BOOK 1: FORKS HIGH

Chapter 1: Discussion

She finally broke their connection as she transferred her stare towards the food. Apples and a small bottle of lemon lime. Something was prowling on her mind. Something she needed to ask him. But for some unknown reason, she just couldn't bring herself to do so. Her mind and her lips weren't on the same page. Her thoughts were begging to be released but it was held back by the forces of her dry lips. Her very dry lips, too be exact.

Something was clouding his mind as well. Something he needed to know deeply. He however just didn't have to courage to do so. Consequences of what this question would result into played over and over in his mind. He didn't want to ruin and destroy everything that they had achieved throughout their senior year.

Everything was different before. Things weren't complicated and yet they weren't smooth sailing either. But as their senior year arrived, they decided to embrace their true emotions. Attractions that were held by them for each other were finally revealed. They were miserable before. Constantly getting teased by most of the population in Forks High. Since those emotions were released from their grasp, they become one. They helped each other overcome the sadness and depression that others caused them.

Love bonded them together. United them in a way that was never before known to either of their souls. Life was great for them. Although they weren't as gorgeous or popular as most of their peers in the school, they were happy. Which proved too many people how love can change someone's perception of life.

However, this topic was important as it would decide their future. Their love was a glorious and splendid beginning into the depths of life. Yet, their age and future prevented them from committing towards deeper things. She couldn't handle the tension that could be cut through by a knife any longer. Silence that was visible moments ago was broken.

"I have something ask you!" She finally possessed the courage to ask him. His eyes shifted their gaze towards hers as he replied.

"Me too."

Once again, silence enveloped them. Their eyes were focused deep into each others soul while their minds played around with the question that was at the tip of their tongue.

He was gazing at her in awe. Although most people thought she was unattractive and revolting, he thought otherwise. He took in everything that made her who she was. Her mahogany brown frizzy hair. Shiny metallic braces. Blemished face. Deep chocolate eyes. Dry and cracked lips. And whenever she was embarrassed, she would blush a deep shade of red. Her outfit was often predictable. A white buttoned up blouse with puffs on the sleeves and a black knee length pencil skirt. Occasionally the colour of her blouse would change but it was often white in colour.

Oddly enough, she was doing the exact same thing he was. Taking in and breathing in everything that completed him. His unique bronze hair was constantly gelled flat and parted towards the right side of his face. Large and thick rimmed glasses were positioned at the edge of this nose. Blemished face. Deep emerald eyes. Dry and cracked lips. His outfit was as predictable as hers was. A white long sleeved buttoned up shirt with cuffs on this sleeve and long black slacks too match.

"Where are you…?"

"I was just…"

Nervous laughter was released from their lips as they released that they had spoken at the same moment.

"You first." She told him.

"No I insist, you first," He replied.

She sighed knowing that if they kept this up, she would never get the chance to ask her question. She finally gave in towards her minds urge and curiosity.

"After high school, I was just wondering where…where you were headed." She finally confessed.

"Me too." He told her.

"Well, in two weeks time, which is about a week after graduation, I'm moving to California. I've applied and been accepted to Stanford University. I'm heading over there to do chemical engineering. As you know, chemical engineering deals with the application of physical science (chemistry and physics) and life science (biology, biochemistry etc.). And it is one of the best universities regarding engineering due to the fact that it holds one of the four schools of Stanford."

He stared at her for a while before replying.

"Well, I'm moving to New York roughly around the same as you are leaving. I've been accepted to the Julliard School. I'm heading over there to do music. More specifically to be a pianist and a composer. As you know, it has been my dream since I was a little lad to become a great pianist with the addition of composing my own tunes. It is one of the best performing arts conservatories in the continent."

Information that they had wanted to know about each other was hard to process. Although they knew it was bound to happen sooner or later, their minds just couldn't bare to accept the fact that they were about to be torn apart by their futures. Their futures which lay on the opposite ends of the continent.

They also knew it would be fruitless to try and convince the other to transfer schools. It would inevitably convey the impression that they were selfish enough to ask for such a thing. Their futures are a crucial importance in their lives as a maturing young adult. Something as petty as high school love should never come in the way of that bright life. Their minds understood this significant fact but their hearts couldn't bear the thought of leaving one another and disappearing from their lives forever.

The atmospheric sounds of the cafeteria were deafening and incredibly loud. Those who wanted to think straight couldn't possibly do so due to the thunderous noise. However, their minds were very preoccupied with the thoughts of their future apart that they didn't perceive those earsplitting sounds. They were both thinking deeply about the possibilities that could occur that would involve both their futures and love.

After a few intense minutes of silence, their minds came up with the same conclusion. There was nothing they could do. The choice that was given was plain simple. Advancing their futures in the best college 2942 miles apart or spending their college life together but not in the college of their dreams.

The silence was becoming really unbearable for her.

"Honestly, I have absolutely no idea what to do. I would really love to be with you. You have helped me overcome many things. You have shed the light into the dark abyss which was once known as my life. But I would also love to go to California. Stanford was the college my mom went to. You know how much she meant to me. She was my life and she thought me everything I knew. College was one of her best times throughout her life. It would be spectacular if I could experience even a tinge of what her life was like back then." Her vision became cloudy and misty. She didn't realize that tears had welled up in her eyes. Talking about her mom usually led to this sort of spectacle.

His heart ached as he watched the tears form in her eyes. He absolutely wanted her to be with him. But if it was going to cause her to give up experiencing the memories of her mom, he couldn't ask her to do so. The weight of the guilt on his shoulders would be unbearable to bare.

As a teardrop stained the right side of her cheek, he immediately embraced her in his grasp. Tilted her head up and brushed his thumb over the salty path of the teardrop. He had never been this close to her before. Their relationship was based solely of affection rather than passionate embrace. Although a line was drawn in their relationship, he couldn't bear to watch her sadness leak though those precious eyelids. Tears were forming in his own eyes as he thought about what she had just said. Sacrifices must be made when it came to those you love the most.

When she finally managed to get a hold of herself, she looked up at him. Those glistening, tear filled eyes bore into her own. It was an incredible sacrifice. Giving up their pure love for the reminiscences of her dear beloved mother. Although it was a difficult choice to make, she knew it would be worth it.

He released her from his grasp but kept one hand firmed on her palm.

"Thank you. I…" He cut her off before she could finish her sentence.

"No problem. But I would like to say something. The answer to this is clear as the crystal blue sky. You are going to California. Your mother is more important than anything else. If I were you, I would go. Time of remembrance rarely appear these days. But when they do, you should embrace them and grasp that opportunity with both hands. Hold it dear to your soul. And never let it go until the time requires you to. Do you understand me?" He looked at her deeply while waiting for a response. A few moments passed before she nodded in reply.

"Good girl." That comment made her smile.

"Now I know this is going to be difficult for both of us to do but we should not let our future consume our thoughts. The time that we have left is precious and we should use it wisely. We would be ready when the moment for the decision to be made comes." He said.

"But graduation is next week. That's the phenomenon which indicates that our high school life is over. There is definitely not much time left on the clocks." She replied.

"Relax! Remember the famous quote by T.S Eliot? The one regarding time." She nodded at him.

They quoted this well-known quote alternately. He quoted "Time present and time past…"

"Are both perhaps present in time future,"

"And time future contained in time past."

"If all time is eternally present,"

"All time is unredeemable."

"Besides, we have about one entire week to think about this. There's plenty of time."

Wow! It looks like they have a major conflict running through their minds. What do you think would happen? Find out in the next chapter. Thanks for those who read this story. Reviews are not complusory.

~*~ asn ~*~