Chapter Three: High Tension.
Simon clenched his fists, "You what?" Alvin sighed, " I joined the army..." "Why?", Simon heard his heart beat in his ears as his temper flared. "I just felt like its where I'm needed", Alvin gently rubbed Eleanor's back to calm her. "Did you even stop to think about the rest of us?", Simon had begun to pace. "Si.. of course I did, but I also thought about what I thought was right for me", Alvin's tone was stern. Theodore stepped foreword, "When do you leave?" Alvin met his younger brother's eyes, "In a month." Eleanor's sobs increased. "Then we need to do something as a family before you leave, all six of us", Theodore wrapped his arm around Jeanette's shoulder. Simon turned his gaze to Theodore, "How are you so calm about this?" Theodore met his brother's piercing blue-gray eyes, "Because even if I'm not happy with his choice, which I'm not, it's his choice and we need to accept that." Simon let out a sigh and relaxed his fists, "You're right Theodore. I'm sorry that I lost my temper, Alvin."
Brittany looked into Alvin's eyes, "You promise us that you come home safe." Alvin gave one of his cocky smiles, " Don't worry Britt, Ill be fine." "Have you told Dave yet?", Jeanette asked in a soft tone. "Not yet I'm going to tell him tomorrow, when I have a chance to talk to him alone", Alvin softly kissed the top of Eleanor's head. "We'll see you when you get home, Alvin", Theodore turned and waved back to Alvin as he and Jeanette walked away. Simon and Brittany followed their example and left Alvin alone with Eleanor.
"Jeanette... What was wrong at dinner?", Theodore asked while they walked hand in hand. Jeanette let out a sigh, "Can you come to my house for a while, we need to talk..." "Ya", Theodore's mind raced with all kinds of things that could be wrong as they walked.
**Ten minutes later in Jeanette's room**
Theodore held the letters in his hand as he sat next to Jeanette on her bed, "What are you going to do?" Jeanette looked at the pieces of paper in Theodore's hand, "I don't know... I thought at most I would be a few hour dive from you, not all the way across the country." Theodore put the papers down and put his arm around Jeanette, "These are some good schools, I'm proud of you!" Jeanette laid her head against Theodore's chest, "Thank you Teddy but that doesn't make me feel any better, I'm going to be in school for at least eight years." "Yes but I'll only be in school for two and after that I can move to where ever you chose to go. Plus we can see each other between school years", Theodore rubbed Jeanette's back. "Maybe its not to late to change my mind and pick something that wont take so long...", Jeanette looked up at Theodore to see his reaction. "Well it's never to late, but you really want to be a doctor", Theodore smiled at her. Jeanette let out a sigh, "I know but at the same time I can't bear the thought of being away from you and my family for that long." "Well the dead line is almost up, if you don't deiced soon you'll have to wait a year", Theodore met her eyes. "What do you think I should do, Theodore?", Jeanette laid back pulling Theodore with her and rested her head on his chest. "I think you should pick which ever one of these schools you like best and go", Theodore held Jeanette close to him. "I could work hard and graduate early and start med school early to cut down the process by about two years", Jeanette smiled at this idea. Theodore smiled, "See this wont be so bad." Jeanette nodded. Theodore looked at the clock it read, 10:00 P.M., "Well I better be getting home..." Jeanette looked up at Theodore, "You don't have to go home..." Theodore laughed softly, "I'd love to stay over if that's what your asking?" "Only if you wont get in trouble", Jeanette stared at her ceiling as they talked. Theodore kicked off his shoes and grabbed his phone from his pocket and began to fiddle with the buttons. After a few seconds he put it down on Jeanette's bed stand, "There, I told Dave that I was staying over here. Ever since we turned eighteen he just wants us to tell him where we are." Jeanette took off her glasses and gathered up her acceptance letters and placed them next to Theodore's phone before pulling the covers up over them. Theodore gently caressed Jeanette's back, "Don't worry everything will work out okay."
Sorry for the short chapter, the next one will be longer, I promise!