"Airplanes Like Shooting Stars" Chapter 6: "A Secret No One Has To Know"

David's Point-of-View:

Me: "Fine, well...I'm just a little nervous about that plan...like what if it doesn't work out."

Virginia: "David, you realize we're not doing this tomorrow and you got a good 2 years or so..."

Me: "Yeah, well...just the thought of it not working out right or something happening that impedes the 'rescue' is kind of intimidating, you know?"

Virginia: "As long as we both believe it will work, it will. You just have to keep the faith."

She knows exactly what to say to me now. We've been together for 1-year and she already knows how to make me feel better...this is quite the accomplishment. I would have never expected that this would ever happen. No one knows me like she does. She throws her arms around my neck and gives me a tight hug.

She whispers the words, "Just believe," in my ear. And with only those few words, I knew she was just as nervous as I was.

Virginia: "I really should get going and make sure everything is planned out with Allison. She can sometimes forget easily. I want to hang out with her for while too. You don't mind, do you?"

Still trying to rid my mind of any negative thoughts, I whisper, "You don't have to ask me. And yeah, I'm fine."

Virginia: "If you're sure. I love you." She gives me a kiss on the cheek, picks up some of the stuff she came with, and heads toward the door. I stop her.

Me: "Virginia!"

Virginia: "Uh-huh, hon?"

Me: "A secret no one has to know, right?"

Virginia: "Exactly."

Virginia's Point of View:

I get in my dad's truck and head off to my best friend's house to check up on her. From David's house, I know where everything is located and I can find my way anywhere. It's like a landmark for me. So, I start driving down the road, a little less careful than usual, because I know my parents know that when I get mad, they should just leave me alone for a time. I know none of my friends would say anything because they know the situation I'm in and they really don't find it any of their business to handle. So I just keep driving, trying to keep my mind off of all the possibilities, that my parents found out where I was and the next thing I knew, David was arrested...I shivered, but thankfully I was just able to keep control of the car. I drive past a few stop lights, that were green, and keep on driving until I see the Jordan Creek Street sign. My friend lives here. I pull into that road off the main road and drive for about a minute until I reach her house. I park in the driveway, and she's waving from over the fence in her backyard, as to say "Come On Back Here." I stepped out of the car and did a little hop-skip-jump routine to get down the hill. I am very clumsy, so I had to keep my grace and my mind in tact.

Allison: "WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT?"

Me: "Well, my parents and I got into a fight, a really bad one and..."

Allison: "Yeah, I know that..."

Me: "Can I finish?"

Allison: "Oh yeah, sorry. Continue." She had the habit in interrupting when it just got the detailed areas in stories.

Me: "Well, they wanted me to come straight from from school yesterday so they could talk to me."

Allison: "Another David intervention?"

Me: "Yeah..."

Allison: "Why can't they just leave you two lovebirds alone?"

Me: "I don't know. But, long story short, it got really heated, I told them I was pregnant, stormed out of the house, and they said they sold our house and we're moving to Virginia."

Allison: "WHA-WHAT?!"

Me: "I know, terrible, ain't it?"

Allison: "You're moving away?"

Me; "I have to, they're making me!"

Allison: "That's it! This is the last straw! I'm not taking it! You're staying with me!"

Me: "I can't! I'm only 16 and I HAVE TO DO what my parents say."

Allison: "Unless you run away."

Me: "From my problems?"

Allison: "Why not? They're putting you through hell!"

* To Be Continued *

"Airplanes Like Shooting Stars" Chapter 5: "I Know You Well"

Virginia's Point of view:

What a gentleman, he slept in the guest room while I slept in his room. That might've been the sweetest thing he's ever done! I was really touched at that. I wake up later than I would've liked to, but whatever...my parents were already mad at me and it's not like they knew where I went anyway so forget that. I get out of bed and go downstairs. Thankfully, I was always prepared with an extra set of clothes, a toothbrush, and other things here. Wow, I just realized...that sounded like I've moved in with him, but that's not reality. It's just like I always come prepared and knowing my parents hate David, I know I'm going to need him at times and he will always be there for me so this is kind of like my second home while I still live at my parents' house. He was perfectly okay with that. I was still really upset though. I didn't want to move so far away from David because he's the only person I know I can run to in the middle of the night and he'll always be there to help me and to protect me. That is just one of the endless number of reasons that I love him so much. Plus, I knew that he always would love me and he told me very often and I know it's not because he was afraid I'd leave him like my parents were so convinced, but it was because he was telling me the truth and he said he wanted to have a very open and honest relationship with me.

