Space and time have become two of my favorite words. Space means Scarlett’s family has left, and I get to spend more time with her. Time means talking, whispering, holding hands, lazily lying together and kissing. I could kiss Scarlett for the rest of my life.
Scarlett’s family went to the movies and dinner this evening, meaning we have had a few precious hours to ourselves. We’re in the recliner leaned back, and she’s cuddled close to me. We’re half watching the movie and more absorbed in enjoying each other. There’s a hunger to our kisses, yet a shyness. Scarlett explores, then will retreat, then will explore again and I allow her the space she needs. As I said, space is a beautiful word.
“We should stop,” Scarlett whispers against my neck, but she kisses me there again. An open-mouth kiss that is driving me insane. “We should fill out college applications.”
She needs to fill out college applications. I, on the other hand, have no intentions of going, but she’s insistent that I at least apply. “I’m staying on my land.”
“Yes, but you can take online courses,” she says softly in my ear, and she could possibly convince me of anything if she continues to speak to me in that slow way. Her hot breath caresses my skin and I have the urge to roll her underneath of me and kiss her until we both forget who we are. “And you should really apply for financial aid.”
I could have started applying for financial aid on October first, but I didn’t because I have no intentions of going to college. Scarlett has been at me nonstop because the aid is awarded until the money is depleted. A lot of her pestering has been due to her own sorrow. Her father refuses to fill out the financial aid forms so that limits her ability to receive any help. Then she found out that because she’s a dependent of her father, she can’t apply on her own.
And people in power wonder why the powerless think the system is broken.
“If we’re going to do anything,” I run my hand along her back, and liking the caress, she further curls into me, “we should take a look at those apartments near UK.”
She pulls back, not a lot, but enough that her lips are no longer on my neck, which is a damn shame. “They’re cheaper than living in the dorms.”
I think there’s a reason for that. Scarlett’s smart, and while she hasn’t had it easy at home, she hasn’t had to pay a bill. I gently hug her as I rest my forehead against hers. “You don’t need your dad’s permission to apply for scholarships so you need to focus on that. The money you’re making with Glory is going to help, but it’s not enough to pay for tuition and living expenses.”
She frowns. “I know, but those apartments are a lot cheaper than the dorms, and if I live in the dorms I think I might have to have the meal plan and that’s a ton of money and . . .”
If she’s going to make it after graduation without her father’s help, she’s going to need solid answers. “Maybe we should visit.”
Her surprise and joy are hesitant. “Visit what?”
“The apartments and UK. If you’re going to do this on your own, you need to know exactly how much it costs so you can be prepared to pay for it.”
“Really?”
To get her to smile like that regularly, we’ll visit every weekend. “Sure. If you want, that’s what we can do when your family goes away for the weekend.”
My cell buzzes, and I gently kiss Scarlett’s lips before reaching over to the end table to find a text from V: On our way. You better be there when we get there or else. You owe me dinner.
I groan. So much for time and space. “My friends are coming over.”
Her lips squish to the side, and I understand why. We’re still mainly a secret. Her friends watch us, no doubt sensing the changes between us. Even though we aren’t flaunting our relationship in the hallways, they’ve been slowly shutting Scarlett out. She doesn’t say much about it, but I can tell it bothers her. I hate how I’m slowly cursing her.
A part of me screams I should let her go, but I can’t. I’ve fallen too far down this hole to be saved now. Glory has some big idea that through Scarlett I can somehow break the curse, but unless Glory can give me step-by-step instructions, I’m sticking with my original plan. The blue print Mom laid out for me years ago: keep and stay on the land.
She stretches, and places space between us. “I’ll head home.”
I draw her closer. “Stay.”
“I don’t know.”
“I promise they won’t say anything to anyone about us, and if you stay, then I’ll fill out a college application.”
Scarlett tilts her head as if my proposal surprises her. “Two college applications.”
“Don’t go getting crazy, now.”
“Two.” She stands firm, and the way her lower lip protrudes entices me to kiss her again.
As if I could say no to her. “Fine.”