From the Ashes

[23] Departure

The loud tune of "Big Wiggly Style" wakes me, and I squint drowsily into the streaming sunlight pouring through my window to land on my face.

Why would anyone build a house with the bedrooms facing the east? Seriously.

The smell of bacon makes my mouth water, and I rub the sleep and blinding sunlight out of my eyes as I use my empty stomach's feral instinct to guide me as I slide out of bed and stumble like a zombie through the house. My mother kisses me on the head as she drifts in from the kitchen, and I mumble a bleary-eyed good morning as I slump onto the bar seat. She asks me how I slept, probably already guessing by my state of consciousness. I confirm her supposition with a grunt, and my face against the counter. I hear her chuckle as a big mug of coffee clinks onto the table beside me.

I eat a delicious breakfast of an omelet and bacon with my mother, downing the heady, caffeinated beverage with gusto to help wake me up. The excitement for our departure today helps, too.

Mom helps me drag my bags to the front foyer, and we both wait for Roman to pick me up.

"How long is the drive to Alpine Mine, do you know?" she asks, sliding her arm around my shoulder as we both look out the screen door at the beautifully misty summer morning.

"I think it's about 2 hours away. Yeah, that's what Roman told me."

"That's not bad. Now, you'll call me when you get the chance? You're not even gone yet, and I'm dying to hear all about it," she says with a laugh. I give her a full hug as Roman's truck pulls into view in front of our house, engine running.

"Of course I will. I love you so much, Momma, thank you for letting me go with them," I tell her, and she kisses the side of my head.

"Absolutely, baby doll. I love you, Allie, have a great time."

Roman and Sage are trudging to the door by the time my mother and I are done saying goodbye, and we let them in to help carry my belongings to the truck. I end up just having to carry my black purse filled with cosmetics, books, and my phone and charger. I walk behind Roman down the front walk to his truck.

"I rike dat shirt, sugah," I say in that deadpan-cutsie way Kaitlin and I sometimes have a habit of speaking in, poking the fabric of the Bring Me the Horizon shirt covering his muscular back. He flicks his dark hair as he looks back at me over his shoulder, a smile lighting up his face.

"Do ya, now?" he chuckles, throwing my duffel bag in the bed of his tuck. Sage tosses a second bag of mine to join it.

"Thanks, gents," I say, my voice still sounding tired. We hop up in the truck, Roman in the driver's seat, me in the middle, and Sage on the opposite side. All three of us wave to my mother, who stands on the front lawn, and as her form disappears down the street, I realize with an excited shudder of my heart that my amazing summer has truly begun.

"You look sooooo tiiiiiiired, Leithea," Roman croons in an oddly sympathetic voice, a huge smile plastered on his features. I smack both hands against my face to hide it, smiling wide underneath them.

"So?" my muffled voice croaks out in a snarky tone.

"It's adorable," he croons some more.

"Sage, switch me seats."

"Why do you think you're in the middle? I'm not sitting by that chum."

"Thanks, buddy. Love you too," Roman chimes, and Sage chuckles as he leans his elbow on the open window. Sage turns his head to flash Roman a wide grin, and he pats my leg.

"Strength." I give a tired smile as I lightly touch his hand in a dramatic gesture.

"I appreciate the blessing. We'll just kick his ass if he gets out of hand," I say directly to Sage, and I hear Roman hiss.