But despite all of these feelings right now, I had to get up and face my parents sometime or another. So I got up and went to the bathroom to take a shower. I brought all my clothes along so I could just get out and get dressed. I placed all my clothes on the bathroom counter and got the shower to a perfect temperature. I hopped right in a settled for a nice shower.

About 20 minutes later:

I thought I spent enough time in the shower so I felt like I should get out now. I step out of the shower and get all my clothes on before I leave the bathroom. I didn't feel like walking around in a robe today because I wanted to be as comfortable as possible. I'm very conservative and don't like that stuff. After I finished getting dressed, I head out of the bathroom with a pink towel under my hair to keep from my clothes getting wet. I need to see David now so I go into his the guest room and look for him. He's not there so my mind knows that he's downstairs. I walk quietly down the stairs so as to make me presence unknown. I sneaked into the kitchen and around the corner of the island and poked him on the shoulder.

David: "Good morning."

Me: "To you too, and I really have to thank you for putting up with me. I know I am kind of high-maintenance."

David: "Oh, no. Not at all."

I playfully swat him on the shoulder, "Yeah right!"

David: "I mean it. I've had other girlfriends who were far worse. You are actually very independent compared to some of them."

Me: "Wow, really? What kind of girls did you hang out with?!" We both laugh.

David: "I've made a lot of mistakes, I'm not perfect."

Me: "Neither am I."

David: "Then we can be imperfect together."

And we both laugh again. One thing for sure that made our relationship unbreakable beside that we understood each other inside out and backwards is that we always knew how to make each other laugh. We had the same sense of humor. That seemed to be important to many people. For one split second, my eyes flow up to his face. Another great triumph for knowing your partner inside and out is knowing when they are upset or in his case at that moment, needing to say something.

Me: "What's wrong?"

David: "Nothing."

Me: "You know I know you better than that."

David: "Dang...sometimes that can get annoying."

Me: "HEY! Anyway, just tell me what's on your mind..."

David: "Fine, well..."

* To Be Continued*

"Airplanes Like Shooting Stars" Chapter 4: "The Plan"

Virginia's Point Of View:

Me: "What idea is that?" My spirits perk up slightly that he was so concerned about me.

David: "Well, I don't know if I should tell you yet."

Me: "Come on!"

David: "I don't know," he turns his head away.

Me: "Is this payback from before?"

David: "Yes," he laughs.

Me: "Well tell me!"

David slides off the couch onto the floor, giving me the wrong impression and asks a benign question. "You're 16, right?"

Me: "Well yeah," I sigh slightly.

David: "And in 2 years you'll be 18, correct?"

Me: "Just get to the point!!"

David: "Fine, fine." He stalls.

Me: "COME ON NOW!"

David: "On your 18th birthday, I will come to see you in your new house in Virginia. And only if you want to, you can come with me back to Utah because you are an adult and your parents don't have as much control over you. How's that?"

I break down crying again, obviously an emotional plight for me tonight. "You would do that for me?"

David: "I love you. I would walk to the end of the Earth to protect you and do anything for you."

We come together in a long embrace. I utter that I love him back.

Me: "Boy, do my parents have you wrong."

David: "Haha. I wouldn't be surprised."

Me: "I don't honestly know why they would even call you such things."

David: "Like what?"

Me: "I shouldn't say."

David: "That bad?"

Me: "Worse."

David: "AYE!"

Me: "Could I stay the night?"

David: "Do your parents know you're here?"

Me: "No."

David: "Then I don't see the problem."

Me: "Well there might be..."

David: "What did you do, Virginia?"

Me: "I kind of told them I was...pregnant..."

David: "WHY IN THE NAME OF GOD WOULD YOU DO THAT?! NOW THEY'LL HATE ME EVEN MORE!"

Me: "I don't think that's possible. Plus, I'll just make up an excuse like I stayed over at Allison's to placate my anger and set it up with her to make sure that she knows. She would do it. She loves you."

David: "If you're sure."

And I ended up staying the night at my boyfriend's house, against my parents' wishes and against all odds. I called Allison to tell her a shortened version of the story and she talked about it with her mother, who also didn't care because she liked David too. At least I know I got 2 people on my side.

*To Be Continued*

"Airplanes Like Shooting Stars" Chapter 3: "True Love Is Always Tested"

David's Point-Of-View:

Sitting in a chair by the television in my living room, I see headlights shining through the front window. It's almost 11:30 and I never get visitors this late unless...it's Virginia! I smile and put the book down, but then I wonder why she would come so late. I trot over to the front door to wait for her to come. Before she even has the chance to knock on the door, I have already grabbed the handle and opened it for her.

