by Naomi Niles
Chapter Twenty Six
Dylan
Taylor talked me into a date. I don’t know how she managed to, but that girl was persistent. Her parents were going out. We knew the restaurant they were going to and their plans. So, Taylor talked me into taking her out for dinner.
Nothing fancy, and a few towns away so we wouldn’t run into anyone we knew.
I had to admit I was nervous, even though it was Taylor. This was still a first date. What if we spent time together like this and then didn’t like each other? Things would be awkward at the house.
I dressed in clothing that I’d wear to a mathlete meet and a tie that Mr. Dean had lent me. I guessed I should get another one since I had two more meets before the mathlete season ended. Not that anyone really cared about what I wore, but Taylor had suggested that I wear different ties. Probably something only a woman would notice.
I tugged at the collar. Mr. Dean wore one of these every day. Guess you got used to it.
I glanced in the mirror to make sure that there was nothing on my face before I walked down the hall to get Taylor. Knocking softly, I realized I probably should have gotten flowers or something.
Too late.
She opened her door and my mouth went dry. Taylor stood there in a red dress that hugged her curves. I bet if her father saw this dress, he wouldn’t let her out of the house. He certainly shouldn’t let her out of the house with me.
I had designs on this date starting and ending in her bed. With maybe some food in between. I could microwave like a demon.
I’d seen her naked, but this was even better than that.
“You like?”
“Holy crap, Taylor. A blind men would like.”
She smiled. “Good.”
“You’re mine for the night? I get to look at you all evening?”
“Until right before my parents come home. Then I turn into a pumpkin,” she said.
There was nothing pumpkin-like about her. She had a tiny waist and lovely hips. Her breasts peeked out over the neckline.
Damn. “You’re beautiful, Taylor.”
She blushed. Who knew this popular girl could be insecure? Who knew this bad boy would reform and be able to be in the same space as this almost woman? Well, in some ways she was a woman. I’d taken care of that.
“Thank you.”
I just wanted to stare at her for the next hour. How did I get so lucky?
Instead, I held out my arm. “Milady.”
She laughed as she took my arm. I escorted her out to the car and held her door for her. I did all the things I’d seen men do in movies. Hopefully, I was doing the right stuff.
Taylor smiled at me when I climbed into the car.
The restaurant was forty minutes away, which I had to remember for our return trip. We knew which movie her parents were going to, so we knew when they’d be home. Hopefully, their plans wouldn’t change at all.
I was just as nervous about being found out as going on this date.
I’d made reservations at the restaurant, so it wasn’t long before we were seated. I’m pretty good for a teenage boy. Not all of us are buttheads. Okay, I’m usually a butthead, but not tonight.
I pulled out her chair for her and everything. We ordered sodas, and when they came, Taylor held up her glass. “To our first real date.”
I touched my glass to hers, then sipped. I felt like a grownup.
“Tell me one thing that most people don’t know about you?” Taylor said.
“That’s hard since you know so much about me.” I scratched my chin. “I was born in Iowa.”
“Iowa? How did you end up here?”
“My mother’s brother offered us the trailer to live in,” I said.
“Do you remember Iowa?”
“No, I was two when we moved.”
“You’ve lived in that trailer that long?”
“No, at one point we were in subsidized housing, but my mother got us kicked out,” I said. “We went back to the trailer then.”
“Hm.”
“You’ve lived in the house all your life?”
“No, we moved into it when I was six, but I don’t remember that much about the old house. My father had a job change and his raise was a lot so we bought this house.”
I nodded. This was nice – just two people talking. Not that I wasn’t thinking about her naked. I was. How could I not? I’m a guy and I’d seen her naked.
“It’s a nice house.”
“It’s home.”
I laughed. “It’s become home to me, too. That’s why I don’t want to mess anything up.”
“I know, but I really like you, Dylan. I want to be with you. I think I know a way we can go to prom. Let me think on it.”
“Just be careful. I’ll be the one paying the price if it gets messed up,” I said.
I didn’t relish being back in the trailer. I was used to the comforts of a real house. Four walls. Couldn’t hear the wind at night. The place didn’t shiver with a large gust. No animals underneath it.
And Taylor. I got to see her every day.
We had fifteen minutes to spare when I pulled her car into the driveway after dinner. No one was home. “We better hurry and get out of these clothes and go watch a movie,” I said. “Act normal.”
“Okay, but I want one more kiss before the fairytale ends,” she said.
I took her face gently into my hands and kissed her like there was no tomorrow. Her lips were swollen when I stopped, but she smiled. “Thanks, Dylan, this was fabulous.”
The sound of a car outside had us both running upstairs. Taylor was putting in a movie and I was eating some chips when Mr. Dean came downstairs.
Chapter Twenty Seven
Dylan
I drove Taylor and I to the college fair at our high school that Monday evening. We entered the gym to see rows and rows of tables lined up. Other students were strolling around.
“Where to do we start?” Taylor said.
“Have you done any research?”
