Suddenly Bill spoke in a quiet voice:
- Roma, I've been thinking... We'll be graduating from high school soon and I made a few phonecalls and I was told I qualify for a couple of scholarships. I guess you could get one too if you applied since you are so talented. So I checked and I'm almost certain we'll have enough money to rent a house during our stay in college.
- You'll have enough money, during your stay in college - she interrupted him.
- But...
- I'm not going anywhere. I can't imagine leaving this place – she said, looking around. - I moved in and out so many times, always uncertain of how long I am going to stay in one place before my mother will tell me to pack my things again. I've been living here for a little more than three years, but still I've never stayed so long in one place for my entire life.
- But you will come back here... We will come back... You can still paint and sell your paintings while in college, so that you could pay the bills. And I can ask my parents to keep an eye on this place.
- You know me long enough to know that I like to take care of things myself. You have wonderful parents and I am sure they would agree to help, but I'm not going to ask them. I'm not going anywhere.
- So I'm not going either.
- Oh yes you are. I know how much you dream about going to college. And you really should. You learn things quickly, and enjoy it too. While I'm struggling with everything and I am excited about graduating from high school because after that I can burn all of those stupid books. University just isn't for everyone, and it certainly is not for me.
She looked at his frowned face and smiled at him the way that always made him smile back.
- Oh come on, you know I'm right, I always am. Now come here and give me a kiss.
And so he did.
