The Everlasting Road

Chapter 4

On the day that Adrian was set to go to church camp, he ruffled through his drawers and tried to find anything that would get him through this next six weeks. He knew that they would have other things there too since they weren't stupid enough to believe that a couple of drug addicts and drunks could completely go cold turkey, but for Adrian he needed something extra. Something that he could easily sneak in his bag to just take a little bit more of the edge on. He had managed to sneak a bag of weed, a couple of prescription pills, a pack of smokes, and a flask into the secret compartment of his bag before his mother came in forcing him to really start packing for a trip that he didn't even want to go on. He couldn't imagine how horrible this was going to be, but then again the blonde angel would also be there as one of the camp counselors, so maybe things wouldn't be too bad...

Sighing, his mother sank into the door frame looking at him with perfectly trained eyes. It was the usual stare she gave him when she knew something was up, but she wouldn't come up with anything Invading his privacy was the number one thing she wouldn't do as a mother. She trusted him that way. If only she knew.

"So are you all packed up and ready to go? You know how you're father gets." she asked biting her lip.

"Of course." he said looking down at his bag.

"Adrian, can we talk?"

"About what exactly?"

"Adrian, come on, when are you going to cut me some slack?"

"Why should I?"

"Because I'm your mother."

"Well it doesn't feel that way anymore."

His mother stepped back as if she had been slapped. He didn't care though. He wanted to make her offended. He wanted her to hurt as much as he was hurting.

"Listen Adrian I know you're upset and all but that's no excuse to be talking to me that way. I'm still your mother and you're still my son who almost died in my arms. So when you're driving up to wherever the hell you're going for this thing. Just remember that."

Before Adrian could get another word out his mother was gone and possibly out of his life for good.

"You know it wouldn't kill you to spend this time away reflecting on how much of a nuisance you've been to your mother and myself. I mean you're lucky that your mother didn't automatically kick you out after what you did. I suggested that she should, but because your mother loves your selfish ass you're spending our valuable money on getting treated instead. Waste of money if you tell me, you'll probably fall back into your own habits when you come back anyway..."

Adrian rolled his eyes turning his music back on and drowning his father's voice out. They had had this conversation multiple times during the past few days and he wasn't in the mood to listen to it again. He already knew his father was on his mother';s side in this, but of course Nathan Ivashkov had never had a soft spot for his son to begin with. He even went as far as to call him his biggest regret in life, but that was Nathan. Harshly honest and cruel even to someone he had helped create.

If there was anything Adrian was grateful for it was a chance to get away from his overbearing parents. Landscape passed through his eyes as the church finally came into sight. Finally. He took his headphones out of his ears as his father pulled into the church unlocking Adrian's door and not even bothering to look at him.

"I hope this teaches you something Adrian I really do."

"I wouldn't count on it." Adrian said grabbing his bag and getting out of the car as his dad sped away.

People filled in the bus as Adrian raced to make the bus.

When he got on the bus he automatically smiled at the fact that Sydney was in a seat by herself. He guessed if they had a five hour drive ahead of them then he might as well try to get to know her better. This camp might be an utter disaster, but he'd be damned if he couldn't find some perks in it.

Her gold hair was sprawled across her face as she looked down immersed in a book. Adrian took a seat next to her giving her one of his world class smiles that he hoped still worked. It had been a long while since he had used it.

"Good morning Sydney."

She peaked up at him over her book and gave him a slight smile.

"Good morning Adrian. How are you?"

"Fine. Thanks."

She smiled at him again as she looked back down at her book more interested in what she was reading than who she was talking to. He had to find a good way to catch her interest and he knew exactly the way to do it.

"So what are you reading?"

She looked back up at him seeming slightly annoyed at being interrupted yet again but answered anyway.

"It's a book for my English class it's 1984 by George Orwell."

"It's summer though. Why are you doing reading for school?"

"It's on my summer reading list. My teacher gave me a lot of books to keep me busy."

"That's not your only one."

"Oh no, not at all. I'm in an advanced English class so she gave me plenty."

"How many books are on your list."

"Well she gave me at least twenty that I'll get through this summer."

"Twenty books! That seems like a lot."

"I like the challenge."

"A challenge is always good."

Sydney smiled at him but before he could ask her something else he felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see her father smiling down at him.

"Adrian, I'm glad to see you here. It really means a lot to me that you decided to join us."

"Well I'm happy to be here."

"I really hope we can help you Adrian, I really do. You seem like the kind of person who can change their ways."

Adrian forced a smile on his face as he wondered what Sydney was possibly thinking of him right now. He knew that she knew he was an addict, but sometimes it was nice not to be treated like one.

"Thank you sir."

Sydney sent him a small smile as he put his headphones into his ears disappointed that they did not speak once more during the entire ride there.