Ember Kate

Chapter:: Twenty-Three

We drove four hours to get Locklan to college. He was attending Cal Poly Pomona College in Pomona, California. When I asked him what he was majoring to be, he told me he wanted to be a science teacher. The college had people moving around trying to get there things in the dorms while saying goodbye to their parents, but not as busy as it was most likely to be when the school officially started.

Locklan’s dad, Paul he told me to call him, drove Locklan and me there. I guess I should feel lucky that he let me go, although he treated me just like his daughter since I said yes to Locklan’s proposal. My parents were also treating Locklan like their son-in-law already. Needless to say, our parents skipped the whole part where they denied their eighteen year olds to get married. Once we got to the college and started bringing stuff in was when I realized how much I would miss him.

As we walked up the stairs to get to his room, 211, I watch the people in their dorms setting up their things while their doors are wide open. I tried to ignore the thought of how I should be dragging my things up the stairs along with Locklan. Why didn’t he ask me to move here while he completed college? Despite the fact that he proposed to me and things were better than ever, I couldn’t help the nag of doubt in the back of my head.

“Well, it doesn’t look like you have a roommate yet.” His father spoke, breaking the silence finally as we round on his door. The room is empty, white, and cramped looking. There’s a single bed with a mattress and a desk, and on the other side of the room there’s a similar setup with no personals.

“Hopefully I won’t have one,” Locklan puffs out as he tosses his suitcase on the bed along with a duffel bag. Trying to keep the sad look off my face, I plaster a big smile for him.

“Or if you do, hope that he’s into all the same things you are.” I walk across the carpeted room and stare out the window, watching all the people bringing their things into the big building. I couldn’t help but notice that they were all smiling and had some sort of friend to meet up with.

What I had to look forward to was a job at the supermarket a town over. Maybe these next four years would go by quickly. So quickly, that I wouldn’t have time to complain all that much. Or, he could decide that he wants to be a doctor and have to go to med school. Either way, I told myself that I would have to stay positive for him. After everything we’ve gone through, and we’re still back together again; going to get married in a few months.

“I’ll just give you guys a few minutes alone before we have to drive back.” Paul told us as he made sure to close the door behind him. I let out a sigh of relief; this would be a lot easier to do if his dad wasn’t here.

“So how come you didn’t want me to find an apartment around here so we could be together while you go here?” I asked him bluntly.

He drops his bags and sits on the bed, really taking his time with this. He runs a hand through his curly hair, the same curly hair that I’m going to miss running my fingers through for a while.

“I just didn’t want to trap you here,” he tells me hesitantly while looking a little embarrassed. I move to sit on the empty space of bed next to him and I start laughing before I can stop myself.

“Do you realize how dumb that sounds? You asked me to marry you, I’m kind of already trapped.” I lean on your shoulder and wonder if I’m the one being stupid. But I couldn’t help but be nervous. I was his first girlfriend, what if he found somebody better than me here? I don’t know if I could handle that.

“Ember, I mean more than I already have. You didn’t want the college experience, or else you and I would be on our bed right now instead of some smelly used single bed. I want to give you time to change your mind, although I’m sure you won’t. I didn’t want to force you down here; I wanted to give you a chance to find yourself again. I only meant it in the best way possible.” He gives me this look that tells me he believes what he’s saying and he means it.

“Well, in that case, I better make the best out of this moment before I leave.” The next time we would be wrapped up in each other’s arms was when he got on break for Thanksgiving. The thought made me frown a little until Locklan swooped in for a kiss.

And thinking how far I’ve made it ever sense he found me, I almost started crying. He’s made me a better person and realizes how much I felt for no reason. Well, the therapy helped too. But I wouldn’t be able to attend therapy to get the help I need without him. He’s seriously my guardian angel, and the next four years would definitely be tough.

“I love you Locklan. And that won’t change while you’re here studying to become a science teacher. I promise,” I let right now be enough because it has to be, I’m still here and he’s everything to me. I have to let him do what he wants to do, even though I made my choice not to.