Alone Awaken

Chapter 24: Colton

My girl. Seeing her up in the stands was the highlight of the game for me. Yeah I made a couple goals and my team played the best all season, but seeing her next to my little sister cheering me on was priceless. I knew I made a big risk telling Jess everything about Remi and that she was going to be at the game. But Jess has the best judge of character and if she approved of Remi, I knew mom and dad would like her too. And sure enough, here we are, eating dinner together laughing and having a good time. Everything has happened so quickly with Remi and I don't want it to end. I hope it never ends. I haven't been this happy in a long time. Since high school maybe?

"Why so quiet bro?" Jess nudges me with her elbow as she takes another bite of her burger.

"Just thinking about everything." I shrug and swipe a fry from her plate.

"Hey!" She yells with stuffed burger in her mouth.

"Stop it you two." Mom says playfully. "Anyways, Remi sweetie, did you want to come next Saturday to the Oswego game?"

I whip my eyes at Remi next to me. She pulls the sleeves of my jacket over her hands. She's nervous, she doesn't know how to answer the question without sounding rude. I want to quickly relieve her of her uncomfortableness. "That's a long trip for Remi all by herself mom, I don't want her driving alone." I slide my hand over her thigh and Remi squeezes my hand. She's still looking down at her plate but I see her cheeks move up. She's smiling.

"Oh honey of course, if Remi really wanted to go, your father and I would happily drive her." My mom pats my dad on the shoulder. He nods in response. He has no idea what we're talking about, he's too busy watching ESPN on the bar TVs behind us.

"Yeah, and I need the time to become best friends with Remi." Jess chimes in. Remi and her start giggling together.

I slightly lean in to Remi. "You don't have to go, it's the weekend right before fall break. You probably want to head home." I give her a small smile. It really is fine with me if she doesn't go. Seeing a home game is not of a huge commitment as driving over 2 hours to see one.

"Well I was thinking about that.." Remi turns to my parents. "..my family lives in Rochester. I could drive that much and if it's not an inconvenience to you, be picked up from there?"

"Whaaaaaaat?!" Jess squeals in my ear.

My mouth drops. I know I've sent texts to Remi about living in Victor which is right outside of Rochester. Why the fuck has she not told me she lived near me. I quickly move my eyes to my mom.

"Really? Colt, why didn't you mention that to us?" Mom tilts her head at me. She always does this when I forget to tell her things. It's her silent way of being upset with me.

"I uh, didn't know." It sounds really dumb out loud. I know our relationship has moved so quickly, but the simplest thing of knowing where someone lives is like the first question you ask to get to know them. Remi and I's relationship started far from normal.

"I didn't tell him." Remi interjects. "I'm a very private person and the idea of letting someone I barely knew know where I live, didn't sit well with me. Obviously as we got to know each other better, that "where are you from" question never really came back up." Remi's making this up on the spot. It sounds pretty damn convincing though.

"That's very responsible for someone your age." My mother nods in approval.

"Yeah, you never really know what could happen." Remi lightly says. My stomach sinks. Is this really true then? Did she avoid telling me where she lived because she really thought I was this random person? That what our relationship was, would just end so easily. No, she wouldn't have said yes to be with me if this wasn't important to her. Why am I having these feelings of uncertainty? She loves me, I know she does.