The Perks of Waiting for You by Stephanie Street

Author:Stephanie Street [Street, Stephanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-12-25T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10 - Quinn

Senior Year

I wanted to strangle my parents. It wasn’t the first time in my life I’d wanted to do that, but it was definitely the most serious. Of course, I’d never hurt them, but I wished I could explain to them how much they’d hurt me with their decisions.

Military life was never easy on families. I knew that. But they’d promised. When we moved back to their hometown, they promised it would be the end. That Joey and I would graduate from their alma mater and our high school careers wouldn’t be interrupted with moving.

Yeah, they lied.

When JJ dropped me off that night after the most wonderful day of my life, my parents had been waiting for me. Apprehension that started in my chest, grew to fill my whole body when I spotted my sullen brother sitting on the couch with his arms crossed over his chest. If I knew my brother, and I did, I’d bet my life he was close to tears.

“What? Just tell me.” I couldn’t handle any sugar-coating. No manipulations. No apologies. Just the cold, hard facts.

“We have to go back to California.” Dad didn’t mince words and for that I was grateful. But that didn’t stop my heart from falling into my toes.

I didn’t listen to his explanation, something about his recruiting contract being only three years. And they thought they could get a waiver, but the Army denied it and Dad had to finish the last year of his five-year commitment in his old unit. Instead, I stared out the window, the one that faced the driveway. The driveway where I’d just kissed the boy of my dreams and promised I’d see in a few days.

I asked for clarification later.

“We leave in a week.” Mom’s words had cut through the fog and the dam broke. Without a word, I walked with slow, measured steps to my room. I wanted to rage. I wanted to slam my door and scream at my parents. But I knew from experience it wouldn’t change anything. We were leaving.

I woke up the next day and drove myself to JJ’s house to feed his animals. I cried the entire time I was there for the next seven days, only drying my tears long enough on my last day to make arrangements to sell my lamb and to thank the Coleman’s for the opportunity to learn so much from them and their son. Mrs. Coleman had hugged me, her warmth and kindness almost my undoing because it reminded me so much of JJ. I kept it together, though, and hurried to leave their house before I broke down and told them everything.

For the whole week, I tried to convince my parents to let Joey and I stay with our grandparents for the school year while they went back to California. They weren’t having it. I knew they wouldn’t. They’d been telling us since we were old enough to talk that they’d made a pact with each other when

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