Chapter 531) Uni Tours & Dinner Dates

University of Britchester Campus
Lecture Hall 3

Looking bored, Bri sighed, sinking deeper into her chair trying to focus on the monotonous voice of the university administrator rambling on about the ‘fun’ facts of the university that sounded everything but fun.

This was the first uni campus of five she and Iris were going to see over the next few days, which was going to be a herculean task, considering her parents looking equally bored next to her. At least they could finally sit, turns out uni campuses are surprisingly large, they all had walked themselves some blisters by now and already Bri had forgotten almost everything they has been shown earlier by some uber-hyped girl with a ridiculously squeaky voice, who barely even took a breath going on and on about all the campus amenities and highlights. Oh, and of course, goooooo Britchester … something rather. Whatever that mascot was supposed to be again, Bri forgot, but it looked like a dang lizard. Were they for real about that?! They all were proud to identify as lizards here? All Bri could think of was car insurance commercials with a similar mascot and had a hard time not to laugh considering how serious everyone here was about that weird thing. Ugh! Then again, the modern campus where all the science nerds evidently roamed had some unidentifiable red thing as a mascot, that reminded Bri of a lobster, and they were all just as mega-proud of that. And also evidently both campuses were at ‘war’ and had been for decades. Okaaaaaaay, but hard to ignore the fact that they were literally right next to each other and shared some of the same facilities, like restaurants, cafes, even the library where the orientation was currently being held, talking everyone into submission with random, unnecessary verbiage. UGH! UGH! UGH! If THIS was what college was like, Bri had some very long years ahead of her. Yikes!

Suddenly someone sat down on the other side of her, where some other potential future student had nodded off twice, then left and never come back. Iris was on the other end next to Hailey, Bri next to Chase. The girls had to be separated in settings their parents wanted them to focus or they would whisper to each other non-stop and miss everything.
Bri purposely fought the instinct to look over at the new arrival, as she and Iris had already been hit on by 5 different boys despite their parents right there, just while trying to find the orientation hall, not to mention the countless request for Selfies and autographs their dad had gone through. Having a famous dad who was just ‘daddy’ to the girls and Connor was no big deal, until they left their safe bubble and the fangirling and paparazzi started. By the time they finally found four empty seats, the only question left in either of their minds was who would lose their patience first the next time one of them got hit on. And that was after the girls spent most of the long car ride out here rolling their eyes at each other, because ever since their mom Hailey came down the stairs back home after getting ready, their dad had been openly drooling over her, smooching around on her, flirting, dropping innuendos about her new outfit, purchased specifically for college tours with their daughters.

‘Sexy Secretary look’ and such were some the mildest things Chase said about her very high fashion business suit and matching dark heels, highlighting the warmth of her complexion and hair. While being flirty wasn’t necessarily unusual for them, the context was off for the girls. Who could feel romantic while going on something like a college tour?

From the moment they had left the parking garage for campus visitors they had been getting non-stop attention, mostly stares, everyone had their cell phones out photographing and recording, some called out at them, and the most brazen ones got right up in their faces, because even for this relatively prestigious campus the visit of an international music star was front page news. So, every Cameron family member avoided making eye contact with non-family members. Best not to encourage it.

Suddenly, a paper cup from a popular cafe chain was placed on the floor right next to her seat, Bri couldn’t help but stare at it by her leg, then shoot the perpetrator a grim ‘WTF?!‘ glare for presumably trying to stick her with his trash, right as he whispered:

“Snuck in the contraband for you, the ONLY way to make it through one of these. Speaking from experience.”

Here eyes opened wide for surprise. The person next to her, the voice, the face, those curls and the familiar scent, always fresh, as if he just stepped out of a shower.

“Brad!” she exclaimed, a tad too excited, causing several glares and shooshing.

“Sorry!” she whispered at her dad next to her, who had nudged her hard, then nodded at Brad once he noticed him, while Hailey waved briefly at the 17-year-old boy.

“What are you doing here? We’re hours from the Bay and I thought you’ve already chosen your school.” Bri whispered towards Brad, smiling, clearly happy to see him.

