***
I was sitting dejectedly on my bed when Ella came in.
"Not ready to leave tomorrow?" Ella asked, smiling.
I grabbed a pillow and threw it against the wall. "No, not really." I sighed. "Are you?"
She smiled. "I'm nervous, and a little scared about leaving Mom, but I'm thrilled."
I smiled back. "I'm just scared about leaving her here by herself."
Ella frowned a little. "You don't think something bad will happen to her, do you?"
I backtracked quickly. "Oh no, not at all." I didn't want to scare Ella. I mean, she's only thirteen; she doesn't deserve to be overwhelmed by all the things in my life. "She might get lonely though."
Ella shrugged. "Well it was her idea for us to go to begin with."
I nodded, and then looked up at the clock that read 9PM. I sighed and lightly pushed her off the bed.
"I'm going to sleep. Goodnight, Ella."
Ella smiled. "'Night Max." Ella walked over to her bed, and climbed into it.
I pulled my covers over my head. The air almost seemed to be so quiet it was loud. It was weird.
***
Who knows how much later, I finally rolled over, climbed out of bed and went downstairs to the kitchen. It was totally silent, and I walked over to the kitchen counter and microwaved some coffee from earlier in the evening. I glanced over at the microwave clock as I stirred. It read 2AM. I sighed before walking around to the plush blue couch. I sat down pretzel style and turned on the TV.
"Second annual Salmon Derby scheduled for-"
I sighed and flipped the channel.
"Rose, you're no picnic, all right? You're a spoiled little brat, even. But under that, you're the most amazingly, astounding, wonderful girl - woman - that I've ever known ... "
"Jack, I ... "
"No, let me try to get this out. I'm not an idiot; I know how the world works. I've got ten bucks in my pocket, I have nothing to offer you, and I know that. I understand. But I'm too involved now. You jump, I jump, remember? I can't turn away without knowing you'll be all right ... That's all I want."
I sighed. No guy would ever say that to me. Just another ridiculous romance movie. I mean, seriously, did I even want that? I'm not mushy and ridiculous like most girls. But yet…. another part of me, the girl part of me, yearned for something like that.
I couldn't shake the feeling. I flipped the channel.
Flip.
Flip.
Flip.
Okay, there is seriously nothing good on this freaking TV.
I heard footsteps, and I looked up to see Fang in the doorway. Oh God. Not now when I'm feeling all mushy. Please, go away. Sadly, he can't always read my thoughts either.
"What are you doing up?"
I sighed. "Can't fall asleep."
He nodded, and sat on the couch next to me, our legs touching. There was nothing really awkward about the silence – I mean, with him hardly talking, I can't keep up the conversation all the time.
He looked over at me. "Are you ready to leave?"
I shrugged. "I don't know. I mean, sure, it might be nice to go on an adventure again, but I don't know if I want to leave everything and start over."
Fang nodded. "There's something else on your mind."
Dangit. He would be the last person on the planet I'd want to talk to about romance. "No, not really."
"Yeah there is."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
Pause.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"God, Fang! There is nothing on my mind besides England! I'm going to bed." I got up with my coffee and stomped off to bed. I could hear him sigh, and he turned out the light in the living room, leaving the house pitch dark.
He always did prefer darkness.
***