Chapter Twenty-Two

Kellie groaned as she listened to Elowen complain for the tenth hour of the day. Marcus got fed up enough to leave. Kellie would do the same but they're waiting for Elowen's siblings to get out of school. She was kind enough to take them home since it was snowing.

"I think it's normal for couples to argue. You get everything out of your system then you move on. It's a breath of fresh air." Elowen dragged her hands down her face in annoyance. She obviously wasn't listening to Kellie. She was too concerned that she might lose her boyfriend. "You also made a huge step by getting good with his rents. It's a struggle for blacks out here and you literally got accepted by a white middle class shit storm of a family!"

"Kel, I hate the fact that I'm the reason Philip left home in the first place. I ruined his entire life because I wanted to be closer to him. Do you not see where it's wrong?"

"If he's blaming his actions on you then I don't think you're the problem..." Elowen closed her mouth as she thought about it. "Yeah. Philip is a bit fucked off in the head but he just doesn't know that he has a awesome girlfriend. At least you aren't a Kaitlyn. I feel sad that you even know her."

The two changed the subject when Spencer threw open the door to the backseat. The two got in and quickly warmed up with the heater system. "Thank you, Kellie! I thought we'd be ice by the time we got home."

She turned to face Henry who stared at her in awe. "Wasn't last winter colder?"

Henry nodded. "Yeah because we didn't have a car to get in."

Elowen rolled her eyes when Kellie chuckled at that. She then drove the car a good five minutes away from the school where they lived. Elowen invited her inside since it was a weekend and neither of them had anything better to do.

"We're going to my room to go over some notes," Elowen called to the two who rushed to fight over the remote. "It's Spencer's turn, Henry! You had it yesterday."

She closed her door and sat on the bed while Kellie adjusted the TV antenna. "Marcus said he's going on the run if Nixon's plan to end the draft doesn't go well. Us blacks are the first to be on the front line once it gets down to it."

"Where could he go? It's not like his parents have the money to hide him or even go to any college." Kellie looked back at Elowen who didn't even seem like this conversation was concerning to her.

Kellie left the television alone to go sit on Elowen's ottoman. "Canada." She replied in a whisper.

Elowen looked up quickly and this time she was shocked. If Marcus goes to Canada then she'll completely be hundreds of miles away from her best friend. Their trio would be broken up and it'll be like hell.

"Canada?!" Kellie nodded. "Why haven't I been told about this ridiculous plan!"

Her best friend rolled her eyes before looking at Elowen dumbfounded. "Because you've been up Philip's ass for the past months! I'm not even sure if you read the newspaper anymore!"

Elowen hasn't been to the nearby store in a while. She wasn't even sure what was going on right outside her doorstep besides the recent news of Nixon being president.

She sighed in defeat and ultimately felt shamed. She's neglected her own friends for Philip and it took her this long to realize it. "I'm going to break up with Philip." This made Kellie fall off the bed. "I'm serious. I love him a lot but, I don't feel like myself anymore."

"You don't have to break up with someone to show you need less time with them!" Elowen brushed her off as she reached for the phone to twirl in his number. "Quit being stupid and hang it up!"

"Hello?" She held up a finger to Kellie's face as the girl frantically panicked. "Is Philip there?"

Seconds passed and Philip was now on the line. "Elo, I was just about to call you. I have-"

"I'm currently spending time with Kellie and she brought up a very real point that I want to talk to you about."

"Elowen, can it wait? I have something to tell you but I can't say it over the phone."

Elowen scoffed at how selfish he was being. She had something even more important to tell him but he wouldn't even give her the time. "See, this is why I'm doing this. You're always concerned about yourself and no one else."

"Quit your bullshit! I'm on my way to come get you."

"No! I'm with Kellie! Philip! I'm ending-" Before she could get the words out, the line went dead. She looked at Kellie in pure disbelief before dialing in the number once more. This time no one picked up. "He's so full of shit!"

Kellie followed her friend around the room as she threw on a coat and shoes. "What'd he say? Where are you going?"

"I'm going to break up with him in person! No way am I letting him get away with being in control of everything. It's time I take my independence back in this relationship."

The two girls waited in the living room and stared out the window for that black car to appear. Spencer and Henry looked at them like they've lost their minds.

"You both look lame," Spencer grimaced. Elowen started to say a smart reply but Philip was already outside blowing his horn. "I'm telling mom you're going out and leaving us without telling her first."

"Kellie will be here." She managed to dive through the snow without slipping or fumbling. Philip reached across the passengers seat to open Elowen's door without leaving his own spot. "Okay, we have to talk seriously now." He pulled out of in front of her house without saying a word. "I know doing things over the phone is ratty but... I was scared of seeing your face."

He then stopped the car in the parking lot of some random diner and unbuckled his seat belt to face Elowen full on. "I picked you up to tell you that I'm inviting you to be my date for the winter formal."

Elowen's mouth dropped. "But that's for... juniors and seniors."

"So?"

"Philip, I'm a sophomore! Let's not act like that isn't clear as day!"

He looked her deep in her eyes and smiled. "I can deal you in no problem."

His hopeful face broke her heart. She came on this ride for one reason and she couldn't let his soft eyes, golden hair, and perfect smile reel her in like it does all the time. "Philip, I don't think... I don't think we should be seen together anymore."

He gave her a quizzical look that inevitably broke her heart. "What are you saying? Are you breaking up with me, Elo?"

"Yes, I am." Her face fell in her hands and she began to sob like a mess right in front of him. "I'm sorry, Philip!"

He didn't touch her. Instead he faced the front of his car and stared at the people eating happily in front of them. The couples and the families. Philip started coughing then quickly covered his mouth.

"My old man enlisted me. I'm set off to sea when I turn eighteen and I'll never see you again." He turned to Elowen who still hadn't looked up. "I could die, Elowen. I could be gone forever and this is what we are."

"Don't do that," she sniffled. Finally looking up from her hands, she saw that he was crying too. Although he made no noise, he was certainly crying. "Don't make me feel sad for you. It's not right."

"It's not right," he repeated. "It's not fucking right." He wiped his face and forced his car door open. "Get out. Get out of my car and come take a walk with me."

She looked at the light snow fall and realized all over again that he was crazy. But she also couldn't stay in his car knowing he just told her to get out. So she tightened the coat around her body and followed his lead off the lot.

No one said a word since it was obvious Philip wanted to be responsible for that part of the walk. Elowen stared at his hair that blew through the wind and collected flakes. He wouldn't even glance back at her, but suddenly she realized where they were.

"I never got bored in that motel," he said so softly it was almost inaudible. "I wasted gas to go get a newspaper and read those stupid peanut comics. Never missed a week. I thought about your laugh and it made things better to handle."

He sat on the spot that Elowen first saw Kaitlyn's car parked. It gave her a bad feeling when she remembered the feeling of the spray can on her fingertips.

"What that journal said... about California." He turned partially to make sure Elowen could hear his next words. "I wasn't going to go without you." She gulped. "I was on my way to beg you to come with me. I was praying you would get in my car and we could forget about all of the people who hate us. But you love your family. And I couldn't do that to you. So I was going home."

"Philip..."

"And I'm not saying this hoping you'd jump in my arms and take me back. I just want you to know what you didn't so you won't leave this relationship thinking you knew it all. Because you didn't."

Philip turned to face his ex girlfriend so he could wipe the tears from her cheeks. "I love you, Philip." He smiled weakly before pulling her head to his chest.

"I love you too, Elowen."

"And I... I want to go be your date to winter formal. I want to be with you before you leave. And I want to pray for your life." He nodded softly. "But have you ever considered Canada?"