Chapter Text
It was early in the morning, very very very early. Like a, still before the sunrise with the bone-chilling cold; The only thing probably helping me from getting hypothermia is a scarf. Corey knitted it once when we were snowed in some years ago. It probably won't help actually in a couple of seconds because I just arrived at my destination, our river, well actually the river. I played here with Amare every summer when the heat could sear the rocks. I stand right next to the river, my short hair flowing in the wind; The wind swinging off my scarf and letting it fall near me as I collapse onto my knees. Tears streaming down my face without caution as I bend over and hold my breath, dunking my head into the cold river. I need to freeze my mind. Anything to clear it. These thoughts rush in and rush out.
Does Corey not even care what me and Amare think or want?
The thought that Corey is proposing, no, practically forcing us to move into town. Job opportunity and such, what was so wrong with the other jobs? What was wrong with how we lived, we practically had everything free from resources. How can Corey expect us to move in one week after we've been here since I can remember? I've never been anywhere else but here. What about forest-school? Would that make it city-school? I'M AN A1A STUDENT; WHAT IF IT LOWERS!? I suddenly choke up and remember to pull my head up, I gasp for air and shake my head, letting my hair do a sort of forced air dry. I shivered and put my scarf back on. My tears blended in with the water dripping from my face and my sadness pitting in my stomach. It feels like it's turning into rage. Frustration. I huff, then look around, and stomp to a tree. I stared at it. If I punched it and screamed that would probably be cliche and a sign of possible insanity. So, I'm passing that, I calmly breathe and head back home. I'm going to prove to Corey that we NEED to stay at the cabin.
By sabotaging the town house.
I walk back to the cabin and open the door to Corey gasping and Amare snickering. I shrug and look at my suitcase, it's almost done being packed. Corey probably helped. There are some items on the bed and around the house without packing yet. I can hear it from a somewhat distance, maybe I'm just blocking them out, but I can hear Corey’s nagging about getting a cold from my wet hair and Amare making jokes about me getting into a fight with a fish and losing. I look at my old childhood backpack and caress the soft fabric in my hands; The bag feels heavy. I wonder why. I peek in it and find the usual, well maybe whatever was usual for me. Some bandages, pocket money. A map of a town I didn't recognize, and a cardboard cutout of a weird drawing, I couldn’t tell what it was, so I took it out to throw away. I dug deeper in my bag to make sure everything was out. I felt some lint and a quick pinch. I pulled my hand out quickly and shook it around; I looked at it quickly inspecting it. A papercut? Must be nothing. Maybe I'll dig deeper some other time. I shove the things back into my bag and put them in my suitcase. I look at the bed, at my childhood stuffed bunny. It was so dirty and ragged, but it still held a place in my heart, Corey says I've had it since the moment they first met me. I guess it was a baby shower gift. I wonder why Corey always said met instead of like born. It's weird but then again, Corey and Amare are weird. I shut my suitcase; I'll carry Sire Kanin in my arms; what if he gets cold in the suitcase? So, my arms it is. I look out the window and see the farm empty, Corey didn't plant again after the crops died. It's weird to see it so empty. Our hens were surprisingly already at the new home. Corey is the only one who's been to it and ‘setting it up’ (buying a minifridge and like, a dining room table with its chairs) for like 3 days now. Corey was attached to the chickens, Amare and I can relate. Bush (my dearest rabbit) and Henry (my brother’s better version, his pet duck) are coming with us today since we could never leave our dear pets by themselves. I smile as the stars fade from the sky as I witness the sunrise, I heard in the town you cant see the stars like this. Just makes this whole thing even worse. Amare always says it'll be fine because we get to have AC, a heater, and an indoor bathroom. So I guess it's better than running a circle outside the cabin while it snows to get to the bathrooms. Corey cleared their throat.
"Tams, I think the cold water has frozen over your brain, You've been looking out the window for thirty minutes straight without blinking."
Corey looked concerned and I shrugged and blinked a couple of times before responding.
"Nah, I think I'm fine."
"Good, Cant have my kids dying on me."
Corey snickered
"Speaking about that, both of you suit up now. We're going to eat and then walk, by the time we arrive it'll probably be 12 pm if were lucky. Its what, 8 am?"
"I know what it is, TIME TO SLEEP!"
