Queen's Princess

PART IV: Chapter 23

Waking up early felt different without Odessa banging on the side of the house, calling my name. I grabbed my bag and got up, walking out of the house and headed towards the junk yard. I did my warm up stretches and did my sparring, but without her there to either block or punch back, it all felt wrong. Even doing my reps felt wrong without her there, trying to push me to do them faster whenever I would repeat them. I took breaks more frequently and I did everything with little effort. I resorted to walking around the junk yard, searching for parts to enchance my weapon or to make something to get my mind off of the fact that Odessa has been gone for a solid year.

Her mother has not given me any update, indicating she didn't know either. My days were boring and restless without her. She added meaning to the days and would fill them to the fullest. Now, it felt like how it used to be before I met her: lonely. I did everything alone now. Training, searching in the junk yards, and even going to the oasis, trying to get that feeling of having her back with me, but nothing could fill in my open time now. I grabbed my bag and headed back home, not wanting to go back to the place where we spent most of our time together. It would just add more salt to the wound. Opening the door, I walked inside and set my things down by the door of my room. I walked over to where my mother was sitting and sat beside her.

"Got nothing to do today?"

"No. Like usual."

"Do you want to go down to the central area with your father? He's looking at trading a few things."

"Sure. I might have something that the traders want," I stood up and grabbed my bag.

Slinging it over my shoulder, my father came out of their room and walked towards me.

"I got a buddy for the road?" he asked, trying to cheer me up.

"Yeah," I said.

"I take it ya still haven't heard anything about her?"

"No. Nothin'. She has to be alive out there somewhere, right?"

"I'm sure she is. We're talking about Odessa, who was feared by a lot of people 'ere in the Wastelands. She would beat up anyone who crossed her in a matter of seconds. Not to mention, she protected ya with her life."

"I'm worried about her, dad."

"I know ya are, Y/N. But if she were here, she'd want ya to continue to live like ya used to."

"How can I when she was in my life for four years? Whenever someone leaves without saying anything, ya start to think ya did something wrong. Did I do something wrong for her to leave me?" I asked, tears starting to stream down my face.

My father pulled me into his embrace, trying to calm me down, "Shh, shh, no no, ya didn't do anything to make 'er leave. Maybe she had her own reasons for leaving. I don't know what they could be, but until she gets back, don't blame yourself because it wasn't your fault she left."

I nodded in my dad's chest. I pulled away and wiped my eyes. He patted me on the back and we walked outside and headed towards the central area. When we reached it, we started going to different stalls and began trading with people there. We got some things we needed and somethings that were a want rather than a necessity. Itwas fun to spend some time with my dad, since he was doing everything he could to cheer me up. It was working for the most part, but when I walked past the stall that had the same necklace I was wearing, I was brought back to that night we shared together. I wanted it back. I wanted her back.

"H-Hey, dad," I walked over to him.

"Yeah?"

"I-I'm going to head back home."

He turned and saw the look in my eyes. He nodded and I walked back up the sand dune and headed inside once I reached the house. I walked into my room and placed my bag in the corner before sitting down on the edge of the bed. I placed my face in my hands, letting the tears stream down as the memories came flooding back to me all at once. I fell back onto the bed and continued to cry and before I knew it, I fell asleep like that, with my arm covering my eyes. I woke up late into the night and I walked out into the back, grabbing one of the log stools we use when we wanted to have a campfire. I sat down, my arms resting on my leg, and I stared off into the direction of where the oasis was.

Standing up, putting the log back, I went inside, grabbed my bag along with the keys and goggles before heading back outside. I grabbed what we used to cover the tracks and I moved the motorcycle away from the house to avoid waking up my parents. I got on, placed the goggles on my face, and turned it on. I had only ever ridden the motorcycle by myself a few times, let's see how this goes. I picked my legs up and rode off into the direction of the oasis. Reaching it, I turned off the motorcycle and set down the kickstand. Walking over to the water, I sat down and stared at my reflection of the water as it rippled back and forth.

Letting out a sigh, I looked at the spot of where we both sat together, where I finally let her know I had liked her. It was bittersweet to be here, but I needed to be here since it was a place of comfort. Laying down, I closed my eyes, trying to sleep away the pain and loneliness I was feeling.

"Where is she?"

"I don't know where she is."

Turning, I noticed the motorcycle was gone, "She went to the oasis."

I slid down the sand dune, grabbed the keys for the motorcycle my father fixed up, and rode out to the oasis, not caring if anyone was following. I needed to get to her. When I reached the oasis, I turned off the motorcycle and walked towards the water, seeing her sleeping form on the sand. I wanted to reach out to her, to give her warmth, but I just stood there, not knowing what to do. Hell, I've been away for so long. It was time to see her. I walked over and laid down behind her, wrapping my arm around her waist and pulled her close. She stirred in her sleep, turning around and wrapping her arms around me.

"Dez," she mumbled.