Decoding You *Watty Awards 2012*

Chapter 40

As we pulled up to the restaurant our parents were all standing together. Abigail and Sammi get the girls out of the car as Rory and I get out.

When we walk up to our parents each of our moms hold out a pair of keys.

Rory frowns, "Are those car keys?"

Her mom nods and I look at my mom, "You've got to be freaking kidding me."

They both shake their heads, "You both have made a some very grown up choices recently, and we we're both talking about graduation presents and realized you both needed something extra special."

They make us take the keys and then point across the parking lot. We each had a brand new car.

Rory's lips part in surprise and she looks at her parents, "You do realize I crashed my car because I was drunk and high right?"

Her dad nods, "And upset."

I look at my parents, "There's no way you have a reasonable explanation for buying me another brand new car."

My dad smiles, "You deserve it."

I shake my head, "No I don't. I assure you after all the shit I've done in the past six months I do not deserve this."

My dad shakes his head, "You do. You decided to stay home for school just for your little sisters, at least until Sammi is old enough to drive. You deserve this more than you know."

Rory looks at her parents like they're crazy, "And after all the stuff I've done? I don't deserve this at all."

Her dad smiles, "Honey you've been through so much, you deserve more. You've made so many grown up decisons in your life that you do deserve this. Plus your old car won't go to waste. Abigail will get it."

Abigail makes a face and Sammi frowns, "Wait does that mean I get Ryders??"

Our parents nod and she glares at me, "You better not have done anything in that car."

I shrug, "I can't promise anything."

Abigail groans, "Oh god I already know that Rory's car isn't a virgin."

Rory smacks her upside the head, "Hey!"

Abigail shrugs and looks at me, "I think she should smack you for that part."

I glare at her and Sammi snickers, so I pinch her.

"Hey!" she squeals.

"Just remember I'm staying here for school. I can question every single guy you talk too."

She frowns and looks at our parents, "Make him go to Harvard and room with Preston."

Rory smirks at her, "Preston has a roommate."

I frown, "Who?"

She bites her lip and shrugs, "Me and Harper."

I stay silent and my dad clears his throat, "Let's go eat. Three seniors means a pretty nice discount after buying new cars."

After dinner Rory's parents insist that she go out to the parties.

"But I want to tuck Izzy in."

Her dad shakes his head, "I'll do it sweetie. She'll be asleep by the time we get home anyway."

Rory looks at the almost asleep Izzy in his arms and sighs, "Fine. But-"

He shakes his head, "Stay out. Please."

She scowls and sighs, "Fine."

He nods and then looks at Carter, "Keep an eye on her. I don't want to buy another new car," he eyes all three of us, "All three of you be careful. Please. If anyone needs a ride just call us."

When I get to the party I find Rory sitting by the pool with her feet dipped in sipping on a wine cooler, "So new cars. How lucky are we?"

She looks up at me and shrugs, "I don't deserve a new car."

I sigh and sit down, "Neither do I."

She looks at me, "I think you do. You saved a little girls life."

I nod, "And you saved your little sisters life and your daughters life for years."

She looks at me surprised, "I never thought of it that way."

I shrug, "When you first told me that's how I saw it. It's no wonder Sammi and Abigail look up to you."

Rory shrugs, "Abigail is still angry at me."

I nod, "Sammi is angry at me too. She told me yesterday that she'll never forgive me for what I did to you."

She presses her lips together and looks away, "I'll never forgive myself. I hurt everyone around me. You, my sister, my brother, my best friends, my mom, my dad. God my dad is so disappointed in me."

I nod, "I'll never forgive myself either. Trace won't even look at me and my sister won't sit in the same room with me for more than five minutes," I pause and look at her, "Did you ever talk to Audrey?"

She shakes her head, "No because what kind of person lies and says that I made something like that up? I can't even look at her. It makes me sick."

I squeeze her shoulder, "I'm so sorry Rory."

She looks up at me, "I know, I am too, but it doesn't change things."

I lick my lips and nod slowly, "I know," I gulp, "So when did you decide on Harvard?"

She looks at me guiltily, "The day of the deadline. I realized that since Izzy was mine I could go where I wanted, and honestly I wanted out of this town. At least for college. Everyone just stares at me like it's a crime for me to have a six year old daughter."

I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her into me, "It's not that exactly. It's just that they're amazed to see a young girl with a six year old daughter. They're amazed because you're strong, you've been through so much and they can barely imagine it."

She nods, "I guess you're right," she looks up at me, "When did you decide you were staying here?"

I sigh, "When I flipped that coin at the cabin. When it was up in the air I found myself wishing I could stay here. I realized that I didn't want to leave Ivoryton, at least not now."

She nods and looks up surprised as Preston and Harper sit down perpindicular from us, "Hey," Harper says.

Rory shoots her a look, "You knew about the cars."

Preston grins, "Yeah we both knew. We were in charge of keeping you two busy when they went car shopping."

Rory shakes her head and Harper laughs, "You two were evidently surprised."

Rory and I nod and then Preston says, "So uh are either of you planning on going to any graduation parties?"

Rory shrugs, "Yours, Harpers, and Savannahs."

Harper frowns, "I thought Audrey invited you to hers?"

Preston nods, "And Trace too?"

Rory shrugs, "I'm not interested in either of those parties."

I nod, "Me neither in fact I'm going to both of yours and that's it."

Preston says, "Why aren't you having one?"

I shrug, "Didn't feel like it."

Harper looks at Rory, "And you?"

Rory scowls, "I don't feel like getting sympathy. Plus we're moving in two days. We'd never be ready and we're leaving in a few weeks."

Preston nods and sighs, "It's almost all over."

Rory shakes her head, "It is all over. Face it, we're grown ups now. I start my new job in three weeks."

"Time for the real world."

She nods and kicks up her legs splashing us all a little, with a devilish little grin she says, "But one night of fun won't hurt us."