thin white lies - ethan landry²

02

GOODBYE

Taping up her last box, Aurelia looks around her room remembering all the memories she had. 18 years of living in Woodsburo, 18 years of living in the same room but she has never felt happier to be leaving. Simply looking around had made her tear up. She recalled countless times where her Dad had tucked her in and said goodnight. Countless times where Wes had stayed over. Times when the whole group had snuck in to distact Aurelia when her parents were fighting.

Even though they were all happy moments she knew she could never look at the room the same knowing her dad would never come back, Wes would never come back and the group will never be the same again.

"Hey" Chad says knocking on the already open door "Your stuff is the last to go in the van, you ready?"

"Yeah i just have suitcase stuff left" She responds picking up a couple boxes"

"You stay here, i'll take your stuff down" He tells her hoping the girl would finally talk to her mother on her last day

Whilst its no secret that Aurelia and her Mother didn't have a good relationship, in fact they barely had a relationship, nobody knew the length of the situation other than Mindy and Chad.

When growing up Darcy never had to involve herself in Aurelia's life because Matt always did. He knew when her school started. He knew about her grades, her friends, her interests and all Darcy had to do was go to work. Eventually this meant that Aurelia would grow hatred for her and vice versa.

When Aurelia was 8 years old she remembers Darcy leaving for the first time. Matt and Darcy had gotten into a fight over the lack of responsibility Darcy was taking about Aurelia and whilst they thought she was asleep the little girl heard everything. She heard Darcy storm up the stairs and pack her bags. She heard Matt beg her not to leave, not for his sake but so that Aurelia doesnt live her life without her mother. And she heard her car pull out, the same car she didn't see for another 3 months.

This became usual for them both. Darcy would leave in the middle of the night and neither of them knew when they would see her but she would always come back and neither of them knew why. Even after Matt's death Darcy wasn't there to support her, she never even showed up for the funeral. The only time they spoke since Matt's death was to blame Aurelia. Three hours of Darcy yelling at Aurelia but she knew not to respond, she knew that the only reason her mother was mad was just to be mad. And thats why she started spending nights at Mindy and Chad's. She showed up with bloodshot eyes and tear-stained cheeks. She told them everything about her and her mother's relationship and how she isn't processing any of what happened to them. And without a second thought they gave up their spare room and made it into Aurelia's room where she could escape to.

"Chad, i know what you're doing and i'm not talking to her" She says firmly, passing the boxes to him

"It's the last time we're going to be in Woodsburo just at least say bye" He says before running off not allowing her to respond.

Walking down the stairs she glances into the living room. Seeing her mother sat at the table she pauses not sure whether or not to take Chad's advice.

Wishing for the best she enters the room.

"Mom? I'm leaving now, just wanted to say bye." She says quietly hoping for a change from her mothers usual personality.

"Make sure you don't leaving anything in your room." The older woman responds not even turning her head to pay attention to her daughter.

"Yeah i'm taking almost everything with me." She starts responding already agitated at her mothers response "I might leave a box or two of stuff i don't need right now, if thats okay?"

"No." The woman responds scrolling on her phone expecting the girl to understand

"No? What do you mean no?" The girl says angrily regretting ever speaking to the older woman

The brown haired woman gets out of her seat and takes a look at her daughter shocked at her attitude "I mean, this is my house and i am clearing out your room. So make sure every inch of you is gone from there."

"I cant believe i thought you would've actually cared about the fact that i'm leaving" The girl mutters under her breath getting ready to leave

"Care? You killed my husband but you thought i would care about you leaving?" She yells at her daughter overreacting at her response

"Fuck you" Aurelia begins, losing her patience for the woman "I didn't kill him. How dare you blame that on me. You never even cared for him. How long are you going to pretend that you were his wife and that you didn't leave us for months on end. I am sick and tired of you blaming Dad's death on me just so you could have another reason to not like me. You weren't even here when he died, I was, I had to see him die. I saw the life leave his eyes and i had to deal with the funeral by myself. I am sick and tired of you acting like you care."

"Don't you dare speak to me that way." Darcy says firmly taken aback by Aurelia's sudden confidence.

"Goodbye Mom." The younger girl says with a laugh going upstairs to take her last boxes down to Chad.

Closing the door she takes one last look at her house before dropping her boxes in the van. Feeling guilty over the relief that washed over her she jumps into the front seat distracting herself.

"What happened? Did you speak to her" The boy speaks hoping for Aurelia to say that all of her previous problems were solved, all he wanted for the girl was for her to be happy once again. He saw her in her darkest times and heard her cry herself to sleep. He held her in nights where her mind got the best of her and he just wanted for her to be okay again.

"Yeah. Didn't go well, she's clearing out my room as we speak and once again blamed me for his death so..not so great" She says staring blankly at the windshield "Can we go now."

"I'm so sorry Aura. I'm sorry for pushing you to talk to her i should've known better" He consoled looking at her seeing the tears in her eyes.

"It's not your fault. Can we please go now." She responds not looking back at the boy afraid her emotions would go against her.

"Yeah. We just have to drop everyones stuff off at the moving place and then we'll go back home." He explains to the girl starting the van feeling guilty that he cant help her once again.

"Chad."

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

Jade speaks!

Done a shit ton of editing and i'm way happier with this now! anyway a bit of insight into Aurelia and Darcy's relationship