Stronger Than Ever (A Sawyer Fredericks Fanfiction)

Chapter 4

Sawyer's POV:

Today was the day. We were all leaving Windrake Farm behind to reside in Los Angeles. Oh, man, I knew I was going to get emotional today.

"You okay?" Alice asked me. She had just finished packing suitcase number six - or was it seven? - and was dressed in all black from head to toe.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm fine." I zipped up my travel bag. "I just never thought I'd be leaving this place."

"I know," Alice nodded solemnly. "I just feel like this is my fault."

"Babe, it's not."

"It kind of is," she sat on the air mattress - our beds had been taken apart and were in a moving truck headed for LA with our other furniture. "I mean, I was the one who ran away and started this whole mess. If I didn't run away, he would have never been on the lookout."

"Al," I sat down next to her. "You had the right idea. You were right to run away. If therapy couldn't even help you, then it was maybe for the best."

"I guess."

"And, if you didn't run away, you would have never met me," I grinned.

"Oh, shut up," she laughed, shoving my shoulder. "But you're right. I'm so glad I met you. And now we're going to LA together again."

"Hopefully this will make up for last time," I said.

"Hey, you two," Mom peeked into the room, smiling. "I hate to break up your guys' moment, but it's about time we head to the airport."

"We'll be right out, Mom," I replied. "Just wanna have one last look around."

"Well, don't be too long."

When she was gone, I stood up and gazed at my room. The room I had slept in, played in, and sometimes ate in ever since I was a toddler. My own personal space where I could write songs, play guitar, and look outside my window at the green hills and puffy clouds all day long. I just couldn't believe I was leaving it behind forever.

Fuck. I could feel my eyes getting wet. I had been expecting to cry, but I for some reason I didn't like crying with other people around. Not even Alice.

"Honey?" Alice looked concerned. "Babe, what is it?"

I shook my head.

"Do you need to be alone for a minute?"

I nodded.

"Okay," she kissed my cheek and left me alone in my room, where I cried until my eyes were dry.

Alice's POV:

Poor Sawyer. I could hear his whimpering from outside his bedroom door. I knew how emotional the whole family was about leaving the farm, so I couldn't blame him for crying. I wanted to hug him, kiss him, do something to make him feel better, but I knew he needed to be by himself. So I waited until he came out.

"Okay," he said, travel bag slung over his shoulder and bowler hat placed atop his head. "I'm alright now."

"You sure?"

"Yep. Besides, we don't want to miss the flight."

I nodded and dragged my suitcase behind me. "Well, let's go then."

The plan was for Carl to drop me, Sawyer, and Kirsten off at the airport, in which afterwards he, Skylar, and Aric would drive to LA and meet us there in around 2-3 days. During that time us three would set up our new home - we had ended up selling the animals to trusted family and friends, and with all the money they had paid us for those animals, we were able to buy a cozy, suburban, 3-bedroom 5-bathroom house. It wasn't a luxurious mansion or a hipster apartment like any other homes in the neighborhood, but it was just fine for all of us.

We got in the car, and just as we began driving off, I took one last look back at the farm and the "For Sale" sign plucked in the ground. Man, I was gonna miss this place. The place where I first met Sawyer and his awesome family. The place where I got help for my struggles. The place where I first fell in love.

The only place I ever called home.

Once we got to the airport, we ate a quick breakfast and waited for our plane. We also learned we would be delayed for two hours due to maintenance issues, but at least we got some extra time in New York.

I knew this wasn't a permanent leave, since I'm sure Sawyer would have to do promo stuff as his career expanded. But it was extremely bittersweet.

Finally, our plane arrived, and combining that with layover in St. Louis, another four hours on a plane, and being stuck in traffic when we actually arrived in LA, I was more than ready to be in our new home. But at last, we made it.

The moving truck wouldn't get here until the next day, so we had a McDonald's dinner (Sawyer had a salad) and slept on the carpeted floors in our rooms. It was definitely not comfortable for anyone, but hey, we could have been outside the whole time. Now all we had to do was wait for the boys... and furniture.

~a/n: well, i apologize for the shitty chapter, but i had to update with something, right?! hope everyone is doing good! love~