To Alaska: Chapter 1 Revise
You know those few words that can make or break your day? That one, terrible sentence that could throw your head for a whirl, in good and bad ways? You know, "We need to talk.", "Can I ask you something?", stuff like that? Or in my case, the two words escaping my mother's mouth that felt like a knife covered in salt and ice slicing through my emotions. They echo through my brain with a resounding *crack* each time I think about them. "We're moving." I could say I was excited, like I did to my parents. I could say that it'll be fun to meet new people, which again, was a big fat lie I used to not make my parents feel bad, when really, I wanted to leave. I wanted to run somewhere far away, where they could never find me; I wanted them gone. But how could I tell them that? And, how was I going to break the news to my friends at school? How was I going to break this to Chris? It was a nightmare. Is this the right font?
Chapter 1: Heart of Fire
My nightmarish reprieve was mercifully ended by the off-pitch tone of my alarm. I sat up slowly, throwing my cover onto the floor, as I now ran through my mind how today would play out; how my last day at Capricorn High School would go. "How is everyone going to react?" I thought. My morning routine dragged on, minutes seeming like hours. My usual morning shower was cold and quiet; my usual music CD hanging suit with the floor next to the sink. Even my fur seemed to be thinner, less full of its usual fire orange. The walk down stairs made my heart sink, more when I saw I had but an hour until I began the end at Capricorn.
When I finally did manage to get myself through the living room into the kitchen, Janet, my mother, was already waiting there, a full stack of savory flapjacks cooked to perfection and ready to be devoured, obviously trying to make me feel better about today. I knew her tricks. I sat hard at the end of the old mahogany dining table; it seemed foreign. The smell in the kitchen, the feel of the old chair on my haunches...it all seemed to be a sad reminder of what I was leaving behind. It all finally was too much; I left the table, grabbed my backpack and left before my mom saw the red hot tears burning like fire in my eyes.
The drive was painful. Every second, I grew closer to tears the nearer I got to school. The building finally loomed up over the crest of the hill, a sight that finally pushed me over the edge to tears. They burned in my eyes, and I just let them flow. Why strain myself on the last day? I parked the Buick, and as I stepped out, let the day just embrace me. I leaned hard against my door, letting the warm, Texas sun engulf me...and for a moment, if only a short one, I felt as though today may go alright. This moment was short lived, ended by the angry horn of a small pickup stuck behind two talking friends. I closed my eyes, heaving a sigh. "Here goes nothing."
First period ended much to quickly. I told my closest friends about my moving; tears were shed, hugs were shared. In second, I was able to tell the whole Chorale class. Again, tears, hugs, sad goodbyes, some from kids I had almost never talked to. It was as if we'd been friends for years. The next periods followed suit, up until 8th period science. "Time to break it to Chris..." I thought. My eyes were hot from near tears even thinking about it. I searched across the room, noticing now that Chris hadn't yet arrived. I sat in my seat for the last time; first row, third seat back. The period flew by, and Chris never showed. I was happy that I didn't have to break it to him...though, it made me wonder where he was, if he was okay...and I was scared.
I wasn't sure how to describe the drive home...I was happy, I was sad...I was worried. "Chris!" I pulled my little Nokia from my pocket; two missed calls. I checked voicemail; one. I listened to it; it was from Chris. The sound of his voice made me smile, though something seemed off...it sounded like he had just finished a long, painful sob.
"Hey, Lucas...it's Chris...not going to school today...Sam had a bit of an accident on her way to Annetta...they're saying it's pretty bad. So, yeah...I'll uh...I'll talk to you later. Love you bunches." My heart sank. "Sam..." Sam was Chris' older sister, in her mid-20's. She was one of the most supportive people to my and Chris' relationship, always helping out and at one point even attended a pride parade with us in Ohio. "God, I hope shes alright." The message rang in my head all the way home.
Once I got home, I solumly went to my room, passing my packing parents, who's hello's and welcome backs I ignored. My room was nearly cleaned out; my desk and bed frame sat there, free of all that had been plagueing them...all but one, lonesome picture sitting well out of place on the desk. I picked it up and stared at it for the longest time. In it, was Chris and I. Chris was standing there, his leopard chest gleaming in the sunlight as he threw himself out of the river that we'd been swimming in. I stood behind him, laughing...back when we were happy. For the billionth time today, tears rose in my eyes. I wasn't going to have another moment like that with him; with my world, my mentor...my love. All because my dad got a stupid crab fishing job off the Alaskan coast...I hated the thought.
7:00 PM arrived all to quick. My parents finished packing a few ham and cheese sandwiches into the little blue cooler, placing the final items into the old Ford Wagon. I knew it was time for us to go, so I brought down my picture and a few of my sentimental items that I wouldn't leave behind for anything. I placed them in a box, and I labled it in thick, black, Sharpie letters; "DO NOT OPEN." I closed it, memories and all, and placed it in the trunk. I plopped down into the wagon, holding my head in my hands, as we began the long, painful drive to Anchorage.