Bad Ideas

19

(short chapter because last one was 3kplus)

Chapter 19

Cynthia

The next morning

When I woke up the house was empty. Not just empty of her presence, but her personal belongings. On the counter there was a hot pot of coffee with a post-it that said, "I'm at the office. I need to see you asap."

I put on my shoes. Grabbed the coffee and walked outside. I was planning on walking, but Stan was standing outside waiting for me. He smiled. I smiled back, but didn't say anything.

When we got to the office, Shayla was holding a duffle bag and shaking the receptionist's hand. They hugged briefly with Shayla pulling away putting her sunglasses on her face before she stepped outside. Stan went inside the building, leaving us alone.

"You fucking coward." I told her, I could see her clench her jaw.

"I'll be back. You can wait for me. Or you can not. It's up to you." Shayla's voice was harsh and cold. A harsh contrast to how she was with me last night. And to think I thought we made progress.

"When will you be back?"

"I year and 2 months unless the assignment goes longer." Which would make me of legal age.

I scoffed. "No, when did you find out you were leaving?"

"I've known since last Thursday."

She fucked around with me on Friday. She knew for a whole week and said nothing to me. And then she fucked around with me and made fall even harder in love with her than I already was?

"What the fuck?" I gasped, I don't remember planning it, but my hand automatically shot out and slapped her. She didn't stop me. She didn't react at all. She just let her sunglasses slide down her face to reveal her puffy sad gray eyes.

"You are a real piece of work." I told her, walking away. I was going to walk to China. To Alaska. To anywhere away from her and this place. I ended up going to my mom's, grabbing a bike and going out to the lake to sit and cry all alone.

*****

Stan

"I don't understand. You told us you were going to turn the job down." Kam whined while we walked my sister to the car.

"Things are calm here. Maybelline is gone for a while. You two idiots are back with Scott like you belong. Dad asked Manny on a date. What else is there to stay for? It's like a TV show. This is the end of season one. I'll be back for season 2."

"When the kid is 18?" I asked with a chuckle.

"Yes. I won't even lie. I can't not touch her anymore. Therefore I must go."

"Her parents don't care." I said knowing they really didn't. All of us could see something was going on between the two.

"I care. It's a moral thing for me."

I rolled my eyes at her. Kam was crying and hugged her sweetly to him. The two were close. Always had been. "Don't die in the middle of Siberia."

"Hey, I think it's Egypt or somewhere." I said with a laugh.

No one, not even her knew where she was going. That's not how these things worked. But we always made jokes about it.

"I think it's going to be the mountains of Tibet." Ruby said. "I tried to get Cyn to come out, but she refused."

"I understand." Shayla gave her hug.

"I'll be back guys."

And just like that Shayla was in her way to another world without us. And Cynthia was on a whole new life path. If anyone would have known what this breaking would do. I am almost sure that Shayla would have never left.