It's only been a week since whole mess with Finn started. A deal which brought loss only to me. I still don't understand why a bad boy would want to become a good boy all of sudden. Could it be the family pressure?

In past week I've seen that Jeremy is nice. He greets me every morning and we talk all the way to school while Finn simply keeps quiet while driving. Jeremy also helps with school newspaper and some school committee. Monday and Tuesday Finn gives me ride back to home and Wednesday to Friday it's Jeremy. He talks about any topic. And I was completely surprised me when he asked me the other day.

"Um... Aubrey," Jeremy seemed nervous sitting on the passenger seat.

"Yes," I rose an eyebrow.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Of course," I smiled at his nervousness. He was so cute.

"Do you have her  phone number?" He whispered as if we were in a secret mission.

"Who?" I whispered back.

"Ella,"

"Yes, I have." I remember exchanging our numbers the other day.

"Can you give it to me?" He asked. "Please."

I raised an amused eyebrow at him. "Someone has a crush," I wiggled my eyebrows.

"Yes," he grumbled.

"I wonder what will be Ella's reaction when I tell her that."

His eyes widened to the size of saucers. "What? No! You won't."

I chuckled. "Of course I won't. I was only messing with you."

He scowled at me playfully. I dictated him her phone number and he thanked me with a smile. "You are amazing." He praised me and I could feel my ego inflating. And then he leaned forward to give my cheek a kiss.

That was the first time any teenage boy ever kissed me on my cheek. A blush formed on my face as a result.

He laughed at my face and I looked away shyly before getting out of the car and walking to my house leaving him alone to laugh. Probably someone will think he is crazy for laughing in car like that and send him to asylum.

I didn't see Finn for next week as he was gone for a football camp or something like that. I wished he didn't forget my teachings. In past week he has grown a filter that has slight defects but he doesn't make so many sexual innuendoes now. I'm really glad about that. Sometimes his innuendoes made me feel so awkward that I wanted yo cut all ties with him and never look back at his handsome face again. Unfortunately that was not even an option so I had to bring a change in him. Though Jeremy told me that Finn only doesn't make those innuendoes when I'm around. Well, change takes time to happen.

It's still irking me. Why would Finn want to change? And he is making great effort for that. He is wearing sweaters or blazers and not leather jackets. I'd say it's only enhancing his looks. He is more handsome than ever. And With every passing day he grows more handsome. Speed is under control, when I'm sitting in the car with him but Jeremy says Finn drives like he is in Fast and Furious, again when I'm not around. He has no problem in paying attention to class. Some girls seem to distract him sometimes but he doesn't let them sway him. And I thought guys thought about only one thing. It appears that becoming a good boy is the only thing in his mind now.

A week later Finn returned. He had a bright smile on his face as if he had achieved something special. I was doing my homework with Jeremy in their living room. Finn's mother was in kitchen.

"You look happy." I observed as he flopped on couch. Jeremy smiled warmly at his cousin before changing it back to a challenging look.

"I am going to be permanent captain of the team for rest of the year." He told me. That was great. He likes football and I was sure he was going to become a famous football player one day.

"Congratulations!" I gave him a grin which he returned.

"Well done man!" Jeremy said. Finn is not always in his best mood around Jeremy. He kind of ostracizes his cousin. But at that moment Finn was so happy that he could only grin at his cousin. I was happy that he was so happy. It seemed like nothing could break his happy mood.

I spoke too soon.

"You should quit from the team." Words fell out of Mrs. Black's mouth and so did Finn's smile from his face. "It's just some lame game. Students from several schools play this game. Not everyone becomes a football player. You won't too. Stop wasting your time in this stupid game and focus on your academics."

I was shocked at her words. She discouraged her own son like that. I hated her so much at that moment. Finn's expressions turned from happiness to anger. His eyes were hard as he glared at his mother. She glared back at him. Jeremy and I stood there awkwardly as Finn rose from seat and went upstairs to his room I assume.

I wanted to follow him and see if he was okay. There was a sound of door slamming and I sucked in a breath. I so badly wanted to reach him but I knew it was not the right time. He was too angry to listen to anyone.

"I think I should leave now." I mumbled taking my books.

"I'll walk you to your door." Jeremy followed behind me. Once we were out, he apologized for what went in inside.

"It's okay." I shrugged. "I was just surprised at Mrs. Black's reaction."

She had always seemed like a nice lady to me. But you can't know a person unless you see when they are wrong. I didn't like her. How could she do that? My heart ached for Finn. He was so happy. And she made him so angry. Why can't she be just happy with her son's choices. He's not thirty. He is only seventeen. If he won't do what he likes now then when will he do that? When he's sixty?

"Finn likes football but his parents don't like it. They want him to become a doctor. But he will probably faint while dissecting a frog." Jeremy chuckled with me.

I want to be a doctor. A cardiologist. My parents support me. I wonder if I chose any other career would they still approve of it. Something that they don't like. But what that would be? Yeah, I know.

"Don't tell him I told you that. He will kill me."

I laughed. "Don't worry. I won't." I assured him.

"So, what do you want to become?" I asked him.

"I want to be a pediatrician."

"Why pediatrician?" I frowned.

"I just do." He shrugged and I didn't probe further. We were at at porch of my house now.

"Thank you," I smiled at him.

"Anything for you," he said making me laugh. He walked away throwing "I'll see you tomorrow" over his shoulder.

I walked inside and went to my room thinking about Finn. I might know what he wanted to become a good boy. His parents didn't really like his playing football so I guess they didn't like his bad boy habits. Did he want to change for them? To prove himself to his parents.

I smiled sadly at the thought. A boy who wants to prove himself to his parents can't be living a happy life. He is must be a lonely soul. Parents are closest to our heart. If you have to prove yourself to your parents then you are not close to them and you are lonely at heart.

I was busy in my own thoughts when Regina walked in.

"I'm going yo grocery store, Aubrey. Do you need anything?" She asked.

I shook my head in negative. She was about to close the door when I called out her name. She gave me a quizzical look.

"Can I ask you something?" I was nervous about her answer to my next question.

"Yes," she leaned against the door. "Ask away."

"Um... would you mind if I um... if I wanted to become a stripper?"

Her eyes widened at my question. "What?"

I stayed quiet watching her reaction. And I could say she really didn't like my choice.

"Why are you asking that?" She walked to bed sitting at my side. "Do you want to become a stripper?"

"No, I'm just asking." I shrugged.

"No Aubrey. I won't like you to become a stripper." She expressed her concern. "But if you really... urgh... what am I saying? I really won't want my baby girl to do that. But still..." she covered her face in frustration. "I'd need a lot of time to think about that. But I'd rather prefer you to be a laborer than a stripper."

"And if I want to be an actor?"

"You have my support." She said immediately. I could see in her eyes. Anything but a stripper. She is from a catholic household. Even though her very extreme values have changed over time, she won't like me to be a stripper.

It's a shame how a society looks at a strippers. But this is a society after all. Thoughts don't change over a day. But I hope we can change them over a generation.

"Okay. And I don't want to become a stripper. It was just a random thought." What I have to strip for? I don't have a model's body or anything.

She smiled and left me to my thoughts again.

***
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