Crushing on the Enemy (14 page)

Alyssa stuffed the acceptance letter into her purse and quickly dressed. She didn't bother with how she looked, but instead just slipped on her favorite jeans and the first top she could grab.

“I'll be back, Mattie!” she said, “I have to go tell, Jake!”

“Okay,” Mattie mumbled without opening her eyes.

Alyssa dashed down the stairs and out the door. She knew she'd have to deal with her mom later, but right now was time to celebrate. On the way to Jake's she stopped to pick up breakfast at one of the diners he had taken her to.

She knew he'd still be asleep and she hoped to bribe him awake with food.

Alyssa was surprised when a woman answered the door.

“Hi, is Jake here?” she asked.

“He's still in bed, sweetheart,” she said.

“I just got my acceptance letter and wanted to tell him,” Alyssa frowned.

“Oh, you must be Alyssa,” the woman smiled, “I'm Jake's mom. Come on in and I'll see if I can summon him back to the world of the living.”

“Thanks,” Alyssa said, “tell him I brought breakfast. Those bacon burrito things he likes from that one little diner.”

“I will,” the older woman smiled.

Alyssa headed into the kitchen and set out the food. She paced back and forth as she waited for someone to come back.

“He'll be out in a minute, I think,” his mom said, “I forgot to congratulate you on your acceptance letter,”

“Thank you,” Alyssa grinned.

A few moments later Jake appeared looking more asleep than awake, but Alyssa pounced him anyway.

“I got accepted,” she whispered into his ear.

“Yes!” Jake shouted, suddenly seeming more awake.

“We're going to Georgia, baby!” Alyssa cheered.

“And you brought food,” Jake teased.

“That I did,” she grinned.

When they had almost finished breakfast Alyssa's cellphone rang. She ignored it thinking it was her mother.

“I think that's your phone, sweetheart,” Jake's mom said.

“Oh yea,” she said, pretending she hadn't heard it.

She glanced at the caller id and grinned when she seen Mattie's phone number.

“Hey,” Alyssa answered.

“Was I dreaming or did you get accepted to go to Georgia?” Mattie asked.

“I did!” Alyssa squealed into the phone!

She had to move the phone away from her head when Mattie began her squealing congratulatory statements.

“I'll see you later,” Alyssa said and ended the call.

“She sounds happier than I expected,” Jake laughed.

Alyssa nodded in agreement and finished her breakfast. The only thing she had to do was convince her mom that this was a good thing, at least, it was a good thing for her.

The rest of senior year seemed to move slowly, but then suddenly Jake was walking across the stage to receive his diploma. It didn't hit him that high school was really over until that moment. His step faltered for a moment, but the crowd didn't seem to notice. They were too busy cheering him on.

Right after the graduation ceremony he and Alyssa joined the rest of their graduating class for a party, but left early because some kids brought beer and neither of them wanted to get involved with the stuff.

They drove out to the park and watched the sunset. Jake couldn't quit smiling and he noticed that Alyssa was having the same problem. He played with a lock of her hair, twirling it around his fingers.

“I can't believe we're leaving for Georgia next month,” Alyssa sighed.

“I know,” Jake nodded, “time is moving so fast. I feel like it's trying to race ahead of me.”

“I invited Mattie to stay with me until the semester starts. Her older sister is coming in and she doesn't want to see her. I might be her only escape from a miserable summer,” Alyssa laughed.

“I'm glad you invited her. That way you'll have someone to hangout with while I'm at practice,” Jake nodded.

Jake still found Mattie slightly annoying, but he put up with her for Alyssa's sake. Alyssa's mother had taken the pressure off of them about living together, by agreeing to rent Alyssa an off campus apartment as long as the kids didn't move in together until they were married. Jake knew that Alyssa had been just as relieved as he had been, even if neither of them had said it out loud.

Slowly over the next two weeks Jake said goodbye to friends and packed away his room. He hadn't realized how much stuff he had accumulated while growing up. He had to wade through deciding what to take and what to leave behind. Since he was going to be living in a dorm he couldn't take everything. Which, was a good thing because he had already promised that he'd help Alyssa move her things. Which was only fair, since she needed more stuff to fill her apartment.

Two days before they were to leave the guys from his team threw them a going away party. Alyssa almost forgot about it and he had to swing by and pick her up at the last minute.

