Amelia’s Awakening

Chapter 3 - Preparing to Leave

Amelia’s POV

For the last two weeks, I have spent as much time as I can with my parents and friends before I will have to leave them behind. I had to give my two weeks notice at work the day I got my acceptance letter, I just finished my last shift.

We all cried and hugged each other saying goodbye. The owner, Mark, made sure I knew I always had a job when I come back home and even gave me a bonus to use on my travels, if I promised to send him a postcard. Like I wouldn’t do that anyways.

Mark has always been like another dad to me, he is about the same age as my parents and makes you feel cared for not just as an employee, but more like a family member. I guess that is one of the benefits of working for a small business owner, everyone that works there becomes a second family.

I started working for Mark when I was sixteen and have ever since. The job was a good fit for me as it is an art supply retail store, so I was in my element. I even got a discount off anything I buy which made exploring my passion and creating art more affordable. Mark also let me display and sell my own art work for free within the stores adjoining art gallery, whenever a space was not rented by another artists.

I started out as a cashier, but soon Mark promoted me to art specialist because he saw how knowledgeable I was about the products we sold. I knew better than most because I used most of the things that we sold. That meant I could help customers find the proper tools for their individual needs.

When I turned eighteen he promoted me to manager, with a big pay increase. That raise really helped me add to my savings. I always put half my paychecks into my savings account and used the other half to help with the family bills, groceries, and whatever else would help around the house.

I know it was hard for my parents to accept my money at first, but when I pointed out all they did for me and that if I could contribute they could work less so we can spend more time together, they were sold. Or maybe it was that they could see the determination in my eyes and knew I wouldn’t be swayed. Anyone that knows me, knows that once I set my mind to something it is pointless to argue with me.

Either way, it worked out for all of us. I saw them more which made us all happy and they actually got to rest. Honestly, I don’t know how they used to work six day a week 10-12 hour shifts, now they both get two days off and can actually let their bodies and minds rest before the next week.

I know this move isn’t forever, but for some reason I have a feeling of finality to this move. Maybe it is because I have dreamed of moving to Italy for so long, maybe I am sensing the change this move will cause within me even when I return home. Not only will I have changed, but so will those I left behind. Or maybe, I am just over thinking things as I always do. Only time will tell.

I am looking forward to tomorrow, my parents were able to take a few days off work leading up into the weekend, and Jorah’s family and our family are going to Jorah’s family’s beach cottage to hang out. Okay it really isn’t a cottage, it is more like a mansion on the beach, but it is charming none the less. And with eight of us going it is nice to have the extra room a mansion can provide.

Unfortunately, Ronan and his family cannot come with us. He has too many business issues that he has to attend to. Once we get back we are having a big dinner with Ronan and his family so we still get to spend time with them before we leave.

Jorah doesn’t know it yet but, his mom and Abigail have been planning to make this dinner be a big BBQ that is served poolside with the whole community they live with invited. It will be a sending off party I guess. It should be loads of fun and a good way for me to say goodbye to everyone as well.

Tonight I am staying home and going over my packing lists making sure I have everything ready to go for when we get back from our beach trip. I saved a little room for me to wash what I am bringing to the beach house this weekend so I can wash it and add those items to my luggage when we get back from the beach house.

Jorah keeps laughing at all my lists, he says if you forget something he is sure there are stores there that I can replace them. See the problem with that logic is I don’t have indefinite funds.

This is the only thing Jorah has never quite understood coming from a family where he has never had to cut corners or save. I have to plan so I don’t have to spend unnecessary money. I am frugal and make sure to keep to my budget without compromising my needs. One of the key ways I do that is by not being wasteful, and buying something twice is the definition of wasteful.

My parents often tease me saying I could save every corporation’s profit margin with my ability to ensure there is no waste and that everything is accounted for and recorded. Even with Jorah always getting everything he wants or needs, he is always so down to earth. He never has made me feel inferior and accepts me and knows I want to pull my own weight, rather then let him paying my way.

