Lots of people start college in January, you know. There’s no law that says you have to begin in September.”
She didn’t want to think about it. All her plans and dreams had been totally altered by her kidney failure, and it was too painful toremember them. “What about you? You’re going to be a senior and your senior year is supposed to be fun. Mine was … until this happened.”
He shook his head. “I’m not going back to high school. I can’t live with Jake and commute to Reston every day. And I don’t want to start over in another school district.”
“You can’t drop out of school!” she cried, horrified.
“I can test out. I’m smart, remember?” He gave a rueful smile. “At least that’s what the judge told me.”
“But it’s your senior year!”
“The only reason I hung around in high school at all was because of you, Jessie. I looked forward to that English class with you. Just seeing you in the halls and the cafeteria perked up my day. Don’t you see? You were the only thing that kept me in high school in the first place.”
“What about the prom and graduation ceremony?”
“You didn’t go to your prom.”
“And you know why.”
He brushed it off. “And as for graduating, Ican get into college without a high-school diploma if I test high enough. In fact, I plan to graduate from college without a high-school diploma.” He grinned. “Others have done it, so can I.”
She didn’t like it. She felt responsible for the course his life was taking. If it weren’t for her, he’d be living at home, at peace with his parents, planning to return to high school. He wouldn’t be embroiled in a tedious legal dispute. “If it weren’t for me—,” she began.
He silenced her with a quick kiss. “If it weren’t for you, I’d never have known what it feels like to love somebody the way I love you.”
She knew his words were supposed to make her feel better, but they didn’t. They made her feel guilty, and responsible for his choices. She wanted to release him from the debt he seemed to think he owed her. She told herself that once she returned home, she’d think of a way to set Jeremy free.
It was late when Jeremy returned to Jake’s. The TV was on, and Jake was watching a news program. “You’re on my bed,” Jeremy said. “And I’m whipped.”
Jake asked, “How’s Jessica?”
Jeremy told him, including the depression he sensed she was experiencing. He dropped onto the sofa and rubbed his neck. “Anyway, I gave her a pep talk, but I’m not sure it registered.”
Jake pushed the Mute button on the TV remote. “I’m sorry about the way things went today. Fran and I feel responsible for the defeat.”
“It was a calculated risk. We all knew that. My father’s got legal experience, and worse, he’s got time on his side.”
Jake looked at him, and Jeremy could tell he was holding something back. “What’s up?”
Jake grinned. “So much for a poker face, huh? Guess I’ll have to do better if I ever get to go in front of a jury.”
Jeremy watched him fidget, and a sudden stab of fear made him blurt, “You’re not planning on quitting on me, are you?”
“No, nothing like that. But something has come up. Your father called earlier this evening. He wants a meeting with you, Jeremy. He wants to talk to you face-to-face.”
Chapter
16
“H e wants a meeting—why? To gloat?”
Jeremy headed into the kitchen, and Jake followed him.
“I don’t think his motive is gloating. I think he just wants to talk to you.”
“We’ve already said all there is to say.” Jeremy jerked open the refrigerator door and rummaged through the shelves. He wasn’t hungry, only restless and agitated.
“He asked me if we were going to appeal today’s decision and I told him we were.”
“So, did he bite your head off because you’re helping me?”
“No. But he and I both know what we’re up against in the system.”
Jeremy slammed the refrigerator door.
She didn’t want to think about it. All her plans and dreams had been totally altered by her kidney failure, and it was too painful toremember them. “What about you? You’re going to be a senior and your senior year is supposed to be fun. Mine was … until this happened.”
He shook his head. “I’m not going back to high school. I can’t live with Jake and commute to Reston every day. And I don’t want to start over in another school district.”
“You can’t drop out of school!” she cried, horrified.
“I can test out. I’m smart, remember?” He gave a rueful smile. “At least that’s what the judge told me.”
“But it’s your senior year!”
“The only reason I hung around in high school at all was because of you, Jessie. I looked forward to that English class with you. Just seeing you in the halls and the cafeteria perked up my day. Don’t you see? You were the only thing that kept me in high school in the first place.”
“What about the prom and graduation ceremony?”
“You didn’t go to your prom.”
“And you know why.”
He brushed it off. “And as for graduating, Ican get into college without a high-school diploma if I test high enough. In fact, I plan to graduate from college without a high-school diploma.” He grinned. “Others have done it, so can I.”
She didn’t like it. She felt responsible for the course his life was taking. If it weren’t for her, he’d be living at home, at peace with his parents, planning to return to high school. He wouldn’t be embroiled in a tedious legal dispute. “If it weren’t for me—,” she began.
He silenced her with a quick kiss. “If it weren’t for you, I’d never have known what it feels like to love somebody the way I love you.”
She knew his words were supposed to make her feel better, but they didn’t. They made her feel guilty, and responsible for his choices. She wanted to release him from the debt he seemed to think he owed her. She told herself that once she returned home, she’d think of a way to set Jeremy free.
It was late when Jeremy returned to Jake’s. The TV was on, and Jake was watching a news program. “You’re on my bed,” Jeremy said. “And I’m whipped.”
Jake asked, “How’s Jessica?”
Jeremy told him, including the depression he sensed she was experiencing. He dropped onto the sofa and rubbed his neck. “Anyway, I gave her a pep talk, but I’m not sure it registered.”
Jake pushed the Mute button on the TV remote. “I’m sorry about the way things went today. Fran and I feel responsible for the defeat.”
“It was a calculated risk. We all knew that. My father’s got legal experience, and worse, he’s got time on his side.”
Jake looked at him, and Jeremy could tell he was holding something back. “What’s up?”
Jake grinned. “So much for a poker face, huh? Guess I’ll have to do better if I ever get to go in front of a jury.”
Jeremy watched him fidget, and a sudden stab of fear made him blurt, “You’re not planning on quitting on me, are you?”
“No, nothing like that. But something has come up. Your father called earlier this evening. He wants a meeting with you, Jeremy. He wants to talk to you face-to-face.”
Chapter
16
“H e wants a meeting—why? To gloat?”
Jeremy headed into the kitchen, and Jake followed him.
“I don’t think his motive is gloating. I think he just wants to talk to you.”
“We’ve already said all there is to say.” Jeremy jerked open the refrigerator door and rummaged through the shelves. He wasn’t hungry, only restless and agitated.
“He asked me if we were going to appeal today’s decision and I told him we were.”
“So, did he bite your head off because you’re helping me?”
“No. But he and I both know what we’re up against in the system.”
Jeremy slammed the refrigerator door.
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