"Wanting Forever"
When I'm alone I dream on the horizon and words fail Yes, I know there is no light in a room Where the sun is not there if you are not with me At the windows show everyone my heart which you set alight Enclose within me the light you encountered on the street ~ Time to say Goodbye, Andrea Bocelli June 16, 2008 Gap NY New York City 1100 hours They had decided to go shopping, for no other reason than to do something their last few hours together. Rebecca had bought more than enough clothes for Brian for his stay at his new school and this was only an exercise in not having to talk about it. Not having to talk about him basically going away, not being around to sleep on Paige's couch, or feed Michael the Fish, or hog the television playing video games. No having to talk about Paige being alone...again. "You know, most kids are getting out of school for the summer now...how about this one?" Paige wrinkled her nose at the dress. "You know I hate pink, and you're not most kids." "Yes, I'm constantly reminded of that," he put the offensive dress back on the bar where it hung with a dozen others of the same. "I mean...who starts school in June anyway?" "It's not starting, it's just always there. A 24, 7, 52, work week. Although I think you get some time off for the holidays. What about this one?" She held up a little black dress. "Hmph," he snorted, "it's more like time off for good behavior. You always pick black, you need to expand your horizons. Like this," he held up a dark blue dress. "It's not a prison sentence. And why are you bitching so much about it? You hated the other school, this one should be more challenging. I like black," she pointed to the dress in his hands, "and that's almost black." "I didn't hate the other school. It was ok. I just didn't like the faculty. And no, navy blue is not almost black." "You didn't like the faculty because you can't deal with authority. How about red?" She held up a very slinky red dress. Brian shook his head and rolled his eyes, "that's because I'm more intelligent than most authority. You'll look like a hooker in that." "You need to hide that intelligence better. People don't like being around people who are smarter than them. It makes them feel threatened. You've got to back it off a bit, play stupid a little. You'll find people react better to you if you tone it down. Isn't that the point?" "Is that what you do? Tone it down?" he arched an eyebrow at her. She stared at him, "most times." "How can you do that?" "It's kept me alive this long." He mulled it over in his mind as his hand ran down the length of another dress. "The point is to look sexy, not like a hooker." Unless that's the plan, Paige thought to herself. She shrugged, "what do you know about looking sexy?" "I know what Grand Theft Auto 6 says what hooker looks like." They stared at each other and burst out laughing. "I can't believe I'm taking clothing advice from a nine year old that's played too many video games," Paige grinned and shook her head. "This one," he held it up proudly. Paige eyes it over. "It's black," she said quietly. "Yeah, but it has these cool string things on the back," Brian turned it around. They looked at the dress then at each other, "perfect," they said together. Rego School for Gifted Children Malverne, Long Island 1230 hours Just as Joshua had coached Brian perfectly in regards to Project Capricorn before he had met Rebecca, Paige coached on him on how to handle the faculty of the new school and their relationship. Brian shined again as he recited his story to the head dean without hesitation and without sounding rehearsed. He was a smart boy, a quick study, and understood the gravity of his situation to such an extent that Paige was almost jealous with his ease of adjustment. "I'm sure everything will be fine and as his legal guardian," Dean Anderson turned to Paige, "you'll be able to visit anytime you like." Paige smiled at him, "thank you. We appreciate you helping us on such short notice." "Well, we know that our curriculum will be more challenging for such a brilliant young mind. We'll keep him busy, won't we Patrick?" "Of course," he said with a grin that clearly showed a challenge. It was weird, Paige thought, having someone call him by his new name, Patrick. The name she had given him a few weeks earlier, Patrick O'Brian. She still called him Brian though, and that was fine for both of them because they understood each other better than anyone else. The Rego school eagerly accepted Brian into their ranks not only because of his obvious talent, but because they competed with the Tennessee school for government contracts and Brian would be another asset in their arsenal to get them. The cover story of Brian being unruly and unhappy in Tennessee was not entirely untrue as he had spent several weeks deliberately being late to classes, but it had worked for the Dean and that was also good enough for them. They walked down to the front foyer of the nondescript brick school. It was a modest building, though large, and necessary for security. The Dean left them alone so they could say goodbye. "So, that went well. You ok with this?" she asked him. "Yeah, I think it's gonna be great. I mean, I'd still rather stay with you but you're just not smart enough to stimulate my intellectual needs." "Oh god," Paige rolled her eyes, "I can run circles around your skinny little ass when it comes to smarts, kiddo," she grinned at him. "Promise me something?" he said dropping his voice to a serious tone. Paige bit her lip and nodded her head. "Promise me...you won't forget me...that you won't leave?" Paige dropped down to one knee in front of him and brushed his hair with her hand. "You know I can't forget you. Got the memory thing going for me," she managed a small smile. "I don't want to get a phone call that you're dead," he whispered. "Brian...I'm not going to live forever..." "I want forever," his voice wavered. Paige pulled him into herself and hugged him tightly. "We can't have forever, kiddo. Only today and hopefully more days in the future. But not forever. I can't do that." "I love you, Paige," he whispered in her ear. Paige closed her eyes and held him tighter, "I love you, too," she whispered back. After a moment she let him go and stood up. She took a breath, "remember what I told you." "I will," he nodded his head. "Ok," she said taking a step back. "Call me," he said. "I will, this weekend," she smiled at him, "be good." "I'll try," he smiled back. She nodded her head then turned and walked away from him. When she reached the door she turned and waved and Brian returned it. Then she stepped out into the warm sunshine... Return