It reminded me of something I’d read about animals in the wild: the ones that look delicate or fragile often have hidden strength. That’s exactly how Mom and Aunt Marie felt. They had this quiet intensity, like they were warriors hiding behind their calm demeanor.
I’d never seen Mom truly lose it, but I knew I didn’t want to. You don’t want to see someone you love upset or hurt, and I loved my mom. Even though I was annoyed about being forced into this whole situation, I decided I’d go—mostly for her.
With a dramatic little stomp (yes, I was being childish), I snatched the lunch boxes off the counter, still pouting.
Mom chuckled softly and put her hands on my shoulders. She kissed my forehead and smoothed my hair like she always did when she wanted to reassure me. "Thank you, sweetheart. You might actually like spending time with your aunt. Give it a shot," she said, her voice warm and gentle.
Her smile, though, sent a chill through me. It reminded me too much of Aunt Marie’s—especially the unsettling one from that video. I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling in my gut. Something about this trip wasn’t right.
I turned toward the couch where Mom had placed the backpack and swung it over my shoulder without letting go of the lunch boxes. As I headed toward my room to change, it hit me.
Wait a second—where's Kyle? Why do *I* have to go instead of him? A small smirk formed on my face as I thought, *This is perfect. Kyle loves outdoor activities. He'd have a blast with Aunt Marie.*
"Mom~ why can't Kyle go instead?" I asked, eager for an answer.
Mom responded in a tone matching mine. "Darling, your brother and father aren't here. They're off on business together, somewhere far away."
My excitement quickly faded, and I let out a sigh, shoulders slumping. That plan was shot down in an instant. Looks like it's really up to me after all.
"Hurry up, Aria. I called a cab for you. It'll be here in about 10 minutes," my mom said, snapping me back to reality.
I rushed upstairs, nearly tripping in the process. Thankfully, my reflexes kicked in, and I managed to keep the lunch boxes from spilling. Lucky for me, my bedroom door was wide open, so I didn't have to fumble with the handle.
I quickly dropped the backpack onto the bed and placed the lunch boxes on my desk. I pulled out a pair of black cargo pants, a matching black pair of socks, and a maroon jacket—my favorite one, with a hood.
I had another favorite jacket: a yellow knee-length one that looked just like the one Coraline wore in the 2009 movie. I remember feeling creeped out the first time I saw it, but I grew to love it the second time around.
With the guys out of the house, I changed in front of my mirror without thinking twice. I didn't bother closing the door, figuring there wasn't enough time for any extra steps. The window was open, but I wasn't close enough to it to worry about anyone seeing me from outside.
After tucking my plain white T-shirt into my cargo pants, I tied my hair into a high ponytail. I glanced at my lips—they looked dry. I grabbed my lip balm from the desk drawer and shoved it into the pocket of my jacket.
I checked my wristwatch: 9:13 am. I had three minutes left. Glancing at the lunch boxes, I opened one and started nibbling at the food. It was delicious, but I couldn't finish it in time. I grabbed the other lunch box, too, and headed toward my bed to stash it in my backpack.
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My bag was already organized with clothes and necessities, and there was just enough space for one more lunch box. Perfect.
I secured the ticket and decided not to bring the letter with my brother's name on it, just in case it became too bulky. I slipped on the red bracelet, adjusting it to fit snugly on my wrist next to my watch.
I checked myself in the mirror. The bracelet looked great with my outfit, but I tucked it under my jacket sleeve to keep it hidden. A quick stop in the bathroom to brush my teeth and apply more lip balm, and I was set.
"Aria, the cab is here! Hurry up!" My mom's voice echoed from downstairs.
I quickly grabbed my backpack, but just as I was about to head down, I saw the broken Canon camera lying on the floor. I wished I could've rewatched the video—it seemed so important.
After picking up my bag, I dashed downstairs and slipped on my black boots.
"Here's your phone. You almost forgot it," my mom said, handing me my phone. I must've left it on the table earlier.
