Back in Toledo

Chapter Twelve

The next couple weeks were both amazing and strange at the same time. Of course the first two people I told about JP and I were Chloe and Alexis. Being out of softball gave me more time to spend with him while he was home. As much as I hate to say it, I'm glad everything happened the way it did. Yes I love softball, but I only had until June until he went back to LA and I leave for LSU in August. 

I expected everything to be normal like it use to be, but I was way off. Like I said before, JP and I were always together but never made anything official two years ago. Everyone knew that it was always Baylor and JP. So here comes the strange part, everyone at school only knows of me as Baylor, the girl dating Machine Gun Kelly's drummer. JP was a senior when I was a sophomore and he left before graduation. So I can see how the underclassmen don't get how we ended up together, everyone that knew about us already left and some in my graduating class know. 

Not only was I being talked about a lot at school for it, I also gained attention on social media. JP shared my instagram post of the two of us to his page and made sure to tag me in it. That gained me a lot of new followers. My instagram of five hundred and something followers turned into thousands. It was a bit over whelming for me, I've seen how people are treated by fans for dating their favorite musicians and my anxiety is already bad enough. 

I've always been seen as a good girl. The girl that cared way too much about school, sports, and would pick staying in over a party any day. I barley ever skipped and I was graduating at the top of my class. JP on the other hand was the complete opposite. He was the kid that would always skip, be in detention on days he decided to show up, and eventually became a high school drop out to become a musician. He had that image of the bad boy musician that parties, smokes weed along with probably trying other drugs and has tons of tattoos, all the typical stereotypes.

None of that really bothered me though, I know who he is. People just want to see the stereotypes and image of a person instead of knowing exactly who they are. My mom was happy when she found out about us, she's always liked JP. She's known him for a long time and knows what kind of person he is. She has been asked a few times by her friends and coworkers what she thinks about us. Some even asked her how she would even think about letting me date him. He became popular quick around Toledo when he first linked up with MGK. Of course I didn't know because they were calling him Rook. He was the kid that actually made it out of Toledo achieving his goals of becoming a musician. 

I've mentioned before how it was just my mom, brother and I. My mom and dad divorced three years ago. He stayed in Toledo since that is where his side of the family is. He doesn't see us much anymore and stopped trying to make an effort. He use to come to all of mine and Logan's games and school events. We would even spend weekends with him. That all eventually started to die down until it stopped all together. My dad is one of the biggest assholes I know. I was told by him how I won't get to college and end up working my part time job with just a high school diploma for the rest of my life. 

My dad's side of the family is from Toledo while my moms side is from Baton Rouge. I don't get to see much of my moms side and when I see my dads side it's more than enough. They're the rich, snobby people who think they are better than everyone else because they have money and live in the rich neighborhoods. They are the lawyers, doctors, and business VP's. My dad comes from a big family, he has two sisters and three brothers. That also gives me close to twenty cousins. Some of them go to my school while some attend private school. Two of my cousins at my school are graduating with me, but we never talk anymore. I use to get a friendly smile here and there but lately it's been nothing but bitchy looks.

This side of my family is pretty well know. I try not to associate myself with them much. I'll visit with my grandparents every once in a while. That goes pretty good until they start to criticize me on my career choice and a lot of other personal things. This side is the judgmental side. When JP and I became official and started posting each other on social media I wasn't surprised someone on my dad's side saw it. This was when the phone calls and text messages started coming in. 

My aunts were telling me how I should be ashamed associating myself with a guy like him. When they brought it to my grandma's attention she called me to tell me how I'm going to ruin my life by being with him. My dad even sent a few text messages saying I'm just a disappointment and asking why I can't find someone who has a real job, someone who wouldn't be depending on me when his career plummets. This. This all right here is why I'm going to Louisiana. I just didn't like leaving my mom and Logan behind to deal with them. 

I was sitting on the front porch reading through the messages I was sent. I admit, they did make me upset, you would be too if it was your family talking to you like that. I heard the sound of a car door shutting which made me look up from my phone. JP and his dad just got home from somewhere. I could tell by the look on his face he was frustrated about something. He was headed up his porch steps until he looked over and saw me sitting outside and quickly started smiling. He turned around and started walking over. He gave me a quick kiss on my forehead before sitting next to me on the swing and wrapping his arms around me. 

"Hey babygirl." 

"Hey. Are you okay? You looked mad when you got out of the car."

"I'm fine. Colson needs me in Cleveland and it's a two hour drive and he just called me five minutes ago saying he needs me there tonight. Something about recording some song." 

"Oh. I'm sorry." 

"I should be the one asking if you are okay. You seem upset." 

"More annoyed than anything. You know how my dad's side of the family is?"

"Judgy rich bitches who think they are better than everyone around them?"

"Exactly. They saw how we became official and all our posts on instagram and now this is happening." 

I unlocked my phone to show him the text messages I've been receiving from my dad's side of the family. I haven't replied to any of them, just been reading what they've been sending. My family is why I have anxiety. When they did see us, I've been made to feel like I wasn't good enough like my cousins. They're still doing that even though they don't see us as much. I was snapped out of my thoughts by JP handing me my phone back.

"Fuck them Baylor. You don't need they're approval on who you're with. And I don't give a shit about what they think of me, as long as you still love me I'm good!" 

"I do love you." 

I love that he was making light of this situation which made me laugh. I leaned over and kissed him a few times before I rested my head on his shoulder as he was swinging us slowly on the porch swing. We sat there quiet for a few minutes before he spoke again. 

"Wanna go on a road trip?"

"To where?"

"Cleveland. A road trip is the best way to get your mind off things."

"You just don't want to drive alone do you?"

"You know me so well Baylor Rose. Go pack an over night bag. I'll wait out here."

I got up from the swing and walked into the house to grab my stuff. I texted my mom to let her know where I was going. Logan was with his friends and I didn't want to be home alone tonight. After I got my stuff I made my way downstairs and back outside where JP was waiting. He grabbed my bag out of my hands as we walked over to his car. I'm not on my crutches anymore, I just have the boot, so I am perfectly capable of carrying my own bag. I just learned to not fight with him about carrying my things anymore, I'll always lose. We got in the car and got situated before he leaned over and kissed me.

"Ready?"

"To Cleveland!" 

He was right, road trips do take your mind off things. It was only for a night but I was excited to get out of Toledo.