necromancer• enoch o'connor

2

———

"marley hun, you've gotta get over this slump. it's putting a damper on your academics."

"don't rush her marie, seriously ya act like she just saw a dead raccoon "

"i'm just saying if she wants to succeed she needs to get better. he wasn't even her grandpa."

marlene rolled her eyes as her two adoptive parents continued to argue. she was much older than them, but even as adults they acted like children.

"i've already passed my classes. it's summer." she spoke, monotoned.

"oh"

that was the most she'd spoken to them in almost a month.

"actually mum, i think i know what could help." the blonde decided now was the time to bring it up.

"what honey?"

marlene put on her best face, "see jakes mom offered to send me on a trip this summer. id be going with jacob and his dad, on an island. no technology and lots of time to study."

"that sounds great blondie" richard sounded, seemingly impressed.

marie however, raised a brow, "they would be paying, right?"

excitedly, marlene nodded and after receiving the okay from the both of them, she began to pack a small bag, small enough that she could carry along with her when she snuck on.

really jakes mother had said, 'it'd be nice if your parents would pay for you to come along'

thankfully she'd already informed them her parents had paid.

the girl had made a plan knowing there would be no communication between the two couples beside what she said.

"the hell are you doing?"

she turned to ricky, smile fading, "i'm going on a trip this summer, with a friend. three weeks at minimum."

the green haired boy scoffed, "by 'friend' you mean special ed right?" marlene looked away. at some point the boys had a falling out.

"sorry. i know it's a sore subject." she tried, sympathy clouding her face.

whether he'd admit it or not, jacob was ricky's only real friend. he cared of course, just wasn't a big fan of showing it.

"i don't care about what happened. i don't want you going anywhere with him." he retorted, face angry.

marlene stood up, "why is that?"

"he's..." ricky trailed off.

"he's what ricky? say what you wanna say!" she snapped.

her adoptive brother waved her off moving to the door, "do whatever you want with the crazy bastard. i won't be a shoulder for you to cry on when he goes nuts on you!"

marlene layed back on her mattress, breathing a deep sigh, "pain in the ass teenager"

——

"hey rick?" the blonde whispered, joining him on the roof of their house.

it was the night before she was gonna leave and she wanted to say goodbye. he didn't even turn his head, "what?"

"i just wanted to say goodbye. and i'm sorry that you had a falling out with jake but he isn't crazy. i'll be fine." marlene reassured, sitting on the edge.

"it's whatever marley, i ain't your keeper." ricky replied, obviously not ready to talk.

"i love you ricky, i'll see you when i get back."

——

walking up to the airport, marlene made sure no one was watching, before she went incorporeal and mostly invisible, focusing her energy on keeping her clothes invisible along with any other things that weren't a part of her body.

although the mood in the house had been dampened because of her turmoil with ricky, she remained excited for the adventure ahead.

any chance to go back overseas, closer to home, lifted her heart.

finding a bathroom she phased back returning to her corporeal form, coming out of the stall after flushing the toilet.

she walked casually down the halls making it to the terminal, "hey jake, mr.portman." she waved.

franklin waved, a tired smile coming to his face at the site of the polite girl, "i told you to call me frank, marls."

"right then, i suppose we'll be off soon?" marlene questioned, patting jacobs shoulder as she sat down. jacob jumped a little, seeming to have been zoning out.

frank nodded, "think so, maybe-"

the announcement call for their flight cut him off . the two men got up and got in line but she held back, "i'm uh last, so i'm gonna go to the bathroom before we go."

they nodded and she went to the bathroom, disappeared and phasing through the walls. she reappeared in the bridge, catching up to the last person and smiling at the pretty flight attendant.

she looked over the seats, finally sitting next to jacob, "i almost didn't make it."

he softly chuckled, "thank you for coming with me. i know you weren't close to him, but still this means a lot."

"jakey, i'm always here for you. it's a nice getaway too."marlene leaned against the window and she felt jake squeeze her hand when they took off.

she squeezed back.

this trip would hopefully help her find more people like her. it had been ages since she'd been around a proper group of educated peculiars.

if what abe had said in his last moment was correct, marlene could finally fit in with someone, just for a bit.

———