I bit down on my key ring, nerves racking my body as I stared at the table.
"Hey. What's up?" Peter asked as he entered the room, grabbing a Mountain Dew from the fridge.
"I leave tomorrow and I'm not even remotely ready." I shook my head. "I have no idea what I'm getting myself into."
"You're the one who came up with the idea." He chuckled.
"I just turned eighteen and I'm leaving home for the first time. I don't know how to feel about that." I sighed.
"Oh, come on. What's the worst that could happen?"
"Um, we drive off of a bridge?" I offered.
"You're going to be fine, Bee." He took my hand in his own, the one that wasn't holding my keys so tightly I was sure I'd cut myself. "I promise you that."
"Thank you." I sighed, grateful for my older brother. "And, while we're on this subject of leaving, I need someone to take care of my car since I can't take it with me."
"I'm your guy." He smiled widely.
I held my hand, keys dangling from my fingers. He put his palm out.
"You take apart my car, you owe me a new one." I warned him, causing him to laugh as I dropped my keys into his hand, watching his fingers close around them.
"I probably will, just to have an excuse to buy you a new one." He chuckled, kissing my cheek as he stood up. "Now go get packed. You have a big day tomorrow."
I stood up, heading towards my room. I already had my suitcase out, along with the few boxes I'd take.
And I got to packing.
*
"I can't believe you're leaving so soon." Mom sighed, hugging me tightly.
"I know and I'm sorry. But we have to do this." I responded as I stepped away from her, turning to hug my Dad.
"Y'all be careful now, okay?" He smiled as he hugged me tightly. I knew he was going to cry once I was gone, but he was waiting. He was never one to cry if he had a choice.
"We will. I'll miss you guys." I didn't want to let go of my dad quite then. We'd never been very close, but we were closer than most and I loved him.
"We'll miss you, too." He sighed, letting me go.
"And call every now and then, okay?" Mom said as she stepped beside Dad, him wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
"Will do."
Peter scooped me into his arms as I stepped in front of him, causing me to laugh as he hugged me tightly. "You better call every day. And keep an eye on Liz for me."
"It's not like she's going to cheat on you." I teased.
"I know." He smiled. "But just watch out for eachother."
"We will." I nodded.
We finished our goodbyes, Liz and Peter having a very emotional parting as they merely hugged.
I climbed into the RV, behind the steering wheel, and prepared to pull out as Liz climbed in beside me, Ana standing behind us.
We waved to our families as we pulled away from the curb.
And I didn't cry. I didn't cry because I knew I had family to come home to. Ana cried because she was leaving her parents behind, whom she'd grown close to. And Liz cried because of the people she left behind. But none of them wanted to turn around.
And that was where our long journey began.
