I woke up in the middle of the day. My body ached from sleeping on a coach. I wondered for a moment how I would of felt sleeping on the concrete. I got up, and folded all my bedding. I noticed Issiac had already left for work, and it looked like Alice wasn't home either. I sighed in relief. I collected my things, and headed out the door.
They never bothered lock the front door. Everyone in town knew each other. If someone stole something, you'd have to hide it forever or someone would notice. Sometimes the family like town felt so safe, other times it felt so confining.
Last night sucked, but I had to make things right. I didn't want to walk away from my problems, so instead, I was literally walking right into my problems. I threw my bag over my shoulder. I'd collect my long board from the old bridge later.
The little house I grew up in appeared in my view. Dread filled my stomach. My legs did not want to keep going, but I pushed forward. I knocked on the white wooden door, almost to quite to be heard.
I heard rustling in the house.
My mom answered the door. She was in a bathrobe. Her eyes looked tired. She didn't say anything. She just stared at me.
"I'm sorry," I stumbled over my words. My mom folded her arms across her chest. "Grace Miller," she started.
"I know. I was wrong," I sighed. The look of anger seemed to melt from my mother's face.
"I know, me too," she answered. It immediately felt like a weight lifted off my shoulders. The sadness was still there, but the grief fluttered away. "Come inside." Mom stepped out the door way, and let me in. The house smelled like blueberries muffins. They were my favorite. Maybe mom had anticipated me coming home. I smiled a little. We fought, but I loved her.
I walked into the kitchen, and sat at the old scratched wooden dinning table. I'd carved my name into the bottom when I was a kid. I always felt for it. It was a small secret of mine. It reminded me I was home.
My mom walked into the kitchen. She leaned against the counter across from me. "So, are we going to talk about this?" She asked.
I tried not to make myself small. I wanted my mother to see me as an adult. It meant I couldn't be afraid of her.
"I'm sorry." I swallowed. "I know I've done a lot wrong, but I'm not a kid anymore." I held my hands in my lap, nervously rubbing my fist.
My mother looked at me intensely. I could tell she was trying to decide what to say to me. "I know you're not a kid anymore. Coming into adulthood can be hard for you, but it's an adjustment for me too." She paused. "I'm willing to negotiate some boundaries with you. You still live here. I still provide for you. You're still my daughter. So, how can we compromise?"
I pushed my chair back to make eye contact with my mom. "I don't want to have to check in all the time, and to be able to spend the night at friend's houses. I was safe, and responsible."
My mother scoffed. "You're underage dear, I don't feel comfortable with you drinking anywhere, but at home."
"What about at college?" I asked. "I'm leaving in August."
Mom smiled. "I'm so proud of you," she said offhanded. "You've grown up so much."
She walked over to the coffee pot, and pulled down two coffee cups from the cabinet. "When you move out, the rules will change again, and we'll have this conversation again. Dear, relationships and boundaries will change over time, as will ours. You may drink with your friends under parental supervision, and I'll accept your other terms, but no more storming off when you get in trouble. I was worried about you."
I held back a groan. "Fine, deal."
My mother smiled. "Would you like a cup of coffee with some good news?"
"Sure," I smiled.
My mom poured us both cups of coffee. It smelled amazing. She always made mine in my favorite mug. It had a little bee on it. I loved it. She walked to the table.
"You received a letter this morning from the collage."
My ears perked up. "What did it say?" I couldn't hold back my excitment.
"They want you to move in early. The philosophy department apparently needs extra help getting ready for the school year. They're going to let you move in early." My mom declared.
My eyes lit up. "Really?" I wanted to dance.
"I have to tell Ash. I'm so excited."
Mom sat down at the table beside me, and placed my coffee in front of me. "Can we drink our coffee first?" She asked. I softly smiled. "I'd like to celebrate with you first." She said.
"Of course," I responded. We happily sat talking about our plans for the day while slowly sipping our coffee. Mom was going to go to the church for a mother's support group. We were going to run to the store later for boxes to finish packing. One week, and I'd be in a different town, with different people. It's so crazy to begin a new journey. It was the first time I felt truly sorrowful about leaving while being so excited at the same town. You'd never believe how attached you are to somewhere until you're walking out the door to leave.
I sat on my bed with my phone on the charging cord. I kept calling Ash to tell her, but she was busy. Maybe her parents took her phone away. I knew she was in trouble too. I texted her instead, telling her the good news. I hoped she wouldn't be upset with me. It took away a month of time we thought we had together, but it wasn't like I was moving three hours away. Solstice University was only one hour away. I stared at the boxes in my room with forlorn. I still needed somethings. I was lucky enough to get an apartment, so I needed bathroom supplies. I'd planned on coming home for laundry. The beds at school where a special size. I felt like that was crazy.
The next day Ash showed up at my house. Half of mom's van was already loaded with my things. My mattress was on the floor. I had enough clothes left out for the rest of the week, and a phone charger. Ash was sitting at the kitchen table on her phone. She'd found my long board which I'd forgotten at the bridge. That was our spot. I wondered if she'd went there looking for me. "I got my phone back today," she mumbled. I was sitting next to her fumbling with a puzzle. "I can't believe they took your phone," I said.
"Your mom kicked you out, so in comparison I'm doing great." Ash groaned. She didn't seem amused.
"I didn't get kicked out as much as I just didn't go home, besides isn't your sister Alice always getting kicked out of your place?" I respond.
Ash put down her phone. "Yeah, but she's the bad kid."
I laughed. "Alice is an angel."
Ash scoffed. "Alice is only an angel to like three people." I put down my puzzle piece.
"Bullshit. I've never seen her be even a little chaotic. That girl is lawful good if I've ever scene it," I said. I couldn't help, but smile. Ash seemed upset. I could understand why, but I was still excited to get out of this town.
"More like chaotic evil," Ash responded. She ran a hand through her hair, and leaned back in her chair. I could hear in my head my mother scolding her it. "Chairs have four legs, not two," my mother would say. I chuckled to myself.
"So you're getting a dog," I prodded Ash.
"Don't change the subject. You're going away to college. You get an apartment! You're probably going to work for some sexy dad professor. I can see it now, Grace and Professor Sexy. It'll be a whole scandal."
I laughed. "God, I fucking hope so. Could you imagine? Me, in love?"
Ash put an arm around me. "Miss Grace, you need a man, or a women, whatever you're preferring in that little body of yours to make sweet, sweet-" Ash stopped. My mother pushed open the front room. Ash and I turned bright red, and burst out laughing.
"You're disgusting," I poked at Ash.
"You were thinking about it too," she giggled back at me.
My mom sat down groceries at the table. She looked confused. "What are you two going on about?" She asked.
We both smiled ear to ear. "Oh nothing," I responded.
"Mhmm, sure," my mom rolled her eyes.
"Grace is going to get a college boyfriend," Ash blurted out.
My mother chuckled. "About damn time."