Luna Raine

III. To Move On

In the middle of the daytime, in public streets, I was being watched.

Sitting there, I message my mom, telling her I was finished and how I'm pretty sure I ace it. Mom replied, saying she got a little surprise after dinner, and I was ecstatic.

Since I was born, my dad and mom became my best friends. Of course, I have friends at school, but my family is always my number one.

I sat there, scrolling through social media, and a black van pulled up. Suddenly, a few men stepped out, and I pulled my earphones down. At the right moment, the bus pulls up, and I jump right in. I may be paranoid, but I'm not taking the chance.

I have a car.

Too bad it's in the automobile shop until later in the evening. 

When I got home, I finally relaxed. I told mom about what happened, and she gave me the biggest hug in the world. She's proud that I'm so observant. Even though she sounded sarcastic, I know she was genuinely concerned, especially when I saw her installing cameras around the house the following day.

I rub my eyes and laugh, "What are you doing?" I look at the woman sitting on the ladder.

"I'm taking a dump."

"Such a mom thing to say."

"It's better to be cautious than sorry." She looks at me, "Why are you still in your pajamas? Get dressed. We're going hiking soon."

I yawn and flop on the couch. "You can't let me sleep in a bit more? It's my day two of being seventeen."

She exhales, "Well-" she grabs the instruction manual and flips through the pages. "You're about to go back to Harrison High soon. I want to do everything on our checklist before you leave." Mom and I made this checklist of things we have to do during my break so that I won't play video games.

"Fine," I said. "But when we come back. We have to drop by the store to buy more popcorn."

She shook her head and waved me away.

After I got dressed, mom and I made our way towards my 1993 Chevrolet Caprice. Mom looked at the car but didn't comment when I leaped inside. I got this baby as a gift from Harrison High School when I obtained a full-ride scholarship. I didn't know full-ride actually came with a full ride, but I'll take it. Harrison High School is a place for the wealthy, the extremely wealthy offspring. A gift like this is nothing to them.

When I entered the car, I lathered my hands all over it. Finally, I don't have to depend on my mom for a ride anywhere. The car had been in the shop for a few days for maintenance before I returned to school.

"Crescent Forest, right?" I ask, turning on the engine to hear the beautiful roar.

Mom nods while checking her bags for all the necessities.

I pull the car into reverse to see familiar faces. The vehicle halts mid-road, and I scroll the window down. My head pokes out, "Owen twins?" I scream.

The twins turn their heads simultaneously, "Hey, Raine!"

"How are you guys?" In this small town, everyone knows each other. That's why I was paranoid when I saw a group of men in a black van. There shouldn't be large men surrounding a tinted black van.

"Good!" They jog towards us. "Hi, Mrs.Fall!"

Mom smiles, "Hi, boys."

"Off for a hike?" one of the Owen twins asks. I can never tell them apart, and I don't have any brain cells left to remember their names. I'm so terrible.

We nodded, "Crescent Forest," I said.

"Cool! We're heading up there tomorrow morning."

"Why don't you boys come with us today?" mom asks. This is mom's way of setting me up so I won't live in her basement.

"Can't. Ma has a hospital appointment soon."

"How unfortunate," mom responds.

"But-" one of the Owen's twins leans towards the door. "Maybe Raine would like to come with us tomorrow? If she isn't busy, that is." He looks at me and grins.

I tuck my lips over my teeth, attempting to push down the evading heat. "Maybe she will." I shift the car to drive. "See yah Owen twins."

Mom didn't comment.

"Stop smiling," I said, unable to retract my smile.

Once we passed the dainty old town sign, I rolled down the window. More and more trees surround us, and I breathe in the wonderful air. I missed this the most. Living in a populated area has its downside, such as the amount of smog. I smiled when I saw the stream of lights behind the mountains.

Mom leans against the edge, "Takes you back, doesn't it?"

My family used to go camping all the time when I was younger. It was our family thing. In the daytime, we would explore what the forest had to offer. At night, the three of us would sit by the campfire and tell ghost stories while roasting marshmallows. Dad would be on my left, and mom would be on my right. The three of us would bundle together in a blanket.

I look back towards the forest before my grip tightens. "Yeah."

Mom smacks my hand, and I glance towards her, "I bought marshmallows."

"Making campfires during the daytime?"

"I also brought a lighter."

When we laughed, it was warm; but there was also a sorrowful emptiness in it.

"It's okay. You know," I said. "To move on."

The corner of her lips budges like it wants to form a smile. Then, she chuckles, "I have to take care of one walking wad of grocery bills. Another one? No, thank you."

I chuckled and shook my head. It wouldn't be bad for my mom to move on. To find someone who can make her happy. We talked about it before, seeing someone else. But, she would always make a joke; dodge the topic.

I can tell she is still in pain. After this hike tonight, she will sit in the backyard and cry while looking through the old photo albums. She always does this.

I grabbed her hand but didn't respond.

I pull it up and kiss the back of her hand.

Mom chuckles and pushes back a strand of my hair. "You silly girl." Her voice cracks. "What kind of child kisses their parent's hand?" She sniffs, "How are you related to me? You're so weird."

It's not an insult. It's a defensive mechanism. Mom uses humor when she's in pain. I didn't respond because I knew she needed it—a moment of silence.

My eyes cast towards the building in the distance. MistVille's old hospital for the mentally ill. I hated that hospital. I don't even know how it's still open, considering how they opened a new one in the middle of town. Then again, hospital fees there are cheap, and you get to keep your crazy relatives there.

When we reach the parking lot, we unload our stuff and get ready for the hike. My eyes cast around the lot to see many other cars. "Ready to go?" mom asks.

I nod, "Yeah." I tug on both sides of the straps. "Ready."