A/N: Yeah, so we're getting into some uncharted Jared/Kim territory. Enjoy!
Kim tries not to think about the college thing often. They have an entire year before anything really changes, and almost six months to make a decision on their future.
Still, she thinks about that day in the car, in front of her house, when she'd asked Jared what he wanted to do, and he'd just looked at her like he couldn't understand the question. It hurts to think that he doesn't have a choice, that he's trapped here in this role for however long the vampires decide to stay.
She's careful not to bring it up, nor her own college prep. She and Laura have been driving down to Forks Public Library every weekend to study for the SAT, but Kim usually times it so she goes when Jared's busy with Paul or Sam.
It works for a few weeks, all the way to the last week of July, which is coincidentally her birthday week. She, Laura, and her mom are sitting at the kitchen table, planning for her seventeenth birthday party.
"Oh, Kimmy," her mom sighs. "I can't believe—"
"—Where the time's gone," Kim parrots back with a grin. Her mom rolls her eyes, poking her with a pencil.
"Stop sassing me and help with the guest list," she says. Laura giggles, busy compiling a set list. Instead of forcing Kim to go through the embarrassment of having her mom DJ, Laura promised she'd make a mix tape to play.
"Song's from this decade only," Laura had said. "No offense."
"Just us, grandma, Laura, Paul, and Jared and his family," Kim rattles off. After the first official dinner, Jared's been over to her house for dinner, and two weeks ago, her family had gone over to his for a cookout. Her mom and his had gotten on like a house on fire.
"That's it?" her mom asks. "No other school friends?"
"Plus, Sam Uley and his fiancé Emily," Kim tacks on. She doesn't want a big party, which her mom's a little upset about, but really, Kim just doesn't have anyone else to invite.
"Of course, they're coming, Emily's helping with the cake," her mom mutters. "Can I invite some of my friends and their kids?"
"No!" Kim says firmly. "No one at the party that I don't personally know."
"Oh, alright," she concedes. Laura shoots Kim a sympathetic look. "Listen, I know it's early, but I have something for you."
"What?" Kim watches curiously as her mom jumps up from her chair and hurries up the stairs. "What?" she asks Laura, who only gives her a knowing grin in return. Her mom comes back more sedately, clearly holding something behind her back.
"Okay, close your eyes." Kim rolls them first before she complies, but she can't fight the excited smile that crops up on her face. Kim waits for her mom to tell her to open them, and when she does, there's a beautifully wrapped little box in front of her.
"Mom, you're a little early," she says, grinning broadly.
"Yeah, well, I had to get things done by the fifteenth and I couldn't wait anymore," she counters, squeezing Kim's shoulder. "Open it!"
Kim does, carefully pulling away the paper. It's a cardboard box, pretty non-descript, but when she opens it, she gasps.
A cell phone.
Laid beautifully amidst crepe paper is an adorable little lime green phone. Kim loves it instantly, from its cute little screen to it's tiny, raised pink buttons.
"Mom, I love it!" she squeals, leaping up to wrap her in a tight hug. "Thank you!"
"You're welcome, baby," she says. "Laura helped me pick it out and get it set up. All of your friends' numbers should be in there."
"And, all of us have your number too!" Laura interjects before Kim wraps her in a hug too.
"You guys are the best!" she declares.
"Just remember, you're sharing minutes and texts with me, okay? So, no going overboard." Kim nods, gingerly extracting the phone. Her first cell phone!
"Calls after nine are free, though," Kim points out.
"No talking on the phone at all hours," her mom says mock-sternly. Kim agrees, eager to get exploring. Laura talks her through every function, and in under an hour, she's pretty much an expert. The first thing she does is send a text to Jared, who's had his own cell phone for a while.
KIM: Hey its kim
Jared texts her back, and he promises to call later, when they actually have the time to talk. After that, the birthday planning committee disbands, and girls pack up their stuff to head to the library.
"So, did you sign up to take the test?" Laura asks, dumping her backpack in the backseat of Kim's car.
"Yeah, August 25th," she says. "Do you think it's early enough to get the scores back?"
"Sure," Laura reassures her. "I have mine scheduled for September."
"Kim!" She jumps at the call of her name, whirling around to find Jared, leaning out the window of his truck, Paul in tow. Suddenly, a blush overtakes her face, definitely not the good kind. She waves awkwardly, hoping he'll go before she has to explain what they're doing.
Of course, he doesn't. Instead, he pulls into her driveway, hopping out of the truck and wrapping his in a tight hug. She doesn't get a chance to explain, because he plants a kiss to her lips, which makes it hard for Kim to think straight.
"What are you guys up to?" he asks.
"Dude, it's Sunday," Laura says. Kim shuts her eyes, shameful.
"What about it?" Paul asks. Kim can feel Jared stiffen, and slowly, he retracts his arm.
"It's library day," Laura elaborates. "Hasn't Kim told you? We go to Forks Library every Sunday to study."
"Study what? It's summer," Paul points out. There's a look of understanding on Jared's face, then one of resignation.
"College prep," Jared answers dully. "Come on, Paul, they're busy."
With that, Jared herd Paul away, basically forcing him into the truck. He peels out of the driveway too fast, sending a flurry of pebbles flying. Kim watches the truck disappear down the drive with a lump sitting heavy in her throat.
"What was that about?" Laura asks, sliding into the passenger seat of her car. Kim doesn't answer, climbing into her own seat and starting the car. Laura lets her get all the way to the highway before she asks the question again.
"I never told Jared about the studying thing," Kim admits softly.
"So? It's not like you're doing anything wrong," Laura says. "He shouldn't be mad at you."
"It's more complicated than that," she mumbles, focusing intently on the road ahead of them.
"Why?" Laura presses her. "I mean, he's kind of slacking a little, but he's going to be doing the same thing in the fall."
"How many people do you think actually leave the res?" At that, Laura blushes. It's a pretty loaded question, especially after Rachel Black's full ride to UoW.
"Jared's smart—"
"Some people just don't have the option, and it's not fair," Kim charges ahead. They make it to the library and park. Kim shakes her head, trying to force herself to focus. She can't let the entire day go to shit.
"I'm sorry, can we just drop it?" Laura nods, sheepish, and they head inside to study. Despite the weight on Kim's heart, she manages to be pretty productive, gets through a ton of math questions and aces this set of vocab words. She manages to put it out of her head.
That night, however, is a completely different story and Kim lays awake all night, stewing in her guilt. How could she just go ahead with the college stuff, know she'd have to leave Jared to do it, knowing that he didn't get to make the same choices she did. He can say over and over again that he wants her to be happy, that he'll support whatever decision she makes, but she knows it hurts him, which is the absolute last thing she wants to do.
A/N: So, yeah, they have to go through all the normal stressors that high school students face, even if they are supernatural soulmates. Ah, college and the threat of an uncertain future.
