Chapter Text
I sat my coffee down and took my seat, already wanting to run out of the lecture and go the fuck home. A class I had with absolutely none of my friends was something that inhabited my nightmares, and I had 3 of them throughout the week.
I sipped on my iced coffee as the professor went on, occasionally taking notes when I heard something I thought would be important. But I found myself having trouble focusing. After everything that went on a few nights ago, plus the faded bruises that littered my neck, it was safe to say that my mind was anywhere but the lecture. My brain repeated the image of me sitting on Isaac’s lap like a broken record, and the taste of him lingered in my mouth all week. I couldn’t get enough of him.
… Anyways, after 3 years in university, I was starting to become aware of the script. Burn yourself out note taking, testing, presenting, and writing throughout the week, sleep for 13 hours after your last course, get blackout drunk on the weekend, and repeat.
And right now I was in the burnout step. After the winter break, I found myself getting so frustrated and tired so easily. This being the second week in January where I was completely done with everything and just wanted to go home. Not my apartment, either. I wanted to be home, in Colorado, with my parents and Mika. I needed to see Mika so badly it was killing me. I Facetimed her occasionally, especially since she got out of the hospital the other day, but I hadn’t seen her in almost 4 months. I missed my parents too, obviously, but mostly Mika.
So when I got home that Wednesday afternoon, you can believe that the first thing I looked up was, ‘flights to Denver’. It wasn’t something I was 100% set on, but it would definitely be lingering on my mind for the rest of the day.
“Wanna go get food,” Victoria asked as she stepped into my room.
I shrugged, “I don’t know, what’d you wanna get?”
“I was thinking chinese. Maybe P.F. Chang’s? Something just quick?” Victoria suggested.
“Who’s all going?”
Victoria paused, “Sage and Eren were busy studying, so just us.”
As Victoria drove us to the restaurant, I randomly blurted out what had been on my mind all day, “I think I’m going to fly to Colorado for a couple of days.”
She shot me a look, “Are you joking?”
I shook my head, “I really miss my family, especially since I didn’t see them over Christmas.”
“Listen, I’m not saying you shouldn’t, but will you have time? I mean don’t you have that data structures project soon?” Victoria sighed.
“Fuck data structures, I have to see Mika.”
Victoria nodded, I could tell she didn’t agree, but I’d made up my mind. After we got back from our dinner, I booked the earliest flight on Friday and started packing. I only planned on being there till Sunday morning, so packing went by quickly.
I walked into Victoria’s room and told her what time I was going to be leaving, 5:30 in the morning, and also let her know that all of my laundry was clean so she didn’t need to worry about that.
***
Sitting in the airport was a sadly familiar feeling that I hated so much. The AUS airport was always busy, but it was surprisingly peaceful at 6 in the morning. After I made my way to my terminal, I felt my phone buzz. I expected it to be Eren or Sage, but it was Isaac. We hadn’t talked in about 13 hours, mostly because we were both busy, but regardless we weren’t keeping each other updated.
“What are you doing tonight?” It read. Shit. Now I felt bad. I told him the truth, that Inwas flying to Colorado to see my family. He asked me to call him. Call? I saw that I had no choice, seeing the incoming call immediately.
“You’re flying to Colorado? Since when? For how long?” Isaac asked before I could even greet him, sounding kind of upset.
“I just planned this last night, I promise I wasn’t keeping anything from you.”
I heard him take a deep breath in, “Sorry, that sounded fucking crazy.” He slightly chuckled, “But when do you get back?”
“Sunday morning, so if you want we can see each other in the afternoon,” I offered.
“I’d like that, I could even pick you up from the airport, if you’d want.”
I nodded, before I realized he couldn’t see me, “That sounds good, see you then.”
“You’ll still talk to me, right?”
“Nope, never talking to you again, actually.” I laughed.
We talked for a little while longer until I heard my flight being called. I gave him a quick goodbye before getting in line to board the plane.
A two and a half hour flight later, and I was finally landing in Denver. My parents lived about an hour out of Denver, so I still had a bit in commuting before I’d actually get to see them. Not sure if I’ve mentioned this yet, but me visiting was a complete surprise for everyone, so I was praying that they’d be home.
After one final uncomfortable Uber there, I was finally outside of the home I’d grown up in. I saved my tears and eagerly ran up to the porch, like a kid on Christmas running to the tree. The doorbell rang and when it went silent for a minute, I was worried they weren’t home. Then the door opened. And it was Mika.
The saved tears earlier then came flooding. I was so happy to see her, when she wasn’t in a hospital bed. I wrapped her tightly in my arms, her body unmoving.