Virginia: "DAVID!" She falls into my arms and I wrap them around her. I can see her eyes are red; she's been crying. I start to get anxious to know and very concerned.

Me: "Honey, what?" I say sympathetically.

Virginia: "I don't want to talk about it!"

I laugh and look at her unbelieving, "You wouldn't have driven to my house in the middle of the night if you didn't want to talk about it."

Virginia: "You caught me," she sighs.

Me: "I thought I would. Please, come in and sit down."

She walks over to my living room and takes a seat on the love seat on the opposite end the couch is on. I shut the door and walk over to her. She's still very upset and I really want to know what happened. I sit down next to her and wrap my arms around her again, she rests her head on my chest.

Me: "Okay, what's the matter?"

Virginia: "I don't want to alarm you."

Me: "Try me."

Virginia: "I don't know how you'll react to this."

Me: "As long as you're happy and healthy, I'll be fine."

Virginia: "That's just it."

I look at her shocked that she would say something like that, "Are you okay?"

Virginia: "I'm terrible."

Me: "Are you sick?"

Virginia: "No. But I feel sick after what my parents told me."

Me: "What did they tell you?"

Virginia: "I'm never going to be able to see you again."

Me: "WHAT?" She picks her head off my chest, shock written across my face.

Virginia: "They called you a bunch of nasty things and now they said they sold our house and we're moving halfway across the country. From here (Utah) to Virginia."

Me: "Are you joking?"

Virginia: "Does it look like I'm joking?!"

Me: "No, but why would they do that?"

Virginia: "Quote-Unquote: To keep me away from you."

Me: "I knew they disliked me, but I don't understand why it's so drastic now."

Virginia: "They suck!"

Me: "Now Virginia, don't say that. They're just trying to protect you and do what's best for you."

Virginia: "From what?"

Me: "From me..."

Virginia: "How? What'll you do?"

Me: "Nothing, but they think I will...I would never hurt you."

Virginia: "Which is exactly why I don't get it."

Me: "You'll never understand everything your parents will do, sweetheart. But there is one thing that you always have to know...this is our hardship."

Virginia: "Huh?"

Me: "They say true love is always tested, and this might be the major hardship we have to get over. So when we finally get back to each other, it will be all the more worth it."

Virginia: "David!" She begins to cry again. "I'm touched."

Me: "Don't worry, we'll be fine. We'll be together again. I have an idea."

*To Be Continued*

"Airplanes Like Shooting Stars" Chapter 2: "Diary"

Virginia's Point Of View:

Me: "I don't see how that's any of your business..."

Dad: "Oh, but it is. He said that he wouldn't make you do anything you don't want to do, right?"

Me: "Yeah," I catch onto what they're saying.

Dad: "And if you want to have sex with him, that might be part of his plan. To make you want to so he doesn't break his promise."

Me: "YOU GUYS ARE SICK!"

Mom: "WE'RE SICK?! LOOK AT WHO YOU'RE DATING AND THEN TELL US!"

Me: "Mom! He would NEVER touch me! He said that!"

Mom: "So what! Who cares what that pedophile said! He's lying to you!!!"

Me: "He wouldn't lie to me! For the Lord's sake, HE WEARS A GODDAMN PURITY RING!"

Dad: "So what! That purity ring don't mean shit when his mind isn't pure of thoughts about you!"

Me: "STOP IT! HE DOESN'T THINK ABOUT ME LIKE THAT!"

Mom: "How do you know?"

Me: "I know David better than you! And if you just gave him a chance, maybe you'd actually like him!" Serious pressure in my throat signaling it's almost time to cry begin to make their presence known.

Mom: "I don't care what you think! I care about you!"

Me: "Obviously not as much as you think...."

Mom: "THAT'S IT! I FORBID YOU FROM SEEING HIM EVER AGAIN!"

Me: "I don't care what you forbid me to do! I'll do what I want! In 2 years, I'M OUT OF HERE!"

Dad: "Sure, than you can go ahead and do whatever you want!"

Me: "Thank GOD!"

Dad: "Even get knocked up by that bastard you call sweet and charming!"

Me: "What? I never said tha---YOU DIDN'T!"

Dad: "Didn't what?"

Me: "YOU READ MY DIARY!"

Mom: "It's the only way we can keep track of you anymore!"

