Hey Everyone! Hope you are still enjoying the story. If you have any requests or suggestions for a chapter you'd like me to write tell me in the reviews. I'll do my best to write about it after the next two chapter are completed, because I will be trying to think of new ideas for chapters after that. Thanks for all the kind reviews! Please keep reading and reviewing. I really appreciate anyone who takes the time to read and review my story. Thanks so much! I hope this story isn't getting boring to read yet cause I would like to keep writing there story well into there adulthood if people keep wanting to read my story. :) :)
The end of March of their freshman year was nearing. A month and a half of school was left for Mike and El. The third week in March, Eleven had her spring choir concert. She performed a beautiful, flawless solo in one of their songs. Mike cheered louder than anyone by smiling and clapping his hands. El had no idea that a very important person was in the audience that night. Eleven had no idea that the solo she performed would cause another dramatic change in her life.
It so happened a very well known choir director was in the audience. She thought Eleven's voice was gorgeous. She really liked it when she heard that El had a dream of becoming a choir and music teacher. El's highschool director had secretly discussed Eleven with the choir director that had attended the concert about her talent.
A letter arrived at the Hopper residence a rainy, April evening that would change Eleven's life forever. It was a letter from about a choral summer program for aspiring music teachers. El was super excited to open the letter, because she didn't get letters addressed to her often. She opened the letter and read it aloud to her parents.
El read aloud, "Dear El, My name is Delinda Munzy and I'm a choir director at a college in Chicago. I teach a summer choir and learning program for aspiring music teachers. I attended your school spring concert and let me say my dear your voice is amazing. You have a lot of potential in music and I'd like to invite you to attend the summer program. It lasts May 18th-August 16th. You do a whole lot of training in singing and in being a music teacher. We take a test at the end and if you pass we will give you a list of classes to take in high school. If you pass all those then you will be certified to become a music teacher and choir director. You must be a fast paced learner and be open to new things to pass 5is course. We provide a place for you to stay and your breakfast and lunch. There is a $250 fee and you must provide you own dinners throughout the summer. Hope you get back to me and decide to come. I think you would excell."
"Wow. That's amazing sweetheart! I'm so proud of how talented you are." Hop said.
"Woah that's a lot to take in. This is an unbelievable opportunity. Eleven it's your dream." Terry said.
El replied, "Wow..I could become a music teacher right after high school if I wanted. It's my dream since I first started singing alone at the Wheelers when everyone was gone. I could learn an instrument and become a better singer. I have the chance to teach kids the joys of music. Wait..what about Mike? I can't leave him alone all summer. He hasn't gone that long without seeing me since we met."
"Honey it's your dream. Mike would understand. Plus if you are still dating at the end of high school having your degree at that time would be helpful. If you are still truly in love with that boy you could follow him wherever and teach music there. You wouldn't have to leave him for longer to go to college." Terry explained.
Hop said, "Oh great. She can follow that boy anywhere and do anything she wants with him."
"Hop it's fine. He's a sweet boy and a smart one too. El and him have been dating almost three years. He has remained loyal and a gentleman. Men like that are hard to find. El should stick with him." Terry explained.
El added, "Dad he's the most kind guy I've ever met. He also the first guy who ever cared about me. He was the first guy to love me even as a friend. He's stayed with me my whole life outside of that place, so he must love me."
"I wish I could be your only guy. I guess if you have to date a guys he's a pretty damn good one. Although, I wish he'd keep his hands off my daughter when I'm around." Hop said.
Terry said, "Oh Hop. He's never disrespected her space in anyway. He never does anything Eleven doesn't want him too. A few pecks here and there are nothing to worry about.' Terry said and Eleven told her parents she was going to Mike's to talk to him.
Terry whispered when El left, "Besides they've been dating for three years and living under the same roof I'm sure they've done worse when you aren't around."
"Terry I don't want to think about how that boy has corrupted my sweet, innocent daughter." Hop replied.
El rode her bike as quick as humanly possible to the Wheelers. She didn't want to keep this big of a secret from Mike. He had always told her the truth immediately no matter what, so she was going to do the same. Mike had once told her that she could tell him anything no matter the subject. He wanted her to know she could discuss health, her feelings, bodily functions, and basically anything that was going on in her life. Mike was a good listener who was great at giving advice and always taking care of he.
was pulling out of the driveway, so she told Eleven not to mind knocking just to go right in. Mike had been moved back in to Eleven's old room that was originally his room. Eleven ran up the stairs and tears were running down her face already stressing about making a decision to go or not. El pounded on Mike's door and ran in when he said to come in. She rushed over to him tears streaming down her face and pulled him into a tight hug.
"El! What's wrong princess?" Mike asked.
"I've got some news." El stated.
Mike replied, "Is it good or bad?" El didn't answer him. She pulled the folded note out of her pocket and handed it to him. Mike grabbed Eleven's hand and walked her over to his bed. He sat down and she sat on his lap as he unfolded the letter and began to read it. El laid her head on his shoulder reading the letter for a second time. After a few minutes, he finished reading the letter, but was silent for a minute. A tear slid down his freckled cheek.
"Wow. Eleven I am so proud of you!" Mike exclaimed.
"What are you going to do all summer? I don't want to leave you for that long." El said.
Mike replied, "Eleven Jane Ives, you have to go it's your dream. This lady thinks you have potential to be an amazing teacher. If you went you could become a teacher right after you graduate high school. The sooner your dream comes true the better."
"I really want to go, so I can become a teacher as soon as possible. I would miss my family especially you. I haven't been apart from you that long since I met you." El explained.
Mike replied, 'Honestly, I'm really gonna miss you and it's gonna hurt like hell being apart from you that long. I have the boys though, so at least I won't be totally alone. El there is no choice here. You have to go, this is a huge opportunity for you. You have to take it or you'll regret just trust me. I'm not going anywhere. You are the only girl I've ever loved and you are the only girl I ever will love in the future."
"You know if I took the opportunity my mom gave me a good idea. If I have my degree before I graduate, then I can follow you wherever you choose to go to school. I can teach somewhere near there and we'd never have to be apart again. I could go where you go and teach. After this summer, I would never have to leave you again. That would make me so happy knowing that I would be free to stay with you no matter where life takes you. At least as long as you still want me with you." El explained.
Mike replied, "I would love that Eleven. You are my favorite person ever and I will always want you with me no matter what. You just have to take this opportunity it's once in a lifetime. You may never get such an amazing chance again."
"I love you Mike. I'm gonna go. I'm gonna two dreams by going. Becoming a music teacher and never having to leave you again. This is gonna be a long but amazing summer." El said.
"I love you too Eleven. You are my girl, my princess, my future and you have to do what is best for you no matter how far from me that takes you. I want you to always be with me, but I would rather you be far from me and happy. Whatever it takes all I want is for both of us to be happy." Mike said.
Within the next few days Eleven and her parents had sent in the fee and a letter saying El was going to attend. They received a letter back telling Eleven what room number she was and where to meet for the first meeting on the first day of camp with her parents. She was given a list of things she would need to bring with her along with her belongings for class. Eleven began to get really excited and nervous as summer got closer. Yes, she would definitely miss Mike, but like he had told her this was a once in a lifetime experience.