CHAPTER 23

   Monday morning came like any other normal school day for Dylan.Even though the events that had occurred on Saturday were still fresh in her mind and she didn't know what the new week would bring, it didn't prevent her from dressing up and going to school.

    The previous weeks had been  the busiest with college coming up,grades to keep up with and not to add the captain of the basketball team that she still headed.Later in the day there would be work waiting for her and she had to ensure she followed through with all of them because they were equally important. What she wanted to do in college though was still a thing she hadn't decided yet.Maybe she could go into accounting like her mother but she wasn't so sure it was what she wanted to do for the rest of her life.The school's career and guidance counselor had been working with every student to make sure that they got into something that suited them most.That day was when she was scheduled to meet with her.She headed to the office during the period before lunch because she didn't have any class.The lady had just graduated from college but judging by what the other students said,she was very good at her work.

  She knocked and went in the moment she was permitted.The teacher looked up then back to a file on her desk.

        "Dylan Lewis, captain of the basketball team and a straight A student.Nice," she said after reading from the file then looked up and ushered her opposite her, "Take a seat please."

    Dylan placed her bag beside the chair and sat down,"Thank you." 

 The teacher closed the file, crossed her arms on her chest then moved her chair backwards and did the same with her legs.They stayed silent for several seconds until she began squirming in her seat wondering why she was not going straight to what brought them there,  before the teacher addressed her again.

        "Relax, this is not the principal's office," she said with a smile. "I like making my students comfortable so they can feel free to talk to me."

  Dylan gave her a half smile, "The silence definitely isn't making me any comfortable."

   The teacher laughed, "I like you. Let's begin with the formalities."

           "Fair enough,Ms Davis," she relaxed.

           "First of,let's cut the official acknowledgment. I am still yet to come to terms with it,so call me Melody."

  Dylan grinned, "Oh,like a tune?" She never missed an opportunity to flirt whenever it came along.It didn't even matter who she was addressing and now she was feeling comfortable enough to try it on this pretty teacher who appeared to be so cool.

        "That's more like it," she replied with a smile. "So tell me Dylan, what do you see yourself doing after college?"

    Dylan shook her head,"I honestly don't know."

         "Hmm,okay," she opened the file on her desk again and turned several pages. "Your file is very clean,extremely impressive performance. You could get into any college of your choice."

  Dylan shook her head and dropped her hands on her thighs,"I know that but I wouldn't know what to do even if I got there."

        "What do you like doing most,what are you passionate about?"

         "Basketball," she replied simply. "But that's not a carrier, it's just a hobby, something I enjoy doing."

         "What about something like law or in the science department?" Dylan shook her head.None of the big courses appeased her.She had not thought about them more than once. "Tell me,which college do you want to go to?We can narrow down your choices from that point."

         "Upstate,I don't want to go far away from my mom."

  Ms. Davis looked at the file again.

        "I understand your dad served in the army?"It was more of a question.

        "Yes," she nodded firmly. "I sometime think about it. I like public service and helping people but..." her voice strayed.The teacher nodded for her to go on. "It was where he died.I didn't get to know him.That place is full of risks."

        "I am not telling you to join the army.Your grades belong somewhere else but," she paused and sighed, "Sometimes we don't do something just because it is expected of us.We do things because we love and are passionate about them, because we feel we would make a difference in that field."

   Dylan didn't utter a single word. She followed her every word but didn't know what to say.She had considered it for several times.She didn't know him,she didn't know what it was like to have a dad in the army but she felt like it was part of her.But then if she went away,her mother would be alone and judging by what she told her,the experiences when she was all alone and her husband in the army,at war.Not knowing if he was okay or if he would come home in one piece. Each day was like living on broken egg shells.Fear became a part of her daily life until she was born. They had shared two years,well like half of one year when he got his leave and by then she was nineteen months old. They had been happy until her got back and was killed on the first week after he returned from his leave..

   A tear escaped from her eyes and she quickly wiped it away.She never cried about this but somehow the story triggered her emotions. She had seen the pain in her mother's eyes as she narrated that story and she didn't think she would want to see it again.

         "Dylan?"

         "I'm sorry,my thoughts strayed," she paused. "What happened to him is painful to think about. I feel like I owe him but then I'd be subjecting my mom to the whole thing all over again. I don't want to worry her."

        "I will give you some brochures,with every course I think you are capable of taking.Take this week to think about it.Weigh all your options and we will meet up next Monday,same time."

    Dylan accepted the pamphlets handed to her and put them in her bag.She then stood up,"I really appreciate this Ms...," she closed her eyes as she remembered what she had said to her. "I mean  Melody.

Ms Davis smiled," If more challenges arise about anything, whether academic or any other thing,don't hesitate to come to me anytime."

    A thought crossed Dylan's mind and she smiled. "Even about love and relationship advice?" 

         "Yes,even that."

