Temporary

The pleasant sound and smell of sizzling turkey bacon travels throughout their house in rounds. A woman stands in the kitchen, manning the stovetop whilst her daughter takes a seat at the kitchen's island.

"Listen, Delilah, this is a perfect opportunity for you to make new friends! A clean slate in a new city! Why are you so against it?"

Delilah sighs. 'What a way to start the morning..' She wants to say it aloud, but she refrains from doing so.

"Let me explain. Not only do I have to go out of my way to make new friends, but I have to get used to this city! It's horrible! Can't we just stay in one place for more than a year for once?" She drops her head into the island with an exaggerated groan.

Four times. They've moved four times in four years to four different states. First, they left Illinois and went to Tennessee. Then it was Tennessee to Rhode Island of all places. The year after that was Rhode Island to South Carolina. And now it's South Carolina to Colorado.

To be honest, she doesn't really mind moving. New houses are amazing! If anything, her last two schools taught her that she actually prefers moving. If not for having to adapt to something entirely different every single time. Not only the school system, the people, but also the city itself. She picks up her head, during the bacon from afar.

"Well, I'm sorry that you feel that way, but you know how your father's job is. The best we can do is adapt, sweetheart. Did you want any eggs?" Her mom walks over to the fridge, rummaging through the refrigerated unit.

Once again, Delilah sighs, her head thumping against the wooden counter as she slumps over again. She mumbles loud enough for her mother to hear. "Yes please.." Well, it's not like her morning could get much worse-

"You still complaining about moving? Get over it already, Lilah." Damien, her brother, speaks up, his input clearly annoying and non-essential in her opinion. Spoke too soon, huh?

Although, for once in her life, she doesn't bother responding. She knows that if she does, she'll get pissed off and her morning will really go to shit. She quietly taps her fingers against the wooden countertop in the melody of her favorite song.

"You really shouldn't be against it. You should be happy instead. After that prank K did on you last week, I'd never want to go back." Delilah groans, regretting ever getting up this morning. He just had to wake up and bother her with his stupid shit, didn't he?

"And I'm surprised you went back to class after begging Eva to take you back. Whole school saw your messages. Oops. Did I say too much?" She giggles as she sees his expression. Pure red! Now she's really done it.

"You two keep this up and I'm calling your father. All you two do is argue. It's embarrassing at this point, y'know?" She can hear her mother complain from the kitchen. It's not like she started it. She just finished it.

'Maybe that turkey bacon and eggs will save my morning..'

She turns around on her stool, looking through the arch and into their living room. Empty. It's like she's staring into a blank canvas.

It's been empty for some time, but every time she looks at it, it feels as if it just happened.

".. When are we leaving again..?" She mumbles, resting her cheek on the palm of her hand. 'It's such an eyesore..'

"Tomorrow afternoon. We'll be heading to the airport after getting something to eat."

Does she not care? Delilah knows that her mom has friends here. 'I know we're moving for a good reason, but why don't you care?' She asks just that. To her surprise, it actually takes a moment for her mom to respond

"I suppose I could say it's something that comes with time. Acceptance, I mean. It's just a part of life. Besides, I have nothing against traveling. Yes, I've left people I've cherished. But the longer you think about it, in my opinion, the quicker you'll move on. I hope that helps."

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'Tomorrow. We're leaving.. tomorrow.'

Delilah flips on her side, her situation slowly setting in as the minutes tick by. Once again she'll find herself in a new school with people she doesn't know.

'At this point, why should I even try making new friends? I'll just leave eventually.'

Being left alone with your thoughts is scary. She hates it.

'God, it feels like I'm leaving Illinois all over again. Why am I so emotional? I should be used to it by now.'

She stares at the ceiling, her room barren and stripped from all of its previous furniture. She's all too familiar with the sight.

'Michael, Adalyn, Raymond, Ralph. I'll probably.. never see any of them again.'

She can feel her face getting hotter.

'I shouldn't cry. Just.. get it together, Delilah. You'll be fine. You'll make even better friends soon.'

As memories race through her mind a mile a minute, she can't help but hate life. Tears begin to dribble down the sides of her head. She closes her eyes.

'This isn't fair. I miss my old friends. I don't want to leave.'

She sits up, sniffling as she wipes her eyes clean of her waterworks. She reaches over for her phone, turning it on briefly. 11:34 PM. They didn't take much. Just.. everything but the kitchen appliances.

'Maybe eating will make me feel better. It always has. Adalyn called me fat when I told her that.'

She smiles briefly, reminiscing, before turning solemn. She exits her bedroom, walking down the short hallway before making her way down the stairs. She enters the living room. Empty and boring. She turns into the kitchen and opens the fridge.

'Ralph was always weird. Always showing me those small edits he'd make before he'd post them.'

She pulls out a small container with her name written on it in permanent marker. She slides it in the microwave for two minutes, watching it spin and listening to the soft crackles.

'Michael.. he was always so full of himself. I don't know why, but that only made him funnier.'

With one second to spare, she eases open the door and pulls the container out, steaming drifting out from the hot dish. Spaghetti. Her favorite by far. She slides open the drawer they store utensils in. One fork, two spoons, and one butter-knife. She picks up the fork.

'Raymond. He was the first person I talked to in that school. Our first time talking was pretty awkward, but he was really funny.'

She takes a bite, chewing slowly. She stares blankly at her food, her next bite already wrapped around her fork. Her vision is slightly warped.

'I'm still crying..? Maybe Damien was right. I need to get over-'

Her seemingly endless train of thought is interrupted by the sudden flick of a switch, the kitchen lights buzzing to life. She doesn't look up. She can't let anyone see her crying.

"Yo. You crying?"

It was Damien. 'Damnit. Him of all people.' She wipes her eyes again, trying her best not to sniffle and sound normal.

"No. I'm just eating. Can you leave me alone?" Horrible. She sounded like she was on the verge of tears. God, she isn't going to hear the end of it from him-

Her eyes widen slightly as he walks over and pulls her in for a hug. What's.. happening? Delilah stands there for a few moments, processing the situation with her face pressed against his chest.

"L-Listen.. I'm.. sorry about earlier. I'm older than you but I'm acting like a child. You shouldn't be crying all by yourself. Make someone else cry too so it isn't weird."

She tenses up for a moment, but ultimately relaxes in the end. It isn't like her to hug people. But maybe she can let it slide this time. With her best attempt at returning the hug, she rests her forehead against his chest.

'Whatever.'