Stranger with the Stars

New Roots

It felt like the days couldn't go by fast enough.

I needed time to pack and to breathe. It felt like the air in the house was getting thicker. Each time Cheryl and I would pass one another, I could feel the hate radiating off of her body. The home was tense, every minute felt like walking on eggshells. Dad tried to stay out of the way as much as possible, I couldn’t blame him.

I called Uncle Eren the night of the fight to try and see if he’d be okay with me taking some time to myself. I wish I had checked the time before I did.

"Girl, it's too late for these calls. What is it, eleven? Maybe one?" I could hear him yawning and slapping something that sounded a lot like another human. I was interrupting his sleep.

"Hey, I won't be in today. I uh, I need some time to pack." I huffed out. I glanced around the room at the piles of boxes and bags. Packing was the last thing I really needed the time for, but it was easier than a 40minute explanation of the mental breakdown that was coming on.

"To pack? To pack wha- Ohh. Oh to pack your things. Okay got it. Be in on Friday then. If Friday is too soon, give me a heads up so I can have one of the girls take over your duties for a bit. I'm gonna need a run down. If you'd like to come by the condo, let me know. I assume you've got some things to do. Places to see for sure. " He sounded more awake now. I could hear him shuffling around the bed as the wheels in his head started turning. He understood, it was time. This was inevitable.

"I'll keep you posted. Thank you, I love you. Next time, I’ll check what time it is before calling," I couldn't hug the phone hard enough to my head to push the love through. My heart squeezed as I talked to him, it felt like tears were welling up in my eyes.

"I love you too, honey. I'm going the f**k back to sleep." Click. He ended the call at the last word.

I sighed and flopped onto the bed, facing the window. I didn’t realize I had been pacing while talking to him, making a path in the ever shuffling bags. I needed to get my s**t together. Today was the first day to the rest of a s**t show I hoped to get a ticket to.

We will be okay. I am here with you.

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"Hey honey, I saw the truck is still here. Did you not go in today?" Dad gently called from the door. I could smell the coffee he was making, but I knew he didn't go in either. It was too late in the morning for him to pretend that he was running late.

"Yeah Dad, I called out for a few days." I started to rub my arms. I'd been sitting on the floor packing away anything that I felt that was mine since hanging up with Uncle Eren. Anything from Cheryl was promptly being thrown into the shame corner until later. Most of the room had been packed up at this point. It was more of a sorting game now.

I didn't have much on the walls, or much in general due to the strict oversight of the dictator who already left for work. Most of the things I really cared about or dreaded losing were at Uncle Eren's in the guest bedroom closet. He'd have those packed for me before I saw him again.

"Can I come in?" Followed by a gentle knock and the squeaking of the door handle as the answer.

"Yeah, feel free." I didn't need to respond knowing he'd already opened the door and was staring at my packing job. The only things that hadn't been packed away were the bed, dresser, curtains, and a few of the personal hygiene products on the dresser.

"Well, you've been busy this morning." He looked around the room. He sounded like he was on the verge of tears.

"I couldn't sleep very well, and there wasn't much to pack to start with. I'm going to be looking at a few more places later today and tomorrow. You can join me if you want?" I fully turned around to face him. I stayed on the floor, he stayed in the door frame looking down at me with the best 'proud face' he could.

"No, that's okay. I have some things I need to do around here. I have to make sure that some chores get done around here today. I might go out later if you need something." He sipped his coffee. I knew he was going to go see my Uncle Eren later to talk about what happened. He wasn't very good at keeping it a secret from me. Dad would do it while Cheryl was at work so she wouldn't know what he was doing. I wasn't sure yet if she knew we had both called out. Neither one of us would rat out the other.

"What's with that corner of s**t? It looks like you just tossed a body over there." He laughed at the shame corner, gesturing at it with his coffee hand.

"Ah, you mean the shame corner?" I turned to present it. Standing up, I gave my best 'Price is Right' woman in red pose towards it.

"Do I need to ask what's in said shame corner?"

"It would probably be best if you didn't."

"That's fair. Let me know if the shame corner needs a secret delivery to the local Goodwill."

"Thanks Dad, I'll be the first to call you." I smiled at him. He knew how much I hated those clothes that were my personal prison uniform. He never liked them either, but never had the heart to tell me how bad they truly looked on me.

Give him some time to heal. The love is strong, but the sadness needs time to settle.

BUZZ BUZZ

My phone was lighting up on the bed. Fleur was calling, more than likely she wanted to rant about 'Fuckface' doing something bad again. I threw myself on to the bed grabbing the phone.

"Hey babe, what's up?" I asked her, knowing more than likely what the answer was.

"Hey Ellie, I'm gonna get going, love you." Dad said from the door frame, closing the door on his way out.

"Love you too!" I shouted after him.

"I love you too Ellie, but I wanna know what's going on." Fleur chirped.

"Oh hey. What's going on with what?"

"Uncle Eren called me telling me to bring chocolate and condoms. Are you going to f**k the chocolate?" Fleur knew how to cheer me up.

"Haha, no. I'm packing my s**t right now and I'm gonna go shopping later today for some new clothes. I'm just sad right now, and he probably thinks I'm gonna go try to get laid to make it better."

"Ah yes, the only cure to sadness is six d***s deep. The prophecy only preaches the truth!" I could hear she was on her car Bluetooth.

"We are ever graced with our Lord Eren's preaching. What a glorious and grateful choir we should be!" I laughed back.

"Amen. I'm 5 minutes out. Put on pants."

"Okay, is a bra optional?"

"If you really do wanna make that prophecy and condoms useful."

"Good point, see you in 5."

Tossing my phone back on the bed, I grabbed the closest pair of pants I could see. I had already put a bra and shirt on earlier this morning, my sleep shorts would have to stay home for this. I put on my gray sweatshirt paired with a pair of gray converse. I threw my hair up in a messy bun to match the effort I was putting in today.

I planned on going to get some new clothes, maybe some new furniture for this new place that was coming to fruition. I could use a new bed, a king bed for the king of the home. I’ve had the same bed since I was a kid, and the dresser was seeing it’s last days.

The voice in the back of my mind was quiet again, but would input once and a while. I'd have to investigate it when I get some free time.

Honk Honk

Grabbing my phone, keys, and purse; I dashed outside. She had the top down in her convertible, and as the graceful gazelle I am, I ate ass throwing myself in.

"Wow, I think that was the sexiest thing I've ever seen. I never knew that your knees got up that high", she stared at me as I was a jumbled mess. I missed the jump causing my face to hit the carpet and my legs to end up where the headrest is.

"Thank you, I just felt like being different, ya know. The s*x appeal is just oozing from me today." I wiggled my way to sit normally in the seat, putting on my seat belt.

"So that's why my ovaries are screaming by looking at you." Sarcasm dripped from each word as we pulled away from the house.

I needed this today. She didn't come down too much anymore, but it was nice to know I was still important after all. Our lives may have been growing apart, but I was forever grateful to have her in my life for the time we did share. She held the same feelings towards it. This may have been one of our last hang out sessions for a while to come, but she knew she was always welcome in my heart.

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