Disclaimer: I don't own anything!
College Years
Chapter 9
Adjustments
Cody nearly dropped the phone.
"Moving! Where?"
"Oklahoma."
"Oklahoma! No…you can't go…Sarah, you can't do this…please, Sarah! I can't lose you!"
"Cody, I know, I know. I don't want to leave either. I have options, you know. I can still attend Berkeley if my parents live in Oklahoma. But my parents want me to go to an in-state school. They didn't have a problem with me leaving the state for school when they're living here in Florida, but I guess Oklahoma is different." She sounded bitter and angry, but Cody figured that she had a right to be angry.
"So…where does this…where does this leave…us?"
"I told my parents that I refused to leave Berkeley in the middle of my freshmen year, and I refused to leave you."
Despite the situation, Cody smiled and said, "Aw, thanks, Sarie."
Now Sarah smiled and then said, "Well, my parents won't let me go back to Berkeley. So I don't know what's going to happen."
Cody's smile vanished and he said, "Well, why don't you move up to New Jersey?"
"Huh?"
"You, by yourself, move up to New Jersey and live up there. You can go to school and stay!"
"There's the problem of tuition money. I doubt that if I leave my parents will pay my tuition."
"Well I'll help out. You can get a job and loan and we'll work it all out. I love you, Sarah, and I'm not letting you go."
A tear slid down Sarah's cheek and she said, "I love you, too, Cody. Where will I live in the summer? I can't stay in my dorm. I don't have air conditioning in there, and I'm not spending July and August in that little steam box."
Another smile crept to Cody's lips and he said, "You could rent an apartment."
"That'd be expensive, too."
"I don't know what to say, then, Sarah."
"Me either." Sarah glanced in the window beside her, where she was sitting on her front porch on the swing. Her mother was gesturing for her to get inside.
"I have to go, Cody. Mom's making me get off of the phone and come inside and talk. I'll tell them our idea. Hopefully it will work. I don't care what they say, Cody, I'm staying at Berkeley, one way or another." They said their good-byes and Sarah hung up the phone, going to talk to her parents.
Cody hung up his cell phone and sat on the couch, miserable but hopeful. I don't know what I'll do if Sarah doesn't go back to Berkeley. I can't leave her…I refuse to leave her…if Sarah's parents force her to go to a college in Oklahoma, then I'll…I'll…I'll go beat up her parents! Or maybe I'll get Zack to beat up her parents…he wouldn't feel remorse for them like I would…I won't live without Sarah. I love her…you know, I've never actually admitted that to myself before. Funny, huh?
Maddie and Zack's relationship only grew stronger that Christmas. Zack was waiting for the perfect time to ask Maddie about living together. On their last night in Boston, Zack took Maddie out to an expensive restaurant.
"Zack…I don't know how you can afford to take me to such nice places!"
"Anything for you, Maddie."
"That's sweet, Zack."
He smiled, and then decided that he had to ask her right then and there.
"Uh, Maddie?"
"Yeah?"
"What would you say if I asked you to…to…to m—"
"Zack! Are you proposing!"
"What? No! Of course not! What gave you that idea?"
Maddie said, embarrassed, "Oh…nothing…go on…"
"So, like I was saying…what would you say if I asked…if I asked you to…if I said we should…what would you say I said we should move in together?"
Maddie's eyes opened wide with surprise.
"Mo…mo…move in…move in together?"
"Well, yeah. I mean, we've been seriously dating since Thanksgiving, and I felt that we should take our relationship to the next level."
"Okay, for starters, we've only been dating for about a month and a half! I never even thought about moving in with my ex-fiancé, and I was going to marry him! What next level? Exactly what level are we on?"
"Well, we're on the "Dating Level." I'd like to move up to the "Living Together Level."
"Well if that's not obvious! That's not what I meant!"
"Maddie we spend all day together! We've been living "together" for the past 2 weeks, and it's been fantastic! We don't have to sleep together, or even in the same room. I just want to live in the same place…with you."
"Zack…I don't know. Neither one of our dorms have an extra bedroom, unless you want to sleep in the bathroom. And I'm not even sure that we're allowed to live together in a dorm!"
"We could ask, and if not, we could rent an apartment."
"That's a big step, Zack."
"I'm ready to take that step, Maddie. I love you."
Cody boarded the plane to go back to school. Sarah hadn't called him back yet, so he wasn't sure what to expect from her when he got home. Zack and Maddie sat next to each other, but they weren't speaking. Maddie still hadn't given Zack an answer about moving in together.
Zack didn't understand what the big deal was. To him, moving in together wasn't that strange. It was what couples in love did! Well, other than that other "intimate togetherness" thing, but he definitely wasn't ready for that…well, at least not with Maddie. Just because they moved in together didn't mean they had to do anything, and didn't mean they had to stay like that. Zack was a little ticked off that she was blowing this whole thing out of proportion and wasn't even answering his question.