"It seems so, mom." I paused and added, "Oh, sorry about my bed. I left it a mess."
"Don't worry, I've got it covered, honey," she said, pulling me into a hug and kissing my forehead. "Off you go, darling. Don't forget to take lots of pictures!"
I nodded and turned toward the cab, but before I could leave, I turned back to give my mom a tight hug.
"I love you, Mom," I said.
"I love you too, darling. Now go." She smiled and waved, and I felt a rush of emotions. Just as I walked toward the cab, a cold gust of wind hit, followed by a downpour of rain.
I opened the back door of the cab and slid into the seat beside the driver, remembering that it's safest to sit where you're aligned with the driver during a ride.
I greeted the driver, who nodded back in response. As I sat back, a part of me wished I could see Dad and Kyle. The cab pulled away before I could dwell on it. I glanced at my phone and decided to call Dad.
Bzt..
Bzt..
Bzt..
"The number you have dialed is either unattended or out of coverage area. Please try again later."
"The number you have dialed is either unattended or out of.."
I ended my call. He must be busy. I tried calling my brother.
Bzt..
Bzt..
Bzt..
"Hey yah, this is Kyle. Sorry, I can't entertain this call at the moment, but I'll try to call you back. Thanks for your understanding. Bye!"
I groaned. Great, he's busy too. All I wanted was a minute to talk to them before I left.
Then it hit me—I should call Beth.
Bzt...
Bzt...
"Yeah, hello? Aria?" Thank goodness, Beth picked up. I could hear the loud music in the background, so it seemed like dance practice had already started.
"Ah, yeah, Beth. Um... I couldn't make it to volleyball practice, or be there with you guys because..." I trailed off, unsure where to begin.
"What? Why?" Beth interrupted, clearly concerned.
"Hold on, let me find a quieter spot," she said, and the music slowly faded as she moved. Her voice became clearer.
I wish I was there with her or just chilling at home.
"Alright, I'm here. So, what's going on? You said you couldn't come," Beth asked.
I let out a sigh. "I won't be at volleyball practice. I have to go visit Aunt Marie."
There was a short pause before she responded, her voice quieter now. "Oh... what's up? You don't sound like you want to go. Don't want to visit your aunt?"
"It's not that," I said, but even I could hear the uncertainty in my voice. "I mean, kind of... but I'd rather be with you guys at practice or just hanging out. I don't like these last-minute, unplanned things."
Beth seemed to understand. "Sounds like you're not super close with your aunt if you'd rather be with us," she said, and even though it stung a little, I didn't know how else to explain it.
"How did Coach react?" she asked after a moment.
"He gave me a pass," I said casually. "I think it’s because I didn’t go to the party or get involved with that whole beard thing."
Beth laughed, a little snort escaping her. "Well, now I'm kicking myself. I could’ve gotten a pass too if I didn’t take that photo or get involved." She laughed again, but I could tell she wasn’t fully joking.
"How long are you gonna be gone?" she asked.
"I’m not sure," I said, my voice dropping slightly. "Maybe a day, maybe longer. I hope it’s not too long, though. I don’t want to miss volleyball practice. I really want to make it to regionals and nationals."
"Yeah, I get it," she said. "Just don’t be gone too long, okay? If I don’t hear from you, I’m gonna assume you’re having such a good time that you forgot about your bestie!" She laughed, and I couldn’t help but smile.
"I promise I won’t forget you," I said. Then I heard someone calling for her in the background.
"Alright, gotta go. They’re looking for me. Just enjoy your trip, okay? We’ll catch up later!"
"Yeah, bye," I said, hanging up. I set the phone down and stared out the window for a moment, feeling a little conflicted. It wasn't that I didn’t want to visit my aunt... okay, maybe I wasn’t entirely sure, but I just wasn’t excited either. I hoped I wouldn’t be gone too long—just long enough to get back to the stuff I actually enjoyed.