Ipushed my bicycle up the road, dragging my feet slowly. I didn'twant to be home yet but the house was already in sight. I was goingto be there soon and my mom was going to be so mad. As quietly as Icould I put the key in and unlocked the door.
Itook my shoes off and was about to gently close the door when a windgust slammed it shut. Crap,I thought and soon enough it was clear why. "Siria!" My motherscreamed from within the house. I flinched and crept through thekitchen into the living room. "Yes mom?" I asked and tried tolook as innocent as possible. Considering my remorseful appearance, Idon't think I was doing a very good job.
"ThePrincipal called." I nodded, knowing what was coming. "You gotsuspended from school. For punching a girl." I nodded again. It wastrue. "The Everetts called; they told me Enfys got suspended too,for punching a boy. What has gotten into you? You are not a violentperson! What happened?" I tried to swallow the lump in my throat."They just said something really nasty about...well they just upsetme." My mom was now standing up, crossing her arms and swingingback and forth on her toes. "I don't want to talk about it." Imumbled and took a step back. "Okay, maybe the Everetts were rightabout you. You have a secret and you won't tell us about it."
Ishrugged and got out of the living room as fast as I could, taking mybag pack with me. With a quick look over my shoulder, I made sure mymom wasn't following me and went straight to the bathroom. Puttingmy bag down I pulled my phone out of my pocket. I opened my messagesand texted Enfys quickly. "Everything alright?" I asked. Theresponse came immediately. " I am okay. Mom's pissed. Ralph justlooked grim. They think we are hiding something." I laid the phonedown and lifted my shirt up. My lower ribcage was covered in bruises.I surely was hiding something. But I was not about to show my momthis.
Myphone buzzed. "Mom called Dad. He said it might be good for me tovisit him for a while. FML. I'm not going without you" My breathstarted to quicken. "No you aren't I'm coming with you." Icould feel tears burning in my eyes. I knew my mom was never going toallow this. Never. "I love you" the phone read. "Love you too."I put some lotion on my chest and went to my room.
Enfys'mother had been talking about sending her away for a while now. Andit was scary. Really scary. Taking Enfys away from me would be theworst thing to ever happen to me. They thought we were getting intotrouble together and that we should be separated. Things did not lookwell for us and I was angry. Really angry. It was dark by now and Iwas putting on my PJs when I heard my mom coming up the stairs."Siria?" she asked and knocked softly on my door. All of asudden, I was sad again. "Yes?" I asked and sat on my bed. Shecame inside and took a seat next to me. "I had a very long talkwith Romilda today and we came to a conclusion. For the past twomonths, Enfys and you have been getting into a lot of trouble and weboth don't know why. Since nobody of you want to tell us we decidedthat it would be better for you to have a change of scenery for awhile. Since summer is starting next week, you will both be going toYorkshire and getting to know farmers live." She paused and myheart was going twenty miles per minute. "What do you mean?" Iasked, dragging out the last syllable. "Listen Siria, I know thisis not how you imagined your summer to be but I don't see any otherchoice. I don't want to keep you inside for three months andstaying here you will only mix with the wrong crowd." Of course Iknew I'd never mix with the wrong crowd, the wrong crowd was tryingto mix with me, but I was not about to tell her that! "I want youto return fresh and more like yourself again." I tried my hardestto look down. I really did. But I couldn't help the smile coming tomy face. "Are you actually happy about me sending you away?", mymother asked, stunned and a little hurt. "No mom, I'm just happyabout a break, that's all." I tried to convince her. My mothersmiled and kissed me on the forehead. "Goodnight Darling, sweetdreams" "Goodnight", I answered and pretended to go to sleep. Asplit second after my mom closed the door I reached over to mybedside table and grabbed my phone. I turned off the buzzing soundand texted my girlfriend. "Hey girlfriend, my mom said I was comingwith you. DID THEY TELL YOU TOO?" It looked like Enfys was onlinetoo, her icon read typing..."Ohmy god, yes they did!! I can't believe it! I am coming to yourplace first thing tomorrow morning to pack since you don't knowwhat to bring. I can't believe they think of it as a punishment.Also I might actually see my baby brother be born! I love you" Ialmost laughed out loud. "Beauty, we have school tomorrow, we can'tpack." I texted back. "We are suspended Siria." Ah yes. Iforgot. I was going to sleep well that night. I just knew it.
Afterwaking up the next morning, I jumped into the shower. The warm waterwas like medicine for my bruises and I took extra time, shampooing mylong black hair twice. My mother was already at work. She was akindergarten teacher but worked as a vice principle, being in chargeof the three- to seven-year-olds. She had many stories to tell, fromkids having to cut their hair because of gum to one child handcuffinganother to the heater.
Ilaughed at the thought of her recent story about a boy from thenursery being so upset about a friend stealing his toy that he hidfor the rest of the day, causing the nursery staff to panic.
Istepped out of the shower and quickly reached for the towel. Just asI wanted to start brushing my hair, I heard the doorbell ring. Beingexcited I rushed out of the bathroom, completely forgetting the stateI was in. I ripped the door open and slammed it shut a split secondlater. "I'm not wearing any pants." I screamed and heard Enfyslaugh. "It's not like I haven't seen that before, open up!" Iblushed and opened the door slightly letting her but no one else'sgaze in. "Hi Beauty!" I said and hugged her very closely. "We'regoing on vacation together" she said and hugged me back. "Well Idon't know. My mum told me we're flying on Sunday and it'salready Wednesday." "So?" Enfys asked. "Well since your Dadhas a farm we will be working won't we?" I asked a littleconfused. Enfys laughed. "Who told you that? My Dad is anaccountant, remember?" I did in fact remember her telling me that."He does live in an old farmhouse though. He renovated it togetherwith his wife who works in the real estate business. She's due togive birth in a few weeks though so I don't know if she's workingat this point." I did know all of that and I don't know how Icompletely forgot about all I knew about Enfys' Dad. I must havelooked very strange because my girlfriend waved her hand in front ofmy face. I smiled, took her hand and dragged her to my room in whichstood the biggest suitcase to ever grace the world. "I have to takeeverything." I said. Enfys laughed. "What do you mean everything?Clothes, Laptop and headphones are enough. Maybe your diary." Ilooked around my room and raised my hands in a questioning manner."What else is there?" I asked and looked over to Enfys who wasnow sitting at my desk. "Now that I think of it, take, like, yourpens and painting stuff too. It's hella expensive over there."After opening the suitcase and placing it in the middle of the room,I looked around helplessly. "Uhm, Beauty?" I asked. "Help?"Enfys laughed, her ginger hair bouncing around her shoulders.
"Okayso, Yorkshire is cold. Like, really cold. Pack your long shirts andhoodies. Also, this kind of stuff" -she was holding up mytampons- "They look weird in England." I laughed. "Hey do youthink I'm going to have to drink tea when I am over there?" Iasked and made a face. "Yes and eat lots and lots of gingercookies!" I smirked. "I like ginger." Enfys blushed and we bothgiggled. I stepped over the open suitcase and was standing very closeto her now. Enfys laid her hand in my neck and drew me closer. Sheclosed her beautiful eyes and kissed me. I felt alive and free. Andso, so happy.
