【 ɪ ꜱ ʟ ᴀ 】

"Isla!"

The young woman scrambled to shove the remainder of clothes into her bag at the voice. She'd packed the night before, but then she had to double-check she had everything, so she'd taken everything out to confirm she had all the supplies needed. She should've known she wouldn't have time.

Once again, "Isla!"

Isla ignored it. Instead, she quickly slipped the second earbud into her ear and turned the music up. The blissful sounds of what Ruairi called 'depressing shit' sung in her mind, drowning out the sounds of being rushed.

The bag zipped up just as the door to the young woman's room flew open. Someone was talking, but their words were muffled due to the music. Deep breaths, just talk. Isla paused her music and glanced up at the person who had entered.

Her mother made motions to take her earbuds out, and although the music had already been turned off, Isla obliged silently. Standing up, she slipped the cord of her earbuds into the pocket of her overalls and turned her lackluster gaze to her mom, Janith. Feigned the most innocent voice she could, Isla gave an angelic smile. "Yes, mother?" I totally wasn't ignoring you earlier.

Janith didn't appear to appreciate the coyness and crossed her arms over her chest. "Isla! I've been calling you!" She glanced over Isla's shoulder, at the duffel. "Were you not packed?"

Oh boy. "I was. Just had to double-check everything." The truth, in this scenario, was bound to play positively to her mother's almost domineering need for perfection.

"Oh," Isla's mother paused, thinking that one over. "Alright. Good. Now, your friends should be arriving soon, no?"

Isla nodded.

Janith's mouth crooked up in that way that revealed she was annoyed but didn't want to show it. As if everyone hadn't figured that one out already. "Then why aren't you downstairs waiting? Honey, you mustn't ever keep your friends waiting!" The mother seemed appalled at the very thought.

The young woman's face softened at her mother's words. Even if Janith had an... odd way of showing it, she clearly cared. After all, Isla knew her mom had never had many friends. All she was trying to do was trying to make sure Isla kept hers. It was sweet. If only she wasn't so passive-aggressive about it. "I know," She started, picking up her bag. "Is Eve downstairs?"

At the mention of Isla's sister, Janith gave a curt nod and stepped away from the door to allow passage through. "She is. As are Chloe and Reese. They came to see you off."

"Oh, awesome!" The teenager exclaimed, slipping past her mom and rushing down the stairs. Janith mumbled something about running in the house under her breath, but Isla didn't take the time to stay and ask about it. Leaping down the last two steps, Isla was greeted by the familiar faces of her Eve and her girlfriends.

Reese was up quickly, rushing over to wrap the small woman in a hug. Eve and Chloe remained where they were on the couch, but the older sister turned around and rested her arms on the back of the couch to face Isla. "You gonna leave soon?" Reese asked, finally pulling away from the hug to get a good luck of Isla's face. Her dark brown eyes searched the young woman for any signs of doubt or anxiety, and when they found none, she smiled widely.

Isla hummed in agreement, barely suppressing a wide grin at the concern her sister's girlfriend displayed for her. It was gratifying to be cared for. She didn't need it, but it was nice. "They'll be here any minute."

The young woman before her gave a nod of understanding, clasped her hands together excitedly, and glancing back at Chloe and Eve. "Guys, come on. She's leaving soon. Don't just sit there!"

Eve laughed but gave in, gently slipping away from Chloe's embrace and standing up. After a quick stretch, she pulled her sitting girlfriend to her feet and joined Reese, who slung an arm around Eve once she was in reach.

"You're getting so sophisticated," Chloe whispered, sticking close to her partners but flashing a timid smile. "I can't believe you're leaving for two whole months."

Isla, growing slightly awkward at Chloe's comment, gave a shrug-nod combo. While Chloe was the most like her, being more on the demure side, they weren't the closest. Even after two years of dating Eve, Chloe had yet to try and really get to know Isla. Not that Isla minded, really. The teenager turned to her sister for aid in continuing the conversation.

Happily obliging, Eve moved away from her girlfriends and wrapped her younger sister in a hug. "I'm gonna miss you, Dove," The soft, comforting use of the young woman's middle name made Isla's heart flutter with adoration for the sister in front of her.

A new thought struck her.

How was she going to be away from her sister for two months? The longest she'd been away from her family was like... three days! And even then, she'd returned sobbing about how much she'd missed them. "Are you sure I should go?" She blurted out, not letting Eve out of the embrace quite yet.

Eve scoffed, "Of course you should. What else are ya gonna do? Not take the chance to get a break from mom?" The older sister frowned softly. "If you miss us, just send a text, okay? You're gonna go celebrate your birthday, so enjoy it!"

Reese, who had been drumming her fingers along Chloe's shoulder, finally lost control and broke into the conversation. "Exactly! Two months of sheer fun and friends! What else could you want?"

Isla chuckled awkwardly, "Yeah. I guess," While still not convinced, she didn't want them to feel bad for not being able to console her. She gave herself a quick shake and backed out of her sister's hug. "No, you're right. This is good! This is fun! I love you guys and thanks."

"Anytime!" Eve responded cheerily, clasping a hand over the teenager's shoulder. "You've got your witch shit?"

A flare of defiance scorched through Isla, and she scrunched up her face in dramatized offense. "It's not witch shit! But yes, I do have my crystals. Thanks for asking."

Her phone buzzed, undoubtedly a message from one of the group members announcing their arrival, and Isla took a deep breath and smiled. She glanced up the stairs where Janith was standing and took a step to go up and hug the woman, but her mom took a step back at the motion. The message was clear. Isla shook off her hurt at that and offered a smile instead.

"Okay! I'll see you all in two months!"

Rushing out of the house, Isla brightened at the sight of the RV parked in the driveway.

The cheers from her family behind her fueled Isla's confidence, launching her into a run toward the RV. But the lack of a particular voice in the cheer made her stomach churn.

Would her father cheer for her if he was there?

And why did she even want him there? After everything he'd done to their family, why couldn't she just forget about him?

Ruairi's shout drew Isla out of her thoughts, "Let's get this show on the road! Literally!"