Wichita had never known what her future was going to hold. Everything had always felt so uncertain, sliding out of her grasp and yet, now in this moment, she felt like this was everything she could have ever wanted. She was sitting on the couch with Rick, a bowl of popcorn between them. Daryl was sitting on the floor with a box of pizza resting on a couple of plastic crates that had become their makeshift coffee table.
They were in the apartment she shared with Daryl, celebrating their last week of high school and their first year anniversary in their very own place. This was something she and Daryl had been working towards since they had gotten jobs. Daryl made it possible for them to have this apartment so soon. He had gotten his GED the year before and immediately began a mechanics program at a trade school. He worked for a popular dealership for a few months before really accelerating his career by rebuilding motorcycles on the side.
The apartment was small and bills were still incredibly tight, but the struggle was worth the freedom their new home allowed them. It also gave her the first semblance of family in years. She was able to see Rick in a place that wasn’t at school, parties, or anywhere where his parents might catch them. Not that his parents were bad, but they clearly loved and supported Rick in a way she was never going to experience and that made her uncomfortable. Wichita was never sure how she was supposed to fit into that kind of life. If she never figured that out, how was she supposed to let Rick go?
As happy as she was in the moment, Wichita was also ignoring the hard fact that these times were limited. Rick started college in two weeks. He was headed to a local college on a baseball scholarship. It was 45 minutes away, but required a much longer commitment from him as an athlete. It was painful to admit that both her boyfriend and her best friend were going to places she couldn’t follow.
Even if Wichy knew what she wanted for a career or even what education she was interested in, no college was going to accept anyone with an elaborate criminal record at eighteen. Nothing major, but a rather long string of petty theft and trespassing that undoubtedly made her undesirable to any college program. Rick and Daryl both had asked her to try something– the local community college or a trade program like Daryl, but Wichita had done too much to just face, what felt like, an automatic rejection.
“Hey,” Wichy broke away from her thoughts to look down at Daryl, who was holding up his beer. She took it without thinking. “The movie isn’t over?” She asked, confused. “You didn’t even touch this?” Wichita touched the nearly full can of beer to her lips.
“I got class and work tomorrow.” Daryl mumbled, slowly standing to stretch, while Wichita resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Of course. As if reading her mind, Daryl leaned down and brushed his lips against her hairline. “Game of Thrones, tomorrow.” He promised, as he patted Rick’s shoulder and headed back to his room.
Wichita tried to hand Rick the beer, but he shook his head. “I gotta go home tonight.” He reminded her gently. His eyes tracked her carefully, as she slowly released a sigh and set the beer on the table. Neither or Daryl had ever been fans of drinking, for different reasons, but they occasionally went along with it when they were celebrating. But she guessed now that they were both moving immediately into responsible adulthood, Wichita was on her own. Again.
Rick paused the movie. “Why don’ we finish it next time?” He asked it like she had a choice, but there was something hanging in the air between them. A tension that had been building for weeks– or so Wichita thought.
“My parents want you to come to lunch with us tomorrow. They want to celebrate graduation with you.”
That definitely wasn’t what she thought he was going to say. Wichita was never the best or easiest to get along with during moments of change. While she was so proud of Rick and would never want him to give up his achievements for her, it didn’t hurt any less that no matter what she did, she was always the one left behind.
“With me?” She repeated and then laughed. “Did they forget who I was? Amnesia perhaps?” Wichita moved the popcorn to the table and turned to face him. She pulled her knees to her chest, carefully putting space between them. She was kidding, of course, but his parents' lack of approval of her was very much not a joke.
“You deserve to celebrate just like I do.” Rick said as he ran his fingers over her leg, pulling her legs down and her feet into his lap. When did he master the art of keeping her close? Slowly, he traced the pattern of her jeans up to her knees. “Please.”
Wichita startled at the word, looking up at him sharply. “I don’t need a lecture from your dad again.” Rick’s dad being the town sheriff really made for several awkward and tense encounters. There was a period of time where she saw Sheriff Grimes far more on the clock than she ever did as his son’s girlfriend.
