City to Sticks

Chapter Fifteen

15—Holly P.O.V.

I was walking on clouds. Sex with Jake, last night, had been amazing. Before he'd dropped me off I'd ask him if it was always like that and he said no, that what we experienced was special. I couldn't believe he'd asked me to marry him. I couldn't wipe the grin off my face and my Grams commented on it. She smiled, "So, the date went well then?"

I nodded, grin still in place, "It went very well."

She frowned, "Do we need to talk to you about sex?"

"Grams!" I say blushing.

"Shit, we're too late for the talk, I'm willing to bet. Did you at least use protection?" She prodded.

"Protection? What the hell are you two talking about?" My mom asked, as she entered the room and my blush intensified. Mom saw it and groaned, "Really? Seriously? I can't handle this. My baby girl is having sex?"

"Mom! Grams! Don't ruin this moment for me. A moment ago, I couldn't be happier, but you're dimming my happiness. Just leave it be, ok?" I pleaded.

They both got quiet, until mom asked, "So what about next year? You obviously care very much for Jake and I know he cares for you. He's staying here though and you're not, are you?"

I closed my eyes and said, "You're just determined to ruin my good mood. I don't know what to do about next year. I mean, I can't just stay here and do nothing. Jake has some jobs lined out, but what would I do? I need to go to college, right?"

"I would like for you to attend college, yes." Mom agreed.

My happiness had dimmed considerably and tears began to pool into my eyes. I started to kind of freak out, "How are we going to make this work? This sucks! I got uprooted from Chicago, but then I managed to find the...Jake is...he's just so...and he asked me to marry him."

"What!" Both woman snapped. They began talking at once. I heard words like "too young" and "are they crazy" and I couldn't take it anymore.

I held up my hands. Surprisingly, they both stopped ranting, so I said, as calmly as possible, "I said yes. We're not talking about getting married tomorrow, but I do want to marry him and if you try to stand in my way, I'll just do it anyway. I'd like to be able to have a wedding some day with my friends and my family present, but if you try to fight me on this..."

It was mom's turn to hold up her hands, "No need to threaten us, Holly. We get it. You're young and in love. You're looking at everything through rose colored lenses, right now. Real life hasn't even happened for you yet though. I just want you to be able to experience everything, before you decide to settle down and become a real adult."

I nodded, "I know and I need to figure out what I'm going to do about college. Jake said that he would come with me, but I couldn't ask him to do that. He'd hate a bigger city."

Gram's eyes widened, "He really said that? Wow. He definitely loves you. That boy hates large crowds."

I nodded and fresh tears gathered in my eyes. I told them, "I think I'm going to go lay down for a little bit. I suddenly have a headache."

Mom hollered after me, "Holly, try not to stress too much. If it's meant to be, it'll work out!"

Instead of laying down, I pulled out my laptop and pulled up Google, thanking God I'd finally talked Grams into getting WiFi. I wanted to see if any colleges were nearby. The only one halfway close was Seward community college. It was just a two year school though. I honestly didn't know what I wanted to do with my life, except I knew I was going to live in Hugoton forever, if that's where Jake wanted his farm to be. So I started brainstorming what the town of Hugoton could use. How could I contribute to the community? I pulled up the programs of study at Seward. Only one really jumped out at me and I found myself getting excited. Cosmetology. I knew hair and I knew nails. I googled hair salons in Hugoton. Of course there were a couple. So I could work at one of those after college or...I began to get really excited...I could open my own salon.

I could make this work. It'd probably be a while before I could save up enough money to open my own salon, but I'd work really hard in the meantime. I'd still be close to Jake. Yes, I was really, really excited and my happiness was back to epic proportions. I heard a truck pull into the driveway and ran to the window. Jake. I pushed away from the window and ran from the room. I ignored my family who gave me startled looks as I ran down the stairs and slammed out the front door. Jake saw me and smiled, opening his arms. I jumped into them, wrapping my legs around his waist. I cupped his face and pulled his lips to mine.

I giggled when I felt his body start to react at our close proximity and Jake groaned, tearing his lips from mine, "You're going to be the death of me, woman."

I told him excitedly, "I have to tell you something. I figured out what I want to do next year...about college and stuff."

Jake stiffened, but before I could reassure him, mom stepped out onto the porch and cleared her throat. We both looked at her and I grew worried. I didn't like that look on her face. She forced a smile and said, "Um, Holly, your dad just called and his wedding is this weekend."

"Why should I care?" I tell her and lower my feet to the ground. Jake wrapped an arm around me.

Mom sighed, "He wants you to be there. You're still his daughter."

"No, I don't want to go. He hasn't been acting like a loving father should since we moved here. So why should I do what he wants? He just wants me to parade around like we have the perfect, happy family. No way. Not doing it." I say, crossing my arms across my chest, fully expecting mom to agree with me. She must hate dad after what he'd done to her.

She surprised me by saying, "I think you should go."

"What?" I snapped.

She sighed again, "Look, Holly, I know you're angry with him right now, but he's still your dad. That will never change. If you don't go, you may regret it. You may want to meet your little brother some day and in order to do that, you need to be on good terms with your father. I know you don't think you'd want that right now, but you may want him to walk you down the aisle someday. So, yes, I think you should go."

"I agree." Jake stated.

I whirled around to face him, "Seriously?"

He nodded, "No regrets. If you don't go, like your mom said, you might regret it someday. If you go, then your dad can't say that you haven't been trying to remain in contact with him. What he does with that gesture is up to him, but yes, I think you should go."

"Will you go with me?" I asked, softly.

"Your dad is sending a plane ticket for you. Just you." Mom supplied.

Jake smiled, but it looked a little forced, "Its ok. I think you need to do this one on your own. See if there is anything you can salvage out of your relationship with your dad. I've got so much I need to get done here anyway."

"Ok. I guess I'll go, but I'm coming back." I promise.

Jake smiled, "You better or I'll be forced to come find you in that big city." He shuddered. I smiled. I knew finding a college close by was a good choice. That way my man wouldn't be tortured in a large city with all those people. I suddenly decided to wait until I returned to tell him what I'd decided.