up again.

"Yea, so we are left with three cars and the dirt bike. We don't have to worry about paying for the house anymore except bills. There is money dad and mom had in their savings account along with the saving accounts they had set up for us for when we were done with college. The life insurance too, that's what we have." I remember mom and dad getting it saying incase any of them ever passed away to help the three of us. Who would have guessed both of them would be gone in one instant.