See You Soon

Chapter 7

Ryder's POV

It took the rest of the day to get Charlene's car to Jon's and to pack up their belongings and mine into the van. We dropped off a few of my boxes at a friend's for them to keep. But right before we left for good I had to say goodbye. I turned and looked at my home for the past 17 years. I was so not a man right now, a tear slipped down my cheek as I got down beside the flower bed that I had worked so hard on knowing there was an equally beautiful vegetable garden out back. I caressed a tulips petal and remembered planting its seed with Harmony beside me as we laughed about something I had said. I don't remember what it was or why I said it but I would never forget her laugh and carefree smile. I looked across the road at the small boarded up home right across from mine and I lost it. Tear after tear slid down my face as I remembered all the good times I had with her. She helped me survive my parents' absence and my uncle's harsh words. She was my refuge and now I had nothing to remember her by. That was probably what hurt the most. I had nothing from her; I leapt up and raced to that place like my ass was on fire. I pulled open a window that had never quite shut right and slid inside. I looked around at all the furniture that was there and walked toward her room. On top of her wardrobe it sat there like it always did. As I walked back toward the van I looked down at my feet thinking that there was no way Leslie would like me now. I looked like a wreck, a tear stained face, red puffy eyes, and clutching a floppy garden hat to my chest like a young child clutching a favorite stuffed animal. I climbed into the front seat of the van and Charlie pulled away without a word.

"We all have to say goodbye at some point." Charlie said quietly. I nodded from what I was told about their lifestyle they had to say goodbye a lot. We drove in silence and at 8 o'clock Sami fell asleep on Leslie's lap. Eventually Charlie got tired and switched places with Leslie while I drove.

"So the neighbor house, what was that about?" I flinched because I knew that would probably come up at some point. "I don't mean to sound insensitive-"

"No, no you're not being insensitive. It's just something really important to me." I hesitated. It's not that I didn't want to tell her. It's just that that is the only thing in my childhood that broke me. I just wasn't ready to share that quite yet. She seemed to get this and let it be.

"So how old is Sami?" I asked to fill the awkward silence. She smiled obviously she loved her little sister.

"She's 6. And has never stopped being perfect. Well, she can bug me sometimes but I don't know what I'd do without her." She smiled adoringly into the backseat. Then she turned to me.

"So who are you staying with?"

"Her name is Lynnette Sherman, her and my mom, Dianne, well they were super close in high school and went to the same college and they never lost touch. So I'm going to stay with her." She nodded. Eventually her eyelids started drooping and she nodded off, her head at an awkward angle. I put my sweater around her neck to keep her from getting a serious kink in her neck. She would toss and turn in her sleep and her/my clothes would slide around and I noticed she had a diamond in her naval and a tattoo on the right side of her ribcage. A couple hours later she woke up and drowsily looked at the sweater confused. I laughed at her expression and she looked over at me remembering we were still driving. Together. She handed me back my sweater. I cleared my throat and asked,

"What's the tattoo?" I looked back to the road quickly to avoid her gaze. I glanced over and saw her mouth had dropped open. She shifted uncomfortably.

"What tattoo?" She asked nervously.

"The one on your ribs, it's script right?" She nodded, obviously relieved.

"Last year I met this girl, she was the sweetest person you could meet but was in a car accident when she was young and her face was all scarred. She joked about it all the time but was always ridiculed. Anyway it really humbled me, because she was so mangled but had such a sweet heart and other 'pretty' girls were total bitches. Ever since then I have never told someone they were pretty because of their looks. It's all in the heart and when I see someone I base their beauty on the inside and that's what the tattoo says 'true beauty is not seen with the eyes but felt in the heart.' I got it right after she was killed in another car accident. It not only reminds me of her but of what I need to remember for myself." I nodded; I totally understood what she meant.

We switched and she drove and it continued our awkward conversations until we reached Boston, Massachusetts. We went to the address Charlie was given for their new apartment. I helped them unload their things into the 2 bedroom apartment and we said our goodbyes. Sami and I had some awesome bonding times on the drive, mainly because I kept a shitload of sour soothers in my bag, and I got a massive hug from her and a kiss on the cheek before she ran inside to explore. I got a handshake from Charlie along with a 'visit anytime' and lastly, Leslie.

"So I'll see you soon, I guess?" I said hesitantly. She smiled broadly,

"Yeah, see you soon." With a small smile she shut the door.