Chapter Text
Chapter 1: Goodbyes
“Is that the last box?” Mae says as she brushes dust from her paws.
“Yep. This is really it.” Gregg sighs, slamming down the trunk of the beat up Outback.
There is a long silence before the two rush forward, falling into each other’s embrace, as if on instinct.
“Can I come with you?”
“No, Mae, not now. You need some time to work things out.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” Mae resigns, and digs her face into Gregg’s jacket. The sensation of the soft leather is a welcome interruption to the cold stinging her cheeks. Part of her wishes she could stay nestled in his shoulder forever. She can feel tears coming on and it would be horribly embarrassing if she started crying now, when she’s been doing such a good job at putting on a brave face for her best friend’s defining moment.
Gregg pulls back a little, holding Mae by her shoulders “We’ll see you in the summer, okay?”
She looks off to the side and sees Angus waiting by the car door. He shoots her a weak smile. He’s trying to look normal but she can tell by the wrinkle in his brow that he’s getting worried. They’re cutting it close on time and if they want to make it to Bright Harbor before it gets dark they’ll need to leave now.
Realizing she’s been leaving Gregg hanging, she snaps out of her thoughts: “The summer..Yeah, okay, I’ll see you man.”
Gregg smiles, pulls her in tight for one last hug, and walks to the open passenger seat door. Before entering he jumps up and down enthusiastically, waving, “Okay bye I love you soooo much dude, don’t forget to call!!”
Mae grins at her goofball of a friend and waves them goodbye until their car is so far in the distance that not even a speck of it can be seen. With her friends now out of view, she drops her paw and turns to make her way back home.
To her surprise, Bea is still sitting on the stoop of Gregg and Angus’s old apartment, where she had been overwatching the loading of the car. How long had she been waiting there? The two share a lengthy ten seconds of eye contact before Bea gets up and leaves without a word. Too tired and dejected from the day’s events, Mae doesn’t bother to try and figure out why she’s being so weird and continues on her journey back to 11 S Maple street.