Stressed

Alexander and Cora pulled back from their kiss and smiled at each other and finally after a half hour of making out and talking in the driveway they decided to head inside.

(Inside)

I keep my hold on her hand as I closed the front door and I turned around and saw mom ready to gush as she looked at our intertwined hands.

But she holds herself back and says "hurry and sit down the food will be done soon, Alexander was your dad outside he should be home soon?"

I covered for my dad and said "No, it was just me and Cora" she said okay then she giggled and gave me a thumbs up and went back to the kitchen.

I rolled my eyes and we sat down I said "how are things going with Offers?"

She smiled and said "Great, I got more offers from most of the top schools in the nation and Sara got a couple but she's holding out for Stanford."

I looked at her and smiled "your waiting for her to get it or not until you make your decision aren't you?" she nodded and I smiled.

I said "your the sweetest person ever, many people would just commit to a school already"

She blushed and said "thank you, I just want to make her dream which also became mine come true and play together for Stanford or anywhere really"

we heard the front door open and close and saw Dad with a small black box and a rose.

Mom walked in while holding a plates of food and said "here we go, -" she saw dad with presents on Valentine's Day and she had the brightest smile on her face and the love in their eyes that they had for each other was immense.

Dad said "Happy Valentine's Day, babe"

Mom put our plates in front of us and she quickly made her way to dad and threw her arms around his neck and gave him a kiss and I said "did you have to do that in front of me?" She laughed and they did it again.

I sighed Cora nudged me and said "Come on, it's sweet your parents are so in love... I want that with you" she finished quietly to herself but I heard her and I turned in my seat towards her and held her softly by the side of her face and kissed her forehead.

I said "and I'll give that to you" she looked down shyly with her head against his chest not thinking he heard her but she had small smile on her lips.

Birdie on the other side of the table was already eating and looked back and forth between the two couples with her head tilted to the side confused.

-

After an early dinner,

We were just watching the latest episode of the auditions for Next Top Artist while waiting for my Night game at 7:30.

It's was 6 PM when my phone rang it was a number I haven't seen before but it's a local number going by the area code, so I answer and I go up to my room to talk.

"Hello, anyone there. Hello-"

I said "yes I'm here, sorry I was going somewhere more quiet can I ask who's calling?"

The person said "I'm Calling from the Stanford Soccer Program I-"

I interrupted him "Oh you must've got the wrong number my girlfriend is just downstairs I'll-"

He said "No, no Son I'm calling for you I was going to say I'm the head coach for the Men's Team"

I scratched the back of my head feeling embarrassed "I'm sorry sir, I shouldn't have interrupted you before you were done I just assumed you were calling for someone else."

He laughed heartily "that's just fine Mr. Rosa, no hard feelings now let's get down to it. Me and my staff have been following your season and even watched a few games in fact I'll be there tonight. But we're already sold and we want to offer you a scholarship to come play for us."

I'm shocked at the suddenness I was just mentally preparing for the game and this comes from out of know where.

I answered "thank you Mr-"

He embarrassingly said "Ah, sorry I'm Vincent Penny. Just can just call me Coach Penny."

"Thank you Coach penny, Can you give me time your for sure a top option for me but I want to focus on the season for now, also how did you get my number?"

Vincent said "I completely understand so that's just fine with me and Mr. Carranza gave me the ok, and said I could reach you at this number"

I said "of course, we'll thank you very much Coach bye."

We both hung up I stood there looking at my phone I sighed, first work, practice, games, my music, my relationship... even though that last one is fantastic and not so stressful I smiled, Now this maybe I am stretching my self to thin with so many things going on around me.

Then my phone rang again I answered it

"Hello"

They said "is this Alexander Rose?"

I said "yes it's me"

They sounded elated "Finally I was trying to call earlier but it was busy, this is Alexis Nunez GM for San Jose SC. I was wondering if I could speak with you?"

I answered "yeah that's fine"

Alexis said "great, I wanted to let you know your talent has caught our attention especially our coach. He plans to invite you in for some trials with the team this offseason. he's also heard that you want to finish the year first and that multiplied his interest we wanted to make sure you understand were very serious about you and that we understand you so we will wait for your decision."

All I could say was "wow"

"I really appreciate it and I will give you an answer either way but can I get back to you?"

"Yes, yes of course. Good luck in your game tonight."

I quietly said "yeah... thank you" I hung up and threw my phone on the bed and I think 'how could such a great day get so... stressful!' after a couple minutes went downstairs.

-

I walked to the couch everyone looked at me and I sat down they all saw the look on my face and mom asked "what's wrong?"

I said "I just got a phone call... From Stanford they offered me a scholarship" and as you expect.

Cora looks at him with wide eyes and she would love if he went with her but she's unsure what he thinks since he has music to.

She yells "really! That's fantastic my baby is really going to college!"

Birdie starts cheering with mom as they do a celebratory dance.

I tried to say something "I Don-"

She keeps saying as they a stop "Michael isn't this great!"

Dad smiles and says "if that's what he wants that's great"

With that I said "also after that I got a call from San Jose FC, checking if I had interest in doing a trial there"

My mom said "but that's not an absolute though, and Stanford offered you already so it's the-" I sighed tiredly and get up while she talks about college and walk towards the front door grab her keys and I'm gone, the door closing behind me.

-

*slam* it echoes throughout the room and everyone goes quiet.

Birdie now sitting with Michael said "What happened?"

Cora coming out of her surprise to him leaving like that says "I knew It.." she gets up quickly chases after him but when she opens the door one of the cars is gone.

She pulled out her phone and called him after going and inside to get her keys then she heard his ringtone coming from upstairs.

"You dummy" she goes upstairs to get his bag and phone and comes back down to Anna and Michael start panicking and I say "Stop!"

They look at me and I looked at Anna who was on the verge of crying, and say "this isn't your fault, I knew he's been doing to much all at once but I didn't say anything because he seemed fine... let's split up and look for him go to places you think he would be or are important to him then go from there."

Michael who was hugging his wife nodded his head "good idea Cora, let's hurry up come on Birdie let's go find your brother okay."

He held Birdie and they went in his truck when they were gone she sniffled and wiped her eyes "you idiot, next time lean on me too."

She got in her car and drove straight to where she believed, no, knew he would be she had a gut feeling and she drove towards "their" beach.