The One Choice

Chapter 4

I woke up at 5:30 to get a head start on my day and as not to arrive too late back home. Luckily, I put most of my stuff in the car last night so there's not too much I have to bring down with me today. I said bye to the guys yesterday that way I can just leave and not waste time. I'm pretty excited about going home for break. I haven't seen my parents in a while but more importantly, I have the opportunity to see Amelia. I haven't stopped thinking about her since we parted ways. We only live about an hour away from one another back home and I am determined to make plans with her.

The drive is six hours long and sitting in a car for this long is going to be exhausting. This semester felt extremely long and I only have a year and a half left till I'm done with school for good and I can't be more exited. Luckily, my major is pretty broad, business, so there's a lot I can do with that. I'm not sure if I'll want to go back home and work, or stay close to the school, or even go somewhere else. We'll see where my opportunities take me.

After what felt like days, I finally arrived at my house. I admired the hominess of how the place looked and I realized how much I missed it. As I open the garage, my mom opens the door and comes out to give me a hug.

"Hey baby, how are you? You look older since the last time I saw you." She says wrapping her arms around me.

"You sound like Grandma." I say laughing at her.

"That's not a compliment." She chuckles.

My dog Cooper ran out and almost toppled me over. He's a yellow lab and when he stands on his back legs his arms reach my shoulders. He might be the thing I miss most about being away at school. I've had him since I was nine and now he's getting older and I can't imagine a life without him.

As I walked inside the house I saw my dad sitting at the kitchen table and he stood up to hug me.

"What's up bud? How was the drive?" He said and I missed the sound of his comforting voice.

"Pretty long but there wasn't much traffic so that's good."

"Glad to have you home. Do you have any plans tonight?" He asked sitting back down.

"No I'm staying in tonight but tomorrow I think I'm hanging out with Daniel."

"Okay I think your mom is cooking tonight."

I went and unloaded my bags from the car and when I went to my room I noticed absolutely nothing has changed. I've been waiting on my parents to redo my room. After all, I have been gone for almost three years. Maybe they won't but I'm kind of hoping they will. 

We ate dinner and my parents just asked me basic questions about how the semester went and what grades I got. They also asked if I plan on getting an internship over the summer which I haven't even thought about at all. One of my dad's friends works at a hospital as a budget manager and he said he can maybe get me in there. Even though that has more to deal with finance, we'll see.

I went to bed pretty early, exhausted from the long drive. Cooper came and jumped in bed with me and I missed his warmth especially now during the colder months.

***

I slept pretty good last night and woke up early to go for a run. It felt weird to be back home and back on my old routine I used to have high school but it was also comforting. When I got back, my dad was up reading the newspaper at the table which I'm sure Cooper brought to him because that's his favorite thing to do in the morning. I said good morning to my dad and then went to hop in the shower.

I was excited to see Daniel today because he's been a good friend of mine since we were younger. I wish he would've came to JU with me, but he wanted to save money which I totally understand. He lives about 30 minutes from me. I got a text from him when I got out of the shower that read,

Hey I'm going to have to cancel for today but what are you doing tonight?

I was disappointed as I was looking forward to it but it's fine.

No problem and I don't have any plans for tonight, why what's up?

Okay cool, come over around 9:30

Ok see you then

It was only 8:30, so I decided to go back to sleep at least till 10 to kill time, because I wasn't doing anything else today. The one thing I do miss about being at school, is the availability of activities at all times.

***

I spent most of the day helping my mom hang things up around the house because apparently that's the only thing I'm good for around here. As the day went on and it got later, I said bye to my parents and headed over to Daniel's. He was walking out the door as soon as he heard me get out of my car.

"You going somewhere?" I asked laughing at him rushing out of here.

"Yeah, so are you. Get in." He said hopping in his car and I was so confused.

"Where are we going?" I asked as I sat in the seat of his car wondering why he didn't just meet me at this mystery place.

"Jake is throwing his annual Christmas party."

Jake's parties have always been pretty intense. I blacked out my senior year in high school which is partially another reason I don't party as much in college anymore.

"Oh no, why are you bringing me here."

"Hot girls." He said looking at me and hitting my arm. He knows I haven't had a girlfriend since high school and my first two years in college I just messed around with girls. But I wasn't too concerned with my love life till recently.

We showed up at Jake's house watching girls walk in with skimpy Santa outfits and boys wearing barely anything but some Christmas themed boxers.

"I don't think we're dressed for the occasion." I said jokingly getting out of the car.

"Here, put this on." Daniel said throwing a Santa hat at me.

"You can't be serious, I can't believe you dude." Laughing at the way he thinks.

I haven't been to one of Jake's parties in a while and was honestly pretty excited to let myself go a little, if even for a night.