“I have. This one actually, but all my classes will be over on the modern campus, where the science labs are, so I came as moral support for you and maybe to sway the vote a little in this campus’ favor. Been to enough of these to know the only way all the campuses really differ is how painful the presentations and actual tours can be, and whether you can drive back home during breaks or have to book flights. And of course, in the size of the bills our parents get for sending us to them. I chose this cos it’s only a few hours away from home, but far enough to ward off constant parental ‘drive-bys’. So, it’s gonna be ‘gooooo Larry, the Lobster’ for me in less than a year. Bet you loved that. Just please don’t say anything. I beg you. They get REALLY offended here if you do. My mom couldn’t help giggle at that during my tour, mostly because we had lobster for dinner the night before, and she got eye daggers from faculty, students and my dad. So, if you go here, we may be enemies because, you know, Larry the Lobster versus Darby the Dragon.” Brad told her grinning. He just knew her too well.

“It is deeply concerning to me that you remember the names of those silly gimmicks. I think you need the coffee more than I do, Braddy. We’ll share it. Oh, and if you – at any point – start dressing up like a dang lobster – or a dragon – I will not remember your name. Nope!”

Smiling, Bri sipped her coffee, it was just the way she liked it, then handed Brad the cup he took a few sips, while Bri leaned back, listening to the speakers as she marveled at Brad’s sweet gestures and thoughtfulness. After a while, she felt a hand nudging hers, so she moved hers closer as Brad’s fingers wrapped around hers. She closed her eyes and sighed.

Once the speakers were done and the info material had been handed out, Bri’s parents invited Brad to a beverage at the uni cafeteria to talk over the college with their daughters. Iris shrugged, clearly unimpressed by the entire experience.

“So unless one of the next college tours has some super interesting courses for something I never heard of, it’s gonna have to be either music, acting or something in an office for me. After dad got swarmed non-stop today at campus, I am SO over that again, thinking I am just not into the whole fame thing. Thinking maybe business, like mom studied, and I can work with Sterling at his dad’s tech company like mom did with dad. Or maybe even law. I need to see if I can grab Nick at some point to pick his brain on this. Anyone heard anything about his schedule of late? I know they travel a lot. Are they home in Newcrest?” Iris summarized, her parents both nodding, while Bri grimaced and spoke.

“Why would we know Nick’s schedule? Just pick up the phone and call him, I am sure he’ll talk to you or tells you when he has time for you. But I agree with the rest you said. Well, not the Sterling part obviously. I like music, but just can’t see that being my career after seeing how rough that can get. Thought I’d like fashion, but those scary rags they showed us as examples of final year design students’ creations were the stuff nightmares are made of, so no thanks, I don’t wanna have to be responsible for something like that just to get the right grades – ever! Leaves business or law for me as well. The way Nick and Uncle Liam talk about some of their cases though I don’t know I could stomach some of the shit they have to deal with. I still don’t know. Feel more confused than before.” sighed Bri.

“Just putting this out there: Ever considered the medical and health care field?” Brad asked her.

“Oh no way! I am not doctor-material. I instantly get nauseous if I see blood. And I am not even joking, ask Connor, I literally puked on him while he ported … ahem … I mean took me to the emergency room after my stitches busted. I’ll leave the lifesaving to you and my brother.”

“I wasn’t thinking surgery and such. Leave the gory and gross stuff to Connor and me, but how about Psychology? You know, as in therapist or behavioral analyst, profiler and such. I think you’d be great at it. And if I may say so, you’re manipulative enough to steer people in a better direction.”

“He’s right. Good point. I can see you as a therapist.” Hailey agreed.

“Our daughter a shrink? Seriously Patches? I don’t know … no offense Bri. Or Brad. I do like the idea of our girls as business majors like their mother. Or law. But Bri a shrink?” Chase frowned.

“Yes, Gump, seriously. Hang on. We’ll ask a genius who also knows about medicine.”

Hailey pulled out her phone and dialed, turning on speakerphone.

“‘sup mom?” Connor’s voice croaked through the speaker.

“We need your expert advice, baby, and you’re on speaker. We’re here at U-Brite after a campus tour, not much wiser than before, Iris has narrowed her choices down, but Bri is clueless about a direction still, and Brad had a good suggestion which I am kinda loving, but wanted to hear your take cos your daddy is doubtful. Your feelings about Bri as a therapist?”

“Why is Brad there? No hate, kid, just wondering, ya know, all things considered.” Connor’s word squawked out, making Brad frown.

“We just ran into him. Con-Bear … my question?” Hailey pressed.