“I'm so stressed out!” she said on the way to the party, “I have so much stuff left to pack before Friday.”

“You don't have to leave when I do,” Jake said for the thirteenth time that week.

“Yes, I do,” she sighed, “I have to sign the lease on Monday and then I'm going to need the rest of the summer to unpack my things.”

“It'll be fine,” Jake laughed.

Alyssa managed to get everything packed and together she, Jake, her mom, and Mattie loaded her stuff into the backseat of her car and the bed of Jake's truck. She was glad for Jake's help, because she didn't know the first thing about packing her stuff in so that it would all fit and nothing would get broken.

On her last night in Ohio they roasted marshmallows and stayed up as late as they dared. When Jake headed home to say goodbye to his parents and get a goodnight sleep, Mattie disappeared too, leaving Alyssa alone with her mom as they cleaned up the kitchen.

“I want you to be careful in Georgia,” her mom said, “and I want you to call me at least once a week, more often would be good too though.”

“I will, Mom,” Alyssa sighed.

“I mean it, Alyssa,” her mom said, “I know I haven't always been the greatest mom, but I want you to stay in touch. I don't want you to forget about me.”

“I won't,” Alyssa said, “Do you honestly think I could ever forget about you?”

“I forgot about my parents for awhile when I was in college,” her mom said.

“If I don't call you, then you call me,” Alyssa said and gave her mom a hug,

“You just remember that if you start ignoring my calls,” her mom laughed.

The next morning Alyssa's hands were shaking so badly she didn't think she was going to be able to drive. When she had daydreamed about leaving Ohio she didn't think it was going to be this hard. She also thought that she would be riding with Jake, but they both would need their vehicles when they got to Georgia.

Everyone came over to Alyssa's house for breakfast before they set off on their journey. Alyssa was too nervous to eat much, but sat with the others while they chitchatted.

“I love you, Mom,” she said after she double checked that everything was ready to go.

“I love you too, sweetheart, call me if you need anything,” her mom said.

“I will,” Alyssa smiled.

She hugged Jake's mom and dad, in turn before turning to Jake. He pulled her into his arms and gave her a quick kiss. She rested her head against his chest for a moment taking comfort from the moment.

“I'll try to make sure you girls stay with me, but if you get lost call me and pull into the closest rest stop,” Jake told her.

“I will, but anyway I know how to read a map,” Alyssa laughed.

“I know, but I wanted to say something just in case it happened,” Jake grinned.

“Okay, you three,” Jake's dad said, “get out of here. You're wasting daylight and we expect you to stop if it gets dark before you get there.”

“Yes, sir,” Mattie laughed.

There was one last round of hugs and then they began their journey. Alyssa's hands were trembling when she started the ignition, but she didn't know whether it was excitement or from her nerves. Both emotions had her mind racing in circles.

“We're finally free!” Mattie shouted as they pulled onto the highway.

“I'm finally going to get to start my life,” Alyssa sighed.

“So when are you and Jake going to get married?” Mattie teased, “Are we going to head to Vegas first for the ceremony?”

“No,” Alyssa laughed, “we're not going to be getting married for awhile.”

“That sucks, I wanted to be a bridesmaid,” Mattie laughed.

“When I do get married, you can be one then,” Alyssa teased.

“I have been meaning to ask you what are you taking at college?” Mattie asked.

“History of Art,” she laughed.

“Seriously?” Mattie asked.

“Yep,” Alyssa grinned, “I couldn't think of any other major to write down.”

“You always have been crazy,” Mattie laughed.

“Maybe,” Alyssa agreed.

Alyssa switched her major to sports medicine during her second semester of college. She didn't participate in cheer leading during her college years, but she still attended every game that Jake played in.

Jake eventually settled on a major in education so he could coach football after college. He was offered a position by several pro teams, but turned them all down as his interests turned to starting a family.

After they both obtained their Bachelors Degree they flew back to Ohio for their wedding. As promised Mattie was her maid of honor. After taking a year off they both returned to school to further their education. When Alyssa walked across the stage when she graduated from medical school, she was two months pregnant with their first child, but she hadn't told anyone else yet. Seven months later she gave birth to a healthy baby boy, whom they named Steven Andrew Micheal Taylors after Alyssa's father, Jake's father, and Jake's high school coach.