Moving Forward

Not choosing either Amy or Kylie meant that while neither of them was happy with you both were ok with you and each other, so you got on with life. Kylie still joined you for hikes and Amy spent some time with you each night after dinner. The two of them working together however seemed to be a match made in heaven. For all if Kylie's big ideas Amy was there to ground her and for all of Amy's pessimism regarding the world and trans people Kylie was there to uplift her. As December came they had found three people in need of a home before the holidays and they'd tapped you to go into Boise and collect them.

"Noah, Cheri, and Riley," yoi said reading their information.

"Cheri is a very outgoing and opinionated girl," said Kylie, "you'll like her."

"Noah on the other hand," said Amy is coming from a really rough situation in a state that's bad for trans people, he may not trust you."

"Riley," said Kylie, "they're kind of a bitch."

"Is that in the DSM-V?" you asked as Kylie punched your arm rather hard.

"I'm just saying you may just need to give them space," said Kylie.

"But what if I'm just extra charming?" you asked as they both rolled their eyes.

Them spending time together might not be for the best you decided in that moment. Kylie went to collect flight information and you were left with Amy.

"How are you doing Ames?"

She seemed caught off guard by the question, "I'm," she paused, "fine."

You hadn't been taught much about women but you knew that fine was bad.

"Amy," you said taking her hand.

"Just, at Thanksgiving," she paused, "I thought for sure you were going to choose Kylie. I think that would have ruined me, but you didn't and now I feel like we're in limbo."

"You asked for space," you said, she pulled her hand away.

"Maybe I still need it," she got up and left you to pack for your trip.

You didn't have much to do but you made sure to hook the plow onto the truck just in case. As you were making final preparations Kylie found you.

"Not making a choice is in itself a choice," she said.

"You said I needed to find out how to be happy," you said, "I'm working on it."

"I poured my heart out for you Dave," she said, "I was sure you were going to choose Amy but nothing?"

"I don't think I'm in the right head space to offer either of you what you deserve," you said, "if you don't want to wait, I get it."

"I did wait Dave, every damn day since Anna died."

She stormed away and you took a moment to collect your thoughts. It was already flurrying, you had to leave now or you'd be late for Noah.

"Hey," came a voice, you turned and saw Nyx holding a bag, "room for one more?"

"It'll be tight," you said, "but sure, I could use a friend."

Nyx smiled and climbed in as you started the drive to Boise. You had her call ahead and book a third room and luckily you were able to get it.

"Are they both mad at you?" asked Nyx as she hung up with the hotel.

"Amy is hurt, Kylie is mad."

"I thought Amy was your person," said Nyx, "but I understand what a tough place you were in."

"Thanks Nyx," you said as the wind picked up and you had to steady the truck.

You pulled into Boise just as Noah's flight was landing, you got to the gate as he emerged from the airport not at all dressed for the weather.

"Neither of them thought to tell him it's cold here?" asked Nyx angrily pulling off her coat and running to Noah.

You cranked the heat and soon you were dropping Noah off at one of the rooms.

"I'll stay with him," said Nyx, "drive safe."

You headed back out and arrived just in time to get Cheri, the tall black woman was chatty telling you all about her flight and one rude steward.

"Nyx," you said entering the room she was in, "this is Cheri."

"Oh damn you're pretty," said Nyx, "wanna room together?"

Nyx had all the subtly of a freight train. As you went to head back out you found a familiar strawberry blonde in the lobby angrily texting.

"Erica?" you asked.

"Oh shit," she said when she recognized you, "what are you doing here?"

"Picking up some people from the airport," you said, "what are you doing here?"

"Ugh, flight for grounded and there are no rooms anywhere," she said.

"You remember Nyx?"

"Beautiful girl," said Erica, "I was supposed to visit her soon."

"She's in room 309," you said handing her the spare key card.

As you got out to the truck you got a text from Amy, Riley's flight had been grounded, they were stuck in Salt Lake City.

"Shit," you muttered to yourself.

You got on the elevator with Erica who seemed surprised to see you again so soon.

"Hey," said Nyx blushing as she opened the door to see Erica, "wait what are you doing here?"

"Sorry to ruin the reunion," you said, "Nyx Riley is stuck in Salt Lake City, I'm going to get them."

"You're leaving," said Nyx, "what am I supposed to do, we've got these people here and-"

She was hyperventilating, you took her hands in yours and looked her in the eyes.

"You've got this Nyx," you said, "take my keys, enjoy the night, drive back in the morning, that's all you need to do."

"Hey," said Erica, "you're ok beautiful girl."

Nyx calmed down and as you walked out into the snowstorm and towards the car rental place you called Amy.

"I'm going to get Riley," you said.

"Dave that's insane it's awful out there."

"Are the mormons usually kind to people of alternative lifestyles," she paused and suddenly there was another voice on the line.

"Dave," said Kylie, "you don't need to be a hero."

"I know," you said finally getting out of the snow, "Nyx will bring Noah and Cheri there tomorrow, she has Erica with her, a friend from Cheyenne."

