Editing Story:ROAD TRIP! (Warhammer High)/Part Five (section)

===The Party's Over===


“Good luck out there,” Kelly said next.

“Thanks, Kelly.  You too,” Remilia said.

Angela hugged her cousin briefly.  “You’re in good hands,” she said softly.  “I’m glad you’re not scared of the future any more.”

Remilia hugged back.  “Good luck with your writing,” she said.  “I’ll keep in touch.”

After she had received farewells from each Daughter in turn, Freya walked with her to the door of the ballroom.  They paused at the top of the stairs, and Remilia turned to her.  “Freya…thanks,” she said.

Freya nodded.  “Of course.”

“I think…I think this has been probably the best summer of my life,” Remilia said.  “And if you hadn’t invited me…”

Freya stepped up to her and hugged her tight.  “It was my pleasure, Remilia,” she said happily.  “You take care now, okay?”

Remilia closed her eyes and squeezed back.  Both girls just stood there for a moment before Freya nipped her ear one last time and pulled away.  “Now you go pack,” she said sternly.

The lanky soccer player smiled.  “You got it.  Write when you get to school, huh?”

“Of course.”  Freya stepped aside for Olivia to pass.  “Goodbye, Remilia.”

Venus sat back down beside Jake and slid the bottle cap into her pocket.  “Do you wanna head out too, baby?” Jake asked.

“Actually, I sort of do,” Venus said.  “I have so much packing and unpacking to do…and I promised I’d make something at the forge for Remilia.”

“Oh, okay,” Jake said.  He set his cards down as the hand he was playing ended.  “Gents,” he said, standing up.

“You’re leaving?” Abram asked.

“’Fraid so,” Jake said.  “Got a lot of unpacking to do.”

“Then I guess we’re leaving too,” Abram said, sliding his chips over to the case.

“All right.  You guys gonna be around later so we can get online?  I’m in town another nine days.”

“Uh, sure,” Dieter said.  “I will be, anyway.”  The other two nodded assent.

“Awesome.  Just like old times,” Jake said, packing up the chips and cards.

Misja walked over to them and held out her arms.  “Jake, I’m glad you had a fun time.  Make sure to call me before moving day so we can coordinate the mail situation.”

“Oh, right, the address,” Jake said, referring to the shared postal code he would have with Venus.  “I will.”  He accepted a quick hug from her as the other three boys stared.  “It was good seeing you too.”

“Actually, this is goodbye for now, isn’t it?” Venus asked.

Jake nodded.  “Yeah, I was going to go and see Alice and Hajime after we get unpacked, then go hit Keller’s.”

“Right.”  Venus pushed her plate away and stood up, stretching tiredly.  “So I guess I’ll see you in a few days?”

“Yep.”  Jake packed up the rest of the cards and chips.  “And then…Kouthry.”

“Hell yeah,” Venus said.

Jake picked up the hefty leather case and slung it.  Venus paused him with a parting hug and a quick kiss.  “I’m really glad you had fun,” she said quietly.  Her eyes sparkled.  “We should do it again sometime.”

Jake chuckled.  “Count on it.  Maybe some summer break when they don’t need me in the labs?”

“Call it a plan,” Venus said.

Jake set the case back down long enough for her to rest her head on his shoulder for a moment.  “Thanks for inviting me, baby,” he said softly.

“I wouldn’t have enjoyed it much if you hadn’t been there,” she said in the same tone.  She withdrew to the corner to say goodbye to Morticia and Kelly, who were still chatting with Miranda.

The three hiver boys gaped at Jake, in varying states of disbelief.  Jake shrugged sheepishly.  “Are you serious?” Abram asked.

“Would she have invited me along otherwise?” Jake asked.

“No, I mean…you are the luckiest guy,” Abram said, shaking his head.

Jake quirked a grin.  “Come on.  You guys need a ride back home?”

“No, we took Will’s car,” Dieter said.  He bumped fists with Jake as he walked by.  “Man, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t jealous, but still…it was good seeing you again.”

“Yeah, we should get together and play again before I head out,” Jake said, hefting the case on its metal handle.

Alex rose as well, sensing the party breaking up.  “Queen Russ, I want to thank you,” he said.  “I was a bit worried I’d come home to nobody,” he admitted.