Only one more night of sleep in my own bed after tonight. When we get back from our beach trip we come home sleep and then leave on a red-eye the next night. My excitement is borderline panic as we get closer to our departure.

I wonder if Jorah is freaking out tonight too. It doesn’t help that my parents had to work late tonight so they could get the next two days off. I roll over and pull out my new phone to text Jorah, it is still so weird for me having a cell phone.

I know that it may sound crazy for most people this day and age, that I just got my first cell phone. I really never saw the need for the extra expense before, but now that I am leaving I need to be able to keep in touch with my parents and everyone else here. Now that I have one, I sure am glad I can use it tonight. Hopefully texting Jorah will settle my nerves.

Me - are you starting to freak out too?

Of course Jorah responds right away, which I am so grateful for.

Jorah - a little, it helps having my crazy little brothers around. Right now they are trying to convince my mom that they really do need to pack their sleds so they can use them on the sand dunes at the beach

Me - lucky, my parents are working late and it is eerily quiet and lonely. My thoughts are all over the place. And I agree with your brothers, sledding in the sand dunes sounds like a blast. Tell your mom my vote is yes to sleds, maybe I can sway her.

Jorah - told her your vote and she said anything for her princess, you have her wrapped around your finger. I swear she loves you more than me. Do you want me to come over?

Me - hahaha, I doubt that. thanks but no, enjoy your family, very soon you will be sick of me

Jorah - never

Me - not even when I tell all the people we meet all your embarrassing moments

Jorah - okay a little, but don’t forget who has more embarrassing stories

Me - s**t, you’re right. I love you best friend

Jorah - always

Me - well get back to your family I’ll see you tomorrow

Jorah - okay, goodnight

Me - goodnight

I feel better already and I am able to relax into slumber. Best friends really are the best.

The next day I wake up to the smell of breakfast cooking and smile knowing it is my Mom’s famous everything quiche cooking. She started making them to cut costs because egg are a relatively cheap protein and she just puts all the bits of random veggies in it with herbs she grows from our garden.

It is always a bit different and always delicious. One of the many things I will miss. Maybe I can make it for Jorah when we are there, he loves it just as much as I do.

Even though I spent more time with his family than he did with mine, we always hung out at my house when my parents had days off. Their days off alway coincided with the end of the week grocery trip, meaning mom always found ways to use up anything left before the grocery trip. Hence the invention of the everything quiche.

Jorah and I would often wake up to the smell of Mom’s famous everything quiche when he slept over. I know what you are thinking, your parents let a male friend sleep over. Yes, yes they did.

They know Jorah is like a brother to me and never feared we would be romantically involved. Plus my parents and I have a very close open relationship, we literally talk about everything.

My parents know all the rebellious things and pranks I have done at school, and they heard them straight from my mouth as I never hid anything. They even laughed at most of the crazy things I did with Jorah.

Nothing harmful, things like dying the swimming pool red and putting toy mechanical sharks in it before a swim meet. People still talk about that one. It could have been worse, Jorah thought we should use Halloween decoration body parts too. I convinced him that not everyone can handle gore.

Most people saw the humor in it, only the swim coach, Miss Beech seemed annoyed. But, I think that was because it changed the schedule and boy does she love her schedules.

When it came to my antics, my parents only advice was “never put yourself in dangerous situations, not everyone has your values Ames (my parents nickname for me)” and “never compromise your values for the sake of others”. I followed their advice and had enough mischief to be fun, but not enough to be harmful or hurtful to others.

After taking a shower and getting dressed in my shorts and tank top with my swimsuit under, that’s right I am going straight in the water when we get there. I ran down the stairs to greet my parents.

“Good morning Mom, good morning Dad,” I flit by each of them giving them both a kiss on the cheek before sitting at the table.

“Good morning sweetheart, I see you are all ready for the beach” my Dad says with a smile.

