Chapter 22
Mireya
Play - Smoke Signals by Phoebe Bridgers
Homebound or homesick
After another stressful week of classes, Friday finally comes.
A week here at St. Ellesta and I’m already exhausted at the idea of returning to my house. The only good thing is that I’m finally going to see Milo again and Edna.
Hayzel just came back from her shower when she sees me sitting on her bed with Blue in his carrier.
“I just took a shower Rey! Now I’ll have to sit on a bed filled with cat hair…”
“Excuse me? He’s probably cleaner than you, plus he’s in his carrier. I just wanted to tell you goodbye.”
She rearranges her towel before sitting next to me, and makes a sad face. “You don’t have to go back there every weekend, Milo is truly in good hands with Nana.”
I just have to go back because dad is coming back tomorrow. Hayzel doesn’t know that my father isn’t aware of my new secret life.
“I miss him.” And it’s true, I do miss my little brother.
“Oh, I know… I miss him too,” she says, lying on the bed and taking a long breath. “Today was exhausting, just promise me you’ll rest tonight, Reya. You look more tired than I do and it’s worrying me."
“I will, I promise,” I say as I get up, taking my bag and picking up Blue.
Hayzel follows me to the door and gives me a long side hug before replying, “Tell nana I miss her and tell Milo his aunty cries in his absence.”
“Okay, woman, I’ll let them know,” I laugh, shaking my head. “Be careful this weekend and if you wanna join us, call me and I’ll pick you up okay?”
She smiles and kisses my cheek before playfully swatting me, “Yes ma’am, be careful too, love you!!”
I walk out of the building and find no other than Mister Caldwell smoking in the parking lot. He approaches me in silence, and I notice his phone at the shell of his ear, but the moment his frame gets close enough to touch me, he takes the bag from my hands without a word, following me to my car.
I open the back doors and he sets it there as I put Blue’s carrier next to me. He hangs up quickly and opens my door, making me laugh in the process.
"Thank you, Mister Caldwell. Didn’t know teachers were so invested in their students' comfort.”
He closes the door and leans on it with his hands dangling from the car window. “Always. It’s not a way of convincing you to work with me,” he says, eyes lingering softly on me.
“Not at all obviously,” I reply as I start the car.
“Think about it over the weekend, and give me your answer on Monday, Miss Vitelli.”
I nod and shake my head as I pull out of campus, that stupid smile still lingering on my lips. It follows me farther than I expect. Past the cliffs. Past the rows of students spilling onto the sidewalks. Past the last glimpse of campus in my rearview mirror. Then the roads begin to look familiar.
My fingers tighten around the steering wheel, and the smile is gone before I even notice.
I don't remember the rest of the drive. By the time I come back to myself, I'm already on our street. Even from a distance, I spot the bright blue backpack bouncing up and down.
I park quickly and I don’t even have the time to open my door that he’s already here. “Sissy!!!!” Milo yells.
“Hey, bug,” I say, bending down as he crashes into me. “Missed me?”
He nods hard, his curly hair bouncing around his face. Edna comes out behind him, already reaching for me. “Oh, there’s my little Reya,” she says, kissing my cheek twice. “Look at you. You’re home.”
“Hi, Nana,” I laugh. “I’ve only been away for a few days.”
She presses a plate of food she had into my hands, warm and wrapped in foil. “Put this in the fridge when you get back. Take it to Hayzel on Monday so you girls can eat something proper together.”
“I will, she’s going to love it,” I say. “Thank you for taking care of him.”
Edna shakes her head and replies, “Just go have fun with him. He’s been waiting for you all week.”
"Okay, I’ll bring him back Monday morning? I’ll have to leave early. I'm sorry I just have a big class at eight."
"It’s okay, call me and I’ll be ready for him," she says as she smiles at him and caresses his hair. We both wave goodbye as we sit in the car. Milo climbed in and immediately grabbed Blue and put him on his lap as he’s purring and looking outside from his carrier.
“Guess what,” Milo says.
“What, bud?”
“I got a sticker today.”
“Was it a good one?” I ask, looking at his soft smile.
“The star one,” he says proudly.
“Good job, baby!"”
“Thank you, sissy,” he giggles and strangely enough all the anxiety disappears.
As soon as we get home, we drop our bags by the door. I kneel in front of Blue and open his carrier. He walks out slowly, tail high, sniffing around like he’s checking to make sure everything stayed where he left it, and Milo follows him from room to room, giggling happily.
“He’s happy,” Milo says as he comes back downstairs.
“I think so too,” I tell him. “Come on, give me a hug. I missed you.”
He runs to me and hugs me tight, screaming. “I missed you too!”
The anxiety is still there even if he’s softening everything around my stressed heart.
For now, we’re home, and we’re together.