𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥 | 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐳

𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧

so this will = spanish. if anyone knows how to properly translate please let me know because i don't feel like disrespecting a whole language with google translate

 also sorry for posting late

The ringing in Cherry's ears makes the scene in front of her evermore serene. She can hear the brothers talking, but it's muffled from the ringing in her head. All this, plus the beautiful view of the beach while the moon shines brightly, makes a soft smile form on her face. As the ringing subsides a bit, she hears the crashing of the ocean waves, and all she can do is sigh. "What you thinking about, Cher?" she looks over, Sean staring at her with a smile of his own.

"Just loving the view," she grins.

"You look a lot better now." She feels her heart tumble even though she knows it shouldn't. "Your pupils are still uneven, though."

"Cool. I'm like David Bowie." He rolls his eyes at her words before the two go back to watching Daniel play with Mushroom.

"Hey, Cher."

"Hm?"

"You don't have to answer if you-"

"Just ask me the question, Sean-y boy."

"Why do you 'disappear'?" She gives him a glance before looking down at her hands. She picks at a hangnail she didn't know she had.

"You know how I said punishment is normal in black households?" She hears him hum and feels his eyes on her. "Nah. He did it a lot more than it was needed. It was why my sister cut us off. He was a mean man before Mama died, but then he got worse. Just during one of my beatings, my mind-" she snaps her fingers, "just blanked, and I was somewhere else." She pauses, shrugging at her own words. "I've been doing it ever since. I try not to, but sometimes it just happens. And then all those feelings come out at the worst time, like when we stopped a few hours ago."

"Is that why you were always over at our place? God, I was such an ass to you," he whines, covering his face with his hands.

"You didn't know. I didn't tell anybody."

"Why not?"

"Does it matter now?" she shrugs, looking over at him. She nudges him gently, making him look at her. "Shit has already gone astray. I don't really see a point in worrying about that when I don't even know myself, you know?" He sighs before nodding his head in agreement. "At least it made it easier for me to run off, that's for sure."

"Yeah." A moment of silence lingers before Cherry speaks once more.

"I'm okay, Sean. I'll work on the disappearing thing, though. I do appreciate your concern..." she trails off, a small smirk on your lips, "cariño." She watches his face go red almost immediately.

"I thought you didn't remember anything?!"

"More or less. I only remember the old guy talking about a wall, the forest spinning and raining, and cariño," She grins joyfully while he covers his face again, letting out an annoyed groan.

"I hate you so much."

"I hate you too." She feels so rusty speaking Spanish, but the tightness in her chest and the blush blossoming on Sean's face make it worth it. "I need to work on my pronunciation," she mumbles to herself more than him.

"It's not bad," he says, voice muffled by his hands. She lets out a small laugh, shaking her head at him.

"Don't feel bad, cariño." He groans once more, finally pulling his hands from his face.

"I'm never living this down, am I?"

"No, you are not." With that, Cherry grabs the stick near her feet and walks towards Daniel, almost tripping at one point. "Hey, Dani! How about we throw the stick?"

"Really? Yes!" Sean watches the two with a smile on his face. He is also happy the cool wind is making the warmth in his face disappear. Movement behind him gains his attention, and Brody is seen behind him.

"Well, I got you that room." The tension that leaves Sean's shoulder is immeasurable.

"Seriously? I-"

"It's only a room, no big deal. Look, I had tough times when I started out... And... some strangers saved my life," he says, handing over the key to the room. Sean tries to ignore his watery eyes.

"Thank you."

"Now's my turn to help someone." He points at the second floor of the motel. "It's right there, Room 10. On the second floor. Now listen, I don't want to freak you out, okay? But you have to be twice as careful now. I know it's easier said than done, but a good start is getting rid of that phone. And Cherry, if she has hers." Sean gives the girl a glance, noting the phone sticking out of her back pocket. He nods his head at Brody's words. "You can always get a burner later. Trust me."

"Thank you. For everything, man."

"Brody." The two look over, seeing Cherry and Daniel walk back to them, Mushroom trailing behind with her stick in her mouth. "You're not leaving, are you?" Daniel pouts.

"Yes, I am, but-" Brody picks up his bag, "not until Santa Brody gives you a goodbye gift." Sean doesn't even get a word out. "And don't you dare argue about it. I'll leave it right here if you do, anyhow."

"Okay. You win," Sean sighs, grabbing the backpack from him. "Thanks, Brody." He looks over at his brother. "Looks like you get mine now."

"As always," Daniel scoffs, rolling his eyes. Cherry pats his shoulder gently.

"Hold on. I didn't forget you, my dude and dudette. I've had it since my first road trip," he says, pulling out a red bandanna, "and it's always kept me safe." He hands it to Daniel. "Now it's yours."

"Cool." The boy glances at Mushroom before kneeling in front of her. "Do you think it's okay if she wears it? Like our official guard dog!"

"Sure, kid. It's your bandana now." He then turns to Cherry.

"I don-"

"I will leave it here, either way." She smiles at his words. "For you, I give you my favorite lighter." He gives her a gold-plated zippo lighter engraved with beautiful patterns. She flips it over in her hands multiple times, not sure what to say.

"It's beautiful," she mumbles. "Thank you."

"It's the least I can do. Just help someone along the road is all I ask." The three kids nod at his words. "Okay," he claps his hands together, "time for me to hit the road again." Sadness washes over all their faces. "Hey, don't look so sad. You can contact me on my blog, 'A Tribe Called West,' so you better keep me posted when you can. Okay?"

"We will. Thanks again, Brody," Sean says, giving him a hug before letting go. Daniel leaps off the rock the teens sat on into Brody's arms, giving him a giant hug. Cherry gives him a simple side hug, but he messes with her hair a bit before letting go, leaving a sad smile on her face.

"I wish you could stay with us," Daniel pouts once more, the teens nodding behind him.

"Me too, kid. But this is your journey." He walks back to his car. He opens the door but pauses to talk again. "Sorry, I'll probably think of a better goodbye when I'm on the road, but until then. Take care, my dudes and dudette."

They watch as his car drives off, no one saying a word until his lights disappear in the distance.

"I'm going to miss him," Daniel sighs.

"Me too."

"Me three."