"Come in!" called out Janie as she fastened her bracelet around her wrist.
Janie's mother looked her daughter over as she swept into the room settling herself on her daughter's bed.
"Are you going out with Eric tonight sweetie?" she asked.
"Of course Mom. We're meeting up with the crew to discuss prom plans."
"Darling, you know how much your father and I adore Eric, I mean he's practically part of the family. In fact the past year that's he been a part of your life has been wonderful for us. We are so happy to see you so happy…"
Janie raised an eyebrow questioningly. "But?"
Kiki sighed as she spoke, "Janie darling, what is he ever going to do with his life? He paints houses for a living. How will he ever support you and make a life for a family? I just think you haven't dated enough men to settle down with this one. Plus with college coming up and your plans to travel-"
Janie stood up her eyes flashing with anger. "How dare you say such awful things. I love him mom. I love him more than anything in this world. We've already talked about college and he's going to enroll with me. Don't you dare say he can never support me. Eric has given me more support than you and daddy ever have. He knows that support doesn't mean credit cards and expensive houses. It means loving someone for who they are. I would die if I didn't have him!"
With shaking legs she stood and ran out of the room and out of the house to her car as her mother stood calling her name. With tears blinding her, she drove to Eric's house in Shoreson.
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"Janie? Baby, what's wrong? Why are you so upset?" Eric had answered the door in a pair of boxers and a t-shirt in the process of getting dressed to come and get Janie.
"Are your parents home?" she asked lifting her tear streaked face.
"No, they're not coming home til late but-"
Wordlessly Janie grabbed him and began kissing him. She led him to his room where she began removing her clothes.
"Janie? What is wrong? Please tell me!" He pleaded.
"I just want to be with you Eric. PLEASE!" She began crying again. "If you love me you will just be with me now and make love to me and promise me that you will never leave me and you will love me forever."
"Janie, I –it's just-I don't have protection with me-" He looked into her eyes and nodded as he pulled her onto his bed and shut off the lights.
"Promise me?" She whispered.
"I promise Janie. I will love you forever." He whispered back.
Now how am I supposed to tell her that I enlisted in the Marines today? He wondered.