New Hope Home
I'm noticing that it gets harder and harder for me to write, the closer I am getting to the end of it. :/ And yes, I am slowly getting to the end of this story. How many chapters that are left, I cannot say for sure. I do not dare to give it a number just yet.
Work and school is also giving me a hard time as well as some personal problems in real life. I am slowly working my way through that as well.
Also, forgive me if there is some obvious mistakes in the way American kids apply to schools. I am basing my knowledge on cheap TV-shows and what I can find on the internet.
xoxoxoxox
"Beginnings and Ends:"
None of the teenagers had time to plan anything though until after their exams were over with. Letters and applications had to be written for the school's of their choice, exams had to be studied to and it was a miracle if they were able to make any time what so ever to see each other during all this.
For Heero and Duo it was easier, seeing as they were living under the same roof, but they too were feeling the strain of pressure over their heads. Especially when it came to choosing a school for them both. While Heero had told Quatre what he really wanted to do, he hadn't really shared it with Duo, not wanting to add an additional source of stress to his lover.
Still, as they sat together during the night and discussed what they wanted to do, Heero had earned more than one pillow swatted over his head accompanied by a "Heero, damn, choose your own path!". At least Duo didn't give him the cold shoulder and left the bed.
In fact, it was in bed where they could vent out some of their thoughts by talking and just soaking up each other's presence. Sex was far from their minds at these times, but the need of each other was much to ignore. At least they had the decency to wait until they were alone in the house, which was, in Heero's opinion, not often enough.
The worse argument they had had so far as when Heero decided to follow through with his father's wishes and applied to Harvard Medical School as well as the University of Washington. He felt he owed his father that much while Duo argued that Heero did not owe the man anything.
The biggest frustrations was that none of the main schools were near where Duo planned to apply, having set his eyes on the art-schools in California, Florida and New York. The only hope they had to even get to go at the same school was if Duo got into the music line at Harvard, but Duo doubted it because of his grades as well as the result on his SAT test. He had passed it, but only just. Heero had suggested that Duo could take it again, but the braided teen was unwilling to lay off his school-plans for an entire year unless he had to.
So to make sure that Duo had at least a chance to get into Harvard along with himself, Heero sat up and tried to help Duo with his finals, not wanting for his lover to fail. Duo was, if not still annoyed by Heero's choice, at least willing to make a good attempt to get into the same school as him. "Maybe I can beat some sense into you so you can try something you actually want later," he had said before hitting Heero with his math book.
When the exams finally rolled around, Heero felt very much like they had come out of no-where. While he felt somewhat prepared, he knew that he had spent more time helping Duo than he had done studying for his own tests.
The look on Duo's face, however, told Heero that the braided teen had had just as much difficulties with the tests as he did. The look he had when he came out from the examination-room was one of dread and desperation. Heero could hardly blame him. Not only did Duo have to think about a career, but he was almost pressured to do so now. He was on his own after all; Heero doubted his parents would let him stay if he left. There were always the Winners or even the Barton's, but Heero knew that his lover would never accept such charity.
"Shoot me, just… Just shoot me," Duo moaned as he all but stumbled into Heero's arms, gripping at Heero's white shirt. "Either I will fail so completely that I will have to start high-school all over again or the people dealing with my test will let me pass by a hair because they will be so damn amused by my answers."
"Don't say that," Heero murmured while draping his arm around Duo's waist, tugging him in close to his side as he started guiding them both towards the exit. "I am sure you did much better than you think."
"I was close to crying," Duo pouted before shaking his head. "But that was the final one. We are done so… Now all we have to do is wait." The braided teen sighed and shook his head some before giving Heero his best puppy-eyes look. "Cheer me up?"
The Japanese teen just smirked and nodded, gently tugging Duo closer to him and pressed a small kiss to his lips. "How about we locate the others and we go out for some ice cream? Or we can play some basketball. It is sunny outside and we can always drop by your place and pick one up."
"I think I'll go for the ice cream, sounds a heck of a lot better than sweating in the sun," Duo replied, but the thought of the cold treat did seem to cheer him up.
"My treat then," Heero murmured before tugging Duo towards the door and towards freedom. They only had to wait for their grades now and they would be graduating. Then they would start college and that's when things would get serious; not only because they were moving away from home, but because of what the couple would face. They still had no idea what would happen if they were accepted into different schools and it was something Heero did want to talk to Duo about.
He knew that long-distance was hard to make work, but he wanted to try. Breaking up with Duo was not acceptable in his mind; unless that's what Duo wanted, of course. They had been through too much to let a thing as distance stop them.
That night Heero and Duo made love with such a passion that the Japanese was certain that they were waking up the entire neighborhood. Luckily his parents had the nightshift and the teens were alone for most of the night. They did not squander the opportunity given to them and had used the time to the best of their abilities.
Only when Duo passed out from his third orgasm did Heero think that they had caught up for the lost time and dealt with the stress in their system. He carefully cleaned his lover off and disposed off the used condoms before he curled around his long-haired lover, arm securely wrapped around his waist and body pressed up against his.
The time after their exam was used well as well. The five teenage men were making up for lost time the best they could, playing music or just in general being together.
Wufei announced that he had finally decided that he would return to China to visit his sick fiancé. She was apparently doing a lot better and the families had decided that the time would be used to get the two of them married, since they were both of legal age and because Wufei had graduated. The Chinese did not look as upset with the thought has he had before and said that he honesty looked forward to being wed with her. The rest couldn't be happier on his behalf and while they would most likely not be able to attend the wedding, with the exception of Quatre of course, they would call him the day after to congratulate him.
