Mistakes

03. Goodbyes

"Mom?" I whispered into the late night.
"Hey, sweetie. How are you? How's Greg?"
"Mom. I need your help."
Today was the day. I was finally confessing to my mom.
"What's wrong sweetie?"
"Greg and I. We broke up."
"Oh, dear, I'm so sorry."
I gulped.
"He kicked me out."
"What?" she screamed.
I winced at the tone of her voice.
This is what I was afraid of. That she wouldn't want me. That I wouldn't be accepted back home.
"I lost my job the day before I came for a visit."
"Oh. Honey. Why didn't you just stay?"
I was shocked by her statement. She didn't want me to visit?
"I wanted to come see you, Mom. I'm sorry that I inconvenienced you and Dad."
"No. Honey, that came out wrong."
"And how did it come out wrong?" I snapped.
"Honey. I'm asking why you didn't just stay here, with us."
"I thought the man I was going to marry was here."
"Can you afford a plane ticket home?"
"No. I have no money."
"Oh dear."
"What?"
"Your father and I are struggling because your father lost his job when you left."
"Oh, God. I'm so sorry."
"Honey, what about them?"
"No. I haven't spoken to them since the funeral."
"Don't you think it might be time to start?"
"No, Mom. That's over. That part of my life is done."
"Honey. That was never supposed to end and you know it."
"Stop." I growled.
"Don't you use that tone with me young lady. I am still your mother."
"I'm sorry, Mom, but it's a touchy subject."
"I know, just call them. What's the worst that could happen?"
"They could find me."
"Try Spencer. You know as well as I do that he won't give away your location."
"Mom. I can't."
"Just try. For me."
I always hated when she used that, because I always couldn't turn her down.
She brought me into this world, the least I could do is this for her.
"Fine, but I can't promise he'll answer."
"All I ask is that you try."
We talked for a few hours before a yawn interrupted her and she forced me to go to sleep.
I laid up all night, thinking about Spencer and Michael.

I had to get out. I'm putting him in harm, just like his sister. I don't want him to end up just like that.  

I haven't seen him since I told him I was moving to London to be with Greg and he told me I was being stupid.
I wonder how he is doing.
Did he find him a girl?
He always wanted to find a wife, settle down, and have beautiful children.
His last girlfriend was buried six feet under.
She wasn't supposed to be there. If that stupid driver just stopped.
She knew... everything.

No one is supposed to know, but she did because Spencer couldn't keep it from her.

She knew that we were on the run from the US government, and she knew why. She knew that we all had superpowers and they wanted to use them to their advantage. They consider us "rogue" and that we are a "dangerous threat" to society.

What's funny? Because of the movie Zoom, they can't do anything to us. They can't release a bolo or that will raise questions. They literally can do nothing, except watch for us, and well, they trained us how to hide from them.

I looked at my phone, seeing that it lit up.

"You're stupid. Hiding with a pop-star? Are you serious?"

I smiled, immediately knowing who it was.

"Hey, Spence. Just thinking about you. How you been?"

"Well, I got caught once. They were taking me to go under the machine and I knocked the guys that were taking me out and ran, so they aren't very bright."

"How do you access your bank account without them knowing?"

"I don't. You know better."

"I need to get home, Spence. I'm staying with Michael..."

"CLIFFORD?! RYAN, ARE YOU INSANE?!"

"I know! I know I need to get out, and I'm trying, but I can't get a job unless it's some run down strip-joint and it will take me weeks to get enough cash at one of those to get a plane ticket."

"Talk to Michael. Maybe he can get you one."

"Hell no. I'm doing this on my own."

"... Ryan... they are going to find you! You won't be able to escape from them like I can."

"That fucking hurts, Spencer. I can escape from them because I have fucking done it a lot more than you have. In the past  two years, I have gotten caught three times. One time, they had the gamma ray pointing at my damn chest. I took it, shoved it back, and broke the lever. So, please inform me of how I'm 'incapable' of escaping."

"I knew Greg was bad for you..."

"Fuck. You."

When I saw the sunlight starting to peak threw my window, I groaned.
I stood up and went to fix myself a glass of tea.
I am originally from the South.
Southern tea is nothing but extremely sweet tea, but I love it.
It reminds me of home.
Michael grumbled the way into his kitchen.
"Why are you up this early?"
"Couldn't sleep. Why are you?"
"Interview today for promotion of the tour."
I nodded.
He poured himself a glass and lifted it to his lips, coughing once it reached his mouth.
"Sweet enough for you?"
"Eh. I've had sweeter."
"You said you're from America, right?"
I nodded.
"Which state?"
"Tennessee."
"Nashville?"
"About an hour out. Murfreesboro."
I smiled and sipped my tea.
"Have you ever been to Sydney?"
I coughed at his blunt question.
"Why do you ask?"
"You look familiar."
"I have stayed at your place the past two nights, so I would hope so"
"Do you know a Spencer Breslin?" he asked, catching me off guard.
"You knew Callie I'm guessing?" I asked, trying to ask nonchalant about the whole thing.

He pursed his lips and nodded.
"Yeah. Um. We were pretty close."
"I'm sorry. She was pretty amazing. Spencer was infatuated with her. He told her everything, even the things she didn't need to know."
"Yeah. Did I ever tell you my last name?"
I thought about it and shook my head.
"Clifford. My name is Michael Clifford."
I gasped.
"He was in love, you know."
"I know. I saw it in his eyes."
"I'm sorry for your loss."
"How close were you?" he paused. "You and Callie?"
"We were extremely close. She kept Spencer happy in a difficult time. I really couldn't have asked for more."
"Your uncle was taking care of you all, right?"
I pursed my lips and nodded, a eerily silence taking over between us.
"Um. Excuse me."
I set my cup down and left the room as thoughts of Tim filled my mind.