Peachy-1

♠ ♠ ♠ "You got everything?" Emilia called from the doorway. The morning sun behind her painting her body as a dark silhouette. Sweeping her eyes across the motel room, Enid checked to make sure they weren't leaving anything behind. Leaving behind a few bills for the cleaners, she nodded. She grabbed her backpack from beside the bed and followed Emilia out into the day. There were a few people in the office, checking out from their stays. Enid joined the que, staring down at her shoes as she waited. A television hung in the corner was playing the news. The man on the screen reporting on a robbery somewhere in the city. She tuned it out, finally stepping up for her turn. As she exited the small office, she missed his change of topic. "In other news, be on the lookout for this missing college student…" The door slamming shut behind her drowned out the words. Jake was already in the car, looking at something on his phone. Her stomach twisted as she watched him. Breakfast. All she had to do was get through breakfast and then she'd leave. Finish this journey on her own. She had borrowed Emilia's phone that morning when they were still awake, googling the nearest bus station. After memorizing the route to it, she was careful to delete the history of her search. Splitting apart from them scared her, but she knew it was necessary. The guilt in Jake's eyes had haunted her all night. "I found a diner that's like a three-minute drive. That okay with everyone?" Jake's eyes stayed on his phone as he asked. "I could literally eat anything right now. I'm starving after all that throwing up yesterday." Emilia laughed. Enid smiled at her, happy to see the color had returned to her face. Jake pulled out of the parking lot, following the robotic voice of his GPS down the road. The diner was surprisingly rather empty, the sign outside flickering. Landmark Diner was sprawled in luminescent cursive. It seemed they had caught it in between breakfast rushes. "Oh look, they do stand-up comedy here some nights!" Emilia pointed out as they entered. A waiter gestured to a booth near the window and they slid onto the bench seats. Small flags hung from posts on the wall and Enid couldn't help but look for a Welsh one. Coming up empty, she turned her attention back to the table. The menus were laminated and slightly sticky. Large photos depicted towering stacks of pancakes, and heavily garnished waffles. Jake gestured to one of the pictures, saying something that made Emilia laugh. Enid kept her backpack pressed against her thigh, nerves rolling in her shoulder blades. "Hiya, loveys. I'm Nia and I'll be your waitress. What can I get y'all to drink?" A middle-aged woman with peachy lipstick asked in a soothing drawl. It stood out starkly against her dark complexion, matching the collared shirt she wore. She twirled a pen in her right hand, the left clutching a pad of paper. "Orange juice, please." Enid answered, her focus on the menu before her. There seemed to be a million options. As she jotted down their orders, she kept glancing at Enid. "Have we met before, doll?" Nia's head tilted, studying her closely. Enid's attention turned up to her and her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Um, I don't think so, ma'am." She smiled sheepishly. The woman pressed the tip of her pen to her lip, staring at her for a moment more. Enid flushed under the attention, her hands curling around the strap of her bag. Letting out a tut, Nia shook her head. "Must just be losing my mind." She turned and walked back to the kitchen. Emilia remarked that it was probably because Enid had some doppelgänger in Atlanta. They each came up with ideas of what this doppelgänger's life was like. She was everything from a student to a circus acrobat to a surgeon. Enid giggled as she pictured some alternate version of herself tiptoeing across a tightrope. Hopefully this other version had better balance than she did. And better luck in all other regards. For a few moments, she wonders if she would trade her life with this supposed doppelgänger if she could. Just be a simple girl with a southern accent, free of the weight of the world. No. Enid wouldn't trade. Not if it meant she hadn't grown up where she had, with her father and Fiona. Not if it meant never having known the immortals. Her heart squeezed at the thought, tears burning in the back of her eyes. God, she missed them. Her thoughts were filled with them constantly. She had already thought of what each of them would have ordered. Had imagined how Dante would have searched for the Italian flag, probably requesting that it be moved to the spot above their booth. Her mind conjured the image of Theodore sipping a mug of black coffee, a small smile on his face as he watched her from across the table. Alexander pulling her into his side, ordering a milkshake for them to share. Theodore would scold him; tell him it was too early for so much sugar. Dante would shove him with a smirk and call him an old fart. Enid nearly choked on her grief as the scene faded away and she returned to reality. This new reality without them. Maybe she could change her mind. Maybe, when she went to the bus station, she could book a ticket to Boston. Maybe- She shoves the thoughts away. She'll make the decision once she's standing at the ticket counter. Whichever bus leaves first. Emilia draws her into a conversation about the last time she visited Disney with her family. How her mom had accidentally beheaded Donald Duck with a rather powerful hug. A few minutes later, they each had mountains of pancakes before them. "So, do you think we'll have any time to visit Disney before you meet up with your dad's friend?" Emilia asked with a grin. Enid chewed on a piece of bacon slowly, the crumbs turning to ash in her mouth. Her eyes caught on the way Jake's grip had tightened on his silverware. "I think I'll probably have to find him right away, but you two can say hello to Mickey Mouse for me." She tried to laugh, her throat burning. His eyes rose from his pancakes and met her own. That same anxiety-inducing look rimming his irises. He exhaled slowly, taking a long sip of his water. "Listen, Enid, I need to tell you something-" Jake started, his voice shaky.