Beep Beep Beep
Beep Beep Beep
The dark sleep was interrupted by the sound of an alarm. Callum groaned, he could feel the mattress on his face and blankets on his legs. He rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling, the glow from his phone illuminated the room. Callum slowly rubbed his eyes and glanced over at his phone. On it was an alarm set for 5:00, 'Why on earth did I set my alarm for 5 in the morning?' he thought. Callum chose to ignore the alarm and rolled to face the other side of the bed. He closed his eyes and felt himself slip into sleep.
Beep Beep Beep
Beep Beep Beep
Callum groaned again and tapped his phone until the noise stopped. Callum lay there for a while and slowly closed his eyes. The soft pillow against his head comforted him. His phone buzzed again and a notification popped up on the screen. Callum turned to face his phone and picked it off the counter table. It was a text from Harrow, Callum clicked on it and read the message.
Harrow: Turn your alarm off and get packed
Harrow: We have to fly to the Xadian Border, you have school tomorrow.
Callum's eyes shot open, 'High School!' Callum jumped out of bed and ran to his dresser to get on a clean pair of clothes. He grabbed his red vest and slipped on some black jeans. He grabbed his phone off the charger and stuffed the phone into his pocket. Callum glanced around the room, it was still dark but the sun was slowly starting to rise. His backpack lay in a corner next to his suitcase. He opened both items and glanced inside. The suitcase was filled with clothes and everything he needed for a year at school. On the other hand, his backpack was empty! Callum's eyes darted around his room, searching for the items he needed. He grabbed his laptop, chargers, lots of paper, and a few pencils. He slung the backpack over his shoulder and rolled his suitcase over to the door. Callum pulled it open. He dragged his feet against the carpeted floor as he walked downstairs. He turned one last flight of stairs and dropped his backpack and suitcase near the front door. A loud sound rumbled through the house, Callum glanced at his stomach and headed to the kitchen. Callum grabbed a croissant from the freezer and popped it in the toaster. He looked at his watch and glanced outside, the sun was just starting to rise in the east. Callum opened the fridge and took a cup of yogurt and a spoon.
He peeled off the yogurt top and dug in. As he ate he looked around the kitchen and at old photos. There were many of his mother, Sarai, who had passed away a few years ago in a car accident. One photo caught Callum's eye, it was of him, Ezran, Harrow, Sarai, and his Aunt Amaya. Ezran was just a few years old when this photo was taken. He heard the timer on the toaster go off. Callum ran over to it and pulled out the croissant. Callum wandered around the house looking at it. Wondering if after a year he will still be able to remember what it looks like. How the carpet feels against his toes, the smell of Jelly Tarts after breakfast. Or the soft sound of Ezran and Harrow's Synchronized Fart's.
He was pulled out of his thoughts when he heard footsteps coming from upstairs. Callum finished the rest of his croissant and watched the staircase. Ezran and Harrow were walking down the stairs towards him. They were both in pajamas, Callum figured that they were here to say goodbye. Ezran ran up to him and jumped into a hug.
"I'll miss you Callum!"
"I'll miss you too Ez!"
After a few minutes they let go. Ezran ran to go keep Bait company, Callum stood and turned to Harrow. They moved out of earshot of Ezran, "I don't think I can do this?" Callum said as he fell into Harrow's arms.
"Why?"
"I don't know anyone, I'm going to be gone for a year in Xadia."
"Claudia and Soren are going,"
"But they are a year above me!"
"Son you just need to get out there and talk to people, you will be surprised that if you are friendly others will be friendly towards you."
Callum nodded and breathed in, a new determined look shined in his eye. Callum grabbed his bags and turned to the door.