Run Away From It All

[themariahjames]

"Never again am I volunteering to sleep on the floor of the bus. Ugh." Mariah groaned, trying to pop their back before slumping down into a seat and rubbing their eyes vigorously. "Do we have any other pillows around here? I think someone keeps swapping mine out each night with a lumpy one." They inquired, not really expecting an answer, but it was worth a shot.  

[siobhanpyke-blog]

Siobahn rolled her eyes and handed Mariah a glass of orange juice, patting the top of their head before moving to sit beside them and place her feet in Mariah's lap. "I don't know why you're so insistent on not sleeping in the same bed as us. You can sleep between me and Cypher that way he doesn't get sleep jealous whenever Lottie tears me away from him." She smirked at Mariah, sipping from her coffee and watching their reaction.

[felixdesmaraisx]

"Mm." He neither affirmed nor denied the accusation, only gave a cryptic smile in response to it. He’d been subject to many theories but it never ceased to amuse him at what lengths his friends imaginations were willing to go to create them. He’d roll with it, as long as it kept all them from finding out what really went on with him and his sister. "So, I’ve been told."

[siobhanpyke-blog]

Sio raised an eyebrow at him before shaking her head and finishing the construction of their sandwiches. She handed Thayer his before leaning against the counter and taking a bite out of hers. Her eyes trailed over the Russian in front of her before she cleared her throat. "So are you done for the day or do you plan on going out again?"

[felixdesmaraisx]

"I wouldn’t exactly call it that but…" he dragged a hand through his hair and watched her as she set his prized bottled down. Thayer leaned against the sink, crossing his arms across his chest as he regarded the other brunette. "Wouldn’t be surprised if she takes me for all I’ve got. Dangerous girl, that one."

[siobhanpyke-blog]

Sio may have been pretty tall, but Thayer was the second tallest in the group, so she was having to look up at him while they talked. "I would call it exactly that." She quirked an eyebrow and began to move around the kitchen, pulling things out of the fridge to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. "You're both dangerous," Siobhan muttered under her breath. "Cypher and Mariah get together and whisper theories about you two being Russian spies."

[siobhanpyke-blog]

An Email & A Bottle of Vodka

[cypherwashington-blog]

Cypher bit back the remark that came to mind when she declared it wasn’t her father she was wasting her liver for. He already knew she was talking about her mother, drunken confessions in the past confirming the fact. Instead he stole a fry from her pile, munching on it as she took her time to collect her thoughts. The small laugh was enough to let him know that she wasn’t fully down the rabbit hole of sadness, if only for a moment. Something so miniscule could seem impossible to work with, but Cypher has had practice.

“A competition? Thayer would have no chance and you know it. Lottie would bat her eyes and have Thayer and the clerk robbing for her,” Cypher stated, only mentioning the obvious. It was an interesting dynamic that joined the group when the twins first got on the bus. He was weary at first, for maybe thirty seconds, before just going with it. No harm was being done to him or Siobhan, and the twins had a charm about them. The whole group had a charm about them. He was surprised at the lack of surprise his parents had when he phoned home a few weeks ago to explain what they were up to. Something about the spirit of the 70s living on in their bus made him hang up quicker than usual.

Humming in disagreement, Cypher paused his mouth to let his brain collect his words carefully. Cypher was no stranger to the argument that they couldn’t run forever. He dealt with it himself from time to time when the night hit and everyone else was asleep. It was a nice fantasy to think about them all staying together until the end of days, but it was just a fantasy. What she needed now though wasn’t the cold hard truth, but reassurance, so that was what Cypher tried to offer her.

“That was a low blow, and a false one at that. I mean, look at your life, you’re surrounded by people who love you, and if my mother taught me anything – mom’s just want their children to be happy and loved…” He paused, leaning over to kiss her cheek. “And you my dear Siobhan, are loved.” He made sure to punctuate the fact by placing his hands on either side of her face and kissing her lips. Pulling back, he mentioned, “Although your dad is right, she would be disappointed in the fact that you are not happy right now, but it’s his actions that would disappoint her the most.” 

