It's Complicated

Chapter 35: The Great Escape

*STORY IS BACK IN ANNIE'S POV*
Today is the first official day that I'm back home from staying with Kim & Dan, it feels weird really. I almost expect being told at breakfast to get off my phone & hearing Dan singing terrible music on the way to the kitchen, but that doesn't happen here. Instead I sit at the kitchen bar eating toaster waffles & watching Kimmy Schmidt on Netflix, I'm not even sure my mom's awake. I go through my phone & find that I have a missed text from Kim that reads:
Left a tad early. I love you always, Annabelle!
It makes me smile knowing someone other than my family cares about me. I'm glad I can rely on her & Dan.

My mom wakes up about 15 minutes later & realizes the time, "crap Annie, we've got to go or you're gonna be late!" Yeah, I definitely didn't miss this part. The car ride to gym is weird, it's silent but not. She keeps trying to make small talk but then avoids my answers by turning up the radio. As we arrive at the gym my mom parks her car & looks over at me, "I'm sorry Annie, it's just I'm nervous. Your dad & I start therapy today & I just really wanna make progress!" I'd almost forgotten about it. Mom & dad have had marital issues ever since Caleb passed, it's been rough. No, there haven't been affairs or anything like that but just constant & unnecessary fights. "Right, I almost forgot. But that's good, I hope things go well today! Gotta go, love you!" I slam the car door shut & sigh a breathe of relief, I'm back in my happy place.

Practice is grueling as ever, it feels weird to be in the gym longer than a few hours. As the morning progresses on I notice Mary keeps trying to talk to Kim, but she refuses to pay attention to Mare & keeps walking away. I finally decide to find out what's going on. "What's going on? Why are you ignoring Mare?" Kim stands looking at me with her arms crossed over her chest & raises her left eyebrow for a split second, "Nothing, I'm just not in the mood today, that's all. Go work on your vaults before lunch!" She had attitude but I didn't want to say anything, I know she's been stressed over Mary so I really didn't want to add fuel to the fire.

As I work vaults with Katie & Via, Mary approaches us & begins to watch. I always loved when Mare was watching us because she always knew how to pump us up & keep us motivated. Usually, she & I would have a small conversation in between vaults to keep me calm. It's my turn to vault into the pit, I know this one isn't going to be pretty being that I under-rotated my triple back. Mary helps me out of the pit & walks to the end of the runway with me.

"Do you know what's going on with Kim? I keep trying to talk to her but she keeps pushing me away." I think really hard trying to remember if I heard or saw something, but nothing comes to mind. "No, I don't know what's going on. I think she may just be tired, you know Kim." I know something's wrong, I can sense it, but I just can't put my finger on it. Mare nods in agreement & pats me on my back before walking away in tears. I feel bad, I really wish I could help.

About 20 minutes pass & I hear an argument breakout between Kim & Mary near the restrooms. I run as fast as I can to try & control the situation. After all, I can't have two of my favorite people fighting again, it would just kill me.

"Leave me alone Mary, my gosh! How many times do I have to ignore you before you get the fucking memo? I don't want you near me!"

"Why won't you just talk to me? You're being rude for no reason Kim!"

"If you truly believe that, you're deranged!"

"What did I do to deserve this Kimberly? Do you even have a valid reason for this?"

Kim scoffs & laughs in Mary's face, "do I have a reason for this? Yes, yes, I do. Do you not remember the party last night? You literally treated me like shit Mary! I can't do this anymore! I'm done with you! I'm done with this!"

"But, I don't remember last night!"

"Sounds like that's a personal problem Mare. I'm over this! This is goodbye! You won't see me anymore!" Kim storms out of the gym & leaves Mary in tears, I can't believe what just went on. What did she mean by "you won't see me anymore"? I'm honestly at a loss for words right now.

A couple of hours have passed & it's now lunch/school time for us. We all sit gathered in the school room laughing & enjoying our first full day back when Kim walks into the room. Her eyes are red & puffy, she really just looks like a wreck. "I'm sorry about earlier with Mary, girls. Things have gotten rough & I just need some time to myself. Dan & I have made the choice to go back to Utah for a month on a trial basis. I just don't know if Maryland is my home. I love each & everyone of y'all & I will always cherish these moments with you, but I need some time to figure out my life & I hope you can understand that." All the girls have tears in their eyes & immediately go running up to Kim. I can't bear to listen to this crock of bullshit any longer.

I can't believe what the fuck I just heard. Is she serious right now? I can't do this, I need to leave this place ASAP! I just want to get out of here as quickly as I can! There's one person who will pick me up without questioning why I'm leaving, I text them:
SOS, pick me up at the gym ASAP! I NEED TO LEAVE! I'll meet you outside!
I instantly get a response back with the thumbs up emoji. I quickly pack my bag up while everyone continuously hugs & cries with Kim & make a run for it. I can't even cry tears because I refuse to actually believe she'd leave me. As I run out the doors, I notice my ride is here. I run as fast as I can across the parking lot & throw my backpack into the truck.

"It's about time you got here! It's a real shit show in there. I just needed to leave!" I quickly buckle in & catch my breath. I didn't think leaving the gym would call for such a strategic plan. "Alright, let's go! Take me home please!"