A/N: Sorry about the wait. One word: midterms. And there's actually a second thing: wouldn't let me upload. It was they who kept us apart so long! But alas, here's a new chapter for you to enjoy, or not, you may do whatever suits your fancy.
Chapter 20
A range of reactions rippled over the faces of everyone in the room as Ren's words sunk in.
I was both excited and terrified, but I was so fixed on observing everyone else, I didn't really allow myself to react to her statement.
Louis seemed to be proud of his sister for standing up to their father's discomforting and uncharacteristic rage.
Stacy showed a sort of resigned acceptance of what Ren's statement would likely entail for our relationship—the end. She was visibly upset by it, but understanding all the same.
Eileen had expected the response from Ren, seemed a little proud—in the same vein as Louis—but also was put off by it purely because of the difficulties it was guaranteed to bring for the family, the problems Steve would make of it all.
I half-expected Steve to blow up, or quickly and wordlessly storm out. He did neither. Rather, he shook his head very slowly, his brow furrowed and his blue eyes intently focused on Ren. "You will regret this," he said.
"Steve," Eileen started, though she didn't seem to know what she really wanted to say. "She's right, you know. It's not your…problem, if you must call it that."
"Not my problem? It's my daughter!"
"And mine."
"So how is it not a problem?" His anger was not subsiding.
"It's not hurting anyone. Life would be easier for everyone—you included—if you could just accept this small thing."
I watched Ren during all of this, my eyes darting back to her unmoving, rigid figure every few seconds, though Steve and Eileen commanded more attention at that moment. Ren seemed more shocked than anyone at what she had said, but she didn't revoke it.
He was on the verge of yelling. "How can I just sit--"
Eileen cut him off. "What do you plan to do, Steve? Honestly? She'll be leaving for college in a few months, probably to the east coast. You think you can interfere in her life from the other side of the country?"
Ren's shoulders sunk at the word "college".
"Yeah," Louis chimed in. "Ren's has always done everything you wanted. You've always been proud of her, and she'll probably continue to make you prouder than I ever will. It's not fair to act like this one thing—that has nothing to do with you anyway—is going to cancel out all of that. This doesn't change her going to Harvard or Yale or wherever. She's made you prouder than me, and even prouder than Donny ever did."
Steve sighed angrily, glancing around the room at us all, giving me a particularly harsh look, though I can't say I was the least put off by it. He turned then and left, still seething.
Eileen walked over to Ren and said, "I love you, and he does to." She hugged her tightly. "You probably shouldn't come home tonight though, let me talk to him first. Go somewhere else though, please. I don't feel safe, you staying out here all by yourself. Find a motel or some place to crash…" she looked at me, "go to a friend's place. Ok?"
Ren nodded silently, hugging her mother again. "Thank you," I could see her mouths form the words but no sound came from them.
Eileen turned and hurried after Steve.
Louis smiled, gave Ren a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "He'll calm down—he always does."
Stacy was looking at me, so I stepped toward her, figuring I owed her an explanation, but she gestured me away, shaking her head, and moving her hand as if to say 'don't worry about it' or 'no problem'. I could tell she was upset though, but like I said—she understood the situation.
The two of them left together, Louis shutting the door behind them, leaving Ren and I alone in the room.
As soon as the door closed, Ren collapsed back down on to the bed—her knees bent up, her back against the mattress, and her hands covering her face.
I moved over to her, sitting down beside her and resting a hand on her knee. I wanted to say 'everything's going to be ok' but it sounded so lame, so I just stayed quiet and watched her lying there.
She wasn't crying, or at least made no sound to indicate it. I think she was taking everything in.
Another eternity passed between us there before she finally spoke up.
"Tawny?" She didn't remove her hand from her face, and her voice as muffled and low.
"Yeah?" I responded, truly uncertain as to what she would say.
"I am so sorry… about all of this."
My heart stopped a second, expecting this to be along the lines of her 'I love you, but we're not going to do this' statement of a month before.
She sat up then, and looked at me with tired, sad eyes, waiting for me to acknowledge her apology.
"It's ok," I said, quietly, still waiting like a criminal for the judge's decree.
She sighed, wiping her eyes with one hand and taking the hand I'd placed on her knee with the other. She squeezed it tightly, interlocking her fingers in mine, briefly brushing her lips against my palm, and then pressing it to her cheek.
Several more minutes passed in complete silence. No doubt she was debating all the ways to tell her parent's about the hand she'd been dealt in the college department.
She took our hands from her face, looking over toward her bag on the floor across the room. "You want a sandwich? I have peanut butter and jam in my bag. And bread, I have bread."
"Alright," I replied softly.
She put her hands at her sided, ready to push herself, but she stopped and looked at me instead.
"What?" I asked, a little startled.
"Um," she cleared her throat, smiling a little. "I was wondering… I mean…would you like to…go out… with me… some time?"
