Goth Problems # WattPride

Four

As soon as we graduated, Aaron was packed and ready to head off to our apartment. We were moving to a whole new town and my parents were terrified. (They still didn't know about the tattoo. I felt like such a terrible kid for lying to them about it, but I somehow didn't regret it?) They both weren't sure about me going to Sawyer, which was so far from home. Dad felt better knowing I'd be with Aaron, but that only made Mom more upset.

"If he tries pressuring you into doing meth or something," she'd grumbled on about the morning I left, "leave. No matter how you feel about him, you get the hell out of there if he tries pulling you down!"

"Mom! Jesus, Aaron doesn't do drugs!" I hissed at her. I had been put through years of putting up with Mom badgering about how awful Aaron was and I had it up to here with her! "That's the love of my life, Mom! Okay? Aaron is it for me! He is a good person who doesn't smoke, drink, or waste his life! My boyfriend is a very smart, straight-laced person. I love him, Mom. Stop treating him like some villain."

Dad was in the corner of my bedroom, snickering into the palm of his hand. We both were on the same page about Mom's Aaron paranoia; it was ridiculous. My dad was chill; he interacted with Aaron, he understood what kind of person he really was. Aaron was this honest-to-god dweeb with such a sweet, innocent smile that just had a particular style and attitude towards life. He had a shitty childhood and that was nothing he had control of. If Mom could have just open her mind and be understanding, she'd see how wonderful my baby was.

I loaded up my car, gave both my parents hugs while Lizzie insisted kisses. Aaron met me out in the driveway of the house, looking awkward and out-of-place. I offered him thousands of kisses to make up for that while we were packing his stuff along with my own in the travel trailer Dad had borrowed from a friend. Dad was gonna pick it up when he met us at the apartment to help with some unpacking. (Yes, only Dad was coming. Mom rejected her invitation after our fight that morning, stating she didn't want to ruin our happy day.)

"You look beautiful in our new place," I hummed to Aaron while Dad was in the bathroom. My new roommate was standing in our bedroom, adjusting the closet after we hung up most of our clothing. "Seriously. I don't think you've ever looked so stunning."

Aaron looked at me over his shoulder, biting back a laugh. "Dork."

"C'mon. You know it's the truth." I looped my arms around his waist and brought him into my chest. "This is our own home, our first home."

"That implies we'll have more homes together," my love murmured. I decided he'd look even better with my lips on his and, boy, was I right. "How many more homes are you planning for us?"

"Two, possibly. Depends. You want kids?"

"Oh boy! That is a conservation... for another day."

Safe to assume that was a no. Shouldn't have been surprising; Aaron definitely didn't seem like the type to want children, but I had hope. I wasn't one hundred percent sure I even wanted kids. The option would be nice, I guess.

But if Aaron didn't want kids, I'd never try to force it on him. People who don't have any desire to have kids shouldn't have them. That's just asking for trouble.

Aaron's family was a prime example. He wasn't wanted by either of his parents. His mom was so frustrated by the existence of her son she actually took off, leaving his dad alone to deal with their frustrated child. All that did was cause Aaron problems he didn't deserve to have forced upon him. If Aaron didn't want kids, the last thing I wanted to do was saddle him with them.