#anywhere

Did Gwen hear that right? Some things she expects to hear as common discourse while at the Freehold manor house, or out with her fae companions, but not in mortal situations, and certainly not from Chuck. But unless she is mistaken... no, he said it again, as they sit together at a sidewalk cafe in town on a lunch date. But why... HOW would her boyfriend be talking about Balor??

Gwen blinks "Come again?"

He rubs at the back of his head where his hair is cropped short nervously. "Well, it's just a good opportunity. A really, really good one. I mean, you know my grades aren't the best..." He's come close to getting kicked off the football team due to academic probation. "But the counselor says if can take a couple summer classes to raise my Senior GPA, I'll qualify. It's a full ride scholarship, Gwen."

The paper Chuck has in front of him on the table, plate pushed aside carefully to avoid getting any catsup on it, shows a logo in almost-Gwydion green and gold, a monogrammed "B U".

"Oh" She draws on trollish stoicism to hide a moment of selfish possessivness. Texas? He'd be in Texas? She looks over it "It's in the top 100 of colleges across the country, isn't it?"

He nods. "I don't even know where Mom found the extra $50 to submit the application for me. I don't have a chance of going on my own..."

"Do you know what major you'd prefer?" her eyes lock onto his

"I got a job offer here. From Mister Grady." Gwen remembers him mentioning this - part time work Chuck has done during the school year for Grady Landscaping, demanding physical work, but nothing Chuck couldn't handle. She's seen their trucks around - they even have done some work sodding the lawn on some of the Baron's lands. "He said I could come on full-time starting this summer. It's pretty good pay, and I could help mom out. I don't have to go to college." Not quite meeting her gaze.

"There's no shame in physical labor," And she means it "I've done plenty of it myself. But, is that what you WANT to do? Come on, Chuck. " She puts her hand over his "you're telling me what you could do, but not what your dreams for your future career are. And, if you ...if you say no to this chance for Baylor," It takes effort "Are you going to resent that you didn't take up the chance years from now? "

She projects an aura of total support of his dreams.

He fidgets with the paperwork a bit. "They have this program for Sports Management. So, like you go there, but you're not just playing ball, you're also learning the industry. So when I aged out, or if I got injured, or something, I'd have a career to move onto..."

"And you'd still be doing something you love" SHe knows he loves sports. "Help others with it"

"I love Carthage, I do... but I see kids who graduated a year or two before us, and they just... stuck around, and went no where? Like, I don't want to end up a Lance, you know, like your buddy's brother? Or like Bill Hallerson - you didn't know him, it was before you moved here, but he could have gone for Basketball but decided to stick around, and now he works down at the Pick 'n' Save."

A nod. He's right. She's seen it. On the Res it's the norm, folks trapped with no way up or out, "It's okay to want more for yourself."

He looks relieved, but still worried. "Texas is awful far away, though."

"I know Mom wants me to go. And as awful as it sounds, I wouldn't really miss Brett all that much. I mean, I would, but maybe some distance wouldn't be the worst thing."

"He might chill out a bit if he doesn't think he has to measure up to me in sports. Dad got him a new set of football pads for his birthday, even though he asked for Gamestation games."

"Yes, it is" She squeezes his hand "And sorry your dad is still a controlling jerk. Look, if you're wondering if you should stay because I'm here; the answer is no. I love you. I do, but I will not be the reason you get yourself trapped here and ten years from now you resent me for it or worse, you don't, and I resent myself for what I kept you from. I don't... I won't pretend we can make long distance work for long. It's not fair to... either of us. But I don't think it would work if you stayed and could have followed your dreams but I stopped them either. I would rather cheerish the time we have, cheer you on all the way, and see you go off to your dreams than..."

for a moment her throat catches. How dare it catch! It's untrollish, she will not choke . "Than to be an obstacle"

He grips her hand back. "We could... I mean... I don't want to lose you, Gwen!" Clearly torn.