Quatre himself said he would most likely start at Harvard as well, having already been guarantied at Harvard Business School thanks to his father's business as well as money. Not that the blond had to be bribed in, he certainly had the grades, talents and brain for it. He was just slipped in a little ahead of others. Quatre wasn't very happy about that fact, but his father's will was basically law.
Trowa didn't say much about his own desires, only murmured that he wasn't even sure if he wanted to start college. His sister had voiced a desire to take his talents in acrobatics as well as gymnastics to the circus, though the rest of the Barton's wasn't happy with the thought of Catherine stealing their son to do that. Trowa hadn't say yes or no to the offer, but had voiced a desire to start training to be a mechanic. Not only was there always a need for a good mechanic, but he could also follow Quatre to Harvard easier.
Heero was almost envious of Trowa's simple wish in life and, in a way, hoped that he too could have had a wish of his own. The dream he had voiced to Duo seemed further and further away, only because he was too afraid to grasp it.
Maybe some day he would be able to.
It took almost three weeks before the results of their exam came back and Heero was, for the most part, happy with his grades. He had gotten A's only, though some were A minus for some minor details missing. He knew his father would respond to it, but he couldn't complain on Heero's grade card, which would only show A's.
Quatre and Wufei shared Heero's skills, having produced only A's, though Quatre's final grade card showed a B in gymnastics. While athletic, Quatre wasn't as strong as the others, which had taken its toll in strength-exercises.
Trowa and Duo couldn't show the same results, but they too had a couple of A's to show for. Most of their grades were B's, though Duo could also show for a couple of C's. The braided teen didn't seem to mind though, he was only to happy having passed all of his classes an exams. Heero reminded him that the stress with Father Maxwell's funeral as well as the work with the lawyer, the orphanage as well as moving could be used if he wished to take the exams again, but Duo declined. He doubted he could get anything better and it also meant he would have to wait half a year to retake it, which he was not willing to do. He would fly where he was able to.
Not long after did the results of their SAT roll in as well, which meant that letters of acceptance or declinations would soon follow. Having set his eyes on Harvard, Heero had to go through three different tests in order to enroll to the college. Duo, while knowing he had no chance to get into Harvard, had done the same. At least he would get something to show for.
His father had been very proud of him that he had almost two thousand three hundred points to show for, telling him he was basically guarantied a spot at Harvard with grades such as that. Heero didn't really care, knowing that his father was happy for himself, not for Heero.
The Japanese teen was, however, move happy for Duo, who had managed to claw himself up to almost one thousand eight hundred, which was very respectable in his eyes.
He did know though that it probably was not enough to get his lover to Harvard, but maybe close enough for them to be able to visit each other often.
This also meant that Heero would have to think about the conversation he wished to have with Duo about their future together. He just hoped that his beloved wouldn't take it the wrong way.
As it turned out, Heero didn't have much to worry about when it came to that.
Having invited his lover out for the night to both enjoy each other's company as well as some time away from the house, Heero had brought his lover to a restaurant downtown for dinner. He hadn't struck up on the conversation until they were on their way home though and even then did he start out very carefully.
Duo had only looked at him before letting out a small chuckle. "Ah, so that's what's had your knickers riding the last few weeks… I have been meaning to ask you, but I know that you will take it up with me when you are good and ready for it," he mused before squeezing the hand in his. "Heero… I just got to say… You are being an idiot. An incredibly sweet worrywart of an idiot."
Heero frowned some before huffing. "Excuse me for wanting to ensure our future together."
Duo laughed and gave Heero a small nudge with his elbow. "Heero, I thought it was a given. Distance won't break us up, we are to stubborn for it. Besides, why should we break up? College will give us both plenty to do and like this, we won't exactly neglect each other since we will both be in the same boat and we will understand the pressure. We will get the chance to focus on our studies and give us something to look forward to in week-ends and vacations." Smiling at Heero, Duo moved in closer to his lover, giving Heero the chance to wrap his arm around his waist instead of holding his hand. "Besides… I love you. I don't want to break up. I know I will miss you like crazy and I will probably call you every day and be awake every night and ache for you and all that. As far as I am concerned, even if we did decide to end it for the sake of the distance… I won't date at all then. It's you or nothing."
Heero raised an eyebrow over Duo's special choice in reasons and logic before letting out an amused chuckle. "Duo… You have the most insane, romantic piss of a reason that I've ever heard. And the worse part is, I believe it. I believe every word." Smiling, he stopped their walk so he could lean in and press his lips to Duo's in a warm, loving kiss.
"I love you, you braided baka."
Duo laughed and poked Heero's chest, still smiling against the warm lips. "Oh, oh, I know what that means! It means gorgeous sex-god, right?"
Heero smirked and kissed Duo again. "Close enough."
Their time as carefree youth was almost over and soon they would start an entirely new beginning.
Heero was glad that while they may not be able to actually enter their new beginning together, they would at least be able to start it.
Their story was not over.
Not by a long shot.
xoxoxoxox
Author's Notes:
This one was written somewhat in a hurry, but I feel I should finish this now. As I may re-write the entire thing sometime in the future, I will correct any possible mistakes and errors that I make.
Also, if anyone find any mistakes in me describing how to enroll into a college (really, when I looked it up online, I only ended up confused), feel free to correct me and tell me how it really happens. As said, I am basing myself on the internet and TV, and we all know how reliable that is. _
As always, thank you all for reading this and I am so sorry for the horrible long wait.
