The Scars Of Us

CHAPTER 18

I sat tensely at the dinner table. I was having dinner with the Reeds and my parents. I swallowed hard as the anxiety settled in. Jax was sitting across from me. His jaw was clinching. 

"So mother...what's the surprise?" I asked nervously. 

My mother looked to my father, "Dear? Would you like to tell her?"

My father clears his throat, "While on our trip, we bumped into Mr Walsh. He is one of the board members at Harvard University."

I already didn't like where this was going. My eyes flickered to Jax and he was staring at my father intensely, waiting for what he had to say. 

I swallowed hard, "And?" I prompted them to continue, 

My mother smiled widely, "We told him about you and how you've always dreamed of being involved in high end business and he wants you to come to Harvard business school immediately to discuss good things about your future!"

Mr Reed laughs, "That's wonderful! Congratulations, Milly!"

Mrs Reed smiles at me softly, "Oh darling what a great opportunity. You will have such a bright future!"

"I-Immediately?" I repeated. I gulped and felt my fingers beginning to fidget, "How soon immediately? because I have a test tomorrow on-"

"Tonight." My father said with a demanding tone, "Mr Walsh is a very busy man, Milly. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. He has provided accommodation for you for the week."

My wide eyes stare at my parents, "A week? I'm staying there for a week?" I exclaimed. From me peripheral, I could see Jax become disturbingly still. His shoulders were cemented in a tense position. 

My father's eyes turn dark. I could see the anger at my disrespect, "Yes," He said with a hard tone, "A week. And you will go."

"So you're saying I'm going to be on a plane tonight...to go to Harvard?" This is crazy.

My mothers wide polite smile seemed stiff as she said, "Yes! Isn't it wonderful, honey!" 

"Is there anyway I could have some time? Could we maybe postpone it just for a couple of-"

"Postpone?" My father say incredulously, "That is ridiculous. You will go."

I think I'm gonna be sick. I feel like everything had suddenly gone out of control. Like I'm in this tornado that is my life and no matter how hard I try to calm things down, make things clear, do things my way...it just doesn't work out. 

"That actually reminds me," My father looked at his watch and stood up, "We should probably leave. You need to pack. Mr Walsh had already organised the airfares."

I looked at Jax and saw he was already looking at me. His crystal blue eyes soothes my beating heart, but another part of me starts to ache...the part that wanted to stay with him, but couldn't. It seems like the life my parents have planned for me has been set as blockade between Jax and I. It only made everything so much more complicated and Jax knew that. Reality had popped our bubble. 

My mother pulls me from my chair. We hugged the Reeds goodbye and we went back to my house. 

"You can get the rest of your things from the Reeds when you get back, dear," My mother said in her fake cheerful voice, "Isn't this exciting, Milly?" 

Her voice become blurred in the background as my mind drifts. My chest aches with longing, the longing to be with Jax. To feel his arms around me. The longing to be with him without anything getting in the way.