“So, Psych courses? Yeah, I like it, had thought about bringing that up to you guys myself after seeing her with some patients at my hospital and then with Stryker. I think she’d rock being a therapist, she can read people, encourage them, she has a good heart and can be very sweet. It just slipped my mind after Bri’s accident at Jackson’s place. I understandably had my head and hands full with that nugget, especially when I had to go back to calm that boy down too. Felt like his daddy, seriously!”

Brad’s had snapped to catch Bri’s gaze, grimacing, Bri shrugged.

“I was just helping Connor with Stryker. Ask him. Just speech training.”

“I didn’t say anything … I knew you had an accident, but you didn’t say where and with whom … but I did wonder how in the world you would reopen your stitches, that’s not THAT easy to do without strenuous activity or hard impact. Just wondering how all that would apply now …”

“You are thinking stupid stuff! And you are wrong. None of THAT. I swear.”

“How do you know what I was thinking? Now you can read minds? Fine, what am I thinking now?” Brad challenged, not even trying to hide his jealousy.

“I can tell you what I am thinking, namely that mommy is on the phone here, Brad! Can you guys quit the bickering? I have two hormonal and often cranky teen girls at home, not to mention the occasionally whiny and needy husband, I do not need this old married couple spiel from you two now – WHILE I AM ON THE PHONE!” Hailey interjected.

“Sorry Mrs. C.” Brad said, humbled by Hailey’s reprimand and Bri’s sad pouting, so he took her hand and squeezed it, mouthing ‘I’m sorry.’ to her, which made her smile.

“Yeah mom and dad, have her look into courses and I can go over some of that next time we’re together. Some of what she’ll have to sit through is gonna be bone-dry theory, not sure if Bri’s got the focus and stamina for that, and she still will have to take anatomy and look at some not so cute stuff, but if she can handle it, I am all for it. My lil sister a quasi-colleague, not hating it.” Connor chuckled.

“Same.” Brad shrugged smiling.

“Okay. I’ll look into Psych classes then. Maybe while I can’t fix my own life, I have better luck with that of others.” Bri sad with a frowny smile.

When they headed for the cars, Brad pulled Bri aside.

“Can we go out tonight? Friendly date or something? Maybe for old times sake. Any excuse really.” Brad said.

“What did you have in mind?” Bri asked, strolling next to him.

“Whatever you like. Just wanna see you.” Brad shrugged.

“If you mean a club or lounge I am gonna have to pass. Not feeling all that people-y today. Already had more than my fill with the campus crowd.” Bri said.

“Then come over to my place. I can cook for us or order something, my parents will be out till late. Some business dinner of my mom’s.” Brad suggested.

“Okay. Under one condition: I’ll cook for us. I learned cooking, mostly to impress you, yet never really got the chance to put it to use except for that cake I made you.”

“A very tasty cake, too.”

“You liked it.”

“Ate the whole dang thing by myself, like a squirrel.” Brad made funny squirrelly eating sounds and matching gestures, making Briar Rose laugh.

Okay, I’ll be over tonight, with the ingredients, to impress you with the most basic – but – fully homecooked pasta dish you will ever eat.”

“I am a basic bitch, sounds good to me.” he smiled.

They hugged and then split ways, as he had parked in a different direction from Bri’s dad.

Brindleton Bay
Cunningham Estate
Later that same day

Stirring in a pot, pulling out the wooden spoon she used to stir, she dipped her finger in it to taste it, then dipped her finger straight into the pot, holding it in front of Brad’s face, who chuckled

“The finger? Not to brag, but we have a multitude of cutlery. Usually, people use a fresh spoon for taste testing. We even have more than one spoon, Bri, we are bougie like that.” chuckled Brad.

“Trying to impress me with your cutlery collection now, you showoff? And because I dipped my freshly washed clinically pristinely sterile finger into the pasta sauce for less than one millisecond, now dinner is contaminated with nasty Bri-cooties and you won’t eat it?” Briar Rose teased and turned, when Brad grabbed her finger and licked the taste of sauce Bolognese off it.

Both could feel the air charging up with invisible sparkles, so Bri quickly said.

“You’re gonna turn into ME now …. my evil plan is coming together… prepare to mutate into a Bri clone …. MUAHAHAHAHAHA.” Bri mimicked the evil laughter from the villains in movies, hoping her attempt at joking would avoid the possible moment of weakness.

