Chapter 53 Northern Departures

There was a heavy sigh when the overhead door of the moving truck closed. She turned around and looked into the now emptying dorm where the last four years of her life had been lived for most of the time. Finally, turning away, she picked up her cell phone and pressed a speed dial button.

"Hey Luke, yeah everything is loaded, and Kay's stuff is in front. Yes, the car is being sent down too…Yeah it's hard but you have to move on to the next chapter in your life, and mine happens to be in Atlanta…Yeah, she'll be in the taxi with me to the airport…Yes, I have the key and does Ash? Okay yeah good…Okay, I'll see you in a few weeks…my love to everyone…bye, Luke," Angela said and hung up the phone. She walked over to where her friend and teammate Caprice Stewart was standing.

"Are you going to cry on me, girl?" Caprice asked, choking back tears.

Angela shook her head, trying to hold back her tears, "No," she said, and they both lost the fight as soon as they hugged. Soon, both had a shoulder wet from the other's tears. When they finally broke apart they looked at each other and shook their heads.

"I'm going to miss you, Stewie," Angela said.

Caprice shook her head, "No, I'm going to miss you, Angel," she said.

Angela nodded, "When I'm playing the Liberty you'll have to come and see the game and then maybe get a late dinner," she said.

Caprice smiled, "That sounds like a plan."

Angela watched as Caprice got into her car and drove away. She took one last deep breath, turned and looked right at her niece.

"You weren't this broken up when you left home four years ago," Kay said.

Angela nodded, "I know, it was different, I'd always know I'd see y'all again," she said.

Kay looked at her and sighed, "I can see what you mean about missing this place."

"Well, without a car it's kind of secluded, but it was a great place to mature as a basketball player," Angela said, and grabbed her bag and threw it over her shoulder.

"So, you think I can be where you're at today?" Kay asked.

Angela shrugged, "With enough hard work you can be anything you want, just look at Ashlyn, nearly out of the game because of injuries and now we're on the same team again," she said, and watched Kay shoulder her bag.

Coming up next to Angela, Kay looked at her, "Well, any suggestions?"

"Practice hard, keep working out, and listen to the Coaching Staff," Angela said as she put her bag in the trunk of the waiting taxi.

"That's all?" Kay asked, "That's stuff I already knew."

Angela took Kay's bag and put it in the trunk, "That's the secret to greatness, kid."

They got in the cab and Angela told them what airline they were flying on. Soon, as they rode away from Storrs, in Mansfield Connecticut, the younger woman looked at her Aunt.

"So, when are you coming home?" she asked.

Angela shrugged, "As soon as the team gives me enough time to," she said.

"So, I'm going to see you play as a pro," she said and laughed.

"There'll be tickets for my first home game," Angela said and laughed.

There was silence for most of the drive. Angela watched the trees and the Connecticut River pass by as they headed north towards Windsor Locks and Bradley Airport. When they pulled up to the terminal, Kay paid for the taxi and they checked in. After passing through security they stopped for a quick bit and then as Angela's flight was called they hugged and went their separate ways. Kay stood by the wind and watched as it carried Angela away.


The CT LIMO van pulled up to the stop. The driver got out and helped Izzy and Kari load their bags into the back of the van. They climbed in and grabbed their seats, buckled up and waited for the driver to pull away.

When they were away from the curb, Izzy turned to Kari, "Are you sure you don't want to visit your parents?" she asked, almost scared.

"What's wrong, Mistress of the Dark, scared I'll find out more about your past?" Kari asked laughing.

"No, I figured you'd want to see them, that's all, and not be bored in Tree Hill," Izzy said.

Kari shook her head, "Dad's probably drugged out in the maid's bed, and Mom's probably strung out in the gardener's bed," Kari said.

"Really crappy life," Izzy said.

Kari shrugged, "It is what it is," she said, "So, what is the plan again?"

"Well be meeting up with two of my sisters at JFK, and my Mom will pick us up. She'll put you up in one of the bedrooms and, well, we have the rest of the summer to do nothing or everything," Izzy said.

"Are you going to look like Ms. Grim Reaper all summer?" Kari asked.

"What?" Izzy asked.

Kari laughed, "Come on, Izzy, you can look better then some goth, even Abbey on NCIS looks better and she's so goth," Kari said.

Izzy shook her head, "You sound like my Mom."

"Listen to Momma, because she knows best," Kari said.

Izzy shook her head, "That's not what you say about your Mom," Izzy said.

Kari shook her head, "Not in my mom's case, she just knows it's time for her pills," she said, "Which sisters are we meeting anyways?"

"Fallon and Trin," Izzy said.

"I've always wondered how Fallon is your age and yet you're not twins," Kari said.

"A long story," Izzy said.

"Well, we have the time," Kari said, and Izzy rolled her eyes, and then laughed.