Everything Has Changed

Chapter Twenty Five: Planning Freedom

"I want to visit...but we won't move back." He pauses. "Where do you want to go to college?"

I sigh.

"I don't know. I haven't even started applying."

"Me either. We really need to start applying. I don't even know if I get federal aid."

"I think I will. I mean, my Mom's income isn't included anymore, right?"

He gives me a sad smile and brushes his thumb across my cheek.

"Right."

We're both quiet for a while, and then he speaks.

"How are you doing? How are you sleeping?"

"I'm good. I've been sleeping pretty bad since everything with you..." I trail off. "But the tea helps. I don't know what it is, but it helps."

He smiles.

"I'm glad."

We're quiet again, and again, he's the first to break it.

"I want you to say it again."

He keeps asking me to say it, but I don't mind.

"I'm in love with you." I whisper. I fall onto my stomach and prop my head up with my hand. "I love you. I love you. I love you."

I kiss his forehead.

"I love you too." He grins. "I think you and I should-"

I hear insistent knocking on my bedroom door, and then,

"Gracelyn Beth Levinsky, come out here now!"

Only it's not my Dad. It's Beatrice. My eyes widen at Danny.

"What did you tell her?" I whisper.

"I didn't tell her anything!" He whispers back.

I get out of bed.

"Stay there!" I whisper. He sits up and nods.

I open the bedroom door and shut it behind me.

Beatrice and Caleb are in the living room with Dad, and all three of them look mad.

"What?" I ask.

"Listen, I know you and Danny are going through a rough patch, but it needs to end. His truck is home and he isn't, and he's not answering his phone. I want you to use your phone to call him."

"I can't call him. He blocked me."

"Well where is he?" She presses. "I swear I'm going to lock the both of you in a closet until you work out your differences."

"Beatrice-"

"I mean, this has to stop." She says. "This needs to stop."

"Danny is in my room." I sigh, throwing my hands up and then letting them slap against my thighs.

"What?" The three of them say in sync.

I push open my bedroom door and Danny practically has his ear pressed against it.

When he comes out of my room, all three of them are silent.

Dad stands up from the couch.

"You two have been in there alone? All day? With the door shut?" He says finally.

"Yes...we always have..." I trail off.

"Come sit down. Both of you." Beatrice points to the couch.

We sit down on the loveseat and our parents exchange looks.

"Who has it?" Caleb asks.

"I think Eileen wrote it." Dad says. "But I don't know where it is. She might have it."