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Charlie’s POV
The week spent with Elliot was amazing, I didn’t realise just how much I missed him until it was time for him to leave again. He had indeed pulled Domingo aside after the party and lectured him on treating me right and telling him that if he ever hurt me in any way he would hunt him down. I laughed reminding Elliot that Dom and I had been together for over three years now so the warning was a bit late, but he was determined to say his piece.
Lucas and Elliot disappeared for an hour on the day he was due to leave, probably to say their own goodbyes but I still wasn’t sure what was going on with those two. Lucas didn’t look any happier which led me to believe that Elliot was still being a stubborn ass! They were both adults though so they would have to work it out on their own, plus maybe Elliot was right, maybe it would be just better if Lucas moved on- Who knows?
When the time came for us to say goodbye, I hugged him tight to me not wanting him to leave again. I was going back to college tomorrow so I would be leaving anyway but at least I would be safe, with Elliot no one could predict what might happen and it scared the shit out of me.
He held me tight for ages and I could hear my mum snivelling in the background. Dad had already said his goodbyes as he had to leave early this morning for a business trip, but I think if Theo wasn’t there in his place mum would have collapsed by now. Elliot tried to soothe her but no one was having any positive effect on her, the more we all tried to convince her that he would be fine, the more she cried her eyes out.
He picked up his bag as an army vehicle pulled up at the side of the road, he ruffled my hair and squeezed my mum one more time, then he fist pumped Theo and walked away without another word. I tried not to get upset for mum’s sake but I could feel my eyes welling up as I watched my brother drive away. All we could do now is pray that he remained safe from harm.
I needed Dom so as we walked back into the house I pulled out my phone and brought up his number to call him. I followed Theo and mum into the kitchen where she instantly busied herself, still sniffling away as she made drinks.
“Are you calling Dom to come over?” Theo asked and I nodded. “Can you ask him to bring Alfie?”
“Sure no problem.” I smiled and dialled the number.
After a brief conversation I hung up the phone letting Theo know that Alfie would be coming and they would be here in ten minutes. My mum heard that and started making food for us all, she was looking for distractions but I wouldn’t argue it was better than having to watch her cry all night. As we waited for Dom and Alfie we began to discuss my graduation, this was my very last semester at medical school and graduation was in two months.
Theo, mum and dad would be making the journey to Stanford to watch me, I was happy that I wasn’t valedictorian again so I got to watch from the seats with Dom and Lucas. My dad was planning to help Fausta and Maria make the journey but knowing they wouldn’t allow him to pay for plane tickets he was hiring a mini bus to drive them all to California instead, that way Alfie could come too.
My mum had also suggested to him to book a table at a fancy restaurant so that we could all celebrate together, because in her words it was something to celebrate having a doctor in the family. I thought it was unnecessary but I wasn’t going to complain, or deny the fact that I was proud of myself. All of the hard work was worth it. Once my exams were out of the way I would officially be able to call myself Dr Charlie Adams, how sick did that sound?!
Dom and Alfie came just as my mum was placing the food on the table, their faces lit up when they saw that she had made fish and chips. This was another thing that just wasn’t the same in America and thankfully my mum had perfected the recipe so that it tasted exactly the same as it would in an English chip shop.
We dug in, Dom smothered his in mushy peas, while Theo and I drowned ours in salt, vinegar and Ketchup. Alfie squished his between two slices of buttered uncut bread and smiled before he took a huge bite out of it. We all thanked my mum as she leant against the counter smiling at us sadly. I guess I wished Elliot could be here too this was his favourite meal and the fact that she had made this hadn’t escaped my notice.
After we had finished eating my mum dismissed us saying that she would clean up, Theo and Alfie went up to his room to play on the Xbox and Dom and I went into the living room to watch a movie. I popped The Goonies into the DVD player and I went back to Dom on the sofa and curled up into his open arms, settling in to watch the movie.
I loved this being in Dom’s arms and it made me think of Elliot and what he had made Dom promise, about never hurting me and loving me forever. I could definitely live with that and this led me to thought of what we would do after graduation.
“Have you thought about what we will do after graduation?” I asked him.
“Hmm?” He said pulling his eyes away from the TV.
“Graduation is coming up soon and I was wondering if you had thought much about after college?” I asked again.
“Well I was hoping you would move in with me? I thought we could get a little flat close by you know to keep the parents happy.” He smiled.
“You want to live together alone?” I questioned.
“Well sure, we have lived together at college for over three years I am not sure I could go back to living separately? The last few weeks at home have been killing me, I am used to having you in my arms all of the time.” He answered smiling. “Why don’t you, if you’re not ready its ok you know?”
“No I was thinking the same thing, I like this and I love you so why wait?” I said shuffling further back into him.
“Charlie stop rubbing your ass on me, I am not sure your mom would be pleased if she walked in with my dick between your legs.” He chuckled.
“DOM! Did you have to say it like that?” I laughed back.
“Well I am not the one teasing you.” He retorted.
“I am not teasing you I was just getting comfortable, your mind is always in the gutter.” I smiled.
“It is not my fault that my boyfriend is stunning is it?” He smiled back.
“Ok now you’re going to make me blush so behave.” But I smiled and turned back into his arms to watch the film.
So this was it when I graduated I would not only have being a doctor to celebrate but I would also have the fact that I was moving in with my best friend and boyfriend of nearly four years. I wanted to do something nice for him for our fourth anniversary, I think I would wait until we moved in together and then I could show him how much I loved him.
Halfway through the film my mum came in and sat on the couch opposite us, she smiled when I caught her eyes and I smiled back. I could hear Dom chuckling at the TV and I shuffled back instinctively and I heard a quiet groan coming from him which made me snigger.
“You two are adorable you know that, I want you to both look after each other ok. I guess you will both be flying the nest after college but please don’t move too far ok?” She said smiling.
“We won’t Helen.” Dom replied.
She gave us a nod then made herself comfortable and watched the rest of the film with us in silence. I would miss her when we left tomorrow, I know it wasn’t for long but she was perfect and I loved her. At five pm Domingo reluctantly got up to go home, he wanted to spend the last few hours with his own mum so he kissed me gently then ran upstairs to collect Alfie and they left.
***
The next morning I woke up early and cold, I huffed in disappointment but quickly brushed it off I would be back in Domingo’s arms tomorrow morning. I quickly washed and dressed then made my way downstairs lugging my suitcase with me. My mum was already up and cooking breakfast, I kissed her on the cheek and she smiled in response.
Two months that’s all it was and then I would be back in Albuquerque, it would fly and she wouldn’t have time to miss me. Theo came down when I finished my breakfast and was walking to the door to leave, he gave me a quick hug then disappeared into the living room. He was funny like that, when Alfie was around he was happy and upbeat but when Alfie went home Theo would withdraw and it was always so much harder to get him to talk.
I know this sounds insane but sometimes I wish he would just break down, I feel like he is a ticking time bomb and when Alfie leaves for college or if he meets someone else, Theo might explode. I didn’t want that to happen but I feel that pushing his feelings aside instead off dealing with them might be dangerous for him, I just hope he knows what he is doing.
Sighing I dragged my case outside smiling when Lucas and Domingo were waiting for me, my mum ran out giving me one last hug. We jumped in a cab and made our way to the airport and back to college to finish the first chapter of our lives.
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