"They are here," Luna reminded me.
"I know, thank you."
I walked to my window and pulled the lace curtains to peek outside I wanted to see them, but they camouflaged into the trees brilliantly. I sighed, there is nothing I can do. No amount of running will fix this mess, they will find me. For the hundredth time that day, I felt the salty tears flow down my face, I didn't bother to wipe them away knowing full well that they would be replaced in a matter of minutes.
"We will return," Luna spoke confidently. "They will not keep us from out home."
I left the window and sat at my desk, staring at my laptop; I had already finished writing the fake acceptance letter after I had researched and found of that The University of Maine was in fact real. It wasn't as hard as I originally thought, I sighed again and ran my fingers through my hair, this is ridiculous. I should just tell my parents! They would understand and Luna would help protect them... but we would be nothing compared to three trained dragons... I have to do this, there is nothing else I can do. This is for my family. I printed the paper and went to buy a plane ticket. Not even going to use it, but hey! Why not waste more of my life to help people basically kidnap me!
There a knock on my door, I shut the laptop," Come in."
"Hey there college girl," my dad came in smiling.
I smiled and looked to the ground, it was getting harder and harder to lie to them.
"So, your mother and I wanted to know if you anted to go celebrate? Or maybe go shopping?"
"Yeah, that sounds great," I plastered the familiar fake smile on my face. "We can go shopping when I get back."
"Back? When are you leaving?"
"It's actually really rushed," I tried to explain the elaborate lie. "I haven't checked my email all summer, like an idiot. They accepted me awhile ago and I just found out the other day. The plane ticket is actually for Thursday, I'll be there for a week of orientation and everything then I can come back and we'll shop!"
"THURSDAY!? ALYSON! IT'S TUESDAY!"
"I know, I know. I'm sorry to spring this on you, but look," I said excitedly and handed him the acceptance letter I had forged.
My dad read it and then smiled," We are so proud of you, Alyson! I have to go show your mother," he practically ran back into the hall.
As soon as his back was turned, the smile fell; I wasn't worried about them seeing it was fake, I had even printed the logo onto the paper and copied the administrators signature, it was very convincing.
"It's the right thing," Luna said.
"I know, it is the right thing... but why does it feel so wrong."
"The best decisions have the most affect on life."
"Then why does anyone pick the best decision!? Why not pick the shitty one and have nothing affect you," I whined.
"Then life would not be a journey worth traveling."
"That's stupid," I grumbled.
She chuckled," But it is true."
"How is progress," Razor's deep loud voice boomed into my head, drowning all sounds of Luna out.
"GET OUT!," I yelled into his subconscious.
"Collin wants to know what is happening," he ignored me.
"COLLIN CAN GO SUCK A DICK FOR ALL I CARE!," I was angry. "I'M BUSY TRYING TO PUT MY LIFE ON HOLD FOR HIM AND HIS STUPID ALAGAESIA!"
"So, it is going well," Razor inferred.
I sighed," Everything is on schedule, I'll be ready to leave by Thursday..."
"Very well," he then retreated from my mind.
I thought back to yesterday, remembering when I had ran from the others Riders, of course they had noticed my absence and went to my house to retrieve me. I went out and explained to them I wasn't going to just leave and never return, my family deserved better. I told them of my plan, telling them I was going to college and would return in a week. Ashley didn't like having to wait around for me, she had wanted to return to Alagaesia as soon as they found me.
"Tough shit," I told her, "I'm not leaving without a proper goodbye."
"Then get it over with," she had spat at me.
"I am! I will leave on Thursday, no sooner."
"Thursday," Collin shifted his balance, considering my proposition.
"Collin!," Ashley shrieked, horrified that he was actually thinking about it. "That's like 3 days away! You're going to make the council wait?"
"They waited this long, what's 18 more days?"
"Thank you," I grabbed his hands in mine and looked him in the eye. "Thank you so much."
"Go," he smiled and I ran back into the house and locked the door.
I shook the memory from my mind and pulled my suitcase from my closet, throwing random clothes in to fill the space. What do I even pack for Alagaesia? Don't they were tunics and stuff? Serena says its summer, so shorts will be good. I shut the suit case and put it on the floor under my window, I pulled the curtains back all the way the light flooding my small dark room. No point in hiding.
I went downstairs to see my parents watching Law and Order, I sit in the chair to watch with them.
"Hi there my old daughter," my mom turned and smiled at me. "All grown up and going to college."
"Hey," I smiled in return.
Mom shifted from under my dad's arm," your father tells me that you are leaving on Thursday for Maine."
"Well, yeah, but I'll be back next Friday," I turn my attention back to the TV, trying to end the conversation.
"Do you need anything? Shots or..?"
"Mom," I chuckled," It's Maine, not Nigeria."
"Right," she shrugged," But you have a plane ticket."
"Yes, I do, The University bought it."
"Sounds like they really want you to attend!," my mom sounded so pleased.