“Cool, finally something more fun to play with!” he told her smiling and with a wink.

“OMG, shut up! If your parents were to hear you! They’d say I ruined you with my bad influence and we’d be forbidden to ever speak to each other, breathe the same air, let alone be in the same ZIP Code together.”

“Oh, you ruined me all right …” he joked, kissing her cheek from behind.

“Brad!” Bri pulled away, shaking her head at him.

“Sorry … still not used to … that. I’m trying, but it’s hard, Bri.” he told her with a sigh.

“Try harder or your dad is gonna descent on us with a full embargo or he’ll send you off to military school or the peace corps or whatever. Trust me, I know, it’s almost like a reflex to just kiss you when we hang out. Except … we can’t. Shouldn’t … We’re gonna have to deal with momentary pigeon-heading each time we run into each other until we are used to this not being what it was.” she told him, her expression softened, as she gently ran her fingers against his cheek.

They looked at each other silently, until Bri pulled away, shaking her head.

“Okay, enough! We need to quit this, or I am gonna sit in some corner sobbing the rest of the evening, instead of impressing you with the very basic knowledge about cooking I have now. Remember to be impressed. Or at least pretend to be.” she decided, followed with a deep sigh.

“I’d be curled up in a ball sobbing right next to you. And I am already impressed you didn’t burn the water … like you did the last time. Still a scientific mystery how that is even possible, but you managed, and I saw it.” he told her, grinning.

“Yeah yeah yeah. I’ll remember that when it comes time to add salt. There will be a LOT of that on your food, like layers upon layers. You guys’ pool will be empty by the time I leave from you trying to quench that cotton mouth I am about to give you for making fun of me. Sweet, sweet revenge. Or actually salty, in this case.” Bri laughed.

“Not to dismiss your threats, chef Bri, but shouldn’t the salt already have gone in by now?” Brad asked, grinning.

“Uh – I don’t know … I’d have to phone a friend … aka Sophie. Are you sure? Should it? I thought seasonings come in towards the end? Did I remember that wrong?”

“Well, they usually cook pasta in something called saltwater … so logic would dictate kinda yes … ya know? Unless the recipes assume we get all the water straight from the ocean.”

“Oh, right. Well, don’t stand there spewing logic, go find wherever you guys keep your salt then!”

“Right here, in a new invention called ‘saltshaker’.” Brad held up the item then proceeded to add it to the boiling pasta water.

Both giggled, when Brad’s father entered the kitchen. Bri’s smile faded instantly, and she turned away, rinsing off a few utensils at the sink by the window.

“Oh boy, guess I am the mood killer now. Hello Bri, nice to see you again. How are you feeling?” Dr. Cunningham attempted a friendly talk.

“Good, thanks.” she said without turning around.

“Uh – Dad, did you need anything? Why are you home already?” Brad’s facial expression matched his unwelcoming tone.

“Ouch. Well, I forgot my sportscoat for the dinner with your mother’s colleagues and she was stuck in court all day so she couldn’t grab it for me. Sorry to have interrupted, hope I didn’t ruin the mood completely. And for what it’s worth, I am very happy to see you here, Bri. I said it before and I will say it again, this was never anything personal. My wife and I adore you, still, Bri. I am glad this didn’t cause a rift between you kids.”

“Yeah – Let me get that coat for you, dad. The blue one, I assume?” Brad asked.

Without waiting for his father to answer he left the kitchen, clearly trying hard to get rid of his father faster. While their fight had ended and things returned to normalcy at the Cunningham home following Bri and Brad’s break up, Brad hadn’t forgiven his father, and likely never would, even though both were civil with one another.

“Wow, guess he can’t wait for me to leave again. Bri, listen, maybe you could find it in your heart to just leaf through the information about that surgery I had sent over …” he tried, which sent Bri turning around to him, glaring.

“OMG, Dr. Cunningham, do you never stop?! That went straight in the trash, like all the other unsolicited spam. You are beating a dead horse here, but sure, let’s do it one more time for the road: No. Not happening. Never. I just had to be restitched because of more drama I never asked for, and it just reaffirmed my decision, I do NOT want more surgeries unless absolutely necessary, and this one isn’t, especially since the risks outweigh the benefits from my perspective! I know in your world me being underage and not having a dick translates to not having any say in anything, then again, your own son fulfills at least one of those criteria and STILL got buried under your stupid rules and ideas, but luckily, I was born to two sane people, who want things in life for me OTHER than just whelping out kids to enhance someone else’s family tree!”

