Arcadia Academy: The Dawning

Packing up the past

We hadn't even put our bags down before mum started running around our small house like a headless chicken.

"Do you have everything you need? Ooh, what about more pixie dust or Mer scale? Or a sound amplifying charm? Nope perhaps you need a-"

"Mum, relax. We have everything we need. Besides, I don't think we can carry anything else." Oscar pointed out, nodding to the heavy bags we were laden down by.

"I just can't believe you are off to Arcadia! I made some of my best memories there, you'll have the best time!" Mum squealed, her smile radiant. "The only thing that would make it better was if Aubrey was going too." mum said, her voice trailing off to a whisper.

I glanced at Oscar, and in sync, we discarded our bags and wrapped mum in a hug. Thankfully, we were at home now, so there was no one to see mum's break down. No need to add more reasons for people to talk about. People already treated her with contempt.

"It's okay mum. He made his decision. He will have a great time at Brimstone while we live it up in Arcadia. Plus, this way, more babes for me" Oscar said jokingly, his grin widening when mum and I both slapped him for his lack of class.

"It worked though, see, you are smiling again," he said, proudness echoing in his tone.

"You are still classless" I muttered, and he just grinned at me. I shook my head as I watched him stride over to the kitchen, leaving our bags laying in a haphazard pile. "I hope you plan to come pick these up," I hollered, though we both knew I would.

"Lemonade?" he called back, ignoring my question. "Yea" I replied, focusing on my tasks.

Mum walked over and placed her bags on the counter. A fond smile appeared on my face as I watched her flitter around, unpacking and repacking the items. I caught Oscar's eye, and he smiled back, both of us happy at seeing her so excited. It had been a long time coming. He stepped across the room and placed the lemonade beside me on the worn coffee table. "Thanks, bro, we should probably help mum," I said, smiling at him in thanks.

He looked back at the counter, seeing mum busying herself around with the items she forced us to buy today. "Nah, I think she got it." He said, looking at me with a crooked grin. I just nodded and smiled, curling my feet out under me and pulling the greenish-blue blanket on my lap.

Walking back to the kitchen, he passed to give mum a kiss on the forehead. She smiled at him briefly before turning back to her fussing. I stifled a laugh and Ozzy grabbed his glass before walking back over. Instead of taking a seat like a normal human, Oz perched himself on the side of my chair on the armrest. I glared up at him jokingly, and he just grinned before reaching over for my glass and handing it to me. I smiled, deciding I couldn't be fake mad and leant against his leg. He wrapped an arm around my shoulder and gave it a squeeze. I let out a contented sigh as I sipped my drink; the tanginess refreshing after our manic day. Ozzy and I chatted for a bit and I tried to push away the thought that said that something, or someone, was missing.

"Can one of you please go get your brother? I was thinking since you are all going off soon we should order take out and you know what that means." She said, practically singing the last word.

"Voting time," Oscar and I replied in unison, but when we heard Aubrey join in we trailed off and turned to the doorway.

"I heard the word takeout and had to come down." He said, ambling over to the seat and perching on the other side, also draping his arm around me.

"Well, it is lovely to see you, Aubrey, did you get everything you needed?" mum asked, from her spot leaning against the counter.

"I did, though if you had come with me you would've already known that." He said, the familiar bitterness coating his words.