Maddie, on the other hand, saw big problems with them moving in together. If they moved in together, they'd give up a dorm room. What if they got in a fight? Or they broke up? Maddie shuddered at the thought, but it was a risk. If they had a fight or worse, they split, they wouldn't want to be around each other, much less in the same dorm or apartment! One of them would have to move out and that would put them both in a difficult situation. On the other hand, Zack had a point, too. If they broke up, they could remain friends in the same dorm. If they rented an apartment together, that didn't mean they had to continue on to sleeping together right away. Zack was a good man, and he'd never force Maddie to do something she didn't want to do. Or would he? I mean, he told me a long time ago that he wasn't a virgin anymore, and that scared me. I thought he might expect that out of our relationship…maybe I'm just being paranoid. If Zack had wanted our relationship to go that far, he would've tried it by now! He hasn't even tried to touch me anywhere I didn't want to be touched. He's a great guy…is this a good idea?
Maddie sat pondering in the car all the way back to Berkeley. Zack drove, and he just kept to himself. Cody was busy thinking about Sarah. She was supposed to come back today, too. She had to come back at least once…even if her parents force her to transfer, she has to come get her stuff and finish out the semester… which is only about a month…what if she has to leave? I wouldn't be able to take that. Rebecca turned out to be a bi—…well, you know. I couldn't take another heartbreak like that. Not so soon.
They pulled into the parking lot and headed towards the dorm buildings. After they had lugged all of their luggage into their rooms, Cody got a call on his cell phone. His caller ID read, "Sarah calling." He hesitated, not wanting to hear what she was going to say, in case it was bad news. He took a deep breath and answered, "Hello?"
"Hi, Cody."
"Hey, Sarie."
"You back, yet?"
"Yeah, just got in. You?"
"I'm at the airport, waiting for my luggage, and you know what I realized? You drove us here. I don't have a way of getting home, Code."
Cody's eyes widened, then wanted to shut from tiredness. He yawned slightly, realizing how tired he was. He thought of telling her to rent her own car, but thought better of it, saying, "Do you want me to come get you?"
"That'd be great."
"Alright, I'll see you in a bit."
An hour and much confusion later, Cody was standing in front of Sarah at the airport. She smiled weakly and he said, "What did your parents say?"
"Can we talk about that at home? I really don't want to talk about it here."
He nodded his head and said, "I missed you, Sarah."
"Oh, Cody, you know I missed you, too!"
She rushed to him, planting a kiss on his lips.
"I love you, Sarah."
"I love you, too."
He grabbed one of her bags and carried it out to the car, trying to remain calm. Whatever Sarah wanted to tell him didn't sound good.
They pulled into the Berkeley parking lot, finally, and made it to Sarah's dorm. After she had put her bags down and took off her coat, hat, and gloves, she sat down on her green couch, gesturing for Cody to follow her.
"Cody…I don't know how to say this…"
"They won't let you stay, will they?"
Sarah took a deep breath, and started, "Cody, my parents feel it's best that I move to Oklahoma with them, to be with my family. The only reason they're moving there is because my grandpa is really sick and he needs someone to stay with him, and he can't get on planes, or try to stay on a bus or in a car for as many hours as it would take to get to Florida, so we have to move in with him to help him. They want me there, and they want me to attend a nearby university, and they want me to live at home."
"Sarah, no, you can't!"
"I told them that, Cody. I told them that I refused to leave Berkeley and I refused to leave our love. They just laughed and said, "You don't know what love is!" They're not allowing me to stay at Berkeley after this semester. I have to leave you, Cody."
"No…no!"
"Cody, I'd rather break it off now then go a whole month knowing that we'll have to end it soon. I love you, and it took me countless sleepless nights to come to this decision. It's for…it's for the best!" She was crying now, and Cody could feel the tears well up in his eyes.
"Why can't you just abandon them?"
"Because they're my family. I can't just leave them, Cody! Family is very important to me…true, you're more important to me now, but they're still my family! I have to attend the University of Oklahoma. Oklahoma for God's sake! Why of all places, Oklahoma? It's so far…"
"I'm coming with you, Sarah."
"No, Cody, I couldn't ask you to do that! Your twin brother's here, and your mom's nearby…I couldn't ask you to leave them for me!"
"You're not asking, I'm telling you what I want to do. If you don't want me to come, then fine…I'll do what you want…but I have no problems with going to Oklahoma of all places, as long as I can be with you. I know we've only known each other a month, but it feels like a lifetime to me!"
Sarah put her head down, sobbing. When she lifted her head, smiling and saying, "You'd come to Oklahoma…you'd leave your family, your friends…you'd leave the place you know…for me?"