Brad reentered the kitchen, slamming the coat into his dad’s arms, before standing before Bri, demonstratively shielding her.

“Tell me you didn’t start with that shit again!? What is WRONG with you?! Ever heard of bedside manners, DOCTOR Cunningham!? Bri is still healing, and you agitate her again!? Ever thought this could be hard enough on Bri without you rubbing her face in it every chance you get!? If you make me lose her any more than you already have, I swear you will lose me too! And I wouldn’t chance it to see how serious I am about that, dad. You’d be unpleasantly surprised, cos I am so tempted to just say ‘fuck it’ to all of this here already … I had the best day today – until now, because you are here!” Brad laid into his father.

“Brad, calm down! I don’t want you two to be broken up any more than you do, I can see you are both hurting, and I see there is the solution for it right in front of us, so of course I try to steer her towards it, it’s called parenting, my son! Bri clearly is very resilient; she’d probably only need one small surgery and some recovery and be like nothing ever happened! I should have never mentioned the complications, they are so rare anyway, but I tried to be fully transparent with her, guess I overestimated her maturity level and all she heard was the negatives and now she can’t see all the many positives. So let me say it very clearly one more time: Briar Rose, I would love nothing more than you have you part of our family one day. My wife and I absolutely adore you for so many reasons, and this is NOT what I want either. I know my son is hurting which hurts me, I love Brad, but I am bound by a promise and the weight of generations worth of Cunninghams before me, who have sacrificed so much. If we had another son, this would never be a topic. But we do not, all we have is Brad to put this weight on now. When my father died, very suddenly and well before his time, he barely met his only grandson, but his last breath was used to apologize to me for having been absent so much when I was growing up, because he worked so hard to make Cunningham Medical into what it is now, and he made me swear to do better with Brad – and to make sure our sacrifices weren’t in vain and Cunningham Medical would have a long, prosperous future. Maybe you will be a mother one day, maybe you won’t, I can’t chance it. I cannot deal in ‘maybes’. I know there never is absolute certainty in fertility, it’s always guesswork and even a lot of luck, but I cannot just ignore known facts and fact is for you it will be very hard, if at all possible, to have a child without the surgery. I cannot unknow what I know for a fact.”

Bri sighed, shaking her head.

“Look, I am not trying to be disrespectful, Dr. Cunningham …” she said.

“Please Jeff is fine.”

“No thanks, Dr. Cunningham. See, what you are missing is that I DO understand WHY you feel the way you do. I get it, I actually do. But here’s the judgmental part I can’t get over: You literally put a promise to a dead guy – no disrespect to Brad’s late grandpa but he isn’t here to see any of this – over the wellbeing and wishes of your only son, who’s very much alive. Dead people don’t hurt anymore, but the living do. THAT is where my family differs from yours, while there is no real shortage of lineage to continue the tree overall, there are some childless couples and yet, nobody is clutching their pearls falling to their knees in despair. If one of the branches doesn’t have heirs, someone else will take over. Why let that bother you, by the time that becomes relevant, you’d be dead, since that is obviously how inheritances work, so who cares? A very smart man recently opened my eyes to the fact that there also are a LOT of orphans and foster kids in need of help. So, if I really can’t swing it myself, if I ever wanted to, trust me, I will put the money my parents worked so hard for to very good use and help those children who need it.” Bri said, trying to ignore the admiring stares by Brad.

“Okay, your vision to better the world with this kind approach honors you, Bri, but whenever you reach that age where procreation and legacy becomes truly relevant, maybe even important to you, I hope we can pick up this conversation again, as I promise you Bri, as much as I admire your humanitarian ideas here, and they certainly have their place with peers of your parents, famous people in the entertainment industry are notorious for adopting, for one as it always is good for publicity as well, but those of us of the so-called old guard put a lot of value in our children and their children being part of our own DNA. A legacy like mine is pointless, what good is an heir, if it’s not the same bloodline.” Dr. Jeffrey Cunningham told her, which derailed Brad’s admiration for Bri’s ideas.

