Jake and I spent the rest of the weekend shopping for his new apartment  He didn't want anything fancy, especially since he would only be there until he went to college. Still, it was fun to pretend to "play house" for a couple of days.

We were finally on the same page and everything felt right with the world. Jake and I were back together, mom wasn't going to bother me anymore and I was heading to Georgia Southern soon. Life could not have been more perfect.

The next couple of months brought one milestone after another. Our birthdays were only a week apart, so a couple of weeks after prom we celebrated them together.

My parents had never made a fuss over my birthday so when Jake whisked me away to Tennessee for a long weekend I was bursting with joy. That weekend felt like it was just the two of us, no one else existed in the world. 

We attempted to ski, and Jake made me take a ski class with a bunch of eight-year-olds. At first, it ticked me off but then I accepted that he was only doing it because he cared.

We walked through the village in town, sipping hot cocoa and of course hitting up the candy store. The mountains were so beautiful that they literally took my breath away, I never knew anything could be that beautiful. It was absolute perfection and I never wanted it to end but eventually, we did have to come home and back to reality.

The next occasion took me by surprise. One weekend I was over at Jakes just hanging out with him. He was in the shower when I heard a knock at the door.  I thought it was odd that anyone should be visiting but since he was pre-occupied I decided to answer it anyway.

When I opened the door there was a middle-aged lady staring back at me. I could tell immediately that she took very good care of herself. Her face shown barely any wrinkles in spite of her age. She had her hair perfectly pinned in a french twist with pearl stud earrings and a pearl choker.

It was clear that she spared no expense on her clothing as she sported a grey pencil skirt, blazer and high heels. She looked very smart and very expensive and she was staring at me so intently I thought she might bore a hole in me. The way that she looked at me with her stone cold eyes made me extremely uncomfortable.

I crossed my feet and fidgeted subconsciously, "Can I help you?"

She never broke her stare when she responded, "I would like to speak with my son."

Realizing that the woman in front of me was none other than Jake's mom, I invited her in and showed her to the sofa. Excusing myself, I hurried into the bathroom, where Jake had thankfully covered himself and made him aware of what awaited him.

You could see the uneasiness on his face but I had no words of wisdom, I was just as stressed as he was. While Jake rushed to get dressed, I offered her some water and assured her he would be out soon, retreating to his bedroom for safety.

I don't think either of them realized that I could hear everything from that room so when their conversation began, I got a front row seat. She had apparently come to persuade him to change his mind about everything and come home. His father did not know she was there and felt that he needed a healthy dose of "tough love."

She was willing to risk going behind his back to have her son in her life again. It was sweet really, but Jake was not budging an inch. He reassured her that he still loved her and appreciated everything they had done for him but told her he was not giving up UGA or me.

She tried to counter him by upping the ante and offering him more money. He sounded not only shocked but utterly disgusted. He response was laced with a tinge of disdain.

"Money cannot buy you happiness mom and it sure can't make you a better person. And that girl that you are referring to, doesn't have a penny to her name and she is the most amazing person I have ever known."

"So there is nothing I can do to persuade you to stop this insanity?" she questioned.

"No mom, there is not," he insisted.

She also wanted to know about his relationship with his biological father. I was shocked when he was completely honest and open about that subject, leaving out the trust fund of course.

After a long and emotional conversation, she kissed him goodbye and told him she would always love him. I waited for her to leave and when I entered the living room, I found Jake sitting with his head in his hands.

Seeing his mother like that, practically begging him had taken its toll and I hated to see the pain on his face. I did the only thing I could do, I wrapped my arms around him and told him that I loved him.

Next came graduation, in my opinion, the most special of them all. Growing up I had dreamed of that day but was never really sure it would come. I had even let myself dream about college but always assumed that it just wasn't in the cards for a girl like me.