“Is that..? Is that really you? Oh my god,” Mika’s sentence ended short with her starting to cry too.
I pulled away from her, both of our shirts now soaked in tears. “Where’s mom and dad?”
“Um, I think they’re at the grocery store? Running errands? I’m not sure.”
I nodded and walked into the house. My legs moved themselves, bringing me up the stairs and to my room like muscle memory. I threw my luggage on the floor before staring at my room. Looking at it after I left never failed to make me tear up. My parents left it the same as it was the day I left, not even cleaning the decorations while they sat collecting dust.
The window I’d sneak boys in through, my desk I’d do my makeup at every morning, the closet where I’d hide anything that would get me grounded, and my TV I would use to drown out any ruckus at night, take that as you wish.
I joined Mika back down stairs as we caught up on everything possible. She told me about her class, doctor visits, boys she liked, and anything else a 16 year old girl would be interested in. I told her about parties I’d been to, rooming with my best friends, and obviously Isaac. There was no point in keeping it a secret from her, and she was probably more excited than me.
“Why are y’all not dating? Oh my god, that’s so cute. Do you have a picture of him?” Mika excitedly asked.
I laughed and slightly nodded, pulling my phone out to show her. “Here.” It was a photo from the night we went out to eat. It was one that Isaac photobombed me in while Sage attempted to coax me into a position that would look good for Instagram, which obviously didn’t work.
“Oh my god! He is hot!” Mika squealed.
“I know right? Ugh, I want him to ask me out so badly, but he won’t.” I groaned.
“How long have y’all known each other?” Mika asked.
I shrugged, “Like 3 months, I think.”
“He’ll do it when you get back to Austin, I bet 20 bucks on it.”
“Yeah, whatever.”
***
Seeing my parents was also amazing. Third time that day I cried, but I didn’t care. My mother made my favorite dinner and we all caught up until much after Mika’s bed time.
I took a shower in my bathroom, steering clear of the definitely expired hair products my mom hadn’t bothered to get rid of. Even though it had been three months since I’d been in that room, sleeping in my old bedroom never failed to make me feel like a high schooler, staying up all night just to wake up to a 6 am alarm.
That bed was also the most comfortable thing in the world. The mix of nostalgia and the perfect temperature combined to give me the best night's sleep in months. I woke up very late and responded to Isaac before going down stairs.
“Morning, honey.” My mom greeted the second I was at the bottom of the stairs.
“Mom? Shouldn’t you be at work?” I asked, confused.
She sighed, “Well, yes. But I figured seeing my daughter was more important. And look, I made your favorite! Biscuits, gravy and sausage!” My mom exclaimed, pressing a kiss to my forehead as she walked by.
“Thank you so much Mom, do we have any plans for the day?”
“Whatever you want to do!”
“Mom, just because I’m back home doesn’t mean anything has to change, if you have plans go do them,” I replied.
She sighed, “Okay, well I actually think I should go to work tonight. I had a late shift anyway, but I planned on spending all day with you. If it’s okay, I’ll go at about 3.”
“No, that's fine, whatever you need to do.”
I finished my breakfast and went to watch some TV with Mika. We were just enjoying each other’s company, watching cartoons that weren’t really up either of our alleys, but we still sat and enjoyed them.
When my mother left for work along with my dad, I took it as an opportunity to give some advice that I wish I’d gotten when I was Mika’s age.
“Have you ever snuck a boy in?” I asked, breaking our silence.
“What?” Mika choked out, “I mean, no. Why?”
“Because, if you had plans on it, I have tips for you.” I shrugged.
“I didn’t necessarily have plans on it, plus I have too much weird shit in my bedroom. No guy would need to see all of those pills, he’d think I’m a druggie.”
I rolled my eyes, “I’m sure they already think that, but do you want the advice or not?”
“Um… Sure, why not.”
“Okay, so you have it harder and easier than I did. Since your room’s on the first floor, it’ll be easier to find guys who will want to sneak in, since they don’t have to climb a tree, but your room is also the same floor as mom and dad’s, so here’s my advice.” I gave her all of my tips and tricks, including excuses to make if you got caught.
“Wow, great. Now our parents can raise two disappointments.” Mika laughed.
“Two?” I feigned confusion, “Which one of us had over half of our entire college tuition paid for us? Not you!”
Mika rolled her eyes, “And I’m the reason we got to go to Disneyland every year, big whoop.”
“We haven’t gone to Disney in like 6 years, liar.”
“You’re 21 and I’m 16. They don’t do make-a-wish past the age of 10 because they thought you’d be dead by then.”
I laughed as my jaw dropped, “Mika! They did not think you’d be dead by 10.”
“Yes they did, let’s be real.”