folklore; conrad fisher

17: your favorite

I had to wake up early the next morning. Because my tickets were purchased so last minute, the only available flight home was out of the Boston Airport instead of the one in New Bedford. Conrad volunteered to drive me to the train station that would take me to the city.

While everyone was waiting for the shower last night, I was packing up my things. Before I left, I put away a couple of last items, such as my toothbrush, hairbrush, and the pajamas I'd worn to sleep. I fixed the bed in Conrad's room, even though he insisted I didn't.

Conrad walked back into the room after combing through his hair and changing into his clothes. He now wore a simple black tee, jeans, and a pair of converse. He ruffled my hair as I put my shoes on. I watched him open his dresser and pull out a cream sweater. He set it down on my lap. It was the cardigan he let me borrow a couple of weeks prior.

"Keep it." He said.

"Conrad, I can't. This is important to you."

"It looks better on you. Besides, I'm not in high school anymore."

"Would you help me put it on?" I asked.

He took the cardigan and slipped my arms through its sleeves. He grabbed the bottom button and carefully pulled it through the hole, doing the same with each one, but going slower and slower as he reached the top. When he got to the final button, his hands trembled.

He looped it though and then cupped my face. I pressed my forehead against his while placing my hands over his.

I kissed him and promptly got up to meet the family downstairs. After a series of arguments to get them to simply tell me goodbye before bed, the rest of them were steadfast in their decision to say bye in the early morning. When I saw them, they were all sitting on the couch, yawning and struggling to keep their eyes open. They were obviously miserable, but it was a sweet gesture because of it. I would've done it for them, too, in a heartbeat.

"Conrad, did you give her your sweater?" Susannah asked, "I thought it was your favorite."

"She'll take care of it."

Susannah gave me a warm smile, "Well, I think it suits you.

She squeezed me tightly. I wanted to remember this hug the most. I basked in her natural coastal scent, and let her soft blonde hair fall over me. When we finally let go, I saw a tear on her cheek. She quickly wiped it off and giggled, and I hugged her once more. Next was Laurel. I teared up as I walked towards her. She was the one who took me in so many years ago, my other mother. Saying goodbye to her was never easy.

Jeremiah was next, then Belly. At this point the tears wouldn't stop coming, and I just let them. I could barely breathe as Belly gripped onto me. It was a nice reminder that even with our issues this Summer, we'd always have love for one another.

Steven was the last one. When I was a kid, he was never the one I worried about saying goodbye to. We'd carpool together from the house, and then meet up a couple weeks later at school. Then in 2016 I had to give him a real goodbye, and it crushed me. Over time, I'd forgotten how awful that feeling felt, until he was standing right in front of me with prickly eyes.

"Fuck." He said (Laurel shooting him an angry look afterwards).

I ran up to him and threw my arms around him, sobbing inside of his hold. My biggest regret this Summer was not spending more time with him. If there was anyone in the world who perfectly understood me, never judged me, and always knew how to make me laugh, it was him. I loved Steven and I'd forever be indebted to him, because he was the one who first introduced me to Cousin's. When I felt my life crumbling he was the one who helped me out. He always had my back. I'd miss him most.

I didn't want to let go of him, but Conrad cleared his throat loud enough for us to get the memo that it was time to go. I wiped my eyes and waved to everyone.

"Thank you, Susannah and Laurel, for everything this Summer."

"It was our pleasure." Susannah said, Laurel nodding along with her.

Everyone said a last goodbye to me, and soon enough Conrad and I were out the door. I let out small cries as I walked towards the car. When we sat down he placed his hand on my leg. He kept it there the entire ride. We played Tame Impala songs on our way to the station. I was humming along by the time I stopped crying. He started humming too, and soon we were both singing at the top of our lungs.

We laughed it off as the car reached the station parking lot. I told him he could drop me off, but he decided to pay for the parking so that he could walk me over. I said it was stupid, but he didn't budge.

The trains to Boston were set to be shutting down early that day due to scheduled maintenance, which meant I absolutely could not miss it. We hurried into the building, Conrad wheeling my luggage behind him as I rushed towards the ticket booth. He gave me his credit card to buy two train tickets.

"Conrad, you're not even taking the train."

"I know," He said, "I just want to see you before you're off."

I wanted to continue arguing, but he took the card out of my hand and bought the tickets himself. He grinned smugly as he handed me my ticket, before taking my luggages toward the turnstiles. We scanned our passes and went inside. The train I needed was due in three minutes. We were lucky to have gotten there in time.

When we reached the platform, Conrad handed me my baggage. I thanked him for taking them from the car, and he said it was no big deal. I gave him a joking punch in the shoulder, but it came out weaker than expected, and the whole ordeal made my breath feel lighter.

Two minutes.

Conrad looked at the time, then at me, "Thank you, by the way."

"For what?"

"For making me feel like myself again."

"You're a loser."

"Yeah, I am." He smirked.

One minute.

"Will you call when you're back at school?" I asked.

"I will, promise."

I held out a pinky, and he shook it.

We could hear the sounds of a train rustling towards us. People began to head to the front of the platform to assure a seat. Conrad pulled me into an embrace, slowly kissing the top of my head.

The train arrived, but the doors were still shut. I turned to walk towards it, but Conrad still had my arm in his grip. When he realized, he pulled it away and shoved both of his hands into his front pockets while apologizing.

The doors finally opened. We shared a moment of eye contact and nothing more. I grabbed my things and stepped onto the last train. Conrad stood in front of the doorway as I watched it shut in front of me. My cart shifted, then started forward, and I watched him grow smaller through my window, until he was completely gone.