The Boy in the Rain//Klance

59. Lance

I keep looking down at my phone waiting for the text to appear. I look around me at other people being met by families with hugs or reuniting with loved ones with kisses and I feel a pang in my chest. My aunt and I haven't spoken in years and this is the way I greet her? With the need for therapy? I feel like a great nephew right now...

I watch a young woman, maybe in her early twenties, run into the arms of another girl. They're crying tears of joy and I see the closeness of their embrace. I smile sadly. Maybe that'll be Keith and I at the end of the summer. A notification sounds and I look down at the phone to see a text from Aunt Liliana. "A blue pickup truck." Simple words I muse to myself and look around. I see sleek black cars and sporty white cars but no blue pickup truck. I'm about to call her and ask where she is until I hear a god awful horn. I look around for the source of that terrible sound and see a pickup truck slowing down in front of me. I grimace at the sight. It might've been blue about ten years ago but now it's covered in rust and dents. It looks more brown than blue.

When the truck stops in front of me a woman jumps out of the truck. She's exactly like I remember, tall, tan, and very farmer-esque. She wear's a big red flannel and ripped jeans. Aunt Liliana has aged well, no gray hairs like her younger sister-my Mama. Mama is beautiful but the years of abuse and stress has brought her spirit. Unlike this woman who spreads her arms wide while grinning at me. I run to her and close the distance between us. She wraps her arms around me and I can smell faint strawberries.

She ruffles my hair as she pulls away. "Lance! You're so big!" I smile awkwardly, "Yeah that's what happens after ten years." I expect a flash of hurt or pain like I always get from Mama but Liliana is different, she just keeps smiling. She elbows me, "You gonna be a pain kid?" She gives me an intimidating look that makes me gulp but when she smiles again the feeling of dread leaves my stomach. "Well let's get going!" She takes my bag and throws it in the passenger side. "Hop in!" She says before skipping over to her side of the truck. I slide into the seat, it's one of those trucks without a back row. It's Aunt Liliana, my bag, and me squished together. I put on my seat belt after a friendly reminder from Liliana. She drives out of the airport.

"So...How is your mama doing?" Aunt Liliana almost has no Spanish accent which is funny because all of my uncles and my mother have very strong accents. Maybe being a farmer stripped her of her culture? I giggle to myself, "She's okay. My dad is back." Aunt Liliana frowns. "How is that?" I wince thinking of the night Keith dropped me off. I was shoved against the wall, punched and kicked multiple times, and I had my head smashed. "Fine I guess. He wasn't there when I packed so I was okay." Liliana nods while keeping her eyes trained on the road in front of us. I look out the window to see many tall buildings. In the distance I see what I think is the pentagon. "Is that the Pentagon?" I ask absentmindedly. "Yup. We're in D.C kid. Did you not know where you were being dropped off?" I smile sheepishly and nod. Liliana laughs at that.

"So kid. Do you even know what you're doing here with me?" I look over at her and for a minute she meets my eyes with a serious look. "Honestly?" I ask and she nods, "I don't know what I'm doing here. I'm nervous and sort of scared." I look down at my hands. A gentle hand leaves the steering wheel to lay on my shoulder for a comforting second, "That's okay. Being nervous is a normal feeling hon." I smile to myself because hon is better than kid. "Well anyway, you're going to be working on the farm during the morning, having free time during the day, eating and having a session with me in the evening. We'll be on a schedule okay? I mean you'll have free time but I want you to spend it doing comforting and relaxing things, such as reading, writing, drawing or painting." I twiddle my fingers, "Is guitar okay?" I ask and she looks at me skeptically. "I don't think you could fit a guitar in your bag." I look up with the best puppy dog eyes I have.

"I was kind of hoping..after a bit of farm work I could get one." Liliana gives me a look. After a minute of silence she nods, "I'll get you one as soon as possible. Think of it as an early payment for your work this summer." I smile widely, "Thank you!" She gives me a smile, "No problem hon." I rummage through my bag for my earbuds and when I find them I quickly put them in. "Dang you really don't want to talk to your aunt you haven't seen in ten years?" I wince and slowly pull out my earbuds. Liliana laughs, "It's all right kid. Wear em'." I hesitate to put them back in my ears, she called me kid. Is she upset with me? I shrug that idea away because I don't know this woman well so I don't know what means she's upset or not. I put my earbuds in and lean my head against the window. The sky is getting darker and the sun has left from sight, it's tucked behind buildings.

I watch cars pass us with a tired gaze. Just a few hours ago I was in a hospital bed for attempted suicide. I wince at the thought and the guilt that comes flooding in. What was I thinking. Everyone that loves me...A slower, sadder song comes on while I think of everyone that would be hurt if I were gone and it makes me choke up. That feeling, that little burn that comes before crying is what settled in my throat as I listened to the song. I let my eyes close and my head nod to the music. With that I fell asleep.

The surprise character isn't here yet, remember they are someone from season seven. Who do you think it is? Well anyway I hope you're having a good day and if you're not I hope this chapter helped a bit. I was having a good day, I did my hair, I even put on makeup and some cute clothes. I felt confident and GUESS WHAT! I looked in the mirror, smiled at myself and told myself I was beautiful. It felt really really good to hear that and not the opposite from myself. I mean I think I might always have depressingly low self esteem, but at least I could do that today. It felt really nice. So that made it a good day, but now I'm a little irritated and I was trying to calmly write but unfortunately :,) it didn't really work. If my frustration clearly shows I'm sorry I'm just not in the best mood and I thought writing would help but now I'm just rapidly typing on the keyboard angrily. ha ha. Well anyway I hope you have a good day/night and thank you so much for reading! You should try looking in the mirror, smiling, and telling yourself you're beautiful. You might not believe but you should know I definitely think it. DAMN THE PERSON READING THIS SURE IS FINEEEEEE!! Okay I'll leave now. Byeeeeeeeeeeeeee

P.S sorry this chapter was so short and so much dialogue!