Swimming Ducks

Part 14: Morning Beautiful

Hi guys! I am so sorry it's been so long, things have been a little hectic lately, those who know me will know that recently I've developed tics and other stuff has been going on, life has been a little mental and a third lockdown has really thrown me off, so writing hasn't been my top priority! But here it is now, I'll try to update more regularly.

TARYN'S POV:

I awoke after about thirty minutes of sleep that morning, feeling Alice beside me. Her hand was stroking the top of my hair gently and for a moment I let myself relax. My back ached, so did my shoulders and my neck, but it didn't matter. She was there with me, and I was safe.
Then the panic set in.

Shit.
My mum.

I sat bolt-upright, startling Alice. She smiled at me and the panic began to ease slightly. "Morning beautiful," she whispered and I rubbed my eyes, my brain foggy with exhaustion. She looked as shattered as I felt, but I didn't even care. Everything felt surreal, and honestly, I would have liked to keep it that way. I smiled back at her, trying to suppress the worry slowly crawling across my chest.

You have to get her out of here.

"You're worried about your mum," she whispered again, pointing at the clock. It was 06:30- my mum was never even awake before 08:00. I relaxed into her, feeling the world begin to fade again. "Wake me in half an hour," I mumbled, leaning on her shoulder, letting myself fall back into an easy sleep.

ALICE'S POV:

I woke Taryn at 07:30, and the way she scrunched her eyes against the morning light and crinkled her nose was honestly so adorable. She glanced at the clock and then tried to glare at me, but it was blurry through her lack of sleep. I giggled a little and she shoved me playfully, rubbing her eyes. I could barely keep mine open, but I forced myself awake, standing up and suddenly realising I was in the same pyjamas as last night. Taryn stared up at me, shaking away the haze of exhaustion a little and saying, "I don't want you to leave." I offered her my hand and helped her to clumsily stand up, taking her other hand and squeezing them both gently. I felt my eyes light up with inspiration as goosebumps prickled on her skin.

"Then let's go somewhere for today. Please?" I half-begged, pulling her hands gently. She smiled, and I watched the thoughts behind her eyes gather and decide. For a moment I thought she'd say no, but then I saw the hope in her face. "Yes," she grinned, giggling, "But let me go and get you some clothes, we're not going out like this."

  In ten minutes we were dressed (her in a red flannel shirt and jeans, me in a pair of tights, a  black skirt and a long-sleeved T-shirt), my har was semi-untangled and she had two coats in her arms. "Will your mum need her car?" she asked, suddenly fearful. I shook my head.

"She doesn't go anywhere on weekends, and they've got my dad's car." And so we carefully slipped out of the front door, getting into my car and driving away quickly. I could almost feel Taryn's adrenaline as we sped away from her house, the greys of our town merging into one as freedom tingled over my fingers and toes. "You excited?" I asked, laughing at how tense she looked, as she tried awkwardly to settle back in her seat. She just nodded, smiling at me. I smiled back quickly, but kept my eyes on the road ahead. Especially with Taryn in the car; I didn't want to risk anything. It felt like some cute indie movie, albeit with a little more anxiety.

Soon we began to break away from the grey and beige of our town, a few other early-ish morning travellers scattered out on the roads. As we rolled up a hill, I watched familiar fields stretch out below us, trees lining the sides of the road. Besides me, I felt Taryn relax into her seat slightly, and I drove further as the watery sun rose on our left.