“Dad – you did NOT just say that! What kind of elitism BS is that now again?! Who are you these days?! So, what if I were born a girl and still your only kid and what happened to Bri were to happen to me? I’d be useless? Or would you just put me under the knife until I function enough to pop out a kid for you from some husband you and mom approved after he agreed to take the Cunningham name? What if one day I only have one child and it’s a girl. Your ideas are disgusting!” Brad challenged.

“Why worry about things that are irrelevant, Brad? I know you are still upset with me, and will be for a while, but I am hoping in some years down the road we can all sit down and talk about it like adults, for one, because by then you both will be. Chances are, it quit hurting and you both moved on by then, maybe you even realize a bit better how the world truly works. Idealism only gets you so far, Bri. As sad as this is. And you, Bradford, should take some pride in who you are and where you came from and how much has been sacrificed by those before you to get you to this level, rather than just stand there, high and mighty and criticize things you CLEARLY do not fully understand, but will one day.”

“Yeah, dad, thanks for those sobering insights, but aren’t you gonna be late for the dinner? You don’t want to piss of mom now too, do you?”

With a deep sigh Dr. Cunningham gave one last look to Bri and his son, then left.

“Enjoy your dinner, kids. Smells good by the way, Bri.”

The moment he left, Brad just grabbed Bri and hugged her.

“Ignore the idiot, I am so sorry about him. Listening to him I am almost certain it would be best for the world if we didn’t continue this bloodline at all. Thinking my gift to myself when I turn 18 should be a vasectomy.”

“I disagree. The world could use a dozen more like you, Braddy. Just wish I could be part of that. My sweet warrior. Not to mention they would be some very cute babies, with those curls of yours. Yeah, I am legit obsessed with your hair. And that after I was annoyed by fangirling all day long.” she said sincerely.

As the hug ended she placed a small peck on Brad’s cheek.

Smiling he arched his eyebrow at her.

“Didn’t you just remind me that PDA is highly inappropriate between us now, Miss Cameron?”

“That’s my brand, Mr. Cunningham. Inappropriate and borderline illegal. That’s me. I am your visual reminder of what not to do.”

“Is burnt food part of your brand identity too?” he winked, pointing at the stove.

“Oh shit!”

Giggling, both tried to save the slightly singed dinner.

Afterwards, the table cleared again, finishing up in the kitchen together, Bri kept looking at Brad, which he eventually noticed.

“Just say it, Bri. You staring at me like a serial killer contemplating her next move is making me paranoid.”

“I was actually contemplating something nice. A trip. Something substantial. For winter break, let’s go away. Just us, somewhere, anywhere. Somewhere exotic, places we haven’t been to. Just see the world, have an adventure, just no noise.”

“I like the idea, but we can’t. For one, were not 18. The parents aren’t gonna sign off on that, not considering fairly recent events. And you’re still healing, I don’t think that’s a good idea. Especially if you want to go to exotic places, that usually translates into infections and diarrhea unless you stay at resorts.”

“I am not THAT fragile! I am also pretty sure they have doctors in exotic places now, Brad. Come on, grandpa. Please.”

“Bri I can’t. I want to, trust me, but I don’t want to get our hopes up for something I am sure won’t be happening. Sorry. Unless …. maybe I could wait for a day when my dad feels super-guilty again about breaking us up and see if I can talk him into a week in Tartosa, we’ve been there before without any adults and nothing happened, all went smooth and it was a lot of fun, we could have separate cabins to make the parents feel good about it … although I don’t have much hope. And I know we’ve been there, but still, we would be away together and not under the parental magnifying glass for a bit …”

“Okay, my dad is about to travel again for some performances at Christmas season events for some of the bigger TV networks. Iris won’t go, she wants to do the whole Christmas season experience with Sterling since it’s the last one before college, but I wanna go and could ask if you could come along. Tell them something about you wanting to get a behind-the-scenes look at a musician’s life or whatever. We’d theoretically have parents watching us, but I know from experience that the days he has performances they both are so busy and won’t pay much attention. I know they have two nights scheduled in Sulani, and I think another 2 in Komorebi. Not sure about the rest, I think DSV too, so that could be interesting.”

