“Hey Shorty, you gonna be ok?” Aaron asked as he cooked dinner.
Elise was sitting in the living room next to the phone, “Yeah, I guess,” she stood up, “How long does it take to get to Paris?” she yelled.
Aaron put down his knife and walked over to Elise who had begun crying, “It’ll be ok,” he wrapped his arms around her and let her cry on his shoulder.
“I’m sorry I don’t mean to cry,” Elise wiped away her tears.
“Don’t be sorry, it’s perfectly natural to miss him.”
“Thank you Aaron,” she wiped the rest of the tears off her face and straightened up. Smiling she said, “ Do you want to eat dinner now?” Aaron smiled back and they sat down to eat.
Halfway through the phone rang, “Never fails does it?” Aaron smiled.
Elise ran over to the phone and picked it up, “ALEX!”
“Hey ‘Lise, I miss you,” A.J. said softly.
“Oh god, what took you so long?”
“I’m sorry, we got stuck in a bit of a mob. I got out as soon as I could. I knew you would be worried.”
“I don’t know how I will be able to do this.”
“You’ll get through it, I know you will.”
“A.J. will you do me a huge favor?”
“Sure, anything.”
“What are you holding in your hand?”
“Um… well I was just about to step outside,”
“Put down the cigarette.”
“Dang, you’re smart.”
“I want you to throw it away, I need you to quit.”
“Ok,” Elise heard the clink of the pack in the bottom of a trashcan. “You need me to do anything else?”
“No alcohol either.”
“Wow,”
“Get the guys to keep you on track.”
“It’s worth it. I’ll do anything for my babies.”
“You promise?”
“Yeah I promise, with all my heart. Baby, I’m so sorry, I have to go. I love you.”
“I love you too babe, bye.”
“Bye.”
Elise hung up the phone and sat back down.
“Do you think he can do it?”
“I do, I really think he can do it this time.”
“Oh Elise I meant to remind you, I won’t be able to go to school the first two weeks.”
“Why?”
“Court.”
“Oh, yeah… well I hope you win.”
“Me too, but I also don’t want people to think I don’t love my parents.”
“I know what you mean.”
“I’m going to get a student to help me out so they can get credits and stuff.”
“That’s cool.”
“I figure it’ll give them a job they can actually enjoy and you won’t have to drive me everywhere.”
“How are you gonna choose?”
“Well, I have a list of about 10 eligible girls and I just choose.”
“Just choose your favorite?”
“Well if I don’t get along with her it’ll suck around here.”
“Good point.”
“Well Aaron, I’m gonna head up to bead now.”
“Sleep good.”
“You too Aaron, and don’t stay up to late.”
“I won’t I’m gonna head to bed now.”
“Goodnight.”
“You too.” And with that they both went off to bed.