How Was Your Day? - Chapter 5.2

Finnley's heart was beating fast, but he tried to ignore it. It was hard enough to force a smile onto his face on a normal day, but now? It was all he could do to keep himself from ordering Mia out of the house.

His mother had, of course, said yes.

Mia was calling her father, telling him that she would be spending the night; Mrs. Bale was assuring her that she could have anything she needed. Mia brushed her teeth using a spare toothbrush before settling in on the couch, under several layers of blankets.

Finnley watched her throughout the movie she had chosen. It was an adventure-romance movie, and she seemed far to into it to ever fall asleep. She kept chattering on and on, pointing out and quoting bits that she liked. Finnley would nod or quietly comment, but he was more watching her face, waiting to see when her eyes would finally close, then the movie itself. The luminous clock on the side table informed him that the hours were slipping away. It was 9:30 pm. Not time yet... But getting closer.

The movie ended, and she was still awake! Finnley selected another one, finding something a bit slower paced, something that might kill her to sleep. Still, she seemed quite alert, and continued her stream of thoughts. Finnley groaned inwardly. What would happen if she stayed awake all the way until Allie came? He didn't want to think about that.

Finally, Mia's comments were more and more spread out, then she stopped talking completely. The movie was over. Finnley ejected it and carefully put it away. In the darkness, he leaned over Mia to see if she was really asleep. He tapped her shoulder lightly, then harder. Out like a light.

Finnley sighed with relief and perched on the arm of the couch, on the opposite side from Mia. There was the sound of the fridge running, the air conditioning turning off for the night, the clock ticking out each second. The room was washed in pale light from the moon outside and the glaring red figures of the digital clock. He waited the final bit of time in silent patience, but still tensed when she slipped silently into the room. He spared a brief glance to confirm that Mia was still asleep before following Allie from the house.

The night air felt cool against Finnley's skin, and he was glad to be out of that room with Mia, waiting for someone who shouldn't be. Allie's figure was dark, but the moon was up, making it easier to track her across streets, lawns, driveways. Everything was cast in an eerie blue light, and though there were streetlights, they didn't appear to be on. But he felt safe and secure. He always did with her. He always had.

Again, Allie made her way towards the forest. Finnley was determined to follow her all the way in this time; he would not lose courage. He couldn't afford it.

A familiar voice broke the still, silent air. "Stop!" Mia called from behind him. "Finnley, stop!" Despite the disturbance, Allie did not stop, so neither did Finnley.

Hot anger boiled through him, and he kept his eyes trained on Allie's dark form ahead, kept his feet moving. He heard running footsteps, and then Mia was throwing herself in front of him. "Stop!" she repeated, eyes wild.

Finnley shoved her aside, burning with rage, not caring as she stumbled, not caring if she fell, or that her eyes shine bright with tears. "You don't know what this is to me," he said, struggling to keep his voice even- worried he might cry, or shout. "You don't know what SHE is to me. You don't know anything about me."

"I know- I know I don't," Mia pleaded, almost sobbing. "But this isn't about you, it's different-"

"You're wrong!" Finnley shouted, but he didn't dare face her for fear of losing Allie.

"Finnley! Finnley stop!" Mia screamed, and he thought she might be crying. Her voice was getting fainter and fainter behind him. He had almost reached the forest- she was just inside it, among the trees, beckoning him forward with a hand, he imagined her warm smile greeting him, wrapping him in her arms like she did when he was small- "Don't go in there!"

Finnley was silent and stony, determined to follow Allie as far as he could. "Stop!" He could hear Mia running again, but he wasn't prepared for her to tackle him to the ground. When he had finally manage to roll out from under her, Allie was gone.

"Look what you've done!" Finnley bellowed. "She's gone again. Do you see what you've done? I may never get her back."

"Finnley," Mia said tentatively, standing up and touching his shoulder. He jerked away. "I don't know what she was to you, but-"

"What she IS to me," Finnley corrected. "She's everything to me."

"Finnley, she isn't what you think! I know that you want to follow her, but some things can't go back to the way they were-"

"What do you know?" he snarled, and turned away, staring darkly into the forest. He had been so sure that he would accomplish something tonight, that if he made it into the forest, she would finally stop, talk to him, explain.

"Fin-" Mia tried again.

"Go home, Mia," he said coldly, clenching and unclenching his fists. He could just see her out of the corner of his eye. She stared at him for a minute- her hair hanging in front of her face, her clothes disheveled, her feet bare and her eyes full of tears- then turned and walked away.

He didn't regret it. How could she try to stop him? Why didn't she understand how important Allie was to him? He resolved that he wouldn't ask her; if she didn't understand now, she wouldn't later. No need to let more of his past come to light. After watching the forest for a long time, Finnley went back to his house. It couldn't really be his home without Allie.