"In a second."
"And what if we break up?"
"I hope that will never happen."
"Oh, Cody, me neither!"
She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately. She thanked God that she had found Cody, her Savior, her Guardian Angel. With him, anything was possible.
Maddie was in her dorm, unpacking her suitcases. She was thinking over Zack's proposal. We can't live in one dorm…I suppose we could rent an apartment…my job pays enough for half of a rent…and Zack can get a job and pay half as well…but what if we split up? Stop thinking like that, Maddie! Why can't you just take a risk for once! This seems like a pretty big risk though…I don't know…this isn't even that big of a deal, and it's turning out to be a complicated problem. She finished unpacking and sat on her bed, thinking as hard as she could. She came to a conclusion, but decided to sleep on it before telling Zack. She wanted to make sure she was making a good choice, and she wouldn't hurt the man she cared for most.
Early the next morning, Cody opened the door to his dorm and saw the sleeping Zack. The door squeaked and closed with a thud, causing Zack to wake up.
"Where've you been?"
"At Sarah's."
"All night! What did you…what did you…what'd you do?" Zack cried, getting excited.
"Nothing, you sick pervert! We fell asleep on the couch, that's all. Stop being Mom!"
Zack smiled and threw his pillow at him, which Cody ducked under, throwing a nearby pillow back. It smacked the unsuspecting Zack in the face.
"Ow!"
'That didn't hurt, you big baby."
"Since when are you acting like me?"
"Since I've been the happiest man alive."
"Okay, spill, what happened last night?"
Cody, realizing that he was going to have to tell Zack sooner or later about him deciding to stay with Sarah and go to Oklahoma, decided to tell him later.
"I'll tell you later."
Before Zack could answer, a knock came at the door. Cody said, "Can you get that? I'm going to take a shower."
"It's 6 AM! I want to sleep! And I'm still in my pajama's!"
"Just answer the door, Zack!"
Grumbling, Zack got up to answer the door. Maddie stood there, wearing light blue jeans, a lime green long sleeve shirt, and a pair of green socks.
"Hey, Mad."
"Hi, Zack…"
He opened the door wider and she came in. They heard the shower start in the bathroom, and knew Cody wouldn't hear them.
"So…"
"So."
"I've thought about what you asked…"
"And…"
"And I've come to a conclusion…"
"And…"
"Will you be patient?"
He put his hands up in surrender and sat on his bed. She sat next to him, and took his hand in hers. Zack couldn't help but think, this doesn't sound good…
"I've decided…"
A/N- CLIFFY! HAHA! I'm EVIL aren't I? Well, the good news is, I've got lots of inspiration going, and DESPITE MY EXAMS THIS WEEK, I'm typing up a STORM! I watched "Pirate of the Caribbean" (Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom are so flipping hot: D!) and it gave me an idea for a story! So look for it in the next week or so all you PTC fans! Okay, notes:
Note #1- I got everybody (except Maddie) to verbally admit their love! Cute, right: D! I thought so.
Note #2- Why Oklahoma? Not particular reason, really. I was thinking about "The Outsiders" and it's set in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I didn't do research or anything, so if there isn't a University of Oklahoma, then in my story, it was JUST BUILT! Haha!
Note #3- Thank you so much to ALL my reviewers! I-luv-Ashley-Tisdale is my BEST review so far, then lots of ties for 2nd! I love all of you SO MUCH! And if you leave signed REVIEWS I'd reply to ALL of you…I'll do that from now on. I'm glad you all are all enjoying this story as much as you are, it really makes me proud. I wish my other stories were as successful, but what can ya do, right?
Note #4- Please review! They make me so happy! I get lots of inspiration when I'm happy, thus presenting you with a new chappie quicker! I'm attempting to reach 100, so review lots and GET ME THERE! It's my #1 goal right now, reach 100 reviews for a story. This story's on 19 off! PLEASE REVIEW: D!
Note #5- More advertising. My other stories would LOVE some reviewers! Too Perfect, The Two, When You Say Nothing At All, The Outsider, (and soon to be) The Daughter and The Son. Check my profile for info. (When You Say Nothing At All is a songfic, and listed under Harry Potter, but names aren't mentioned throughout the story, so you can picture any pairing you want. You/ your crush…you/celeb crush…fav book.movie.tv show.whatever pairing, whatever! It all works!)
Note #6- For your own reference, I will NEVER abandon a fic. It's against my morals to do that, so never fear! You shall receive updates: D!
So that's it! Hope to hear from you soon!
Love,
DC
p.s- i forgot what I made Maddie. Is she a Senior or a Junior? You faithful readers should know! If you don't I'll just read back over this and figure it out! Thanks!
Love,
DC