A/N: twelve chapters in, finally things get moving this chapter! As always, thanks to my super-loyal readers drizzletomyhurricane, OkuntinTenfeder, and Phrankster for your continuous support and lovely reviews.
Hope you enjoy!
[12. SUNDAY]
…
"Thanks for everything, yeah? I'll see you soon!" Miles pats Hunter's shoulder and steps aside, leaving room for Frankie to say her goodbyes. Frankie leans in and rests her head on Hunter's shoulder, and Hunter wraps her in a tight hug.
The sun is shining over the parking lot but the air is still chilly, even now in the early afternoon. Miles rests his back against Frankie's car and pulls his hoodie closed in front of him, watching his siblings as they struggle to let go of each other. The twins fit together like two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.
It's been almost two weeks — although it feels more like two months — and finally last night Frankie agreed it's time to go home, to Toronto. Time to leave the safety and comfort she found in Hunter's shadow, time to face their mother, and the outside world, and make decisions about her life and her immediate future.
Frankie eventually pulls back from Hunter's hold, her face full of unspoken emotion but her eyes dry. She nods at him, and he looks straight back at her, and Miles is once again amazed at their effortless silent communication. It used to drive him nuts, when they were little. Now, it just makes him want to smile and hug them both, and never let go.
"I'm ready," says Frankie, turning to him, and Miles nods back.
"Do you want me to drive?" he offers.
Frankie gives him a little grateful smile. She throws him the keys, and Miles catches them easily and slips into the driver's seat, starting the car as she walks around it towards the passenger's side.
"Have a safe trip," Hunter says, leaning towards Miles's open window. Frankie waves at him, and he waves back, and keeps waving at them until they're out of the lot and on the main road.
It's quiet at first. Frankie fumbles with the radio a little, but then changes her mind and switches it off. She leans back into her seat and stares out the window, and Miles doesn't feel like forcing small talk on her.
Over an hour goes by before either of them speaks again. Miles periodically glances towards her to check if she's dozed off, but Frankie is just sitting quietly, her eyes fixed on the landscape outside the window. It's an easy drive, the highway's empty, and Miles coasts at close to speed limit.
"What did you tell Mum?" he suddenly asks her — and for a moment it feels a little odd to hear his voice filling the tight space of the car, after how long they've been sitting in silence.
Frankie turns briefly towards him, but then switches back to the window, leaning her head against her arm and staring at the road ahead.
"That I wanted to come home for Spring Break. She seemed happy about it." A small smile creeps on her face, but it doesn't take long for it to fade. "I haven't even called her, you know? Just texted her. It sounds stupid but I thought she'd be able to tell what was going on if she heard my voice."
Miles sends a quiet look to his sister, curled in her seat, before switching his eyes back to the road.
"It's not stupid," he tells her.
"She doesn't know you're here," she says after a beat, apologetic, "I didn't know how to tell her."
"I'll come up with something."
Her face relaxes and they fall back into comfortable silence. Miles keeps driving, Frankie keeps looking out the window.
"You know, you don't have to tell mum, if you're not ready," he tells her a while later. It's been maybe another hour since their last exchange, and they're fast approaching the familiar skyline of Toronto. Today it works like this, it seems, they're having this one conversation which seems to be stretching out throughout the entire car ride. "I mean it," he adds, glancing at her. "I think you should, clearly, but you don't have to. And I'm here for you either way."
Frankie's mouth twitches at the corner but she doesn't really respond. She just keeps her eyes pointed in front of her, to the road. It's not until a while later, when they're already exiting the 401, that she speaks again.
"I think I'll go see Lola tomorrow."
Miles is flooded with a sense of relief that takes him by surprise, and he breathes out a tension he didn't even know he was carrying, until now.
"I think it's a great idea," he tells her. "Have you called her?"
"Not yet," says Frankie. "I'll do it tonight. I was thinking to ask her if I can stop by the Cantina tomorrow, hopefully she'll be able to take a couple of hours off."
Miles glances briefly at her, a smile on his face.
Fifteen minutes later they're entering their familiar neighbourhood, a palpable sense of nostalgia at the sight of the same houses, and edges, and footpaths they've seen all their life. They turn right at the next corner, and suddenly their childhood home is in front of them.
…
Their mother is smiling as she opens the door, and then her eyes widen in surprise at the unexpected sight of her eldest son standing there.
"Miles! I wasn't expecting you. When did you arrive?" she engulfs him in a hug and then turns to Frankie. "Did you pick him up from the airport, dear?"
"Let's get inside, we'll tell you everything. Would you mind getting us a glass of water, Mum?" Miles distracts her, swiftly pulling Frankie out of her reach. His sister's doing her best to appear unfazed, but her fingers are clasping his arm in a deadly grip.
"Of course, dear," their mum replies with a smile, and then disappears towards the kitchen.
Frankie's face immediately drops, and she raises her eyes towards Miles. Luckily, she also lets go of his arm, which at this point feels a little numb.
"I don't know if I can do this," she says, and her voice is quivering. She's taking deep breaths, and she looks like she's going to lose it any second now.
"Hey," Miles places both hands on her shoulders, looking her straight in the eyes, "Of course you can. It's all going to be fine, okay?"
Frankie nods briefly in response, and he circles his arms around her and keeps her against him for a moment. Then he pulls back, squeezing her shoulders one more time.
"You got this," he tells her.
Frankie does her best at giving him a little smile, but she looks far from convinced - a worried wrinkle cutting through her forehead. From the kitchen come the familiar sounds of their mother busying herself preparing their drinks. She will be back any moment, now.
This will be a long evening.