[siobhanpyke-blog]

Her eyes drifted closed as Cypher's lips pressed against her cheek, a promise that he didn't need to say aloud, one she always felt when their skin would simply brush. She took a calming breath, absorbing his words into her foggy brain, washed heavily with the feeling of being drunk. Leaning into the kiss, Sio savored the flavor of vodka and fries and salt on Cypher's lips, her hand moving to rest on his side. When he pulled away, she found herself burying her face into the side of his neck, taking even breaths that matched his in order to remain calm.

She thought about her mother and what she remembered from so long ago, memories fading as time went on and new ones were not there to replace the old. She remembered a smile that never faded, dark hair that held a wave that made a young Siobhan think her mother was a mermaid. Her parents smiling at each other, so helplessly in love with the other, whispers of loving words told as she was put to bed each night. Then came the endless tears and sadness, Danielle slowly withering away until nothing remained but a body in a casket, a man who didn't know how to handle himself after her death, a daughter who grew up on her own to become a hardened soul that hid herself away.

There was a realization that somewhere along her train of thought, Siobhan began to shake and shiver, either from her emotion overload that came after ignoring them for so long or the cold sea air. It didn't stop her from folding herself as small as she could despite her long limbs and crawling into Cypher's lap. "I love you, too, Washington." She knew what he said to her was meant to comfort her, even if he wasn't telling it straight. He was telling her the facts and skating around ones that could stay buried a little longer.

Siobhan pressed her cold nose against the collarbones of her love, eyes slipping closed. "He expects a reply," she murmured, her tone flat and uncaring. Sio growled and fisted the front of Cypher's shirt. "Asshole." It was directed towards her father, miles and miles away from her at the moment, but always looming over her shoulder.

[felixdesmaraisx]

"C’mon, Sio. Don’t be so hard on yourself," he extracted the bottle of vodka from his steep pockets and handed it off to her. "You are an exciting person. You seen my sister around?"

[siobhanpyke-blog]

She took the bottle and whistled before setting it on one of the counters in the kitchen designated area. "Nah, I haven't. I do know that if she managed to snag more than one bottle though, you're going to be paying your bet. Did you guys put a wager on it?"

[siobhanpyke-blog]

An Email & A Bottle of Vodka

[cypherwashington-blog]

His question was more rhetorical than anything. It wasn’t like he was expecting her to just immediately start talking about what was bothering her. That wasn’t the type of woman he had fallen in love with so many years ago. Besides, he knew the scent of the fries were too tantalizing, especially for someone with as much alcohol in their body that he knew her small frame could pack away. So there Cypher sat, watching the ocean crash into the sand, enjoying the small breezes that came with each crash, and patiently waited.

The waiting game was something Cypher had to quickly learn and master, because one doesn’t last long with Siobhan Pyke if they cannot handle the brooding moments. History had a way of repeating itself, especially around certain death anniversaries and whenever father of the year decided to try and be a part of she bone’s life. A little vodka, a few joints, and some salty sweet food always helped ease the hurt a little bit, and Cypher was kicking himself mentally for not opting to buy the chocolate milkshake along with the fries.

Nibbling on his fry, Cypher’s eyes followed the motion of Siobhan’s hand, a small smile appearing on his face as he realized she was watching him surf this morning after all. “You should come out and join me sometime, she-bone. I’ll properly show off for you” he teased, knocking their shoulders against each other lightly. Turning to look at her face as she offered the bottle, his smile softened as he took her eyes in fully. It wasn’t hard to decipher what was eating at her, for he had seen this look many a time in their past. Shaking his hand in a way to decline the drink, he softly said, “One more sip for you and then you’re done, bones. Can’t have you wasting away your liver for him.”

Waiting for her to finish her final sip, he finally took the bottle from her. Throwing a little caution to the wind - and whatever was going to be said from her lips - Cypher took a swig of the vile stuff before placing it far from Siobhan’s arms reach. Coughing from the burn, Cypher wiped the saliva from his mouth and managed to choke out, “Remind me to buy or have the twins steal a better brand.” Hoping to get a chuckle from her for the offshoot comment about the twins’ thievery, Cypher went back to staring at the ocean, scooting his body closer to Siobhans, almost flush with hers.

