Her Dad caught them together in a compromising position. They were supposed to be studying, which they were, until she got bored, closed the door, and began whispering into his ear. He tried to ignore her at first, tried to ignore his own desire, until he relented and didn't fight too hard as she led him to her bed.
They were both fully clothed still, and with him being him he was never going to do anything they both weren't ready for. It didn't matter to her Dad. All the old man saw was a boy on all four with his precious daughter underneath, and he nearly imploded. I thought you were different, he growled.
The consequence was an instant trip to his house, a meeting with both of his parents. He was ashamed. So was she, although more at her Dad's overreaction. They should get married soon, her Dad told his parents. If they're going to be irresponsible, they should get married soon.
My son isn't irresponsible, his Mom retorted. But I agree it's time they got married. I have never understood the delay. If you love someone, you marry them. Kids these days.
As her Dad and his Mom proceeded to bond over everything else that was wrong with young people today, she took him by the hand and led him outside, figuring nobody would notice they were gone.
I hate that they're making these decisions as if we weren't there, she said to him. What is their obsession with marriage anyway? We're still in school. We still need to graduate first.
He hesitated, not wanting to disagree with her. But have you thought about what will happen after graduation?
A long pause. He was worried about their future. A lot of couples would naturally part ways after high school, and one way to prevent that was by getting married. But she wasn't ready for marriage. She had a lot of things to consider, if she were honest, a lot of question she wanted to figure out before making a lifelong commitment. Still, it was true she had thought about what she'd like to do after graduation.
Putting his arm around her, she said, I have planned for a hundred more of misadventures with you, and I hope you'll be there with me every step of the way.