Gathering Clouds by V. C. Andrews

was always around to slip me a way out, an excuse, to provide the parachute.
    But he wasn’t around to provide a parachute for this. I was afraid that if I told Larry about what was happening inside me, he would have to give up his scholarship and go get a job to support our child. His whole life would go up in smoke, a life with such promise. He would feel too responsible to ask me to get an abortion.
    Twice I set out to do just that and twice I turned back. Something inside me kept saying, “It’s Larry’s child. He should be involved in such a decision.”
    I didn’t show even in the third month, but I was dangerously close to when I would. I had been able to keep everything from Lynette and any of the other girls, but I knew it was time to reveal my pregnancy. I came seconds away from doing just that before Larry told me about his wonderful new award. He was so excited, he took the bus to our campus and came to Lynette and my dorm room. It was the first time ever he had come there.
    “Well, look who is honoring us with his presence,” Lynette declared when she opened the door.
    I had my nose in my history of Western civilization textbook, skimming over every other sentence and barely absorbing a word or two.
    “Larry?” I said as if I couldn’t believe he was really there.
    “Hi. I hope I’m not interrupting anything important,” he said.
    “No, just two girls studying for a history exam in the morning,” Lynette said. “You want me to go see Barbara and Sally?” she asked me, winking.
    “I can’t stay long. I got to hightail it back to the library,” Larry said. “I just had to come over to tell you,” he said looking at me and then at Lynette, “to tell you both that I was given a scholarship to attend Oxford on an exchange program next year. I’ve been given an assistant to a professor assignment, too.”
    I just sat there staring at him, my mouth slightly open.
    “Well, that sounds like a slam dunk, if I ever heard one,” Lynette said. “Marcus know?”
    “No one know but you two, right now.”
    “Well, don’t just sit there with your back teeth showing, girl. Tell the man congratulations or something,” Lynette said.
    “Congratulations, Larry. I know how much you wanted this.”
    “Thanks,” he said.
    “I’m going to see Barbara,” Lynette said. “Watching you two is beginning to upset my stomach.”
    She left.
    We stared at each other a moment.
    “I know you think we won’t see each other, but I’ll be back on holiday and maybe you can take a trip over there, too.”
    “Of course,” I said. “I’m sorry. I should be happier for you. It’s just came as such a  . . . I don’t remember you saying you were applying.”
    “Oh, you fill out forms like you fill out dreams, but man,” he said, “this one’s coming true.”
    “I’m happy for you, Larry,” I said and stood up. “Really, I am,” I added and went to him.
    We kissed and I held on to him so hard he laughed.
    “I’m not going until the summer,” he said. “This isn’t supposed to feel like good-bye.”
    “I know,” I said pulling myself back and smiling. “We’ll celebrate this weekend. Maybe we’ll go to that fancy restaurant we saw in Jamestown. On me,” I said quickly. “And don’t say it makes you feel like being kept. It’s a present for succeeding. I’m permitted to give presents, aren’t I?”
    “I guess so,” he said. He looked at his watch. “Okay. I’ll call you tomorrow. I just had to come over here to tell you. I felt like I was going to explode if I didn’t tell someone, someone who mattered.”
    “I’m glad,” I said. “Let me drive you back.”
    “No, no. You study. I’m fine. I’ve got time. In fact, I just want to walk for a while. I feel like I’ve been touched on the shoulder by an angel.”
    He laughed. I kissed him again and he left. When the door closed, I just stood there for a long moment.
    I remember I felt as if my skin was slowly sliding off my body and