Where the Streets Have No Name
Chapter 92
Paul never pushed for more than friendship, but Bella could see the implicit faith he held that when she was ready, it would be him she chose.
In the beginning, the fact that she might be deceiving Paul never weighed on her conscience too heavily. She always reasoned that once high school was over, they would go their separate ways. The natural progression of life would solve the problem for her. Promises made in high school would remain there, unfulfilled.
Surely Paul wouldn't hold a torch for her once he went off to some prestigious college on the West Coast on a well endowed sports scholarship.
She knew that he had been scouted by several big-name schools. She knew how much Paul wanted to attend Stanford. She also knew that her modest GPA, and even more modest college fund, wouldn't buy her the passage anywhere other than mid-ranking colleges.
Which was why she was rightfully floored when Paul informed her that he was forgoing the opportunity of several full scholarships and his dream of moving to the sunny, golden coast to follow her to Boston University.
"Bella, you didn't expect me to go anywhere without you, did you?" Paul said as if he was explaining the obvious when Bella stammered her question as to why he would do such a thing.
"But I don't want you to miss out on this, Paul. A good school, a full scholarship. You can't blow it all off just for me. You can't do that!" Bella voiced her objection in a shrill, panicked tone.
"You're not just anything, Bella. You know that, don't you? A Good school, the scholarship, none of it means a thing if I can't be near you. Besides, I've already sent in my acceptance letter.
"So, guess what? We're both going to BU!" Paul said with a bright smile.
Bella returned a weak one as the realization dawned on her just how firmly she had tied herself to a boy whom she didn't really love, and what a high price she might have to pay for selfishly accepting the gift of kindness from him, expecting time and distance to shield her from ever having to pay the accumulating debt.
Thank you Lulabelle98, HeidiJoVT, and Dinx.