"All I hear is whining, Amare. The sooner we get to the new house we can sleep. Well not really, the movers will bring the mattress at 3 pm. But the floors very nice!"
Amare stared at Corey with a sense of somewhat disbelief.
"you can go see Abigail in town the moment we settle everything in the house."
"Well what are we waiting for!? Who's on breakfast duty?"
Amare said excitedly, Corey then looked fearfully at me. I'm not that bad as a cook if I say so myself! Amare then also looked fearfully at me.
"Yeah, We'll skip this turn I'll cook..."
"Thank. God."
Amare and Corey chatted as if they didn't state that in my face, Amare stood up and stretched, a few audible cracks and pops from his joints release. Corey walked over to me with a warm look and put her hand on my shoulder.
"Tammy, I love you so much.. How do I say this.."
Corey tapped on their chin trying to find words and then delivered me a cold hearted face
"You cant cook. Haven't you noticed we've skipped your turn for years? You almost burnt down the cabin frying an egg."
"I don't remember this."
"You passed out the moment you saw fire."
"Oh. That makes sense."
Well, never mind. I guess it's a valid reason. Still rude though, I can make a mean milk and cereal. Corey let go of my shoulder and yawned, heading to the makeshift closet and pulling out the only outfits left inside which were the winter jackets that we'd have to wear to go outside later. I sit at the table watching Amare as he quickly makes something to eat. There aren't any chores today since everything is almost empty, and we've been using disposable plates and cutlery to avoid washing dishes before moving. And we need a new frying pan, so today is the day we say goodbye to Miss Rusty Fry. That’s what I decided at 10 to name our frying pan, I'm very creative. Duh. Amare put down the plates as Corey made their way and sat. I looked at them both in silence. It is our last meal inside the cabin. It cant be the last meal if I don't eat it. I stood up from the table as Amare and Corey looked at me confused.
"Where are you going?"
"None of us have eaten since 7 pm yesterday you realize that right?"
I shrugged, honestly I thought we ate later than that. I walk to the door, fixing up my scarf and wave goodbye to them who were still confused. I close the door behind me and I can slightly hear Amare and Corey chatting, thin walls right?
"What’s up with her?"
"Maybe she's trying that like, old fasting diet thing."
I don't even know what that is. I don't want to say bye to this cabin, why aren't they realizing it? I felt my stomach protest a little, cursing my stupid teenage angst and weird logic. I sat down next to the empty chicken coop and frowned. Corey called this side of the coop the 'sad space' because when I was younger, I used to sit here when I was sad to calm down, it had the best forest view, next to the farm, not too far from the cabin and the chickens could comfort me, but the chickens aren't here right now. It feels so strange. A strong wind blows and sends a chill down my spine. The heater doesn't sound bad right now, honestly. I hear slight footsteps and turn my head, Corey takes a seat next to me, their long brown hair flowing in the wind, I'll admit it was hard to get used to when they first undyed it, but then it grew. Now the change was just normal to us.
"Mind if I join you?"
Corey then chuckles, lighting a small white roll, and letting it smoke. Corey put their arm around my shoulder.
"Are you sad we're moving?"
What type of bloody obvious question is that, Corey?
"I know it is.”
They paused, trying to find the right words to comfort me.
“Terrifying to move somewhere new after so long. I mean even the idea shocked me at first, But. It's in the best interests of you and Amare, and it's not the end of the world. The first time I found you, you were even pretty sure everything near you was against you. Especially in a new place. I don't even know why you asked but you were twenty thousand percent sure I was trying to poison your food for the first couple of weeks."
Corey smiled, this ‘comfort’ really didn't feel like comfort or reassurance. More like confusion and salt in the wound. It’s not the end of the world per se but, The end of part of my world. Plus, the whole, 'found you' is even more confusing right now. Like I get it, har har adoption jokes but can’t you give me one moment to relish a moment without making jokes, Mom? I lean my head onto Corey’s shoulder and close my eyes, a slight shivery sigh escapes my lips. I just needed a moment, in quiet, to enjoy the cabin for what might be the end of forever. I felt tears escape my eyes, but those tears turned into streams. Corey frowned and leaned their head back, watching over the sky. It was almost time to go, and the winter morning was settling in, but Corey didn't want to interrupt. After what seemed like forever but can be written as ten minutes my eyes ran dry as I sniffled and sat up straight. Corey got up. If I had visible eyes, they'd probably look dehydrated or bloodshot.
