You might say Andy was one of those who went the other other way. He grew up in a house with a mom, a dad, and two sisters. All seemed fine. Ideal even. At least on the outside.
Let me explain.
His mom was…is…different.
And his dad is stuck.
Andy loves his father. But he doesn’t ever, ever, want to end up like him: Stuck with someone who seems to have flipped a switch, who isn’t anything like who they used to be, at least not on the inside, not anymore.
To Andy, there was only one way to avoid this. Sure, things happen. But it’s usually cause and effect. Dominoes. If you don’t set them up, let alone push the first one down, then there’s nothing to watch fall.
In other words, it’s one thing to have a college girlfriend. But after that, when life is getting real, it’s better to only have to be responsible for yourself, to be independent, self-reliant. Andy hasn’t truly seen what it’s like to live like that, but after watching his dad…the idea has appeal.
And so Andy’s been coasting. Nothing future needs to be decided today. Probably not tomorrow either. Why not save after-graduation things for…after graduation? School is what’s most important right now. School and setting himself up for financial independence.
Until then, Andy would prefer to stay in the moment, to have fun and keep things light. Daphne‘s been his girlfriend for two years now, and she’s the best. And if he were being honest with himself, he might even acknowledge that she could be the best for the long term, for after graduation and beyond. Andy never thought that idea would tempt him, but Daphne… she keeps things fun and light.
At least she did until recently. Until the thing that happened on New Year’s Eve, and now again tonight at the party.
And that thing Andy said on the walk home? He was just trying to lighten the mood, what with that thing he said about the girl in the poster…
All tell you more about her tomorrow.
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Megan Bledsoe 