Vibrations

Chapter 25

That night we lay in bed together, tangled in the sheets and each other. She snuggled her face into my chest. I sighed, both in contentment, and as a result of the fact that I couldn't get my brain to shut off...

"What are you thinking about?" She asked me.

I shook my head, "All the shit I need to get done..."

She lifted her head off of my chest and looked at me, "Like what?"

"Like get a job for the summer. Like figure out what the hell is going on with my mom." I trailed off a bit, letting my brain try to catalog the final big thing that needed done... "Like how the fuck I'm going to deal with dropping out of school..."

"What?" She exclaimed, anger filling her voice.

I was surprised by her reaction. It seemed like the obvious thing that needed doing...

She crawled up my body a bit, "You are not quitting school. Don't even say something so stupid, hell, don't even think something so stupid."

I shrugged one shoulder, "Casey... I have a family to support now... I need to get a job."

She ground her teeth, sticking her jaw out at me. I could tell that something about what I had said really pissed her off...

"Roo and I were doing just fine taking care of ourselves a week ago. Don't start pulling that manly bullshit now. You and I are going to work as a team now, you said it yourself. We're team let's get this fixed. I don't plan on becoming Susy Homemaker just because you brought your swinging dick around."

I looked down, "I don't really think it swings... I mean, what would be the opposite of swings? I don't even think it's all that impressive..."

Her face went blank, and I could tell my attempt at humor fell well short of the goal...

"Ha. Ha. My sides are splitting with laughter."

I smiled at her, trying very hard to make her understand. "Look, yes. You're right, and I'm sorry. I didn't mean to imply that you couldn't take care of yourself, or of Roo... It's just... I mean think about it. What, I'm just going to pack up come fall time, wish you and Roo a happy couple of months and take off back to school?"

She looked at me like I had just suddenly turned into a giant iguana. She shook her head at me, "No. When you have to go back to school, we're going to pack up, and all of us are going back with you, as a family."

That took me by surprise...

I shook my head at her...

She suddenly bit her lip and looked down at my chest, "I mean, if you want me and Roo to come back with you... I guess I should have asked that before I just assumed..."

I put my hand against her face in sudden panic, raising her head up to look at me. "Of course, I would want you and Roo to come back with me! I just thought..."

My thoughts trailed off. What had I thought?

"I mean, I can't just make the two of you uproot and come charging off after me. That's completely selfish..." I tried to connect all my thoughts together, and found them to be a mishmash in my head. "I can't ask you to just give up your lives here..."

She put her hand against my face. Her skin was smooth, and cool against my skin. I could see frustration in her face.

Her eyes met mine, "I'm going to say something, and I want you to try not to take it personally, okay?"

I nodded, "Okay..."

She took a deep breath and let it out quick, "Baby, Roo and I don't have much of a life here without you..."