Walking across that stage was the proudest moment of my entire life. It did hurt a bit that I did not have one single family member there to support me but at least when I looked out in the crowd, I saw Jake's face smiling back at me. Dad never really gave me a reason why he didn't show and that didn't really surprise me. 

After graduation, Mrs. Christy gave me a sweet hug and handed me a gift. In all of the chaos, I didn't open it right away. Later, when I had a moment to myself, I finally opened the bag to reveal its contents. It contained a leather bible with my name engraved on the front.

Under my name were the words, "You are set apart," and tucked inside was a card. Her words meant everything to me.

My beautiful Sky,

You, my dear, are a beautiful soul.

With all the world has thrown at you, your smile still lights up a room.

This book has gotten me through many trials and I trust it will do the same for you.

Go set the world on fire, you were born for greatness!

Love,

Mrs. Christy

As I read her words, tears streamed down my face. This amazing woman had more faith in me than I had ever had in myself and I hoped that maybe one day I could live up to her expectations. Sometimes, I thought she was my own personal angel, sent her just for me. If she wasn't, she sure made me believe that she was.

After graduation, we had another milestone, Jake took me to Orlando with him to meet his brothers. By that time, he had established a wonderful relationship with Ross but had never actually met his brothers, only spoken to them on the phone.

We rode all the way there with smiles on our faces. It was over, we had done it, finished high school and had college ahead of us. We were both on cloud nine and nothing could bring us down.

His father literally spoiled us, wining and dining us all weekend. I think what I liked the most was that he welcomed me with open arms. He didn't look down his nose at me or think of me as some anchor holding his son down. He just accepted me. In contrast to how I felt when I met Jake's mom, his father made me feel like I was part of the family.

On Saturday night, it was finally time to meet his brothers. He actually invited us to his home and we were waiting in the living room when they arrived. This would be new territory for us as Jake and I were both the only children in our families.

They entered the room bickering and teasing each other but I supposed that was what brothers did. Stephan was the older of the two, he must have favored his mother as his hair was more on the red side and his eyes were emerald green.

When my eyes met Jordan's, my mouth probably fell open, he looked EXACTLY like Jake, just a much younger version. I know that Jake noticed too, I caught him staring at him all night.

They introduced themselves and gave Jake a bro hug. After that, the conversation flowed easily and they talked like they had known each other forever.

I thanked Jake later for letting me be part of such a special experience in his life. He looked at me like I was crazy and reminded me that I am his life. My heart melted as it did with all things Jake. 

The next day, we said our goodbyes and headed back to Georgia. When Jake pulled into my driveway, both of our eyes darted to my mom's car.

"What is she doing here?" Jake inquired, the tension clear in his voice.

"I don't know but my dad told her not to come back," I replied. I grabbed my bag, eager to get inside and see what was going on when Jake grabbed my arm and pulled me back.

"What are you doing? You are not staying here!" he exclaimed.

Looking at him with warning eyes, I responded, "Let me go, Jake, yes I am, this is my home!"

I don't really know what came over me. Maybe it was the confidence of graduation or watching Jake be braver than I ever thought he could be but I felt like I was on a mission. I had always been a coward when it came to my mother but at that moment, I refused to be.

My dad had asked her not to come back and she did anyway. She was invading our home and the line had to be drawn somewhere.

Jake gave me a weary look, seeing the fire in my eyes, "You are crazy if you think I am leaving you here."

Looking him straight in the eyes, I said to him, "Jake, you faced your demons and fought back against everything that was wrong in your life, I NEED to do the same, this is for me, not her."

Even though I could see the worry and fear in Jake's eyes, he relented. It was against his better judgment but he understood what I had to do.

He pulled me close and whispered in my ear, "Take care of yourself, I can't do this life without you."

"I'll be fine," I reassured him.

"I am only a phone call away," he reassured me.

And with that, I exited his truck and mustered all of my strength, it was time to face the monster. 

*****

A/N

Do you think Jake and Sky have finally found happiness?

Do you think she made the right decision to face her mom?

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