Gairwyn shook her head.  “I wouldn’t allow that, now,” she said.  “Do you want a ride to your mother’s new apartment?”

“I don’t know.  Where did she take all my stuff from the old place?” Alex asked.

“No clue.  I’m sure she wouldn’t just pitch it, though,” Gairwyn said.

Freya bounded up.  “Do you have your Mom’s vox number on you?” she asked.

“Uh, yeah,” Alex said, paging through his own vox.  “Here.”

“All right.  Call her now and ask what you should do, I can just drive you if you need a lift.”

Alex clicked her number and held up the vox, walking over to the corner of the room for quiet.  His mother answered on the first ring.  “Hello?”

“Mom, it’s Alex.  How are you?” he asked awkwardly, suddenly aware that he should have called the moment he was earth-side.

“Alex!  Baby, are you okay?” his mother demanded.  “I only got your message a day or two ago, I’ve been worried sick!”

Alex sighed in relief.  “I’ll be alright.  Can I drop by and pick up my stuff from the old place?”

“Of course!  Come on to my new address.  You have it, right?”

“Sure do.  Love you, Mom.  Gotta run,” he said.

“Yes, I love you too, Alex.  Please come over as soon as you can,” she said.

“I will.”  Alex hung up and puffed out a breath.  “Okay.”

“Is she okay?” Freya asked as he walked back over.

Alex slid his vox into his pocket.  “I think so.  She just didn’t get the message until we were most of the way home already, that’s all.”

“That’s good,” Freya said.  “Are you going to see her?”

Alex grimaced.  “Well, I will need a means of traveling over there, if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all,” Gairwyn spoke up.

“Great.  Thank you, Queen Russ,” Alex said.

Victoria unfurled from her seat with a shake of her hair.  “Mmm…second breakfast is a glorious thing,” she said idly.

“It is,” Faith confirmed.  “When are you heading back out to the Foundation tour, Vicky?”

“Tomorrow,” she said with a yawn.  “When’s orientation?”

“September seventh, actually,” Faith remarked.  “Of those of us who are leaving, I think I leave last.”

“Plenty of time to pack, at least,” Victoria commented.  She broke off as Jake and Venus walked up with Farah.

“Well, you two, this is it,” Farah said.  “I’m Medusa-bound in fifteen hours.”  She hugged each in turn.  “Have a good year, all right?  I’ll be home when I’m home,” she said.

“I’ll try,” Faith said.  “I’m already nervous.  Just wanna speed up and start classes, you know?”

“Nope!” Farah said happily.  She turned to Victoria.  “You have fun, okay?  Say Hi to your folks for me.”

“I will,” Victoria promised.

Freya and Miranda watched as the five parted ways, heading for their parents if they had brought them – Victoria hadn’t – and walked out one-by-one.  “Are you looking forward to working with your Dad?” Freya asked.

The other redhead nodded eagerly.  “I have so much to learn.  Dad’s starting me off at the Scholastica Isolatorium, the place where the Scryers’ College is.  Learning the ropes there, you know.  I’m really excited,” she said.

Freya smiled.  “I’m glad.”

“And you’re comfortable living with Alex?  I don’t know if I could trust myself to live with someone like that,” Miranda confessed.  “I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from giving my little insights.”

Her cousin chuckled.  “Oh, I suspect you will.  That’s my little insight.”

“Mhmm.”  Miranda shrugged modestly.  “Well, that’s kind of you to say.”  She blushed a bit as Freya pondered the benefits of her shared living space.  “I’m, er…glad you two are so happy with each other.”

Freya leaned in closer to her cousin.  “Little secret for you, Miranda: a good relationship is one where you’re just as happy spending time away from your guy as you are with him.  When Alex goes off to play rugby, he doesn’t mind that I don’t go with, or when I go off to the range for a few hours he doesn’t feel obligated to come along.”

Miranda shrugged awkwardly.  “I wouldn’t know.”

“Trust me, Miranda, you’re going to work out just fine in that regard,” Freya said confidently.  “You be sure to write when you can, all right?”

“Bet on it,” Miranda said, “but I’m staying in town another week, you’ll get to speak to me before we go.”

“Of course,” Freya said.