“No, Dad, you’re right. Duke is an excellent school and I’m really grateful.”
“They’re Jared’s favorite basketball team, you’ll have to take him to some games,” his mother suggested brightly, clinging to the hope that her youngest son would be well enough to go.
“Yeah, definitely,” Arthur agreed.
“So you’ll go?” Conrad Cooper smiled broadly at this. Arthur nodded, feeling backed in to a corner. His future had been decided and he’d not even had a part in it.
“I knew you’d see sense and want to make something of yourself!” Conrad continued proudly.
“Yeah.” Arthur let the news of college sink in. He’d never really given it much thought before, even when the end of high school had been looming so large before him. He lived in the moment and had never planned for the future. He didn’t like to, as he feared that the future wouldn’t have Jared in it so he focused on just enjoying the present.
But now the future had arrived, whether or not he wanted it to, it was there none the less. More invitations to parties buzzed through his phone and he thought of Demi. Demi, with her beautiful eyes and stubborn nature felt a sinking sensation in his stomach as he contemplated their future together. He cared for her so deeply, but they had never really discussed their future together.
####
“Sweetheart, are you feeling alright?” Demi’s Dad asked his eyes wide with concern.
“Yes, Dad, I’m fine. Just tired.” She threw off her cap and gown and curled up in to the corner of her bed, surprised at just how exhausted she was. All her limbs ached and her head throbbed.
“Well, you’ve had a busy day. Why don’t I go make some hot chocolate while you have a bath and relax,” her Dad suggested.
Demi wasn’t sure if it was the suggestion of hot chocolate but suddenly she felt overwhelmingly nauseous. She sprung up from the bed and barely made it to the bathroom where she vomited down the toilet, her chest heaving as she did so.
“Are you okay?” her Dad called after her, worried.
“I think I’m sick,” Demi said as she fell against the enamel toilet.
“Alright, well get to bed and just take it easy. If you’re not any better by tomorrow I’m taking you to see Doctor Shapiro.”
“Okay, okay. It’s probably just a bug,” Demi tried to reassure him before retching once more.
When the sickness had finally passed, Demi showered and got in to her favorite pair of pajamas before curling up in bed, the television on though she wasn’t really watching it. Her Sidekick buzzed and she opened it to find a message from Arthur;
As much as I want you all to myself, there are some great parties happening, want to go? A xx
As historic a moment it was for Demi to be invited to a high school party, or rather a post high school party, as the girlfriend of the football captain no less. But she was in no state to go out. Her body ached and all she wanted to do was sleep. Sadly she pressed the relevant buttons to reply, too exhausted to care if he’d be mad or not;
Don’t feel well so sorry can’t go out. We still meeting tomorrow though? Xoxo
A few moments later, Arthur replied;
No problem you’ll be missed though! And of course we are meeting tomorrow. Feel better baby xx
A warm tingle rushed through Demi when he affectionately called her baby, and she smiled to herself. Then she leant over her bed, to her window sill where she kept a framed picture of her mother. In the picture she was laughing, her head tossed back carelessly, and her dark hair falling around her like glossy silk. It was Demi’s favorite picture of her because she looked so naturally beautiful and it also captured her carefree spirit. Demi brought the picture close and hugged it tight as she often did whenever she needed comforting.
“I have so much to tell you,” she whispered to the picture, her eyes feeling heavy as she was on the cusp of sleep. “If only you were here to listen.”
####
The morning sun stung Arthur’s eyes as he walked towards Demi’s house. He felt too hung over to drive. The previous night was now nothing more than a blur. He’d gone to several house parties, of that much he was sure. Hopefully some pictures would appear online to help him regain those lost hours.
As awful as he felt, with his body aching and his temple throbbing, he couldn’t wait to see Demi. They had been apart for one evening and he’d missed her terribly and feared that in an alcohol fuelled haze he’d bored everyone around him by telling them as much. Repeatedly.
“I missed you,” he immediately told Demi as she answered the front door.
“I missed you too,” she said, falling in to his arms. They stood there as though frozen, locked in their embrace, savouring the scent of one another.
“Did you have fun last night?” Demi asked at length, pulling away from his slightly so that she could look up in to his eyes which were tired and bloodshot.
“It was okay.”
“Hayley texted me to say you were pretty wasted.”
“Oh did she?” this angered Arthur but he tried not to let it show. He didn’t appreciate people interfering in his relationship and Hayley seemed particularly apt at doing so.
“I’m not bothered, it was a party, a graduation party,” Demi said dismissively.
“I’m lucky to have such a wonderful, understanding girlfriend,” Arthur smiled before tenderly planting a kiss on her forehead.