“He’s not gonna do that.” Rick protested in an exasperated whisper. “You’ve not been in any trouble and y’ graduated high school. What’s there to be mad about?”
“I barely graduated.”
“He doesn’t know that, does he?” Rick leaned towards her, clearly trying to be playful with her. “I’m not goin’ tell.” He kissed her softly. “Please.” He repeated, pulling back to meet her eyes.
Wichita made a clicking sound with her tongue, resisting the urge to glare at him. She did not want to go anywhere with his parents, but she wanted Rick to be happy. Plus, was she really in the position to turn down a free lunch?
Rick saw the change in her face and knew that he had her. “Thank you,” he breathed, kissing her again. Wichita tried to shift her feet out of his lap so she could get closer to him, but he held her in place. “I gotta go home.”
“You really have to stop repeating yourself.” Wichita scolded frustratedly. Rick laughed and moved out from under her to stand. “I left a couple new t-shirts on your bed, so hopefully you can stop taking all of mine. Then we’ll finally break you of this bad habit.”
“They’re no good, if they’re not yours.”
He laughed loudly this time. “Who said they weren’t? You just like stealing from me, sweetheart.”
Somehow Wichita managed to let him go and be ready on time for Rick to pick her up for lunch with his parents. Suddenly overcome with worry when they’re moments away from the restaurant that she wasn’t dressed appropriately. Wichita looked down to realize she was wearing her jeans with the bleach stains from that awful weekend she tried to go blonde. She pulled Rick’s old high school baseball t-shirt she had on down, sighing when it didn’t even come close to hiding anything. Plus what was she thinking, grabbing a ripped leather jacket of Daryl’s and her pair of Vans that she’d written the lyrics of Rick’s favorite song on with sharpie?
Wichita had always felt like the adult, caretaker, and person in charge, but she was oh so very much still dressed like a teenager. “Why did you not stop me from coming out like this?” Wichita hissed as he pulled into a parking spot. “Like what?” Rick asked, looking around before spotting his dad’s truck in the rearview mirror. “You look beautiful.”
“Rick, I look like your fangirl.” Wichita grabbed his arm, stopping him from opening his door. ”I’m basically dressed just like you.” Rick was in dark jeans and a blue button up, with the top of the logo of Wichita’s favorite band peaking out on the t-shirt underneath. It was from the concert they went to last weekend with Daryl. The tickets were Rick’s graduation present to her. But his parents weren’t going to recognize the inch of color that can be seen at the neck of his shirt.
He turned back to her with a small smile. “You look like my girlfriend. It wouldn’t be authentic if you showed up in one of those dresses, y’ keep stashed in the back of your closet. Plus you know my dad would spot the security tags you can’t get off.”
Wichita slapped him across the shoulder. “Ouch, Krista. Seriously?” She hit him again. “Okay okay. Low blow. I get it. I’m sorry.” Wichita glared as he struggled to get his words out without laughing. “I’m sorry!” He said again, more seriously. “We’re having lunch where the top menu item is mac and cheese. What should you have worn instead?”
Wichita rolled her eyes, but froze when she saw Sheriff Grimes standing outside of Rick’s door, looking down at her through the window. He waved as Rick opened the door. “Hi, Krista. Whatever my son has done surely isn’t enough to make him miss lunch with his mother, is it?” His dad said loudly before either of them could say anything. The Sheriff loved using her given name since the moment he discovered it on the intake paperwork the first time he found her in trouble at the station. Both she and Rick gave up correcting him a long time ago.
“Hi Sheriff Grimes.” Wichita mumbled before getting out of the car. As she moves onto the sidewalk, she’s able to see the sheriff nudging Rick towards her. “Didn’t I teach you to open a door for a lady?”
“Yes, sir.” Rick steps up next to her, taking her hand in his. Rick’s dad opens the door to the restaurant for them and holds out a hand to show them where Rick’s mother is already at a table waiting for them. She grinned at the sight of them and stood to hug her son immediately. There was a brief pause before she hugged Wichy too.
