Page 229 of Promising You
“Your life is over if this happens. You’ll have no choices ever again. You’ll have no freedom. They’ll make you do things. Really bad things. This is way worse for you than it is for me and I haven’t even been thinking about that. I’m sorry, Garret.”
“You don’t need to be sorry. I’m prepared for all that. I can handle it. Am I freaked out that my life will be controlled by other people? Yes. But I’m more freaked out by the idea that I can never see you again. That’s what scares me, Jade. Because I don’t think I can do it. I’m afraid I’ll try to find you and then they’ll find out and hurt you to punish me.”
“So what are we going to do? I’m out of ideas. Our plan didn’t work. If it did, they would’ve let you go by now. They wouldn’t have waited this long.”
He puts his hands on my shoulders and looks me in the eye. “You don’t know that, so stop thinking that way.”
“I DO know it. And so do you. You just won’t admit it.” He doesn’t respond which basically tells me he’s thinking the same thing. That our plan didn’t work. “I don’t know what else to try. I don’t know how to fix this.”
“We’re not even sure if this meeting they’re having is about me. We’re just guessing based on rumors. It could be about something totally different.”
“But if itisabout you, then we have no time left. I leave a week from Friday to go home and that might be the last time I see you.”
“Then let’s spend as much time together as possible over the next two weeks. We both have to study for finals, so we’ll study down here. We could even sleep down here. I’ll get some more blankets and sleeping bags. We’ll just camp out until you have to leave. We’ll spend our days in the dorm and our nights here. What do you think?”
His eyes are bright and eager as he waits for my answer. I love him so much for trying to make the best of this horrible situation.
“I think it’s crazy,” I tell him. “But I can do crazy.”
“Then go get your books and I’ll go get some stuff at the store. We’ll meet back here in an hour.” He unzips the tent and helps me out.
“What if wild animals eat us?” I call back as I make my way through the woods.
“Raccoons don’t eat people, Jade,” he yells from inside the tent. “But I’d keep an eye on your potato chips.”
I find myself laughing as I imagine a raccoon with his paws in my potato chip bag. Damn, that idiot can make me laugh even when I’m really sad. And I need that in my life. I needhim. But I’m not sure how much Ionger I’ll have him.
* * *
When we meet up again,Garret has more sleeping bags, pillows, and blankets, a flashlight, and four really bright lanterns. He also bought chips, soda, and candy—basic study food.
I set my backpack down and get my books out. “I’ve never been camping before. Have you?”
“Not really. When my mom was alive and we lived in the other house, my dad let me set up a tent in the back yard but that wasn’t really camping.”
My phone rings and I check to see who’s calling. “Garret, it’s Grace. What do I say to her?”
“Just say what you feel.”
“I can’t. I feel terrible.”
It continues to ring. “Just answer it, Jade.”
“Hello.”
“Jade. It’s Grace.” She sounds really tired and very serious. “I have some bad news. Your grandfather passed away earlier today. He had a sudden heart attack.”
“Yeah, Garret told me. I’m so sorry, Grace. Can I do anything?”
“No, honey. I just wanted to let you know. The funeral is Saturday if you’d like to attend.”
“I don’t think I can.”
“I understand.” And the way she says it makes me feel like she does. “Maybe we could have lunch once more before you leave for the summer.”
“Yes. Definitely.”
“I’ll call you next week and we’ll figure out a time.” She says goodbye and I set the phone down.