"That's not important Dave," said Kylie, it sounded like she was fighting back tears, "don't go out there."

You paused looking at all of the info you had on Riley from Kylie, it wasn't much but they'd been on their own since high school. They dropped out after their parents had thrown them out and been in and out of juvie and rehab.

"I'm sorry Ky," you said, "I'll call you from Salt Lake City."

You hung up and turned to the rathet annoyed looking rent a car employee.

"You seriously going to drive in that?" they asked.

"Yeah," you said, "seems so."

They gave you their only remaining four wheel drive vehicle and you crept out of Boise. The GPS said five hours, your gut told you more based on the weather.

Two hours in and the storm wasn't letting up, you'd barely made it out of Idaho and still had a ways to go. Time passed, there were few other cars on the road, the plows hadn't come out yet, there was still so much snow falling. You lost cell reception and radio. You kept driving, the sound of the tires crunching snow and the engine the only things to keep you focused. It was late, based on your knowledge of the area you were lost. Your eyelids grew heavy, the GPS, when it found you, said you still had two and a half hours to go, you'd been driving for five hours at this point.

Sleep crept up, you skidded barely managing to keep your vehicle on the road. Why were you doing this you asked yourself? You didn't know Riley from a hole in the wall. The two women you cared about more than anything had begged you not to go and now here you were. As your head bobbed again you saw salvation, and it looked oddly like a truck stop.

You pulled in and despite your overwhelming need for sleep you walked into the little building and found a relic of a bygone age, a payphone. You had installed a land line at the compound, it went to your office. You dialed with your only change and waited, one ring, two, three, four...

"Hello?" came Kylie's voice.

"Hey Ky," you said rubbing sleep from your eyes.

"You stupid dipshit," she yelled.

"I'm happy to hear from you too."

"Where are you?"

"Honestly," you said looking around for a map or a sign, "I have no clue, I'm at a truck stop I'm going to stay here and head out when the storm passes."

"You better come back," she said, "because I'm going to kill you."

"Not really a reason for me to come back Ky."

There was rustling and you heard Amy's voice, "I'm glad you're ok."

"Thanks Ames."

You slept uncomfortably in the vehicle but sleep won out over the pain you knew you'd be feeling in your shoulder and back come morning. When you did wake up the sun was blazing, it was freezing and you'd gotten a whole four hours. Your cell reception was back and you had a location for Riley. Twoish hours later, with nothing but vending machine coffee to keep you going you rolled into Salt Lake City. Amy had gotten Riley a hotel room and you hoped to use it. You knocked on the door and someone with a shaved head opened the door.

"Are you Dave?" they asked.

"That's me," you said leaning on the doorframe mostly conscious.

"Amy and Doctor Paige said you were coming," said Riley, "you look like shit."

"Nice to meet you too," you said, "listen, there are no other rooms, I've barely slept and I need to bathe."

"Fine," they said with a sigh.

You took a hot shower and a moment later you were out cold. When you came to it was noon, you ordered food and splashed some water in your face.

"Doctor Paige called," said Riley who was sitting on the other bed watching something on their phone, "she was pretty pissed at you."

"Yea I gathered," you said.

"You really drove out into a blizzard to come get me?" they said.

"Yeah," you said packing your things.

"Nobody does stuff like that," they said, "especially for me."

"Get ready," you said, "we have at least a six hour drive ahead of us.

As you drove back toward home Riley sat quietly in the passenger seat, they weren't offering anything and you weren't going to press.

You dialed home and Amy picked up," you ok?" she asked, "Riley said you were in rough shape."

"I'm better now," you said, "on my way back, probably six hours."

"Ok," said Amy, "Nyx just got here with everyone."

"Good," you said, "I'm proud of her."

There was silence.

"Dave," said Amy, "I, when you get back. "

Amy stopped seemingly unsure what she wanted to say.

"We can talk about it when I get back," you said.

You hung up and continued to drive, the roads were cleared of snow but still pretty empty.

"Girl's got it bad," said Riley.

"Amy?" you asked.

"Her and Doctor Paige," said Riley looking you over, "I mean you're not unattractive."

"Thanks," you said.

"I'm just saying if you were charming to me in a bar I might give you the night," said Riley, "but that's not what either of them want."

"Yeah," you said, "I know."

"So, who do you like?"

"It's complicated," you said.

"Always is," said Riley, "dad couldn't choose between heroin or his family, mom couldn't choose between me or the church, although she finally did."

Was this really what you were going to do for six hours?

"What about you," you asked, "you ever had to make a hard choice?"

"Yeah," said Riley, "all the fucking time and I always make the wrong one."

"I don't want to make the wrong one," you said.

"At least your wrong choice isn't going to get you thrown out, or arrested, or hooked on heroin, or-"

They stopped seemingly overcome with emotion.

"Hey," you said taking their hand, "you've had a rough go, no doubt about it, but you're working with Doctor Paige, and you'll be welcome here, as long as you need or want."

Riley tugged their hand back, "you're annoyingly optimistic."