“That is definitely not gonna happen. My dad and your dad aren’t exactly loving each other at the moment. And you know how he feels about musicians. That’s him, not me, but he’s the one having to allow it, and he won’t. To him, all celebrities are nothing but drug and alcohol addicted chain-smoking reckless rowdies, who hold one orgy after another when not screaming to autotune on stages. He hasn’t exactly said those words, but it’s obvious that music isn’t a real career in his book. If we could wait till we’re both 18 …”

“”Brad, I need to get away NOW. I just turned 17 a few months ago and you are only two months older than me. I can’t wait almost a year.”

“I don’t know what to tell you. I can’t. I want to, but I can’t just pack my bags and run. You know my parents would raise hell before we even got off the plane …”

“Okay, fine, I’ll go alone then. With my parents or without, if I can think of a way to sell it to them.” Bri said, her tone defeated.

“Bri! You can’t go alone. Your parents won’t allow it and it’s too dangerous. You had surgery, and your stitches already opened once. That would be insane. Maybe we can go to an amusement park or something.”

“Yeah, right, cos a few spins on some rollercoaster and a funnel cake is the same thing as REALLY getting away. I am gonna go home now.” Bri tried to shake off Brad’s hands, but he held on firmly.

“Bri please. We can travel all we like once we’re in college, there are frequent breaks and we don’t have to go home to our parents. Or even long weekends on which we can take nice trips, leave right after our last classes on Friday. I’ll go anywhere you want with you then. We’ll be 18 and the parents won’t have to know anyway.”

“Brad, I need this NOW. My entire life changed for me.”

“So did mine, Bri! If you haven’t figured this out by now, I am hating all this just as much if not more than you do! I keep telling you, we’ll figure this out. Just don’t give up on this, on us. There is a way, somehow, somewhere, we just gotta figure out what that is. This break up doesn’t have to be permanent. And while I wasn’t gonna come out and say it like that, I think maybe I should, since you and my parents seem to be marrying me off to some random chick in the foreseeable future, which is most definitely not going to happen. I am not in a rush to next level anything, except my education, anytime soon, and I am not even gonna date until I fixed this for us. I do not want any other girl, and my dad will realize that. I already told him, if I can’t marry you, I just won’t marry – period. Maybe he doesn’t take me seriously now, but in a few years he’ll notice I meant it.”

“No, Brad, it’s not the same for you and me. You lost a relationship, you’ll find someone else, maybe date a bit and pick the winner to have some wedding of the century with and do all the things couples do, like we both thought we would. I heard you, and it is so sweet, but you’ll get tired of waiting for something that just will never happen for us, get lonely and you will realize a relationship with someone else could be so easy. We can’t be together the way we thought we’d be and that’s not gonna change, if we just do it anyway it will wreak havoc for both of us. Like it or not, but your parents are holding the better cards, now and in future. I am not gonna ever just marry you, knowing full well it will make you miserable in the long run. I can’t and I won’t do that to you, Brad. It may seem like love is prevailing, but we can’t survive on love alone, we’d be shunned in Brindleton Bay and you’d never get a job in the medical field, your dad would see to that. Trust me, that’s not a decision I made lightly, knowing what that leaves me with is that I am going to have to tell any man I want a future with that I am practically barren, so, people like us, with empires and legacies are gonna run, meaning I’ll be left with guys who have baggage or hate kids. If I want to stay in Brindleton Bay long term, I am either gonna live with my parents forever or am gonna have to live alone and one day be that middle-aged woman who never married, the Spinster who lives vicariously through her siblings and considers family dinner invites the highlight of her week. If this were a choice I made for myself, that would be fine, but it’s not, I am 17 and the choice was taken from me. Alternative would be to move away and find a guy who’s into his career and doesn’t have time for kids. Ahem .. well … That is where I am at. That is my outlook now, so pardon me for wanting to have as much fun and excitement before reality hits. That is us privileged kids, Brad. We don’t have the luxury to just find people who love us for us. Either they want the money, the fame or the typical things people with empires want and if you are lucky, you and your partner are even attracted to each other. I have talked with our friends, I didn’t tell anyone why exactly since nobody knows about my medical thing, just generally asked and they all confirmed it. So, yeah. I gotta get home now. Thanks for dinner and for being there today at uni. Meant everything to me, but I need to be alone now.” Bri’s voice was starting to cloud up with withheld tears.

She pulled away from the hug Brad wanted to give her and just rushed out the front door as the tears were now flowing freely, tingling her reddened cheeks in the icy breeze of a late Autumn evening, the chills from the crisp temperature mixing with the inner chills Bri felt.