“What has the big bad meanie-headed scientist have to say now?” he asked, throwing in her childish insult name for her father in hopes of lightening the mood. 

[siobhanpyke-blog]

Siobhan sighed before taking her last large gulp, making sure to savor the last bit she would get for the night, the burn of the alcohol burning its way down her throat and reflecting the fire that was burning inside of her bones. There was a scoff about the state of her liver, her eyes flickering away as she tried to hide the real emotions she was feeling. "It''s not him it's wasting for," she murmured lowly, a dark edge creeping into it. Everything was for him, everything. But not the reason she drank away her pain. No, that was reserved for someone else, and they already were wasted away, never to be returned or healed. Sio grabbed another handful of fries and placed one by one into her mouth.

There was a huff of laughter, small and barely existing but existing all the same, over the twins and the deeds they got up to. "We could make it a competition, save the money for more important things. Lottie would manage at least three bottles, and she would get all the ones that she knows Mariah hates." Her words softened as she discussed the others, as they held a place in her heart right next to Cypher now, buried deep and claws latched onto her in their own way. She wasn't getting away from them anytime soon even if she desired to.

Despite his attempt at making her smile, the mention of her father just made her stiffen and scowl, eyes darting back to the bottle in hopelessness, knowing that she wouldn't be getting anymore even if she begged. It was hypocritical of her, going against everything she preached to Mariah about not using alcohol as a crutch. Siobhan looked over at Cypher, admiring how the sun added red hues to his dark skin, her mind running over what she was to say about what her father requested. "He says that this idea of mine to run away won't work forever and that I should come home." She sighed and ran a hand through her hair as her eyes hardened again, the walls slipping up to force away her emotions that were as unwanted as mosquitoes. "Said Danielle would be disappointed in me and my actions." 

Sio gritted her teeth and shook her head, taking a deep, sharp breath through her nose. "Like he didn't use that card on me ever since her death."

[felixdesmaraisx]

"A menace?"

"What are you trying to say, rybka?”

[siobhanpyke-blog]

Siobhan smirked before looking down at Thayer's stuffed jeans with squinted eyes. "I know you aren't that excited to see me."

[siobhanpyke-blog]

An Email & A Bottle of Vodka

[cypherwashington-blog]

In another life, Cypher would bet his life savings that he was a mermaid, siren of the sea, son of Poseidon, and the little mermaid’s best friend who taught Sebastian how to get funky. That is to say, as a child all he wanted to do was visit beaches and pretend that he could swim off and join the sea creatures instead of bargaining Ursula for some legs and a basic prince – Ariel could have done better. At the age of seven his father drove him out to the Gulf of Mexico, labeled it a father son weekend vacation, and taught him how to surf. That weekend all he learned was how to fall into the ocean, but it started a family tradition – one that Cypher couldn’t pass up the second he saw sand, water, and a surf shack down the way.

Spending every second with six other people in a small space can make one crave solitude, and that’s exactly what the ocean could give Cypher. It wasn’t that he did not love every single person that joined them on the bus, he was just so used to it being the Siobhan and Cypher show – but even as a duo Cypher still found himself wandering away for short periods of time. As the salty air hit his lungs, Cypher felt peace. These were the little moments of freedom that were convincing enough to stay away from home. Home represented permanence, responsibility, and a certain air of expectance from him as each year aged him. His parents loved him, constantly told him that his twenties were for him to discover what he wanted out of life, and to continue road tripping until he found that ‘permanence’. It was what came after his twenties that kept Cypher up at night.

It wasn’t until midday that the urge to eat finally won over spending more time with the fishes. Returning the board and body suit, and hitting up the local burger joint that had ‘gnarly fries and fish tacos’ Cypher made his way back to the double decker bus, only to find it still empty. Taking a wild guess - and deciding even if it was wrong he could have dinner and a show - Cypher brought the brown paper bag with grease stains that by the looks of it were already clogging his heart arteries up to the roof of the bus. The scent of rubbing alcohol hit his nostrils before his eyes could take in the sight of his love.

