Book Of Days

One day, one night, one moment,
with a dream to believe in.
One step, one fall, one falter,
and a new earth across a wide ocean.
This way became my journey,
this day ends together, Far and Away.

Book of Days.
Enya

****

This would be the last suitcase she would ever pack.

Satisfaction washed over her as she gingerly plunked her last bag upon the floor, then settled down with a smile upon the bed. She wanted to dance an insane dance of freedom, but her poor body simply wouldn't allow it.

The door to her room swung open and, as if by cue, there was Adam, with an insane grin upon his face.

"The cab's downstairs!" He said, bending down to retrieve her suitcase. She stopped him with a plaintive, outstretched hand.

"No lifting, Adam," She said, "You promised."

"Yeah, and you promised me that you wouldn't pack," He said smugly.

She rolled her eyes, "Stacy's late. I think she's still underneath Jeff."

"Hey, we were once like that," He laughed, "They'll get out of bed some time soon." He flicked the room's television set off, "Jay said he would help, but he's in the middle of a Resident Evil session with Rob."

Amy rolled her eyes, "Well, we're never going to see THEM again..."

"Trish with Chris?"

"Yep. Stephanie's with Kurt, of course."

Adam eyed his live-in girlfriend, knowing how she felt about her best friend being too busy with a relationship to spare her much of a thought, "You sure you don't want me to try to lift this thing by myself?"

"No."

At that point, Stacy barged through the door, dragging Jeff in by the hand. They appeared similarly dazed, as though they had just shared a joint. But their freshly-showered bodies and giggly existence seemed to told the world what had been going on.

"Ready to go, guys?" Jeff asked briskly, grabbing Adam's bags.

Amy nodded, standing with Stacy's help, then pulling Adam to his feet. "I'm going to miss you guys," Amy admitted on a sigh, "I wanted to see everyone this morning."

Stacy's eyes lit up as she picked up Amy's bags, "Adam, you finally did it! Congrats, guys!"

Adam could almost feel Amy's eyes stab through his flesh as they locked up the hotel room, "No. Not that."

Stacy's face fell, but Jeff seemed to be holding back a laugh, "What's going on, then?"

Amy took a deep breath as they entered a waiting elevator, "Adam and I gave our notices this morning. We've quit the company."

A long pause breached their conversation. Stacy burst into laughter as they hit the lobby.

"Come on, guys; this business is in your blood! There's no way you can..."

"...give up the grind of the road? The endless injuries? The having to pretend to be uninvolved so that some horny guy in Missouri can wack off to my picture without feeling guilty about peeking at 'Edge's girl'?" Amy smiled, "It's just...enough's enough."

"And you're giving up everything so that you and Amy can run off to Georgia together?" Asked Jeff, sounding equally incredulous. "After four years of hard work?!"

Adam sighed, "I know you're upset about it, but we need this, Jeff." Adam smiled fondly, "Hey, maybe it's not forever. We might come back, after my surgery; I mean, Vince would take me back, after all I've done for him..."

Amy's expression showed a disapproval that belied Adam's hopeful words. She lent an ear to Stacy as the blonde helped Jeff load the cab's trunk.

"...But you can't go! Who am I going to talk about girlie stuff with?!"

Amy counted out a series of names upon her newly-manicured fingers, "Lisa. Stephanie. Trish..."

Stacy frowned, "You know what I mean, Ames. You're my best friend."

Amy gently rested a hand on the young blonde's shoulders; it wasn't a mutual emotion, but a sincere one nonetheless. The redhead had taken a very confident and yet lonely Stacy under her wing when the young girl had entered the company, and for Amy it had been like trying to reach out to the popular kids back in high school; an act filled with caution.

But Stacy had needed her company; needed someone to pep-talk her through her days and nights in this foreign, male-filled world. And Amy felt surprise at the fact that, almost two years later, she was the one leaving the company.

Jeff slammed the trunk closed, "Don't be a stranger, Adam," Jeff said, offering his hand for a shake, "I'd fly down to Atlanta for your surgery, but you know I can't get time off.." Jeff found himself swept into a strong, very masculine hug; Amy noticed with amusement the lightly-tap-the-back-and-call-each-other-bro method to their hug. She and Stacy embraced in a far more affectionate way.

In minutes, Amy and Adam were driving off into the sunrise, toward their "vacation" in Atlanta. Stacy fought back tears.

"We'll hear from them," She said, bravely, for the benefit of none other than herself, "Amy promised she'd email me."

Jeff smiled, sympathetically; their friendships hadn't been the strongest objective in the past few months. He wrapped his arm around Stacy and led her back into the hotel, not saying one way or the other if he believed her.


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