Giant

Chapter 3: Sleep on the floor

Pack yourself a toothbrush dear
Pack yourself a favorite blouse
Take a withdrawal slip
Take all of your savings out
'Cause if we don't leave this town
We might never make it out.

There were still visits. Still calls, texts at all hours, weekends spent at home, weekends spent visiting. It was not as much as they'd like, but still, the friends kept in touch as much as they could, or hope. Kara didn't regret her decision as much as she thought she would, only realizing into their first holiday without her father that she needed the time at home to fix herself and grieve properly that she wouldn't have gotten if she'd gone away to school.

A new, simple routine developed that kept her sane, until she only felt the gentle tug of sadness on her leg every so often instead of the overbearing weight of sorrow upon her shoulders. She had more dinners with her mom, took her to movies and gets her to hang out with her friends. Kara split her time between studying and working as an assistant for one of the doctor's offices in town, her sunny demeanor an instant hit with the kids that have to come in for shots. At night, she spent more time prowling, and hoping to help. Her sister, radio silent and upset, felt like she abandoned her, and Kara tried to hide behind her side job.

Lena didn't regret her choice either. Her father's alma mater became a safe haven for her, one she never knew she needed, surrounded by walls made of nothing but books and learning, with paths that stretched in millions of directions, that she could pursue to her heart's content. She works hard and toward the second half of the season, even manages to start a few games for the soccer team. Her father and mother, even Lex make a few appearances at the games, decked out in all manner of red plaid and face paint to support her.

A new picture takes a spot next to her favorite of them when she was a kid, one where they are all dressed in the best cheering attire and she is muddy from a rather tough match. Beside it on her desk in her dorm sits one she tries not to look at too often, of Kara and herself at the beach, Lena on Kara's shoulders, somehow able to be held up as the waves come down around them.

It's almost holiday break, the end of the first semester, before Lena tells Kara about Bree, the pretty sophomore art student who kisses a little sloppy and smokes too much weed, but is kind and gentle. Kara takes a few extra moments to respond to the text, asking a million questions and trying to be happy for her friend.

Winter break was spent doing all of their favorite things, spent locked in Lena's living room watching the snow fall and catch up with each other, spent with Kara dragging Lena into the snow and sledding or to look at lights as she pedals on her bike with the Luthor on her handlebars, relishing in the cold and quiet.

They exchanged gifts before Lena disappeared for a few days with her family to the cabin. She promises to wear the sweater Kara bought her, and she felt like her chest would explode when she gave Kara the new sketchbook and expensive pencils. She accepted the hug eagerly, soaked it up as best she could to hold away for when things were hard.

On New Years' Eve, Lena looked away when Kara kissed someone else, her gut turning over into knots at the sight.

By second semester, not long after her return to school, Bree was gone, and Kara smiled when she saw the text. Lena was not as upset about it as Kara would have imagined, but she puts on her supportive face, and cheered her up anyway, promising to be there that weekend for junk food and movies.

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The first sighting of Superman came just before spring break. Kara couldn't help but stare at the blurry picture on the front page, the same one carried around the country, even the world. She called her cousin as soon as she saw it. Pacing through her room, she picked up the paper again and shook her head.