Surviving Elite High (18 page)

For my birthday, we headed to Burger King to celebrate. All my friends were there: Madison, Kitty, Jacob and his boyfriend. Yes, Jacob was dating a freshman named Rick who looked a lot like me. He finally gave me up. Nick was overjoyed since Jacob was his only competition. I found that stupid because there was never a competition to begin with. Nick had always been my first choice, even Jacob knew that, but Nick and his machismo could not see Jacob as only my friend.

Nick bought me a large box of chocolates that day. It was the biggest chocolate box I have ever seen. We spent the night at a nearby hotel since we were not allowed to be within fifteen feet from each other at home, thanks to my mom and her rules. She honestly thought that Nick respected me inside her house. I loved that she tried to protect me, though. I saw her point. She made Nick take three STD exams just to make sure that he was clean. Deep inside, she knew what was going on, but she never said anything to me.

My mom had always been my rock and comfort until Nick came into my life. Our lives completely changed when she came home early one night. It was one week before the end of classes and I was doing what I normally did: cleaning the house and cooking for them. Honestly, Nick and my mom were not the cleanliest of all people. I had to clean my mom's room twice every day and that surprised me because she was always working. And thanks to Nick, the living room looked like a junk yard. I swear to God that I saw a snake crawling around his dirty clothing one night. But anyway, I was home cleaning and cooking when my mom arrived around eight. She looked sad, as if she’d received some bad news. I asked her about her day, but she replied, “When Nick gets home, we'll talk.”

She headed to her room and locked the door. My stomach churned after she said those words. I had never seen my mom act that way before in my life. I knew that some problem had caught up with us again since we finally had some tranquility in our lives. I should have known that it was not going to last for long. I sat on the couch and waited for Nick. He came home smiling, but as soon as he saw my face, his smile faded.

“What happened now? I knew things were too good to be true.”

“I don't even know myself. My mom wants to talk to us.”

“Good. You're home, baby,” my mom said as she entered the living room and sat down. “Please sit down because we've got something important to discuss.”

Nick sat beside me and held my right hand.

“What is it?” Nick asked her.

“I'm afraid that I've got bad news.”

“Just tell us what's going on, Mom.”

“Well, you know that your grandmother has been sick for the last few months.”

“Oh my God! She's not dead, right!?”

“No, baby, but, I'm afraid that she could die. She has breast cancer.”

“What?” I asked my mom as I began to tear up.

“Relax John, it's only the first stages, but grandma is going to start chemotherapy in a few weeks,” she answered me. She paused for a few seconds while she examined our worried faces. “With that said, we're moving to Newark.”

“What? We can't go,” Nick told her. “We've got our friends and school here.”

“I was only referring to John and myself.”

My heart sank. My mom was going to take me away from Nick. My mother, not a stranger or a random person on the street, wanted to take me away from Nick.

“You can't do this to us, Ms. Ames!”

“Mom!! Why!? You know what we've been through! Why do you want to take me away from him!? I love him!!”

“I know sweetie, but I can't leave you here unattended,” she answered me as she stood up. She tried to touch me, but I backed away from her. “Please understand.”

“Wait! I can go with you guys!” Nick said as he stood up.

“No, sweetie,” my mom answered. “You've got your parents and school here. I know your parents will come around soon.”

“I’ve got school here too!” I shouted at her with tears rolling down my cheeks.

“John, please understand. I—”

“Understand what?! That you want to take me away from Nick and my friends? Madison and Kitty are like my sisters! Nick paid senior year in advance. All that money will go to waste! Nick sacrificed a lot for us to attend Elite High!”

She sighed deeply as I continued speaking.

“You have always said that it's your dream to see me graduate from Elite High. That's my dream too! Don't take my dream away from me! Don't take Nick away from me!”

“Jaan, if your mom wants you to go with her, then maybe you should.”

I could not believe my ears. I looked into his eyes and realized that he wanted to cry, but he was being a man.

“Don't bring that bullshit now! I refuse to let our love story have an unhappy ending!”

I had never spoken to Nick like that before. From the look on his face, he never expected it. I turned to my mom.

“Mom, I can take care of myself. You know that very well. I've been doing it since I was little. You were always working and you were never here. I can stay with Nick. We can take care of each other. Please, Mom, don't take away the best thing in my life. I can take a part-time job and we can support ourselves. I can tutor for money! That way I can study and work at the same time.”

“I know baby,” she told me as she gently wrapped her arms around me. She wiped her tears and smiled. “You're right, baby. You can take care of each other. You two are more mature than anyone your age. I'm just afraid of letting you go into the world too soon.”

“Is that a yes?” I asked her with a smile.

She smiled happily.

“Yes,” she answered as Nick ran to hug her. “You better take good care of my son.”

“I'll protect him with my life.”

“Okay,” she answered. “I pronounce you husband and wife.”

We laughed. That night, Nick and I won another battle that life threw at us. My mom left for Newark two days later. Nick and I decided to move to an apartment building that was closer to school and much cheaper. We moved out two days after school closed down for summer vacation. I talked to Mrs. Carter and I will start tutoring for money when Elite High reopens in September. We do not know if we will have something to eat or even if we will be able to cover every month’s rent. But no matter what, we will face it together. Yes, we are seventeen and naïve, but we love each other like no other couple in the world. What’s next for us? Senior year.

About the Author

For more information, please visit:

Twitter: @JohnHenryAmes

Facebook:
www.facebook.com/JohnHenryAmes