She smiles and fights any water rising in her eyes. "I know. And I am selfish and I'm... glad it's not easy for you to do so either. But it's okay. Whatever.. we have months to see how it goes. Maybe you go to Baylor and we find some way to keep it going. More likely we.. let each other go when you get on the greyhound bus but remain friends. And you will meet some other amazing girl if she's smart, she'll snatch you up fast. But you are the first guy who ever made me feel special, like I was worth loving that way. Nothing will ever take that memory away. Whatever happens, you're in my heart. I'm better because you loved me. "

"You're right. We don't need to decide anything now... " He reaches across, scootching his chair to where he can pull her in for a hug. "We still have all Summer. Let's not worry about later."

She hugs him, "You're going to ace those classes" Indeed, she's almost in his lap. A heavy load of a girl, but Chuck can handle it

This isn't lost on him, and he pulls her over for a cuddle, not caring that they're in public.

"You know, you're only a year behind me and Baylor offers LaCross scholarships, too. Just something to keep in mind, I don't know if you had any college plans yet, but it can be a big help." That's right, as far as Chuck knows, even though Gwen lives at a mansion, that's because she scored a good deal with her mom being a 'housekeeper' there.

"It's possible" But she knows it's not going to happen "But mom is ...very old."

"She seems perfectly healthy to me!" He argues, perhaps to reassure her. "But... yeah, I get it, you don't want to leave her behind."

"I don't. " She admits , "And I bet the dorms wouldn't let me keep Ivan ...though it would be funny if they did"

"Oh, not LIKELY. Not unless he was some kind of service dog, and aren't those normally, like, labs or poodles?"

"True, you don't see many Support animals that size" Amused at the notion

Then she says "Guess I'm going to end up watching college games"

Gwen gazes at her boyfriend, a thought occurring to her. Yes. She might want to make a memory with him no matter whatever else happens

She rests easily in his arms, he's no troll, but at least in mortal form he's a couple inches taller than her, and broader in the shoulders, A hand rests on the small of her back, supporting her comfortably. He looks into her eyes, and asks...

"Were you going to finish that burger?"

She blinks, then chuckles, then, a bit slyly "My burger is completely open to you. Feast well."

There. She said it. Surely he know knows she is ready to try going all the way. It was clear as day. Glad she got out the obvious message, she tries to decide if she should turn to Bluebell or mom for help in preprations

He gives her a goofy grin, accepting the half a burger happily - he has the appetite of an 18 year old, and an active one to boot. Though, Chuck IS mannerly and shares his milk shake.

"Do you have any summer plans? I was thinking of maybe doing some camping... if your mom would be cool with you coming on a weekend trip?"

"I... bet she would" Her eyes glimmer as she sips his milkshake "I'll have to ask about the kennel plans but I should be able to take a few nights for camping at least"

Her eyes get very large with the romance of it all

"I think I'd like that, a LOT, Chuck. It could be very special for us..both"

"Really?" He beams! Hiking, and fishing, and toasting marshmallows over a bonfire! "I'll let the crew know! I know that JB and Pam wanted to get away for a few days by the lake. Hey, you wanna invite Kat- sorry, she prefers Trina these days, and Art?"

"Oh, The Crew? uhm how many are .. uhm coming on this?"

A grin, his hair -due for a cut on the top, flopping over his face in a way that sort of reminds her of one of Ivan's ears when it doesn't stay in place. "Just, you know, our friends? We always try for a summer camping trip. No one you don't know, though." he reassures, misreading her discomfort.

She smiles REALLY big "That would be WONDERFUL" I'm an IDIOT

"JB's parents wanted to go to Florida for the summer but he might be staying behind. He didn't want to miss our last camping trip before we both graduate... " Thoughtfully. "It's kinda weird, Pam has really been nagging him to come along. I thought she didn't like him, she's always on his ass about something." A shrug, clueless. why is her boyfriend like a golden retriever? Cute, blond, but... if he were a dog, he'd chase the ball she pretended to throw every time...

A sigh "Sometimes guys don't always get what girls want "

He blinks, "You think she's using reverse psychology and doesn't want JB to come?"

He rubs his head. "Girls, man!" A laugh. "I'm glad you don't play games like that, babe."

She runs her finger tips through her boyfriend's hair, resisiting the urge to scratch behind an ear, Yup. Golden " I think guys are expected to make the first move, and while that's unfair to you fellows, if a girl does, she worries how it will destroy her social standing." A light blush then "She wants him along. Trust me." A blush returns.. damn it. She takes a breath "You .. yourself, prefer ..directness?"