Without batting an eye Cypher sat down next to Sio, opened the greasy bag, and pointed it in her direction. “Want to talk about it, or want to cover it up with greasy goodness?” Waiting for her reply, he took a fry from the bag and popped it into his mouth. The sound of a crisp crunch let him know that the surfer dude wasn’t lying about the fries being ‘gnarly’ and damn tasty. 

[siobhanpyke-blog]

Siobhan had seen Cypher come out of the water, his body dripping with the salty water that she knew flew through his veins more than blood did. She figured that she had a while before he figured out she was up here, so she continued her drinking and pretending that there wasn't an e-maill that needed to be responded to before the day's end. Even if it were a one sentenced reply, but even that seemed to weigh too heavily on her to be able to bring herself to do it. Maybe that was the alcohol sitting heavily in her though, and Sio thought that perhaps she should have climbed down from her roof perch and gone with Cypher. A piece of hair fell in her face, and she huffed at it just as Cypher planted himself next to her.

Planted was a good way to describe it because he had rooted himself in her life long ago. He was enough of a free spirit to be described as a tree, and she was sighing as she pictured him as one, a talking one that cared for the rest of the forest just like in Lord of the Rings. Her hand found its way to the bag as she grabbed a handful of the fries and shoved a few in her mouth, chewing them to mush before swallowing them down with a small sip of the vodka. Her eyes didn't look to him, staying entranced by the way the waves lapped at the shore. It was almost like two lovers, but the ocean continued to be ripped away from the shore by the jealous moon who wanted to keep them apart. She felt bad for the ocean.

"You're getting better at..." Sio motioned to the water with her hand that was wrapped around the bottle before turning and offering him it, her eyes finally locking with his. It was probably a mistake because she knew how see through she was for him. It was also a chance to see how he would react to the alcohol, indulge her and let her continue on to drink or take it away. The outcome always was different depending on what he saw in her eyes. He had to have been some kind of mystical being in another life. She loved it. 

[siobhanpyke-blog]

An Email & A Bottle of Vodka

They were on the west coast somewhere along California, the bus parked near the beach because everyone liked the freedom that the ocean seemed to offer, an endless abyss of swirling tides and deep sea creatures. The sun was setting over the curve of the world that stretched on for miles and miles, an orange glow casting itself onto every surface and making it seem as if the world had decided to set itself on fire. Siobhan wasn't quite sure where everyone had gone, wondering off in their usual way when they decided to stay somewhere for longer than a gas refill or a fix up with their normal shop somewhere in the Midwest middle of nowhere, and she had made herself comfortable on the roof of the bus, a place of solace for whenever someone needed to do some heavy thinking. It apparently cleared the brain. Something else that happened to do that as well was the influence of alcohol, which Sio had covered when she snagged the bottle of vodka they kept in the freezer, something Mariah would probably be upset about once they realized it was gone, but it wasn't like they should be drinking so much anyways.

That wasn't the issue at the moment, however, phone discarded somewhere in the blankets of one of the beds and pushed away from the forefront of her mind. If it were to be unlocked, then the words of a stiffly written email would have been seen, words almost containing the idea as if they had been forced out at gun point. They were from one Dr. Pyke, Sio's father whom hadn't been too pleased about running off with nothing but a packed bag, a green bus, and the boy who he more or less did not like, and Siobhan was almost certain that his PA had insisted on him writing to her. It would have been better if he hadn't.

Now she was sitting on the roof of the bus, watching the sunset and a world on fire, and downing copious amounts of alcohol that she could indulge in since she wouldn't be depended on to drive tonight. The sound of someone climbing up after her didn't surprise her as much as she thought it should have, not with this group anyways.

[siobhanpyke-blog]

Follow Luce!

[siobhanpyke-blog]

Follow Thayer!

[siobhanpyke-blog]

Follow Lottie!

[siobhanpyke-blog]

Follow Alex!

[siobhanpyke-blog]

Follow Cypher Washington

[siobhanpyke-blog]

Follow Mariah James!