My Mom walks in with the quiche hot out of the oven. After placing it on the coaster on the table, she hugs me from behind with a squeeze and says “good morning, did you sleep well?”

“After I was able to get to sleep I slept like a log, getting there was hard at first. I think the excitement is turning to nervousness” I rely with a wry smile.

“That is to be expected. Is there anything we can do to help?” Dad asks.

“Not really, I think being alone last night made my mind wander too much. Thank goodness I already got my new cell phone so could text Jorah. I don’t think I would have ever settled my mind if it wasn’t for texting him” I say honestly.

“You two always have been good for each other. It is the only thing putting my mind at rest knowing that my only daughter is going to be halfway around the world this time next week” my mom says.

I shift in my chair not wanting to think about leaving them right now and change the subject, “Sooo, what time are we leaving for the beach?”

They exchange a look knowing exactly what I was doing. “As soon as we finish breakfast and clean the dishes we can head out” my dad states.

I smile widely in response, no words are necessary. “Mom, as always, that was the best quiche”

“She is right, you really outdid yourself with that one” my Dad adds while kissing Mom’s temple.

“I just got lucky with what was left in the refrigerator” she says. My Mom has always been modest and has a hard time receiving compliments. It only makes my Dad and me smile.

I am glad that my Dad continues to shower her with compliments after all these years, even if it does embarrass her. There is nothing wrong with the person you are in love with and choose to live your life with being the one to lift you up with their words.

I wipe the table down while Mom washes and Dad dries the dishes. After we are done we all head out to the car that we already packed yesterday. Not that it took long, we are only going to be there for two days so we have a simple backpack each.

The beach house has everything you could need except for your clothes and toiletries. Well actually, they do have toiletries too. I am just partial to my unscented ones. Scented products give me a headache. Plus, I like to smell my surroundings as weird as that sounds, some of my favorite memories are linked to smell.

The smell of the damp forest in the morning reminds me of the camping trips with Jorah’s family. The salty, seaweed smell of the fresh ocean breeze links me to previous trip the the beach house. Cinnamon and peppermint reminds me of Christmas. Every smell triggers a memory and I love that.

I even get a sense of calm from smelling the people around me, the ones make me feel safe. Jorah smells of pine needles and moist soil, mom smells like fresh baked bread and dad smells like cinnamon, although mom and dad’s scents are not as strong as Jorah’s, must be the aftershave or cologne he uses.

Although, he has always smelled like that to me even when we were kids and I highly doubt he used aftershave or cologne then, haha that would be funny. That thought reminds me of the scene from Home Alone when Macaulay Culkin shaves. I doubt Jorah ever did that as a kid.

Maybe it is just my quirky sensory system that makes his smell so strong to me. My mom got me tested when I was little because all my senses are heightened. They just said it was nothing to worry about and I likely had sensory processing disorder.

At first my parents freaked out hearing the word disorder. They didn’t know what it meant, but after researching they found out is wasn’t a big deal as long as it didn’t overwhelm me. When that happens some kids can lash out at others because they go into something called sensory overload. I guess it comes from over stimulation from an overwhelming environment. I never had that experience, and honestly for me it just seemed like a super power I could tap into when I needed it.

If Jorah or my other friends ever noticed my weird sensory abilities, they never said anything or made me feel different. Honestly, I think Jorah is like me, but neither of us ever talked about it. Maybe that is another reason why we understand each other.

Driving to the beach house is done mostly in comfortable silence. I enjoy watching the scenery pass by my window, soon the trees slowing start thinning out until we are greeted by the rising sun over the horizon.

The expansive ocean always seems to remind me of how vast our earth really is. Next week this time, I will be on the other side of this ocean, even past it and surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea.

I wonder if it is as beautiful as all the pictures I have seen make it seem, maybe it is even more beautiful. I have never seen a picture that can capture the beauty of the places I have already been, so I bet it is even better in real life. With that thought I open my car door and dash across the sand and run into the ocean to start this beach vacation right.