Chapter Nineteen It must’ve been 90 degrees outside, the hottest day of August thus far. Inside, mom had the air conditioner on making it about twenty degrees cooler. AJ and I breathed a sigh of relief as soon as we walked through the door. We’d spent most of the day out in the heat shopping - getting a few things that we needed to survive campus life and for our trip to New York. I wanted to buy a new comforter and a couple sheet sets for my bed because I’d be going from a queen to a twin, and there were a few other random items on my list. AJ insisted on buying matching laptops to make communicating with one another easier while we were apart, and he wouldn’t take no for an answer. We were both leaving for school in only two short days and we were secretly meeting back up in New York the day after that.
Mom invited AJ to stay for dinner since he was already coming by to help me finish packing up my things. We could smell the food as soon as we walked in.
“We’re back,” I called out to my mother in the kitchen.
She walked into the foyer to greet us. “Looks like you two had fun.” She looked at all the bags AJ was carrying.
“Yeah. I guess so,” I replied unenthusiastically.
“What’s wrong?” She asked, noticing that I wasn’t as excited she expected.
“Just dreading this move,” I replied softly.
“Oh, you’ll be fine. Besides, you two will have each other. It’ll be fun.” I saw tears welling up in her eyes and she quickly turned and pretended to be checking on dinner.
“That’s two times just today!” I whispered to AJ. In the past two weeks I’d seen my mother cry more than all of my eighteen years combined. He smiled and grabbed the one bag he’d allowed me to carry.
“Where do you want these?” He asked. I pointed him in the direction of my room. AJ, being paranoid about my health, insisted on treating me like a baby even though I was healed from the accident. It had been almost twelve weeks and even the marks on my face were almost completely gone. Most people didn’t notice them at all, but the doctor assured me that in a few more months the scars would lighten and they’d virtually disappear.
I joined mom in the kitchen and grabbed the plates and silverware to set the table. Ten minutes later she sent me to Daddy’s study to get him for dinner. After we ate, AJ and I retreated to my room – leaving the door open of course – armed with boxes and tape.
“Ok, where do you want me to start?” He asked.
“Mmmm…..Can you box up my CD’s and DVD’s?”
He smiled. “That’s not as exciting as doing your panty drawer, but hey, whatever I can do to help.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re so nasty! I honestly don’t know why I even talk to you,” I joked.
“That’s exactly why you talk to me.”
“Shut up! My parents are gonna hear you!” I said, fighting back a laugh.
“We can’t do it, and now I can’t talk about it either? That’s not even fair. Do you realize it’s been like five months? You’re killing me,” he complained.
“It hasn’t been easy for me either, but I think we’re doing good though,” I said while shoving all of my books into one of the boxes. “Don’t you agree?”
“Whatever,” he replied.
I threw one of my pillows at his head. “I said, don’t you agree that we’re doing good?”
He laughed. “I guess if that’s what you consider ‘doing good’?”
I sighed, pretending to be mad. He called me a brat under his breath, still smiling as he sealed up his box. After a few seconds of silence from me he walked over to where I sat, pulled me to my feet and hugged me.
“Move before my mom comes in here and thinks you’re taking advantage of me again.” I pushed him playfully.