If Only It Were That Simple

Chapter 36- The Plus One

Lorrie-

3 Months Later:

Nikki's recovered brilliantly from the incidnents before. Her and Jacob are closer than ever. Their two groups pretty much meshed into one now. A cheer leader and a soccer star. Perfect combination. She goes and cheers at all his games, makes it hard for him to concentrate, but he comes and cheers for her at her competitions, so it balances out. It's now senior year believe it or not. Benny and I have to start thinking about college. Our parents still have nothing to do with us. Nikki went to testify at court and the man is locked away for 50-life. Mother still does her full time lawyering thing. Father still does foreign films. I still tutor Johnny. Connor still runs track, he's up for scholarship to a local university. He wants to go pre-law. I just hope he doesn't turn into a workaholic like my mother. Connor and I are best friends. His girlfriend isn't really a fan of the idea, but she really shouldn't worry. Prom is in May not sure whether I'm going or not, we'll see I guess. I skipped out on early graduation. Too much going on graduating early wasn't on my list. Anyway. Johnny's supposed to be here by now. I look up and speak of the devil. In walks Johnny in his letterman and jeans.

"Hey Johnny." I greet him at the rink. I'd already laced up.

"Hey," He greets with a smile. "So, I turned in my first and last application."

"Where is it?" I ask him as he laces up his own boots.

"The Air Force," He answers. "I just went down to the recruiting office this morning."

"Did you talk to your parents about it?" I ask him as we both stand up. I offer him my gloved hand as he struggles to stay balanced. He smiles and takes it.

"No. I'm 18. It's not like they're going to be able to stop me." We skate around the rink together. This is our first official date since ever time we planed one something would come up. First it was all the things going on with Nikki and Jacob Adams. Then the court case. It was all just crazy. Things have begun to quiet down just in time for the end of our senior year in three months.

"Benny signed up on the draft board yesterday, for the Navy."

"What do your parents think?"

"They don't care, they never did. Mom never sees us. Dad's still abroad doing who knows what foreign film."

Johnny squeezes my hand and gives me a comforting smile. Benny and I moved our stuff and Nikki's into a three bedroom apartment close to both schools. Left our mom with the bills and house. Our stuffs been cleared out for two months now. New Year project pretty much completed. Nikki seems to like the apartment better anyway. The only thing I really miss about the house would be the dance studio downstairs. We also got Nikki a cell phone and got rid of the landline for the apartment. I work part time as a dance instructor and still tutor. Benny has two part time jobs one as a waiter and bus boy at the local diner. The other as cashier at the grocery store

As promised we went ice skating together. Though it's too warm outside he found a ice rink that was just opening.

"My parents are pushing me to go to Duke." Johnny says.

"In North Carolina?" I ask him. He nods. "You'd be so far away."

"I'm still going to be far away if I don't go." Basic training, how could I forget?

"I still don't know where I'm going to go." I tell him as I rest my head on his shoulder and we continue to skate.

"You'd be accepted anyway you applied."

"Unlikely." I argue.

"Your GPA is practially perfect!"

"It's not always about the grades."