Best Friends & Soul Mates

Chapter Three ~ Dream or Wish Come True

Crystal POV

    I have no idea what that was all about but after Caelan and Brian left Ms. Williamson’s office we started to gather our things to leave. My parents told Ms. Williamson that they would be taking me home now even though it was only second period. Mom said, they needed to go over some things with me regarding the conference and house rules. Just as we reached the door, Kendra and her parents stood to follow us out.

    Ms. Williamson stopped us saying, “Those two boys or should I say young men who just left here were the highest awarded invitees this school has ever had. Karl is a lot like his brother, and he looks up to Caelan, I am sure they will be preparing him for what to expect at the conference. It may be a good idea for you ladies to join a study group or even see about them training you both as well. You will need to sharpen your skills if you want to get more than the guaranteed $25,000.00 scholarship. Caelan walked away with almost a full ride to school with the $100,000.00 he received, and Brian wasn’t that far off at $65,000.00. It’s just a suggestion. It would require you ladies to get to know all three guys and spend more time with them. You have three weeks until the conference. It can’t hurt!” Kendra and I looked at her and smiled as we walked out the door and our parents followed us.

    As we walked towards the parking lot, I heard James and Joel telling my mother and Marie that they weren’t very comfortable with us girls spending too much time with three boys, nonetheless. I was proud of my mother stating that we were smart girls with a bright future, and we needed a little rope otherwise we would rebel. Marie agreed with mom stating that Kendra was only being foolish because they were keeping such a tight rope on her. Nonetheless, they both agreed that trusting us to make the right decisions is the best way to help us grow into strong mature adults. Kendra turned eighteen last month and my eighteenth birthday is in two months. We are adults and should be able to make some decisions on our own. Kendra and I looked at each other and smiled.

    As we approached the parking lot, I looked towards the cars and my eyes locked with Caelan’s. That man was a dream and every time he looked at me my heart skipped a beat, and my body became flushed and hot. I smiled as he smiled back at me and I quickly looked away walking to mom’s car that I brought to school today, I slid in on the passenger side just as I saw him pull away. I heard Joel tell mom he would meet us at home and James told Joel that they would come over to our place to discuss the conference around lunch time. Mom put the keys in the ignition and started the car, as we pulled out the parking lot mom spoke,

    “What you think, honey? This sounds like an amazing opportunity for you and Kendra. I know Joel can be really protective at times, but he really loves you as his own and just wants the best for you. I do too but I also know that you are growing up and you have been the perfect daughter never really giving us any issues and if boys would be the first time you give us issues practically as an adult, I couldn’t be any more grateful.” She said while glancing at me and smiling. I smiled back thinking about what she had just told me.

    “Mom, I really do want to do my very best at the conference. This is like a dream or wish come true for both me and Kendra. We always talk about going to college and being dormmates. She wants to be a Pediatrician, I want to be an Obstetrician, both of those requires medical school which would be very expensive. Can you talk dad and her parents into letting us train I mean study with Brian and Caelan? I think they are our best hope.” I said with a hopeful tone looking at mom as she focused on the road.

    “I will see what I can do. I agree that they might be your best hope but honey I need you to promise me you will stay focused at least until this is all over. Can you do that for me?” She asked as we were pulling in our driveway at home.

    “Yes mom, I promise to stay focused until graduation. No boys until college.” I said giggling at her when she pinched my nose and wrapped her arms around my shoulders to pull me into a hug.

    As we were getting out of the car Kendra and her parents were driving by. I wrapped my arm in my mom’s arm and laid my head on her upper arm as we walked up the porch to the front door. Just as we opened the door Joel was pulling in the driveway and jumping out of the car.

    “Sorry I’m so late, I needed to stop Brian to get his phone number.” Joel said as he walked in the door behind us.

    I walked down the hall to my room thinking about Caelan. God, that man was sexy. Everything about him was sexy especially his eyes and deep dimples. He was mesmerizing. I plopped on my bed with a dreamy sigh and reminded myself of the promise I just made mom. No boys until College. I giggled again, then laid back on my back staring at the ceiling.

    “Hey Baby girl, Can I talk with you for a minute?” Joel asked as he lightly knocked on my door that was wide open.

    “Yeah Joel, what’s up?” I said sitting up and looking at him as he grabbed a chair straddling it and sitting directly in front of me.