"Ready? If it makes you feel any better, we can stop by the candied nuts stand and get some."
I chuckled and stood up, wiping my tears.
"I'd like that. Caramelized Pecans are my favorite after feeling terrible."
"I know."
Me and Corey smiled. I got up, hugged Corey tightly, and entered the house. Corey followed behind. Amare was sitting at the table with his jacket on and holding his suitcase, ready. Corey quickly slung on their jacket on and swooped their suitcases into their arms. I grab my jacket carefully and put it on, grabbing my suitcase and Sire Kanin.
"Finally. You guys took forever!"
"We needed a moment to get ready."
Corey winked at me and with that, we set off on the trail Corey made years ago. One rock is still stained with blood from the time I fell and skinned my knee badly on the rock. I'm going to truly miss it here.
~
After an hour or so of walking in the cruel sun and the winter's freezing air, we made it to the front of our new...Cabin? What's the word? House? It's a house for sure. Not a home; And it will never be. We can already hear the clucking of the chickens that ran to the side of the fence to meet us. As we walked onto the porch we saw a figure who was awaiting us on the porch. My brother's dear girlfriend Abigail Trinh. He really still can't believe it. I can't either actually, nor can Corey. I didn't notice who she was or why being a Trinh was such a big deal until I was 13 and she invited me to a 'girl time' with Amare to her photo shoot. It was so weird and luxurious; I didn't leave the cabin for 3 days after that. I felt like I betrayed the cabin, basically. Abigail gave us a soft smile as she held what I assumed was a copy of the keys to the house. Corey, Amare, and I looked at each other, two questions on all our minds. How'd she know where our new home was and who gave her the keys to copy them? She unlocked the door and opened it, showing us the empty household. Amare seemed to be turning pink like how his hair used to be.
"Hey Frontman, Hey guys! Nice home, I heard that you guys were moving into town, and I rushed over to explain what a house is in case the only thing you've ever lived in was a rundown shack."
Abigail whispered the last part as I looked at her in disbelief. Amare smiled stupidly and we all made it inside the house and looked around the space, Abigail flipped the light switch, revealing how dusty the place was. This is going to take tons of elbow grease and sweat to make it nice. And seeing the amount of space in this house, I think we have too little furniture to make it seem like this place isn't wide. What do we even need with this space? Or is this just a small home and we really lived in a storage closet like Abigail said? Amare was already touching and playing around with the thermostat's temperature setting. Corey was looking around for any damage as if someone had brokve broken in from the last time they came to check the house, pick us up, and come back again. I walk to the backyard and see how tiny the area of grass was next to the chicken coop with zero view of the forest but views of the town and factories in the distance. I cant believe it.
This place sucks ASS.
It's so bad that I can't even sabotage it, I go back in and Corey grins at me with a smile.
"Not bad right? Now go and pick your room before Amare gets a better pick. The master bedroom is mine though."
My eye twitches, not bad? Separate rooms for everyone; Since when? What witchcraft is taking over Corey? Is this just normal? I grumble and mutter under my breath as I walk upstairs, the thin walls which you could hear everybody's voice in the cabin, have now gone into either a muffle or completely soundproof. I walk into a decently sized room; by decently, I mean as big or a little less than the cabin. It had a nicely sized window with a reading nook built in, I could feel my excitement kick in. Ok, maybe this place isn't so bad. This side apparently of the house still has a beautiful view of the forest, It’s calming. I set my luggage down near the door and then sat down in the nook by the window, the sun shining on me. I closed my eyes, laying back, releasing a sigh and I guess Amare found the heater because the room suddenly felt warm. I could learn to like this. Invest in some pillows for this wooden nook situation, and I can really 'Tam-ify' this room. My thought was interrupted by a knock on the doorway, I turned my head and opened my eyes. Bush hopped into the room and sniffed around. Corey stood smirking at the doorway.
"Found a room? Amare found his already. You can't hide it, I know you're starting to like this place just a little."
I scoff and let out some grumbles.
"Yeah, This room is kind of nice, I like it. But this place still sucks. Everything but this room! The cabin was better."
"Whatever you say."
Corey smiled ear to ear, Amare walked near the room's door entrance to us. Corey then chuckled as Abigail came and stood with Corey.
"By the way! Both of you are starting school with Abigail next week when the house is in order!"
WHAT.