"I am attending, I was accepted; that's why I'm going to orientation."
"Wow... Maine. That's so far away...," my mom's mood dropped.
"Don't worry," I reached out to stoke her knee," I'll still visit all the time!"
"You say that now..."
"I promise," I said sternly.
My mom nodded and shifted back to snuggle next to my father, I knew she didn't want me to leave and travel so far away. I wanted to tell them the truth, but I knew it woulnd't help. Looking at my parents so in love, I felt blessed; not many parents were still so affectionate as mine were. It was moments like this I realized I would miss the most: just my simple family, living boring day to day lives. From what I read, there is nothing dull about Alagaesia, there is always something to disturb the peace.
I leaned back into the chair and enjoyed one of my last simple moments with my parents, drinking in the normality of the scene. When the show ended, my parents gathered the boys and we all went to town to celebrate my acceptance into college with ice cream.
"I want a double scoop of chocolate!," Asher said excitedly.
"I hope you brought your money," my mom scoffed.
"What!?," he whined.
"You need to get a job," my dad said. "Until then, one scoop."
Asher grumbled, then Ajax spoke up," Aw, the little baby's pouting."
"Shut up!," Asher snapped.
"Such harsh words for such a little guy," Ajax ruffled Asher's hair.
"You want to see how little I am," Asher raised his hands into a fighting position.
"Little bro wants to play?," Ajax cocked an eyebrow and raised his fists.
"Settle down," my dad warned and the boys burst into laughter.
"Dad's always here to save you from an ass whopping," Ajax pushed Asher playfully.
"As if! He just doesn't want you to look like a fool and get beat on by your little brother."
I couldn't help but laugh at their childishness, I'll miss these idiots...
"You alright?," Arien nudged me.
"What? Yeah, I'm fine."
"You look like you're about to cry!"
"What," I laughed," No, I'm fine."
"Don't be scared. College is great," Arien said happily. "You meet new people and find new things you never thought you would like! I can't wait for August so I can go back."
"So what I'm hearing is that you don't like being here at home?," I teased.
"No, I like it. But at college I don't fight everyone for a shower, there are plenty for everyone," he laughed and I laughed with him. "Don't be worried about it, okay?"
"Yeah, I won't."
"She won't have to be scared," Arsen came up on my other side.
"Oh?," Arien questioned.
"Yeah, because I got her this," Arsen handed me a gold chain with a charm on it.
"Ahh, yes," Arien mocked," How could she not stay safe with a necklace. Very protective."
"It is," Arsen grabbed the charm, which wasn't really pretty. It was a cylinder, it was fairly large and it was gold just like the chain. "It's pepper spray," he explained," All you have to do it rip the chain off, press down on the top and no one it coming near you," he smiled triumphantly.
"Wow, thank you!," I stopped and hugged him for his thoughtful gift.
He hugged me back," Got to keep the baby sister safe and that's hard to do when she's in Maine."
I stepped back," I just told you about my acceptance... how did you...?"
"I know a guy," Arsen winked.
I clipped the chain behind my neck and felt the pendant, no one will even know!
"They are following you," Luna informed me.
"Figures," I replied exhausted of them. "They can't just let me be."
"Perhaps they think you will flee?"
"To an ice cream parlor?!"
"We are both being irritated," Luna grumbled.
"Huh?"
"Diamond: all she does is complain, it annoys me. She disrespects my home and with it she disrespects me."
"Don't let her get to you, we'll be gone soon and you can diss Alagaesia as much as you want."
"Thursday could not come sooner."
Yes, it could...
We got our ice cream and began the slow walk back to the mountain, absorbed in our own silence while consuming the frozen treat. My mom suddenly spoke while we turned up our road," I'm so proud!," she said. "My babies, all of you. Ajax: you are growing up still, but for some it takes longer. I'm still watching you become a man and everyday you surprise me," Ajax chuckled, he was used to us all teasing him for doing nothing. "Asher is at college here; Arsen, Arien, and Alyson are spread across the country. Who knows the next time we will all be together," she started to get choked up by the moment. "I love you all and I'm so proud." My dad grabbed her hand and she wiped the tears escaping her eyes, I walked over and hugged her. I buried my face in her shirt, she's proud of me... she's proud of a lie.
"Thanks mom," Arien smiled. "I love you, too."
"We all love you!," Asher shouted happily and hugged my mom carefully as to not drop his ice cream cone.
"Come on, let's get home! We can have a movie night!," Arsen suggested, which was met with nods.
Great... a family night. Just what I need, more guilt.
***Author's Note***
Sorry this chapter kind of sucked... I didn't want to sweep Alyson up to Alagaesia without some emotional torment, but as you can tell, I kind of suck at it. The chapter is super short, and I apologize; but I really didn't know what else to write about. Alyson was successful tormented by lying to her family so it was somewhat of a victory.
Thank you for reading! Please review and tell me what you think so far! What do you think is going to happen?