    “Mom and I have been discussing this conference and I want you to know that we are very— I mean extremely proud of you. You have been the perfect child, never really giving us any grief, and we are both very thankful and grateful for that. I know sometimes, I don’t seem as understanding as you may hope, but I love you. You are my only child and even though I’m not your biological father, you are still my baby girl, and you can come to me for anything. We realize, you are not a baby or even a child anymore. You have grown to be such a remarkable young lady and we are blessed to have you. I just—.” he said to me with the love of fathers beaming in his eyes. I stood up with tears in my eyes, cutting him off and wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing his cheek.

    “I love you, dad!” I said while wiping the tears that finally fell down my cheek.

    “I love you too, Baby girl!” he said with a smile.

    Just then mom walked in and told us that Kendra and her parents arrived and that she was making sandwiches and fruit salad for lunch. She asked dad to help her in the kitchen and he stood and followed her out of my room to the kitchen.

    I stood up to walk out of my room when my phone buzzed on my bed. I grabbed my phone and checked the notification. It’s a text message from Oscar.

    “Hey Crystal, Todd told me he saw you leaving with your parents during second period. Are you okay?” Oscar could be so sweet at times. I forgot we were supposed to chat at lunch today.

    “Yeah, I’m okay. Can I call you later?” I waited for his response for a few minutes.

    He replied, “Yeah that would be fine. I just wanted to be sure because I’m at our spot and you aren’t here.”

    I sighed and replied, “I’m sorry it was unexpected. I should have texted you earlier. I will call you around 4:00. Talk to you then.” I sat my phone back on the bed and walked out of my room and into the family room, where my parents were waiting for me with Kendra and her parents. When I walked into the family room, my mom stood and said, “Let’s discuss this over lunch. I have prepared some six-inch turkey sub sandwiches with a fruit salad and freshly squeezed lemonade.” They all stood up and we all walked into the kitchen and took a seat. Mom and Joel sat together on one side of the table, Marie and James took the other side and Kendra and I sat on the ends. Mom already had lunch spread over the table, we all grabbed our own portion and began to eat.

    After a few minutes of a comfortable silence, my mother spoke, “How do you guys feel about what Ms. Williamson said about Brian and Caelan training the girls for this conference? I really think it will give the girls an advantage since they know what to expect already,” she said to Joel and Kendra’s parents. “I think I agree with you Carla, if the girls are going to have a good chance at doing well at the conference, then knowing what to expect would give them the advantage.” Marie responded and gave her husband a knowing look. James looked over at Kendra then back to his wife before saying, “I don’t know Marie, this is a teenage boy and two young men. I don’t want Kendra to get distracted. You already know what we caught her doing just earlier this week with the boy Todd,” he said in a disappointing tone and Kendra dropped her head in shame. “Why don’t you girls let us parents talk this through? We will let you girls know what we decide in a little bit. Crystal, you and Kendra, go ahead to your room. We will come get you in a bit,” my mother said in a comforting tone.

    Kendra and I are sitting in my bedroom talking about the conference. We left the parents in the family room and came to my room to give them privacy. It’s around 3:00 pm now and Mrs. Marie knocks on my door before stepping in my room. She looked at us with a little hesitation than she said, “Kendra, we are going to head home to get ready for dinner. You can stay a while with Crystal but be sure to come get ready for dinner by 6pm. We will be joining Crystal, Carla, and Joel for dinner along with Brian, Caelan, Karl, and Amilah. We have decided to ask Brian and Caelan to prepare you girls for the conference. Kendra your dad and I are very hesitate about this, but we know it will give you girls the best chances at the conference, but we are very uncomfortable with you being alone and spending so much time with men.” she looked away for a minute then looked back at us as if she was pleading with us.

    “They are very attractive men, but you girls are no longer children, you are young women. Please respect yourselves, your body, and all that you want in life. Make us even prouder of you guys then we already are.” I looked at Kendra and she looked back at me before she spoke, “Mom, you don’t have to worry. Crystal and I were just talking, and I will make you the same promise she made Mrs. Carla.” she grabbed my hand and squeezed it with hers then said while I nodded in confirmation, “We will stay focused until Graduation and No boys until College!” just as she finished speaking my mother walked in and placed her hand on Mrs. Marie shoulder. They looked at each other and smiled then looked back at us and we all smiled at each other. After a brief silence Mrs. Marie finally spoke, “You girls Promise?” we both smiled and nodded our heads. My mother and Mrs. Marie gave us a hug and left my room.