She had only meant it as a joke but she was intrigued. She wondered if Ms Davis was always that nice to everyone or if it was just to her. 'Don't be ridiculous.Of course that's her job,to care.' She reprimanded herself silently.It didn't stop her from asking her next question though.

        "Are you always this nice to everyone?Do you let everyone call you by your first name?"

  Ms Davis smiled, "No,not everyone. Only the people who are like minded."

   Dylan raised an eyebrow but instead said, "Good to know," then,"Thank you Melody."

         "I'll see you soon Dylan."

   Dylan turned and left the office with a full smile. Her face was down and she almost didn't see Carly heading towards her from the principal's office on the opposite end of the hallway.

          "Hey," her voice startled her and she looked up abruptly. She pushed back her hair from her face. "Thought I told you to keep your hair up," Carly teased.

        "Sorry,habits.They are hard to stop,plus you were not here to keep reminding me."

   Carly smiled, "You wanna go get  lunch together?"

            "Sure," she replied. "What were you doing in the principal's office?"

  Carly sighed," Apparently my mom called to follow up on what happened on Saturday. She thinks we had gone to an uninvigilated rave party."

        "What?" she laughed. "You didn't tell her where you were going?"

        "No I didn't. But the principal called your mom and she reassured him that it was indeed invigilated.It was embarrassing and I can't believe she did that."

        "Why would she do that anyway, teenagers do even worse every time."

         "It's because she's mad at me.She knows I'm gay and she saw the whole confrontation with Emily. She called me abnormal."

        "God,I'm so sorry."

         "No it's okay.She's just one of those old-fashioned parents who thinks every girl should get married to a man and produce kids and grandkids. Pay the price for being born and brought up."

  They walked together and joined the long line of students waiting to be served in the cafeteria.When they had been served,they walked towards an empty table. It came automatically even though they hadn't sat together for a long time. Surprisingly, none of the students payed attention to their sudden closeness.That meant that the most part of the population was open minded.

    After they had settled down, Carly shoved her hand in her jacket pocket and removed a small wrapped square box.She placed it before Dylan who was sitting opposite her.

         "What's this?" she asked in surprise.

         "Open it," Carly instructed her.

Dylan did as she was told,she untied the little bow that was tied around it then opened the box.Inside lay a shiny silver chain locket. She removed it and held it before her eyes  and studied it.The pendant had some words embedded to it.She read them silently, "D & L" then below that,'I love you Dee.'

She looked up and met Carly's eyes. "Happy birthday," Carly whispered."It was meant for our first year anniversary but I ruined everything before I got the chance to give it to you."

         "This is so beautiful,I don't know what to say."

        "I'm so sorry Dylan.I was so angry at you even though I didn't try to get to the whole truth and I ended up wrecking things."

       "Carly..."

         "No,I know you are going to say it's okay but it isn't," she paused. "You didn't deserve any of it."

   Dylan stretched out her hand and took Carly's on the table. She looked into her eyes and smiled,"I missed you Lee."

        "I missed you too," she returned the smile. "So?"

        "Let's put this behind us and start again?"

  Before Carly could answer,Taylor joined them and placed her tray on the table and sat down noisily.

      "So,are you back together now?Should I be expecting double dates?"

    Dylan and Carly looked at her then back to each other and laughed.

       "I can't believe my brother actually knows how to get a girl.I thought he was a klutz when it came to dating."

       "Just so you know, he thought the same thing about you.I guess it's a twin thing," Taylor said with a smile plastered on her face and they all laughed. "Oh my God,don't turn around but the ice queen just entered the cafeteria."

            *****

    Of course they both turned. That statement was of the many that people tended to do the complete opposite of them.They watched as Emily went ahead and cut the line without even asking just like she used to.

         "I guess nothing has changed after all," Dylan commented.

          "It's just a front she puts up to protect herself," Carly said without thinking.

     Both Dylan and Taylor turned to her, "You are unbelievable!" Taylor commented.

   Carly didn't even know how the statement had come out.The look on Dylan's face and how she had looked down displayed disappointment. She wasn't supposed to be pitying Emily when she thought that she was acting all mean because of her,well,partly because of her,she couldn't stop herself. Even though she had avoided her all the time, she knew she had to do something,she had to talk it out with her.

        "You don't owe her anything you know," Taylor added. "She ruined your relationship for God's sake."

   She turned to Dylan and observed her.She was twisting the silver chain in one hand absent mindedly. "I know,"she said and really wished it was true. She then took her Dylan's hand in hers and brushed her thumb on it.Dylan looked up.

       "Can I help you with that?" she offered.

    Dylan nodded.She rose  up and walked around the table.She took the  chain and put it around Dylan's neck.She then leaned forward and kissed her cheek,"There," she said then stood up fully but her hands remained on Dylan's shoulders.

        "Thanks," Dylan said then kissed her hand.

When Carly looked up, she found Emily's eyes on them and the smile she had disappeared from her face immediately. She walked back to her seat without saying a word,realizing things wouldn't be so easy on her.

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