I hadn’t. so I wasn’t going to judge her for not doing any.
“I did some. I think those schools are supposed to be here.”
“What did you want to major in?” I asked.
She frowned. “I haven’t talked to my parents yet, but I’d like to be a nurse.”
“That’s great, Taylor. Why haven’t you told your parents?”
“Because my mother wants me to be an engineer,” she said.
“But your math skills are horrible.”
Of course, that needed to go through another filter. I’d been helping her with her math, and she was terrible at it.
She laughed. She could have gotten mad at me. “Yeah, I know. I’m good at science, but not so good at math.”
“You better talk to them soon. We’re behind, not having applied to schools yet. Don’t waste time applying to a school you don’t want to go to.”
She rolled her eyes. “I know, Dylan. What about you?”
“Computer science,” I said. My favorite class was my programming class. “I’m getting an A in the class without a lot of work. I must be good at it.”
“That’s cool. Must be nice to know what you’re good at.”
“Why do you want to be a nurse?”
“I know this is going to sound odd, but I like helping people. Every year the cheerleaders do community service. I really like it. I figure a nurse is a way to help people and actually get paid to do it.”
“Makes sense. I’m sure if you tell your parents that it will make you happy and you can get a job doing it, they’ll support you,” I said.
She nodded, but I didn’t think she was convinced.
I stopped at the first table. “Computer science?”
The man smiled wide. “Yes, Penn State has a good Computer Science Program. You just need to be ready to take calculus your first semester.”
“I’m taking precalc now,” I said.
“Then you’ll be fine.”
He hand
ed me some brochures. “Thanks.”
“We have prospective students nights coming up next month, if you want to attend. You can ask alumni questions about the school.”
“Okay.” He handed me a card. His excitement was infectious.
Taylor stopped at the next table to look at a school with a nursing program. She read the brochure she was given. “If I go an extra year, I can get my Masters.”
“Does that benefit you?”
“Not sure, really. I’ll have to do some research.”
“Go back and ask. That’s why people are here,” I said as I tugged her back in the direction of the table.
“Hi, I just talked to you. I wanted to know what benefit getting a Masters in Nursing gives me,” Taylor said.
The woman smiled and listed off what she could do with a Masters in Nursing. It sounded impressive to me. Taylor nodded, but I didn’t think she was taking it all in. Hopefully, she’d get the idea of what the woman was saying.
“Thanks,” Taylor said.
We kept walking. “Wow, that was a lot of information,” Taylor said.
“I think the bottom line was that you can do a lot of things. I guess it depends on what you want out of your degree,” I said.
“A lot to think about.” She tugged me in the other direction. “Computer science.”
And so the night went. We looked out for each other’s majors. Both of our bags were full when we were done.
“You want to get coffee?” Taylor said. “I’m not ready to go home.”
“Sure.”
We drove to a coffee shop. I guess this was our second date, in a way. Taylor had her brochures laid out when I got back to the table and put down her drink. “Thanks.”
“What do you think?”
“I think I need to talk to my parents and maybe visit some schools. I have a better idea now.”
“Why didn’t you do this earlier? I didn’t think I was going to college, but now I can, that’s why I didn’t do it.”
“I didn’t want to disappoint my parents.”
“Why would they be disappointed with you being a nurse?”
Taylor shrugged. “I was the only child that my parents were able to have. I think they have high hopes for me.”
“But it’s your life, not theirs.”
“I know.” She took a sip of her coffee. “So, what did you figure out?”
“I know I want to visit a few of these schools. Hopefully, I can do that. Maybe borrow your car and go to them.”
“Sure. I’m sure my dad will let you.”
“I hope so.”
“He might even attend them with you.”
I shrugged. “Your father has done so much for me. I can’t ask for more.”
“You’re the son he never had.”
“I just hope I can stay living with you guys.”
“I can’t imagine he’ll kick you out.”
“If he thinks we’re together, he will kick me out. I’m still not sure us being a couple is a good idea, Taylor.”
“I’m still working on an idea.”
“Well, you better figure it out before they find out on their own. There will be no negotiating with them then.”
She nodded, but I wasn’t sure she really got it. She was a little selfish, but I think it was because she just didn’t understand the life I had led.
Chapter Twenty Eight
Taylor
I rehearsed my argument one more time. Well, not an argument, but a presentation to my parents. I had the benefits and drawbacks of being a nurse. I had my list of colleges ready.
Dylan had offered to be there when I did it for moral support, but I declined. I had to do this on my own. I had to stand on my own two feet or my parents would never take what I had to say seriously.
I told them at dinner that I needed to talk to them. They told me that they’d be available for whatever I needed. Butterflies danced in my stomach as I knew they were waiting for me in the dining room. My father had probably opened a bottle of wine for them.
I could probably use a drink right now, but that would be bad.
I opened my door to Dylan, who was about to knock. I smiled.
“You ready?” he asked.
“As I’m ever going to be. I might throw up first.”