Me: "That's just wrong! You don't do that! How dare you!"

Mom: "How dare we? How dare you disobey us!"

Me: "What the hell are you talking about?"

Dad: "Sneaking out on January 13th to see David late at night when you were grounded! What did you do with him that night?"

Me: "We talked. Nothing more."

Mom: (to Dad) "Oh right, page 24 says she hasn't had sex yet! THANK GOD!"

Me: "You don't know that!"

Dad: "You BETTER NOT HAVE!"

Me: "Oh and right..I'm pregnant!"

Mom: "WHAT?"

I turn around at 50 miles per hour and run for the door. I can't take this anymore and I want to make them think that I am pregnant. Maybe that'll make them think twice about what they do to me. I run through the kitchen, grab the keys. and run out the back door. They follow me.

Mom: "YOU GET BACK HERE NOW!"

Me: "Make Me!"

Dad: "We should tell her..."

I stop in my tracks, right next to my father's truck.

Me: "Tell me what?"

Dad: "We're moving. We forgot to tell you, but we sold this house and we're moving to Virginia."

Me: "What? Why?"

Mom: "To keep you away from that scumbag!"

Me: "You wouldn't!"

Dad: "We already did."

Tears start to pour out of my eyes, faster and faster with each passing second and then, I am nearly brought to my knees. When I buck up the courage I need, I open the door to my dad's truck and inside. Anger is all I feel. Now, the only thing I can do...is what my parents won't ever let me do again...go see David.

*To Be Continued*

"Airplanes Like Shooting Stars" Chapter 1: "An Unneeded Intervention"

Omniscient Point Of View:

Mom: "I forbid you from seeing him ever again!"

15 minutes ago:

Virginia, a 16-year-old girl, is walking home from school on a warm, March evening. Her mother told her that morning that she has to come straight home from school today and not stop by her boyfriend-for-a-year's house. She was a little upset about this, but she stopped by every day just to say hello and ask him how he was doing. As you can probably tell, there is a significant difference in age by saying "his house." He is 5 years older than her and that's part of the reason her parents didn't like him much. Her father was petrified he'd try to hurt her in some way, but Virginia knew her boyfriend better than that. He was a well put together kind of guy, he had his priorities straight and would NEVER, not in a million years touch her, especially since she was a minor. Plus he respected her parents, no matter how much they didn't like him.

Back to Virginia: As she turns the corner onto her road, she's nearly at her house. She can feel the tension already, but she didn't really take notice of it. She really had her mind on what her parents needed to talk to her so desperately about. In about 2 minutes, she's in front of her house and she checks for the cars in the driveway.

Virginia's Point-Of-View:

Me: "They're both home..."

I start up the steps into the front door, but before I could even reach for the handle, my mother was at the door. The door flew open and before I knew it, I was inside my house.

Mom: "Virginia, we have to talk to you..."

Me: "Uh-huh," I laugh. "I kind of guessed."

Mom: "It's about David."

Me: "Mom, not this again!" I beg.

Dad: "This is serious," the rough texture in his voice present.

Me: "Fine," I sigh..."Let me have it."

Mom: "You CAN'T see him anymore."

I gasp and my back is prostrate with horror. "WHY?" I continue as calm as I can.

Dad: "You just can't!"

Me: "You gotta give me something better than that."

Mom: "We're your parents, we don't HAVE to do anything."

Me: "Then I just won't stop seeing him, simple as that."

Dad: "Oh no, you don't! You're gonna stop seeing him!"

Me: "Give me one good reason."

Mom: "Please! Don't tell me you can't see through him?"

Me: "I can't when there's nothing for me to see though."

Dad: "You can't tell me you don't know he just wants you for his sick fantasies of having sex with underage girls."

Me: "Dad..." my mouth drops open, "you got him all wrong." I never thought he'd say that so straightforwardly.

Mom: "YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME!"

Me: "How can I be kidding you when the only reason you don't like David is because he's 5 years older than me and you two are so hung up on age that you can't even see that he really loves me and I love him?"

Dad: "He's a sick man, Virginia, and he needs help. Staying with him and being his drug is not how you help him."

Me: "He loves me...you don't understand," I try to reason.

Mom: "He doesn't love you and if you love him, you would grow up and break up with him for his own sake. He's sick and maybe you telling him that he needs help will finally help him decide that he should go get it!"

Me: "HE DOESN'T NEED HELP! He told me that he would never make me do anything I don't want to..."

Mom: (cuts me off): "And do you want him?"

*To Be Continued*