see you tomorrow then," Jensen said to his family as he put his arm around my shoulders and led me out of his house.
"What was that about?" I asked once we were safely outside.
"Not sure, but I can guess,” he answered as he opened the passenger door of my truck for me. “I think she wants to talk to me about our engagement. I wouldn't worry about it, though." Jensen looked deep in thought as he jogged around to the driver’s door, but he didn’t look worried about what his mother might say.
It took only a few minutes to drive to my home, which was a little cottage-style place I had been renting from Jensen's parents for almost a year. Jensen had insisted on using his key to unlock the door anytime he came over and tonight was no different. He opened the door and motioned for me to go in before following behind me and locking the door behind us.
"Do you want to call Emery to tell him how it went, or wait until tomorrow?" I questioned since I thought he might be anxious to report back to Emery.
Jensen set the keys down on the table by the phone and came up behind and put his arms around me; his lips were at my ear. "I can wait until tomorrow. It might be too late to call tonight."
"It's only around nine, right? Aren't they an hour ahead? Come to think of it, maybe I should call my dad and let him in on the news."
"How about later? There’s always tomorrow for that," Jensen suggested, moving my hair away from my neck and kissing me softly. He was very persuasive as I turned toward him and took his hands in mine to lead him to my bedroom. Now that we were finally alone we could give in to our craving for each other.
Jensen left around eight the next morning to go home to talk to his mom about “college,” but promised he’d be back as soon as they were done so we could spend the day together. I got up and showered, reminiscing over the previous night with Jensen. His touch had been different, more loving somehow, and his blue eyes explored every inch of me, as did his hands. I remembered tracing my fingers over his chest and abdominal muscles, and finally around to his back as I pulled him as close as I could, which still wasn’t close enough. I thought of his heated body as I closed my eyes and let the water flow down my face. A twinge of desire gripped my abdomen and suddenly I wished he was there with me in the shower. The memory of the night turned into a fantasy of what could be. Taking a deep breath, I shuddered and hugged myself before forcing my eyes to open. Having that fantasy was doing me no good, so I finished washing my hair and turned off the shower, making a mental note to get him in there with me sometime in the near future.
After fixing myself a quick breakfast, I decided to look over information that had been sent the previous week regarding school registration and senior pictures, which was going to happen a lot sooner than I wanted it to. With my focus on Jensen these were among the things I had casually put aside.
Registration was scheduled on a Tuesday with the seniors going first, of course; juniors were on Wednesday. I suddenly remembered that Krissa, Aria, and Nate were slated to register before me this year, so I had to rely on Nate to choose a good locker that was not located in the English wing with the bottleneck traffic of students coming and going. It was enough to drive a person insane. Somehow I knew he would probably be calling to tell me we were stuck with the English wing, stuck being the operative word. Nate and Aria had talked at one point about sharing a locker this year, but Krissa and I pointed out the obvious question of what would happen if they broke up. So, to keep on the safe side, we decided Krissa and Aria would share one, and Nate and I would double-up in a locker that was as close as possible to the other two.
Pushing the thought of lockers and crowded hallways out of my head, I tucked away the papers describing picture packages for seniors and confirmation of my chosen scheduled date for picture day, which Alicia and I had settled on earlier in the summer when we had sent our appointment requests in to the photographer. Along with one of the picture packages, I was also set on ordering two tassels, one for me and one to put on the rearview mirror of my truck, along with a senior key and a keychain tassel. Purchasing a class ring was out since I didn't really have a reason to wear one.
Looking at my watch I realized only five minutes had passed. Jensen had only been gone for about forty-five minutes and I didn't expect him back for at least another thirty. I got up and decided I would call Dad to tell him the news. As I dialed his number, I had half a mind to hang up and just wait for Jensen so we both could tell my dad, but I figured if I waited I would lose my nerve. After three rings, he answered.
"Hi, Dad!" I said exuberantly.
"Mia, hi! How are you?" He sounded genuinely glad to hear from me.
I'm doing well, thanks for asking. I called to tell you some big news … Jensen and I are engaged! I had played out what I'd say to Dad in my head, but as he was still greeting me I forgot everything and instead just beat around the bush. "Things … things are good. I register for school soon."
"They're still making you register as a junior?"
I made a face, not fully comprehending that he couldn't see it. "Yeah, but at least I get to take my senior pictures."
"Who are you sharing a locker with? Krissa again?"
"No, I'm actually going to share with Nate." I could almost see his eyebrows rise at my mention of sharing with a guy.
"What about Jensen?"
"Jensen is fine with it. Dad, you know Nate and I are friends. Besides, it's more of a favor to Aria. She and Nate wanted to share, but Krissa and I talked her out of it in case they break up. I was the consolation," I explained.
"So how is Jensen? He leaves for college soon, right?"
I sighed with sadness at the mention of Jensen going away. I just can't catch a break! "Yes, in a few days."
"I know that will be hard for you, but I assume you have plans to visit him and he'll be back for the major holidays, right?"
My dad knew me all too well. I smiled at the thought. "Yes, of course."
"So, how are things with the two of you? Sounds like you're definitely jumping in with both feet and doing the long distance thing."
"Things are great with us, actually. Um, regarding that—" I paused for a moment.
"Yes?" my dad asked, almost too cautiously.
I urged myself forward. "Well, I did have a reason for calling."
"Do you need money to visit him or something?"
"No, no, nothing like that." I almost heard Dad sigh with relief on the other end, even though I usually didn't ask for much. "I was calling to share some news. Some big news, actually."
"Go on," Dad encouraged.
Before he could ask the same question Jessica had, I blurted it out. "Jensen asked me to marry him last night and I said yes! He proposed in front of his family at dinner."
Silence followed by … more silence. I almost wanted to tell my dad to say something, but decided to fill the silence with more babble. "It will be a long engagement since I'm still in high school, but we are planning to live together after I graduate. That is if I get into Stanford or go somewhere close to him…" my voice trailed off and I waited for my Dad to say something.
Finally,
