Never Have I Ever

Chapter 18

A few hours later, I go back to my apartment. Thomas walks with me, to give me a hand carrying stuff. We walk to and fro carrying boxes with miscellaneous labels on them, and loading them into the truck along with certain things we rescued from the house. Mostly cash, diaries and pieces of memorabilia. I called a masons, they’re going to correspond with Mason to sort memorials to go in the garden. Nova’s given me some photos she did on the sly of the six of us, and they’re packed in a box with the other photos of friends I’ve made over time.

“When’s your meeting?”

“I’ll sort it when I get there. I’m on a partial scholarship. Where’s your apartment?”

“Cambridge. So a couple hours, maybe.”

“I think I’ll only be coming home over the weekends, y’know?”

“Yeah, I get what you mean. So, student housing?”

“I think so. But I’m gonna spend a bit of time over there beforehand, on freshman orientation days, see if I can find another group. Another few people that can remind me of everything. Because I’ve lost people before. When I met you guys, I was looking for people like the ones I used to have. I’ve always rolled in fives or sixes because there’s enough people to have your back when it inevitably falls apart. How that backfired.”

“What do you mean? They died for us.”

“I mean if I hadn’t been in such a big group, I wouldn’t have been singled out.”

“Que será, será.”

“What will be will be? Please don’t quote TV shows to me. I am above that.”

“It’s a song.”

“It’s from the Umbrella Academy.”

“Whatever. I’m not saying I believe in destiny and that, but I think you’re a magnet for shit. If there’s any evil fuckery in a twenty-mile radius, it will find you.”

“And after that terrific vote of confidence, we’ve crossed the state line. Are you sure we shouldn’t get a flight?”

“And leave your truck behind?”

“I can get a new car.”

“I’ll book something now, to Boston. Which ID?”

“Use Titania Summerfield. We might get extra privileges. Let me call. Use speakerphone.”

He dials the airport as I pull off the Interstate into a gas station.

“I would like to book a flight to Boston. Is this possible?”

“There’s one in five hours. Names?”

“Thomas Highsmith and Titania Summerfield.”

“I’m presuming I’m speaking to Miss Summerfield?”

“That’s correct.”

“I’m sorry for the insolence, ma’am. Which class?”

“Economy’ll do. I need to be out of Nevada pretty quickly. I have an audition.”

“Certainly. How many bags?”

“A few. Maybe six?”

“Are you sure? They’re an extra $50 each. You’re aware of this?”

“I know what I’m doing. Maybe I should travel a little more on foot…”

“This is doable. I’ll ensure someone is ready to accompany you to the lounge.”