He hugged me. “You can do this, Taylor. It’s the right thing and they’ll see that.”
“Thanks, Dylan.”
“You can change your mind. I can be in the room.”
“No. I need to do this on my own. It will make them think more about what I’m saying,” I said.
He nodded and let me go. “Good luck.”
“Thanks.”
I took a deep breath and walked downstairs, my brain full of answers to any argument they might have.
They sat at the table, both on one side of it. They had glasses of wine in front of them and they held hands. It was nice to see them when they were like this. I watched them for a moment as they talked quietly.
My mother looked up and saw me. She smiled. “Taylor?”
I strode into the room.
“You look nervous, kitten. Is everything okay?” my father said.
“I hope so.” I took a deep breath then let it out. “I’ve been thinking. About college.”
“That can’t be bad, Taylor,” my father said.
“First, I don’t want to be an engineer. I don’t like math and I’m not good at it,” I said. I paused to let that sink in.
“Your grade this quarter was much better,” my mother said.
“That was only because Dylan helped me so much,” I said.
The two exchanged a look, but I couldn’t read it.
“Go on, kitten.”
I took another deep breath before I went on. “But I have decided I want to go to a four year college and what I want to major in.”
“Well, don’t keep us in suspense, Taylor,” my mother prompted. “Enough of the drama.”
I frowned. “I want to be a nurse. I want to get my Bachelor’s Degree in nursing.”
I waited. My mother blinked. My father smiled, but he always did that before he made a decision. The two looked at each other.
“Nursing?” my mother said.
“Yes, nursing,” I said. I wasn’t backing down. I wanted this. I could do this.
“Well,” my father began.
“Listen a minute,” I said. “I can get a job in nursing.”
“Awful hours.”
I shrugged. “Not a concern at this point. I’ll deal with that. With a BSN, I can do more than hospital nursing. I can be in a doctor’s office. I can be a supervisor eventually,” I said.
I was doing to sell them on this if it killed me. “If I marry someone who has to move, I can move with him since there are nurses everywhere. You always said I need to do something that puts food on the table and roof over my head. Nursing does that.”
“Okay, Taylor. I get that you’re passionate about this,” my mother said. “What made you think of nursing?”
“Because when I do community service with the cheerleaders, I really enjoyed it. I like helping people.”
“Nursing and a few hours of helping people are different,” my mother said.
“I know that, mom. If you want, I can shadow a nurse. My guidance counselor will set it up. I’ll see if I can handle it all.”
“You’ve clearly thought about this, kitten. I’m proud of that.”
“Proud of her being a nurse? When she could be so much more?” my mother objected.
“But what if I’m happy? What if I can make a living and it makes me happy?” I said.
My father might listen to that, but my mother might not. She was only just now pursuing what she wanted as a career. She had no sympathy for having to give up your dreams.
“That’s a good point. Mallory, we need to think about this, for Taylor’s sake. If she really wants this, let’s listen and try to support.”
My mother crossed her arms. She was done.
She didn’t want to listen.
“I’ve picked a few schools that I’d like to go see,” I said, ignoring my mother.
“Have you set up dates to visit?” my father said.
“No because I wanted to coordinate with you before I did.”
“Okay, yeah. I have some trips coming up, so let’s sit down and do that. Let’s look at weekends we can go.”
At least my father was supporting me. My mother clearly didn’t want to. Couldn’t she just let me be happy? She was going to make a bigger stink about Dylan than my father would.
“I don’t like this, Taylor.”
“Mom, it’s what I want.”
She frowned. “It’s a hard job. You’ve never worked in your life.”
“Then, I guess I’ll figure that out, won’t I?” I wasn’t afraid of hard work.
“Okay, fine.” She left the room in a huff.
“She’ll come around, kitten,” my father said. “It seems like you did your homework.”
“I did, Daddy. I really want this.”
“I’m proud of you. Just give your mother time. She will see the light. Now. We have to schedule those visits. Your computer or mine?”
Chapter Twenty Nine
Dylan
I was packed and ready for my weekend visit to Penn State. Mr. Dean lent me a suitcase and it was only half full, but I thought I had anything I would need.
Taylor was in her room. She wasn’t looking forward to the weekend without me, but I had to do this. Mr. Dean’s co-worker had a son who was hosting me. I’d texted him a few times and now I was on my way there with Mr. Dean.
The drive would take two hours – a lot of time to fill. Hopefully, he wouldn’t feel the need to ask me about any girls I might be interested in. I couldn’t tell him that I did it with his daughter.
I kissed Taylor goodbye, then found Mr. Dean waiting for me in the kitchen. “You ready?”
“I’m ready.”
“This is pretty exciting.”
“It is,” I agreed.
The drive went quickly. We talked about everything else, but girls. Mr. Dean saw me to the dorm and left me with Chuck, my host.
He was a nerdy guy, which was cool. I didn’t want to party.
“Why don’t we take a tour of the campus,” Chuck said.
“Sure.”