“So what shall we do today?” Demi asked.
“Well, it looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day so let’s make the most of it and go for a picnic out by the lake,” Arthur suggested.
“Sounds perfect.”
####
The sun was now high in the sky and Arthur and Demi lay contentedly full on the spread out blanket after consuming the contents of the picnic basket they had carried the two miles out to the lake.
Quite a few people had the same idea and were nestled in various spots around the lake, but Arthur had picked a very scheduled spot so that he could be with Demi away from prying eyes. Lying side by side they gazed up at the slow moving clouds, the sun warming their faces.
“I could stay like this forever,” Arthur commented dreamily.
“Yeah, me too,” Demi answered as she reached out and intertwined her hand with his.
“Every moment I spend with you feels…perfect.”
“Me too,” Demi smiled.
A shadow then fell over her face as Arthur hoisted himself up so that he was sitting, looking down on Demi and blocking out the sun.
“Seriously, I’ve never felt like this about a girl before,” he told her sincerely.
“Me neither,” Demi smiled up at him.
Arthur seemed agitated and nervous; as though there was something he was desperately trying to say but couldn’t find the words.
“Demi I…” he paused and then sighed in frustration. “I’ve never said this and I want to say it right,” he explained bashfully.
“Okay…” Demi said cautiously, pulling herself up so that they were now sitting across from one another.
“Demi, I love you,” Arthur blurted out and Demi’s eyes widened in shock and then grew moist with tears. It was the first time she’d heard those words from someone who wasn’t family. Her heart felt as though it might burst as she told him;
“I love you too!”
Arthur pulled Demi to him for a passionate kiss which quickly accelerated in to something more. They began to pull off each other’s clothes, hungry to be as close to one another as possible. There, by the lake, hidden by trees with the sun on their bare bodies they made love and Demi thought that her life couldn’t get any better.
####
“So, I’ve barely seen you,” Hayley stated flatly the following day as the girls drank milkshakes outside a small café in Collinswood town centre.
“I’ve been busy,” Demi replied knowing it was a poor response.
“Yeah, with lover boy! You still need to make time for your friends you know!”
“Yes, I know,” Demi said as she playfully rolled her eyes.
“Hey, Little Miss I’m Too Good For My Oldest Friend! No, it’s nice that you are so loved up. Obviously I’m seething with jealously, but it’s still nice.” Hayley had returned to the bubbling vivacious friend she had always been and Demi was glad to have her back.
“So how are things with you?” Demi asked before taking a long sip from her chocolate milkshake.
“Okay, I guess. My parents are still freaking out about me moving away in the fall. Personally I can’t wait to get away and start my life but they keep moaning about how I’ll be on the other side of the country, in a different time zone, and I’m like its college, not the moon!”
“Yeah, exactly,” Demi nodded and the reality that soon they would hundreds of miles apart from one another hung awkwardly between them.
“But I’ll Skype them all the time! You too of course! I want to hear all about your adventures in Georgia when you are off becoming the new Florence Nightingale!”
“Yeah, we’ll stay in touch, I worry about my Dad though,” Demi admitted. “He’ll be all alone once I’m gone.”
“He’ll be fine. He can go hassle my parents, they will appreciate the company I’m sure!” Hayley laughed.
The girls drank their milkshakes and for a moment it was like time had stood still and they were Juniors again, sitting together and talking about the future and where their lives would take them. Only now they were on the precipice of so much change. Come the Fall, their lives would change forever and they both knew it, which made moments like these together all the more poignant.
“Are you worried about Arthur going away?” Hayley asked gently.
“Arthur?” Demi furrowed her brow and then realized with a sinking feeling that she had no idea if he was even going to go away to school. Her plans were all laid out, as they had been for years. She would go to Georgia Southern University, study to become a nurse, and then find a job down South in a hospital. She’d always dreamt of studying down South as her mother was from Georgia and in going there she’d feel somehow connected to her.
The future was not something her and Arthur had discussed. They were too busy being wrapped up in their new found love but it was already late July, and the future would happen for them, whether they were prepared for it or not. She had always assumed that Arthur would remain in Collinswood for Jared as he adored his little brother and wouldn’t want to be far from him. What if she was wrong?
“I don’t know what Arthur is doing, we’ve not talked about it yet,” Demi admitted.
“Oh,” Hayley said and a guilty look flashed across her face, one which Demi instantly recognized and filled her with anxiety.
“What is it?”
“Nothing, nothing.”
“Hayley!”
“If you guys haven’t talked about it yet then I shouldn’t say anything…”
“Hayley!”
