Chapter 33

  "We want you home," Mrs. Monroe said softly, touching her daughter's hand.
  "Mom, I want to be home. It's just not that easy," she explained.
   Page looked at her mom and then looked away. How could she answer that question? She felt like no matter what she did, someone would end up hurt. She knew she had to make a decision and it had to be soon. Was she going to continue the relationship with Taylor and sever ties with her family? Or would she end the relationship with Taylor for the time being and ensure the happiness of her parents?
  "I love you all so much. I also love Taylor very much, but you guys won't accept him," she explained. She didn't add that Taylor was pulling her the other way.
  "I'm not trying to trivialize Taylor's love for you or anything, but if he really loved you, he'd do anything to make you happy."
   Page took to heart what her mother said and she understood what she was trying to say.

* * * *

  "Come on, Page. What's your problem?" Taylor kissed her neck again, trying to arouse Page, who just lay there staring at the ceiling. She thought about the visit she had had with her family earlier that morning.
   "Taylor, can we have a serious talk? I'm not in the mood to have sex right now."
   "Page, you know how I am in the morning. I need sex," he said. When Page showed no sympathy, he added, "All you have to do is lie down. I'll do all the work."
    Page didn't resist. After all, what was the harm in having sex with him right then when she knew she'd be doing it eventually? Maybe after they had sex he'd listen to her.
   "Oh, wait a minute! I forgot to take the pill this morning!" Page pushed Taylor off of her and sat up.
  "Oh, don't worry. We can use a condom. Let's not ruin the mood. . ." Taylor persisted.
   "I'm ovulating as we speak, Taylor. The doctor told me that--"
   "Shhh, it's okay. I'll wear a condom, like I said," he assured her.
   "Okay. . ." she said reluctantly. Taylor smiled as he reached over to the nightstand and grabbed a condom. It was one that he had manipulated the night before. 
  "Want me to help you with that?" Page asked. 
   "No, I can do it by myself. Thanks for offering." He smiled, unwrapping the condom and carefully placing it on himself.
    Page shrugged and spread her legs, allowing entry for Taylor. As he huffed and puffed, she thought about what her mother had said earlier that morning. She was right and Page knew it. Page knew what she had to do. She was going to say "good-bye" for good.

* * *

  "Taylor, I have one simple question for you," Page said as they stood together in the airport. 
   The weekend had come to an end and the Diazes were coming home that evening.
  "Ask away," he replied taking a sip of his coffee.
  "Do you want me to be happy?"
  "Of course I want you to be happy, silly."
  "Well, then, you are cool with me going back home and us postponing this relationship until next summer when I'm eighteen and able to leave home?"
  "That's crazy, Page," Taylor said. "I thought you loved me. If you did, you would never think about us being apart."
  "Whatever, Taylor. I didn't want to do this, but I have to. We're breaking up. It's over," Page said strongly.
   With that, Taylor dropped his coffee to the ground. Coffee splashed all over his jeans and boots. "Damn!" he shouted. "These were really expensive."
   "Did you hear me?"
   "Yeah, I heard you. You shouldn't fuck around like that," he glared at her.
   "I know I shouldn't, so I didn't. I'm breaking up with you. It's not like I want to break up with you. . ."
   "Well, if you didn't want to, you wouldn't do it. I have to get on this plane, so please just give me a kiss and say we'll talk later."
   "No, I won't."
   Taylor grabbed Page and pulled her close. "You aren't serious," he said.
   "Actually, I am. You are turning into someone I don't know. This long weekend made me realize that you and I are looking for two different things. Most of all, you don't want me to be happy. If your family didn't want us together, I'd let you go until we could be together without you being split apart from your family. It hurts to know that you're so selfish."
  "Listen to me, you can't get rid of me now. I'm a part of your life forever," he said optimistically. With a forced smile, he let go of her and walked towards the terminal.