Chapter 9: Beyond the Travels

"Beyond? Beyond, darling? You gotta get up. I found us a ride to the city, but she won't wait much longer." Akin said, lightly shaking me. I opened my eyes slowly, and waited for my vision to become clear. It was still dark outside, probably early morning. The moon was still in the sky, but faded.

First, I saw her outline. She was leaning over me and holding our suitcase, her dark hair pulled back in a ponytail. I stared at her for a second, in a half dream state. Then my mind began to register the situation. I got up quickly.

"Akin! What the hell? You can't just go around talking to strangers by yourself! They could... they could..."

"-Well, she's not a stranger." She interrupted.

" She's my friend, Ami. She lived in an apartment building across the street from my parents' house, and we were super close. She even offered to adopt me after the accident. She's willing to let us stay at her apartment, but we really have to go now." Akin said her words in a rushed tone. Usually she was so passive, it was weird hearing her try to be demanding.

"Wait, she has her own apartment?" I asked, my mind still trying to grasp the information around me. I was still a bit skeptical of the situation.

"Yes, she's like twenty I think. I don't know, point is she has to leave for a few weeks to take care of her sick mother, and says we can stay at her apartment. Bless her, she's a sweetheart, but not a patient women so let's go." She grabbed my hand and practically pulled me all the way up to the freeway. I wasn't used to Akin being so intolerant. It made me wonder what was making her act this way.

Parked along the left side of the freeway was a light blue buggy with a pretty young women leaning against it. She looked a few years older than us, with deep violet hair and kind eyes. Though, the colour of her eyes were cold like ice. Akin pulled me over to her and spoke nervously.

"Ami, this is... this is um, Beyond." Akin almost twitched out her words. Why the hell was she so nervous?

"Heya Beyond. That's an awful funny name. Look, I got some rules if I'm gonna put up with ya guys staying in my apartment. One, you don't know me, and I sure as hell don't want you to, Mr. Beyond. So you'll call me Amica, not Ami, not Am. Amica, my mother gave me that name and unless you're a friend, that's what ya gonna call me. Two, y'all are sixteen and I don't want any funny business goin' on while I'm gone. Three, I don't got time for nonsense. Ya got all that?"

She spoke quickly with a tough accent. This was a women who didn't like her time being wasted. So I said the first thing that came to mind.

"Yes ma'am." I said immediately regretting it. Amica laughed, and threw her head back as she did it. Then she clapped and caught her breath again.

"Ma'am! Ya gotta watch out for this kid, Akin. I don't trust 'em. No innocent kid calls someone four years older than him ma'am." She gestured for us to get into the buggy, and Akin and I rushed into the back seat. There was very little space, especially with the suitcase. Amica saw us squished in the back of the buggy and laughed.

"Don't ya worry kiddos, it's not to long a ride." She said, then pushed her foot down on the gas petal. She drove fast. Just like everything else I'd seen her do. Akin looked nervous, and was tapping her foot to the beat of her anxiety. I slipped my hand under hers and held it, giving her a reassuring grin. I wanted to let her know it was all okay, I'd protect her.

"Ay! No PDA back there!" Amica growled from the front seat. I shrugged and let go. Akin laughed, and I saw all of her anxiety melt away. She smiled and looked at me, happy that I was there next to her.

"Acadia, I'm not kiddin' what would your brother say if he saw ya prancin' around with this fool?"

Amica had said this jokingly, but Akin's smiled faded quickly. Her eyes became sad and she looked out the window. Amica looked back and saw what her words had caused. It hit her that Akin's brother was unaware of where she was, and it was apparently a touchy subject.

"Well, Acadia sweetie, we're gonna be there in a few minutes. Imma drop you guys off, and get going. Now ya'll better remember, while I'm gone-"

"No funny business." Akin and I said in unison. We looked at each other and laughed. Amica rolled her eyes and let out a small laugh.

"Damn right no funny business." She said under her breath. After that, the car ride lost all its tension.

A few minutes later the car stopped. Akin and I stood in front of a large apartment building. It was an old building, that was grey and beaten down. It still had a comforting essence to it though. Amica waved and let out her "No funny business" warning one last time.

Akin laughed a bit and waved as Amica drove away. She turned to me and let out a sigh of relief.

"Sorry about her, Beyond. She just worries about me, she really does love me. She just has a weird way of showing it."

"I get it." I stopped for a moment and looked at the building. Then picked up our suitcase and began walking. "C'mon Akin. We have to get started." I said. She looked confused.

"Get started on what, sweetie?" She asked with her head slightly tilted in confusion. I grinned mischievously.

"The funny business, of course." I said with a wink. She laughed and hit my arm playfully as we walked into the apartment building together.