"I just don't see what's so wrong with applying to Delmarva State." Dante argued.
"Dad!" Lars whined. "I don't like Delmarva State." He huffed.
"They don't even have his major, dear." Martha defended her son.
"Thank you!" Lars threw his hands up. He leaned against the kitchen counter, watching his parents sip their coffee.
"That's why you should apply at ECU." Martha teased.
"I've actually been thinking about applying to the branch college." Lars said tentatively, unsure how his parents would react.
"No!" His father immediately protested. "You want to go somewhere bigger, to get the full experience!"
"Well, maybe for his first year?" Martha reasoned. "He could stay at home and save some money."
"Oooor, I could get my own place." Lars said, staring at the floor.
"I know living with your parents isn't ideal," His father started. "But it would be a terrible waste of money to move out when you could just as easily be here. Not that I think this is a good idea!" He added.
"I think it would be good." Lars shrugged. "Ya know, stick around home, keep my job, my friends…"
"Aha!" His father chuckled. "Now we get to the heart of it! It's about the girl!"
"Her name is Sadie." Martha corrected her husband.
"You can't make your decisions based on a high school relationship Laramie." His father insisted.
"I'm not!" Lars argued, knowing it was a lie.
"Lars, we know that you really like this girl but, your father is right." Martha said gently. "We don't want to see you make a choice you'll regret." He paled a little at that.
"Look, I just have to stay here." Lars argued.
"Have to?" Dante looked at him curiously. "Son, you don't have to do anything."
"Is Sadie pressuring you to do this?" Martha asked. "To go to the branch?"
"No, I haven't even mentioned it to her yet." Lars said truthfully.
"Are you sure she's somebody you want to stick around for?" His mother asked gently. "Are you sure this relationship is worth it?"
"He's eighteen!" Dante cut in. "Of course it isn't worth it."
"That's not fair!" Lars argued. "Plenty of people marry their high school sweetheart."
"Marry?!" Dante stood up suddenly. "Just what is this girl trying to railroad you into here?"
"She's not railroading me into anything dad! It was just an example, it's not like I'm out ring shopping." Lars shouted back.
"Don't raise your voice to me." His father shook his head.
"Don't talk about Sadie like that!" Lars countered.
"I just don't understand why you're so caught up with this girl." Dante threw his hands up. "You don't need to stay here for her, if she loves you she'll come visit you at Delmarva State."
"I'm not going to Delmarva State." Lars said tensely. "So fucking drop it, I'm staying here, I'm going to the branch college and I'm getting my own place."
"Fine, you want to base all your decisions around a girlfriend, then far be it for me stop you. I just hope that someday you'll understand that I was just trying to save you from regret." Dante insisted.
"This isn't about me." Lars muttered, putting a hand over his face.
"How can your future not be about you?" Dante asked, thoroughly confused and outraged by his son's behavior.
"Forget it." Lars shook his head.
"No, tell me. What is that supposed to be mean?" Dante took a step towards his son.
"Dad." Lars began in a broken voice. "I really messed up, and I just, I have to stay, I have to do the right thing."
"Lars, what's going on here?" Martha asked, a sinking feeling in her stomach.
"Sadie's pregnant, she's pregnant and I have to stay, I can't leave her." Lars admitted, his voice came out hoarse, tears slipping down his cheeks.
"Laramie," Dante began, barely concealing his anger. "Are you sure this girl is pregnant? She's seen a doctor?"
"She's at the doctor now." Lars told them. "She's supposed to call me after."
"So, you don't know for sure that she's pregnant?" Dante asked.
"She seemed pretty sure when she told me. I guess she took a test."
"And if she is, can you be positive that it's yours?"
"She says it's mine."
"She could be lying."
"She would NOT lie to me!" Lars roared.
"Wouldn't she?" Dante screamed back. "You were all set to leave, couldn't even wait! Now this girl suddenly says she's pregnant and got you to stay."
"She isn't lying to me dad! That's ridiculous." Lars threw his hands in the air.
"Lars you've made a lot of mistakes but I honestly don't believe this one." Dante backed away from his son.
"Dad!" Lars shouted, broken. "Mom?" He turned to her.
"Lars, how could you do this?" She asked sadly.
"Well it clearly wasn't planned." He defended himself.
"You've ruined your life." Dante told him.
"That's your opinion." Lars countered.
"Just….just go." Dante motioned towards the door.
"Go where?"
"Anywhere but here!" Dante screeched.
"Sweetheart.." Martha put out a hand towards her husband,
"No, I've put up with a lot from you," He shook a finger at Lars. "But this is the end of it! You love this girl so much? You want this baby? Fine! Then go be with her, but don't come back to this house for sympathy when she breaks your heart!"