That Ship Has Sailed

Amy & Rory

The shouting continued. Amy lay on her bed, headphones pumping loud, angry music into her head as she tried to drown it out. Her head hurt and angry tears stung her eyes. She felt overwhelmed and couldn't stop herself from crying.

Then, her music stopped, suddenly, and the shouts came through loudly, then, her phone buzzed, distracting her.

She wiped her eyes and looked at the screen, seeing Rory's smiling face looking up at her. She swiped the screen and pulled her headphones out, holding the phone to her ear.

"Hi, Rory," she said quietly.

He paused and she knew he hadn't heard her. She quickly stood and shut her bedroom door all the way, then sat in the farthest corner of her room, pulling her knees to her chest, "Hey," she said again.

"Hi," Rory replied.

"How do you always know?"

"It isn't hard. I think the whole town can hear their shouting. Open your shade and turn on your lamp so I can see you."

Amy did as she was told and within seconds, she was looking across the short yard between her house and his to see Rory sitting, staring back at her.

"Hey," she said again.

"Hey," he replied, "How are you, really?"

"Fine," Amy replied.

"You're forgetting I have better eye sight. I can see your face from here and you don't look fine. Have you been crying?"

Amy shrugged, "A little...they never stop."

"I know."

Rory paused and the two sat in silence for a few, short seconds. Then, Rory said, "Can you sneak out without them noticing?"

"They never notice anything when they're going at it like this," Amy replied, "Why would I want to sneak out?"

"I want to take you somewhere."

Amy hesitated, but nodded slowly, "Okay...Rory?"

"Yes?"

"You're a really good friend...One of my best friends. You're the only one who knows--"

"You don't have to tell me," Rory said, "I already know. Just sneak out and meet me by my bike."

Amy nodded and hung up, turning off her music and shoving her phone into her hoodie pocket before walking to her door and opening it slowly.

The shouting continued just as loudly as before. The two fought about anything that came to their minds, but this time, it was her mother's job. She'd been promoted and wanted to re-locate to a new town, but Amy's father was stubborn. Amy sneaked past the living room where they stood, shouting and throwing things at each other. She paused for a moment at the door, then something crashed and broken and everything was silent for a moment. The shouting continued, louder than before, and Amy couldn't hold in her tears as she pulled open the door, running out into the yard and across her driveway to where Rory waited.

"Hey," he said, "Put this on," he told her, holding out a helmet.

She pulled it on over her long, red hair, then got onto the bike behind Rory, holding his waist as he started it up and took off down the street.

The bike wasn't very loud, but it seemed so in the quiet of the night. Amy felt intrusive just by riding it through the town, but when Rory took an exit, heading toward the highway, she didn't feel so bad anymore.

Cars began surrounding them and they sped up, making good time as Rory sped down the highway.

"Where are we going?" Amy called up to him.