Jessica would never ask me to choose between her and my family.
My family would never ask me to choose between them and school.
Nobosy's asking me to make a choice - but if my family's moving to Arizona, then I still have to make one.
And I have to make it soon.

"I decided not to go away to college," Jeremy told his mom. "I'm going to stay in California to be close to you guys." And Jessica, he added silently, smiling to himself.
His mother let out a little, dry laugh. "Well, you might want to rethink your stratefy," she said. She swiped a tendril of dark hair away from her face and looked Jeremy in the eye, her expression serious. Something about the look on her face made Jeremy's stomach turn violently.
"What is it, Mom?" he asked, now clutching the pencil. He felt his scalp tingle with anticipation as if there was some kind of danger in the air.
"Your father and I have come to a decision, Jeremy, and I'm not sure you're going to like it, but I hope you'll accept it." Mrs. Aames took a deep breath. Jeremy held his. "It's obvious your father's body can't handle the life we have here. The work, the money, the stress. It's all too much for him."
Right, Jeremy thought. We know this. We've been over it a hundred times, and so far there's been no answer. Then it hit him, and he froze up. His parents had come up with an answer, and apparently one he wasn't going to like.
"So we're moving the family to Arizona," his mother said. She looked him directly in the eye to let him know exactly how serious she was. "And we're going to do it soon."