"Do you have everything?" my mom asks. We're in her bright blue 2014 Outlander Sport, the car idle in front of my best friend, Kjelle's house.
"Yeah," I say, my tone a little too harsh. I don't mean it. I'm not sure if Mom knows. Judging from how her dark red eyes droop with sadness, she doesn't. Or maybe she does, but it bothers her nevertheless. I don't know why I've stuck with this occasional attitude towards her; I'm not the fourteen-year-old moody girl I used to be.
Not wanting to drag this on for too long, I open the car door and get out. Mom passes me my forest green duffel bag from the backseat. "Thank you." I clutch the bag and my leather purse close to me. Well, I don't think the purse is real leather; Mom bought it from a street vendor.
"Call me if you need anything, okay Severa?"
"Sure." I smile, feeling the tension melt away. "Have fun with Cynthia's mom!" Mom nods, grinning. I close the car door and watch her drive away until she makes a right at the end of the street, the car lights blinking out of view. I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding, turning to face Kjelle's house. It's basically a mansion, but she won't admit it. Like all the other houses in this area, it's a beautiful brick house with three floors. The lawn is a lush green, freshly cut. To celebrate the summer, the lawn is littered with solar-powered cute animals that brightly illuminate the lawn at night. My favorite is the owl, proudly standing by the mailbox. I pet it as I pass by for the front door. Right before I knock on the red wooden door, my stomach gets a little queasy and my heart starts pounding. It can't be nerves. I'm probably just hungry. Yet it doesn't quite explain the heart-pounding…
I'm pressing the gas pedal a little too hard, I know, but I can't wait! A full day with my best friend, Sumia? My pegasus partner? My other half? I've barely seen her for more than a few hours before one of us is whisked away by our daughters or husbands or other motherly tasks. Things are calm on my end, since Severa's father left when she was only a year old and she's in college now, but Sumia? Her fourteen-year-old daughter, Cynthia, is a burst of sunshine with boundless energy that can sometimes be a lot to handle. And added with the others, Lucina and the twins, Morgan and Morgiana, Sumia is constantly running around to chess matches, fencing practices, and the grocery store. At least she isn't alone. She has Chrom with her. He's such a wonderful father and husband, and I know the family's lucky to be so whole and happy. Sometimes I just wish that for myself…
I slow to a halt once I've reached Starbucks, where Sumia is waiting. She's outside, sunbathing on a bench, wearing a blue and pink sundress with little white clouds everywhere. She has a white beret on her head, probably to hide her messy silver bedhead. I roll down the passenger-side window and shout, "Mia!"
Sumia perks up at her nickname and sees me grinning ear-to-ear and squeals, "Deliaaaa!" She stands up to smooth down her dress and I get out of the car, almost getting stuck in the seat belt and hitting myself on the car door. I rush to her and we hug each other tightly. Sumia's raspberry perfume wafts over, making me smile; she hasn't changed her perfume scent once. When we let go, I hold her face in my hands. "Long time no see, huh?" she asks, her gray eyes glinting.
"Yeah," I say. My heart's pounding hard. I can't wait.