"Al," a whisper creeped into the girl's ear. She stirred, but remained asleep until the voice grew louder, "AL!"
Her eyes shot open and were greeted by her brother's not-so-gentle wake up call.
"Jesus," he chuckled, getting up from the edge of her bed, "you sleep like the dead."
As he walked by the window, he threw the curtains open, allowing the direct sunlight into the room. Alice squinted at the burning rays as she sat up against her bed frame. Her brother stood in the doorway now, a goofy grin on his face. Still squinting, she worked up enough energy to greet her brother with the middle finger, to which Sean chuckled and rolled his eyes.
"Good morning to you, too, Sleeping Beauty," he teased, "we're leaving in an hour."
Alice groaned in response and watched as her brother exited the room. She could tell he was excited to go back; for the first time in her life, he was the first one dressed and ready to go anywhere. His long, wavy hair was pulled into a low ponytail, and he was wearing his go-to white muscle shirt that made the girls in Wasaga go gaga over his fit arms. If you asked Alice, it made her want to puke. Gradually, she sat up and rubbed her eyes until they had adjusted fully to the lighting. She yawned as she stretched her arms and back, before rolling out of the bed. She then headed to the bathroom where she proceeded to get ready for the two-hour road trip.
In the kitchen, Sean leaned against the counter, snacking on a piece of toast his mother had made.
"Coffee?" She asked, holding a hot pot of liquid in her son's direction.
Sean shook his head 'no', his mouth full of toast he had just bitten. Swallowing the last bite of his breakfast, he turned to open the fridge and pour himself a glass of apple juice.
"Are you sure you want to go back?" His mother suddenly asked, sitting across from him at the table with her fresh cup of coffee. Sean joined her at the table with his glass, too.
"Absolutely," he took a swig of the juice, "it's been a dream of mine to open a shop since I used to fix bikes with Tracker."
He figured he should give is mother the backstory, as he knew she had no idea of his interests and skills. Shit, she hardly knew what her own hobbies were. Other than drinking, of course.
She just smiled sadly at her son, who was once again about to leave for the big city.
"And don't worry," he added, "I'll take good care of Alice."
"I know you will," she spoke softly; it seemed his words put her at ease, "you've always been such a wonderful big brother."
Sean had to physically hold back his eye roll. He hated when his mother said that crap. She knew nothing about him; nothing more than the bottle.
Alice then emerged from her bedroom, adorned with a Juicy Couture duffel bag, filled with all the last-minute things she needed to pack. Sean had already taken the liberty to pack the rest of their luggage into his red sedan earlier that morning.
"You ready to go?" Sean's voice sounding giddier than he meant to.
Alice looked around the house for a moment, and took a deep breath in. She figured this may just be the last time she'd ever set foot in that trailer she called home for 17 years.
Exhaling, she smiled weakly, "lets do this."
Sean stood up from his seat at the table and placed his empty glass in the sink on the way to the front door. Their mother followed behind them quietly; only the occasional sob sneaking from her lips.
"Here," he said to his sister, referring to the duffel bag, "I'll take that to the car, you go say bye to mom."
Sean walked off, and threw the bag into the backseat of his car.
The two women stood across from one another, saying nothing. Suddenly, tears filled Alice's eyes.
"I'll miss you," she said between sobs, practically running into her mother's arms, "thank you for letting me go; for letting me do this with Sean."
Their mother nodded into her daughter's neck as they continued to embrace, until Sean spoke from next to the car, "where's dad?"
Alice pulled away from the hug and looked into her mother's eyes. They said it all: disappointment and shame. She didn't even have to say a word. Sean knew he'd be too hungover to even get out of bed, let alone say goodbye to his children.
"I figured," he retorted, "come on, Al, lets get going. Jay's waiting."
She nodded, dragging her feet along the gravel driveway. Sean gave his mother a simple wave; one you'd give a stranger after they let you into their lane on the freeway. Emotionless. Distant. Just like the relationship they had.
The two simultaneously sat in their respective seats; Sean driving and his sister in the passenger. While Alice took in a deep breath and observed her surroundings for the last time, Sean seemed as if he couldn't wait to go. He bounced a little in his seat as he put the car in drive. Alice rolled her window down and blew her mother a kiss. Sean couldn't contain his eye roll.
"Since when are you such a mommy's girl?" He teased, in a tone Alice perceived to be angrier than she liked.
She turned to look at her brother, her face serious, "no matter how bad life got, at least she was there for me."
Sean remained silent, only clenching his teeth and tightening his grip on the wheel. He knew it was a dig at his expense, but he had grown tired of explaining himself and apologizing for something he - at the time - the he had no say over. Instead, he turned up the radio.
"It's the edge of the world and all of Western civilization
The sun may rise in the East, at least it settled in a final location
It's understood that Hollywood sells Californication"
Alice regretted saying it, but it was too late to take it back. She had always had an issue with thinking before she spoke. Now, she had to live with the consequences during the upcoming awkward two-hour drive to Toronto. It wasn't long until she fell asleep, though.
"Can I talk to you about something important, Al?" Sean turned down the radio and turned to his sister moments later, only to see her fast asleep. He sighed, disappointed, "some other time, I guess."
As he drove, he could've help but allow his thoughts to consume him. There wasn't much to look at on the highway, and there definitely wasn't anyone to talk to. He pondered what his new life may look like. Will he still have his friends when he gets back? Will they forgive him? Will she forgive him for leaving for so long?
Even just the thought of the blonde brought memories and images of her to the surface for Sean. He could perfectly recount the way her big brown eyes lit up every time they talked. She was always so interested in everything about him; why a perfect girl like her even gave a troubled trailer park boy like him the time of day, was beyond him. But man, was he glad she did. What he wouldn't give to smell that vanilla honey shampoo again…
He shook his head of the thoughts as they pulled up to an all-too familiar place in the city. He couldn't believe he had daydreamed practically the entire trip. The car came to a stop across the street.
"Al," he stared of the driver side window as he called for his sister, "we're here."