“Fine,” Hayley sighed. She did love to gossip but not when it was at the expense of her best friend’s feelings.
“At Stephen’s house party the other night, when you didn’t come out, Arthur was telling everyone where he is going to college.”
“And where is that?” Demi asked, a knot forming in her stomach. How could she not know something as important as where her boyfriend was going to college? Did Arthur not think them serious? But he’d said that he loved her. Surely that meant that he saw a future with her?
“He said he’s going to Duke,” Hayley said apologetically.
“Duke!” Demi exclaimed, taking the news in and not knowing what to do with it.
“I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“No, I’m glad you did,” Demi said, a puzzled expression fixing itself upon her elfin features.
Duke was so far away from Georgia. She’d never see Arthur. How could they possibly stay together?
Demi felt on the verge of tears but tried to maintain her composure.
“Talk to him about it,” Hayley urged her friend softly. “See what he says.”
“Isn’t it obvious?!” Demi declared as tears began to spurt down her porcelain cheeks. “I’m just some summer fling!”
“Dem, don’t get upset,” Hayley hurriedly thrust some tissues across the table towards her friend.
“As you said, you guys just haven’t discussed college yet. And you will. There’s still like eight weeks until people will be leaving.”
“I don’t know,” Demi took the tissues and held them up to her weeping eyes as around them people cast wary looks towards their table.
“Try not to get so upset,” Hayley advised for fear of making a scene. She’d never seen Demi like this, even in the wake of her mother’s death. It wasn’t like her to get so emotional about things.
“Everything will be fine, you’ll see,” Hayley tried to console Demi who had grown worryingly pale.
“I feel sick,” Demi declared, before running from the table, down the street and pausing at a trash can to lean in to it and vomit. Hayley hurriedly paid their bill and ran after her.
“Okay, you are sick. Let’s get you home,” she said, wrapping one arm around Demi and using the other to call her father for a lift.
“Everything will be fine, I promise.”
Snivelling beside her, Demi wasn’t so sure. She felt utterly wretched and not just because she’d learnt of Arthur’s college plans. Something wasn’t right. She knew she needed to heed her Dad’s advice and go and see their doctor.
####
Demi was grateful that Arthur suggested they go to the movies that night. The cool of the theatre was a welcome respite from the humid, hot summer air but it also meant that they could sit in relative silence together, letting the film be a distraction for them.
She knew that at some point she would have to broach the subject of Duke but she didn’t want to. She felt that if she mentioned it, she would burst the bubble which was their relationship. If Arthur did just see her as a temporary fixture in his life, she’d rather not know and just enjoy what time they did have left together.
But at the same time she was better than that, and deserved to be with someone who was in it for the long haul.
“You’re quiet tonight,” Arthur whispered to her during the movie, his arm draped casually across her shoulders, a large carton of salted popcorn nestled snugly between them. Normally Demi loved popcorn but tonight she could barely touch the stuff as each time she ate some she wanted to wretch. She assumed it was just her nerves getting the better of her.
“I’m watching the movie,” Demi answered, pointing towards the screen.
“The movie sucks,” Arthur scoffed, and to be fair, it did. “You can’t even look me in the eye.”
“Yes I can.”
“No, you can’t. Something’s wrong, what is it?” Arthur felt panicked by Demi’s behavior. She was distant and each time he went to break that distance between them he was certain he saw her flinch, as though repulsed to be touched by him. He hoped that it was all just in his head but he couldn’t be sure. She wasn’t acting like herself; she hadn’t been for a while.
“Nothing is wrong,” Demi lied.
“Demi,” he said his voice soft and soothing. He wanted her to confide in him, to trust him.
“Arthur…” Demi sighed, not wanting to discuss this here. The theatre was relatively empty but it was still a public arena and Demi hated any public disputes between couples. It was so vulgar to discuss the intimate details of their relationship in front of other people.
“Just tell me,” Arthur urged, leaning over the popcorn to squeeze her hand.
Tears made Demi’s eyes glistened as she tried desperately to hold in what was troubling her so much but despite her best efforts it all came tumbling out.
“You’re going to Duke!” she declared and watched Arthur’s eyes widen in horror. “Where does that leave us? What does that even mean for us? Am I just some fling?” Beside herself with emotion Demi got up, knockin
g the carton of popcorn to the floor and not caring as the kernels darted off towards the giant screen at the front.
“Demi, please…” Arthur tried to hold her back, to make her sit down but she shrugged him off and fled from the theatre.
In the garish lights of the foyer she felt foolish as her eyes moistened and a lump formed in her throat. Why had she said something? She should have just left it. Now she’d ruined everything.
Just Like Heaven Page 5