Here I am! And here we go!!!
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Sing Chapter 3
"You could at least look a little excited, Abs."
"Don't make me vomit on you."
"What are you nervous for? You know you're gonna kill this."
"Ugh."
"Do you need me to drive you to the airport and carry you on the plane?"
"I've got a car coming - but the offer is tempting."
Abigail finished stuffing her luggage with the last bits of her life out west. A truck was hired for the larger pieces and was currently en route to her childhood home. If she planned it right, she would beat it home and be able to possibly find an apartment to redirect it to.
After zipping up her carry-on and tossing it by the door, she face planted into the couch and audibly groaned into the cushions.
"Why did I say yes?" She spoke to the fabric, horribly muffling her question to Hilde.
"I'm sorry - do I hear complaining? Her roommate/friend walked over and jumped on top of the pile of anxiety currently melting into the couch.
"Madame was so disappointed." Abigail turned her head and stared at the wall.
"She was not!"
"'Do what you need, amour'." She mimicked her teachers words, including her accent. "That's it; no goodbye, good luck, safe journey. Just; don't let the door hit ya on the way out!"
"That's how Madame is, dearest. The only reason you're perceiving it as disappointment is because you're upset with yourself. Buyers remorse is fun, right?" Hilde wiggled herself to dig into Abigail's back.
Abigail sighed, "tell me to put on my adult pants and stop fretting."
"I've been saying that for the past two days, are you actually going to listen to me now?" Hilde jumped off of Abigail and tugged on her arm to bring her up to sitting. "This opportunity won't come around again, if I weren't so jealous I'd actually be a little bit proud of you for taking this leap."
Abigail smiled and winked. "You're just happy you get to keep my couch."
Hilde paused. "...be that as it may..." Abigail laughed. "I'm rooting for you and know you can do this. Just...don't forget your roots when you're making millions teaching famous dancers."
"I love you, Hilde."
The sheep threw her arms around the gorilla nearly twice her size. "You better text me, daily. And call weekly... with video. And send me baked goods monthly."
"You know I will."
A car horn jarred the two back to the present. Abigail sighed, picked up her carry on bag as well as her suitcase handle and opened the apartment door.
"Text me when you land. I'll be seeing you, love." Hilde made her final goodbye, giving her one last hug in the doorway.
"Goodbye for now." Was all she squeaked out. Anymore and the tears she was holding in would come gushing forth.
Closing the door to her life of 5 years, Abigail climbed down the stairs to the car that awaited in the street below.
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After an 8 hour commute due to 3 layovers, Abigail's plane finally touched down on familiar terra firma.
Her muscles ached as she rolled the stiffness out of her neck. Padding down the jet bridge, the smell of home quickly started the flashbacks of days gone by. She didn't have long to muck around in her head, as she funneled out into the terminal, she instantly caught sight of a very familiar face, one who was holding a paper sign with her name on it. Abigail smiled and shook her head at the gesture.
"I do remember what you look like you know."
"Just making sure I could recognize my long lost daughter after all these years." Elena pulled her down into a hug as soon as Abigail reached her.
"What are you doing here? I told you I had delays, please don't tell me you were waiting this whole time." Abigail put her hands to her hips.
"Oh shush, time is all I have these days." She waved off the stern look she was getting.
Abigail looked around, "is Marcus here?"
"Of course, he went to use the restroom and then planned to get us some coffee. Secretly I think he just wanted our reunion to be just between us. Do you have any luggage besides that?" She gestured to the bag slung over Abigail's shoulder.
"Yeah, just one, any idea where the claim is?"
"I sure do, shall we?" Her mother brought her hands down to grasp the metal wheel frames at her sides.
"Don't you dare, I get the honor of escorting you." Abigail playfully smacked her mother's hands and went behind her to grab the handles at her back. "Aren't they supposed to be getting you an electric one of these?"
"You know how insurance is, they are estimating next month. Although this one suits me just fine, I'm not a cripple Abigail."
"I never thought for a minute you were." She leaned down to her mother and pecked her on the cheek.
"Well hello there stranger, safe flight?" A familiar baritone brought both of the ladies attentions to the left.
Trodding up to join them was a middle aged bull. He was holding a cup holder with three drinks nestled into it.
"Hey stranger!" Abigail smiled as Marcus handed her mother one of the cups.
"I've got one for you too young lady if you'd like me to take over for you."
"Oh, I don't drink-" she began but was cut off with a hoof gesture from Marcus.
"I know I know. One peppermint tea with a dab of honey."
Abigail smiled. "I'm impressed. Did my mum have to remind you?"
"Shush, I'm old but not senile, thank you very much."
"Honest truth, I said nothing." Her mother chimed in.
"Well thank you. I'll drink it in the car. I've called 'it' on chauffeur duty." She motioned to pushing the wheelchair. "Do you mind towing my bag though, it's on wheels."
"Whatever the lady wishes." Marcus quipped with a smile.
Once burdened with her luggage, the small group left the terminal. While Marcus was getting the car pulled around, Elena turned to her daughter who was resting her hands in the bars and daydreaming.
"How do you feel about Marcus?" She asked simply.
Abigail snapped her attention to her mother. "You guys haven't eloped, right?"
Her mother laughed. "It's an innocent question dearest."
"I like him, I'm glad he's there to be with you when I left for the Academie. He seems like a perfect companion for you."
"Good." She nodded in agreement.
"...and then?" Abigail prodded.
"We moved in together last year in the summer."
"Ah."
"That's it?" She raised an eyebrow.
"As more than just friends...or?"
"More like companions. We spent so much time together it made hardly any sense to pay two monthly rentals."
"How do you feel about him?"
"He's dear to me, keeps me busy these days, he took me on several day trips and is planning on a cruise in the future."
Abigail smiled. "I'm glad, mom. Friend, boyfriend, lover." She winked at the last title, "as long as you're happy it makes me happy."
"Thank you Abigail, but that does bring up my whole point. He's agreed to find a hotel while you get settled, but may need an extra day or two to move entirely out of your room, so you may need to live by open suitcase for the next day or so." she winced as if she confessed of theft.
"Hah! The guilty party cracks under pressure!" She teased.
"I'm sorry, the bed is all ready for you though!"
"No worries mum, I actually have an appointment in a few hours to tour a flat a few blocks away. If all goes well I should be contracted in by the end of the weekend. The van is supposed to get here Tuesday. "
"Oh, you really don't need to dear-"
"Now it's your turn to shush, I'll be right in the area should you need me. If this show takes off...and I'm knocking on wood, I should be staying here and would need to find a place anyway. "
Her mother's eyes lit up. "Truly? You're rooting yourself?"
"Fingers crossed. One day at a time, let's see what tomorrow brings."
"What time does Buster want you there?"
"He said around 9, the actors are supposed to be there an hour earlier but he wants to get things settled first."
"Oh I'm so happy! You make me so proud, you know that?"
"I do my best."
When Marcus finally pulled around with the van and loaded everything and everyone up, Elena nearly burst before spilling the conversation the mother and daughter shared.
Abigail half listened, but mostly stared out of the window the entire ride to her mother's complex.
Tomorrow was the day to reawaken the past, wether it was a good or bad thing was yet to be decided.
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Until we meet again 3