thirty five

                                    

                                          
I faintly smiled at my basically packed up dorm. My third year of college, done. I had decided to stay back for the summer too. I took a couple of extra classes and had an internship at a nearby hospital. My parents missed me terribly, which is why I had declined Max's offer to go on vacation with him and his family to Greece. Greece was on my bucket list but, I wanted to spend the last month I had off before going back to school with my parents. Being their only child, they have always cherished me very much. 
                          
I sighed and stuffed my shower shoes into a box. I groaned as I realized that I still had to finish packing everything that was in my desk drawer. Max told me he was going to arrive in 15 minutes to pick me up. I had to hurry up if we wanted to avoid the traffic. We were going to drive down to Hesperia together. His flight was the following day and we wanted to spend some one on one time. Either way, I had left my car at my house the week before because we had gone down to visit our families so, we had to drive to our town together either way. I quickly went through the desk trying to sort through things I had to take home and things I could toss.
                          
I put some hair ties I found in the mess around my wrist, you can never have too many hair ties. I grabbed my sunglasses case and tried squeezing it into my back pack. I gasped as I realized I almost forgot my charger in there too. I threw away some old essays I had written. I shoved my hands into the desk to check if it was completely empty. Confusion overtook me when I felt something in the corner. I pulled it out and realized it was the necklace Joel had given me the Christmas he had won La Banda. We were unable to spend New Year's Eve together that year because of the performance they had in Times Square. I remembered opening the little box when he had given it to me, I loved how it was gold, the chain was thin and a little j hung from it. He had joked and said that he was giving it to me just in case some guy tried kissing me on New Years, all I would have to do was show him the necklace. I told him that he was being dumb because, the j wasn't that noticeable. Regardless, I loved it. I never took it off. That was until four months into the break up. It started to feel dumb wearing the necklace when he was messing around with girls left and right.
                          
I bit my lip and contemplated throwing the necklace out but, I didn't have the heart to do it. I heard a soft knock on my dorm door and quickly stuffed it into my back pocket. I opened the wooden door with a smile on my face. "How are you, beautiful," he said leaning down for a kiss.
                          
"I'm good," I said shyly. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pecked his lips multiple times.
                          
"Are you ready?" He asked as he hugged me lightly lifting me off the ground. I laughed and nodded as I dug my face into his neck.
                          
"I'm going to miss you," I muttered.
                          
"It's a week and a couple of days," he laughed as he placed me back on my feet. "Plus, I asked you to come, and you declined,"
                          
"I know," I pouted as I watched his biceps flex as he picked up a box filled with some of my clothes. I grabbed my book bag and followed him out the door. 
"I just wanted to spend as much time with my parents," I groaned regretting my decision.
                          
"Has anyone ever told you, you pout a lot," he laughed as he placed the box in the trunk of his white car. I continued to pout as he took my book bag and placed it next to the box.
                          
"Maybe," I smiled as he got close to my face.
                          
He grinned and kissed me. I gripped onto his biceps and smiled into the kiss. "I like your arms," I said running my hands and eyes over my biceps.
                          
"Oh yeah," he said cupping my face.
                          
"Yeah," I giggled. "They're nice," I flirted. He kissed me once more and then closed the trunk. He grabbed my hand and lead the way back to my dorm to get the rest of my things. We managed to only have to make one more trip to the car with the last four boxes.
                          
The car ride was pleasant, we managed to beat the brutal LA traffic and made it home in under 2 and a half hours. We talked about maybe renting a small apartment together for the next school year instead of staying at the dorms. It would probably end up being cheaper than staying at a dorm. It was a big step in our relationship. One that I was willing to take.
                          
I clapped my hands happily as he drove into the driveway. I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion as my eyes met a car I had never seen before next to my mother's car. "Well, I guess she has guests over," I said as I hopped out of the car.
                          
"Yeah, probably," he said shutting his car door. He walked around the car and gave me a side hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Here why don't you take your bag and a box and I'll take care of the rest, go say hi to your mom," he said sweetly.
                          
"Thank you M," I said as I grabbed some of my stuff. I walked to the front door as quickly as my two legs let me. I unlocked the door and shouted, "Mami, I'm home,"
                          
"Isa, chiquita, I am in the living room," she shouted.
                          
I dropped my stuff in the hall and made my way to the living room. My mom was sitting on the couch next to Joel's mom. I went over to hug my mom and then Patti. "Isa, I haven't seen you in months," she gushed.
                          
"I know," I smiled sadly. Joel's mom and I had always been pretty close but, I began to distance myself after the break up. There wasn't much to talk about if I wasn't dating her son. It would have been weird if I still talked to her if I didn't even talk to her son.
                          
"So that's your car out there?" I asked trying to make conversation.
                          
"Yes, Joel got it for me for my birthday," she smiled.
                          
"Well, it's very nice," I smiled softly. I was glad that at least his love for his family hadn't changed.
                          
"Yes, have you two talked at all?" My mom asked.
                          
"Here and there," I lied not wanting to break their hearts. I knew it would crush them if they knew we didn't talk at all anymore.
                          
"I'm glad," Patti said pushing her hair behind her shoulder.
                          
"Yeah," I nodded desperately wanting the subject to change. I heard the door creak and jumped up quickly "that's Max, I'm going to go see if he needs help, I'll be back," I said walking out the living room thankful for an excuse.
                          
"Are you okay?" I asked as he piled the boxes of my stuff.
                          
"Yeah I'm good, I'm done actually, let's go say hi to your mom,"
                          
I recoiled at the thought of Patricia knowing that Max was my boyfriend. I wasn't ashamed of Max one bit, things were just awkward.  I followed Max into my living room and waited for the interaction to be over. He greeted my mom sweetly, I always liked how he treated my parents with respect. "Hello Mrs. P," he said making his way over to Joel's mom.
                          
"Hey Max, Veronica was telling me that you two had started dating," she said looking at me.
                          
"Yeah," I said releasing a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. I swung my arms from side to side.
                          
"Well, I'm glad you choose a good guy," she said patting Max. "Your mom was telling me that he's quite the guy," she laughed.
                          
"He is," I said giving Max a smile. "Well, I'm glad you're here keeping my mom company, I'm going to go over to Max's to help him pack and then we're going to get dinner before his flight," I explained kissing my mom on the cheek and then Patricia. "Love you," I said to them as I grabbed Max and walked out the living room. 

                          
Joel is so cute tho he did get his mom a car for his birthday 🥺
                          
xx