Once they were settled and a round of waters were placed at the table, Sheriff Grimes did what he always did and took charge of the situation. He raised his glass. “Congratulations, to the both of you.” There’s some awkward thank yous and an uncomfortable pause as they order food. “We each have a gift for you, Krista. We’re both incredibly proud of everything you’ve overcome to reach this accomplishment.”
Wichy’s eyes widened and she turned to see Rick was also startled by the news. She thought at most his dad would hand her a card, but instead handed her a large envelope. “A judge owed me a favor.” He said, leaning back in his chair as she started to open up the gift. “I had your record sealed when Rick told me y’ turned eighteen.”
Wichita couldn’t even begin to read the papers as her sight blurred over with tears. Blinking them away rapidly, Wichita felt incredibly stunned. Gently, Rick took the papers from her and began scanning them quickly.
“I don’t– I don’t know what to say.” Wichita rarely experienced speechlessness. She never thought they would get to a place where his parents would accept her, let alone do something so meaningful.
Rick’s dad caught her eye with a firm look. “I’ve always been someone who believed people deserve a second chance. But, this doesn’t mean y’ get a free pass. You’re an adult now. Whatever happens from this point forward will absolutely follow you for the rest of your life.”
“Yes, sir.” Wichita whispered, not feeling confident enough to make any sort of promise that she was suddenly on the straight and narrow path. Sheriff Grimes nodded, draping an arm around his wife’s shoulder. “My son says he loves you. His mother and I want to take that seriously.”
Wichita and Rick both stiffened. Neither of them had said anything like that to the other. Here his dad was just dropping bombshell after bombshell. “Dad–” Rick began, but his mom interrupted them by quickly admonishing her husband. Then she turned to Wichita. “Ignore him. He talks too much.” Then she handed Wichy her own large envelope. Wichita’s eyes widened. What sort of legal trouble could his mother figure out?
She felt Rick relax next to her. This is the gift he knew about then. The top set of papers were a brochure and application to the small community college two blocks from the garage that Daryl worked at. “Oh, thanks.” Wichita winced at the sound of her voice. Could she have come across more ungrateful?
“Look at the other papers before you say anything.” Rick’s mom encouraged mildly. “I don’t understand.” Wichita admitted as she flipped through the pages. There were so many and her heart was racing. How could she compute any of this?
“I’m the head of a small scholarship committee meant for the graduates of the area’s public schools by giving opportunities for kids to get into college that wouldn’t have them otherwise. It’s not a lot, but it’s enough for you to get some gen eds out of the way while you figure out what it is you really want to do.”
Wichita tried to hand the documents back to her. “Thank you, but I can’t—” But, his mother held her hands up. “My husband and I are really proud of you and the life you’ve been building over the last year. Staying out of trouble, graduating, holding down an apartment and a job – all of that shows an incredible amount of responsibility and maturity. That deserves to be rewarded.”
“With your records sealed and the scholarship, y’ should have no trouble getting into the community college. Now we know this still leaves you and Rick going to different schools and being apart more than y’d like. But with time, maybe you could transfer or find whatever it is that’s the right path for you.” Rick grabbed her hand and squeezed it under the table, making his dad pause for a moment. “College isn’t for everyone, but we wanted you to have the opportunity if you wanted it.”
“Thank you.” She whispered, unable to offer anything else. Before they sat down at the table, Wichita never thought college was an option for her. Between her past, money, and her grades, how could she ever consider it? “I don’t think anyone’s ever done something so nice for me.”
The rest of the lunch passed in a blur. She couldn’t stop thinking of how her entire future had changed in one afternoon. Somehow she ended up back in Rick’s car, clutching both envelopes to her chest. As soon as Rick made eye contact with her, they both burst into laughter. “I didn’t know my dad had done that.” He said finally.
“I really thought they didn’t like me.” Wichita whispered. “Your dad especially.”
Rick took her hand and brought it to his lips. “You and my dad have a unique history, but he’s always believed in second chances. Why do y’ think they’re so okay with Shane?”
Wichita rolled her eyes. “Yeah, okay.” Rick laughed again, as he began driving them back to her apartment. Rick stayed the night, working well into the evening on helping Wichita with her application. It was the first night in a long time that Wichita wasn’t worried about the future.
