"Have you got everything, dear?" her mom was popping her head through the door. "Not leaving anything behind, are you?" Erika surveyed her daughter's room, looking slightly amused. Indeed, the room was almost bare - Leo had packed everything of value, sentimental or practical. "You really should leave a bit behind, pumpkin, just in case. Some of your books?"

Her daughter grunted, "No mom, I told you, I'm not coming back this time." She paused, looking up from where she was rummaging in a drawer. "Well, not until graduation I guess. And maybe a few times to visit. But not before then."

Erika laughed at her daughter's stern look, "Alright, alright, I'll leave it alone. But you really should take a break and come down. Your brothers will be here soon and you don't want to miss the spookies your dad's making."

"I'll be down.. later or something." Leo waved a hand, distracted. Her mother simpled shook her head and left.

Really, this drawer was a mess - why hadn't she ever bothered to keep things tidier? Dimly she made a promise to keep her dorm cleaner than this. If she ever managed to actually get back to school, that is. So far there'd been two emergencies the last couple times she'd tried to go back. In fact, this was the third 'see Leo off to Amityville'-gathering her family had held in recent times.

It'd be the last one, if she had anything to say. She'd been enrolled for nearly two years, but had spent the far majority of that time home; called back for various family emergencies. Really, it was ridiculous just how many situations one family could get itself into. Granted, Leo's family was fairly large, but still. She'd begun to wonder if there was some inherent brain deficiency that made them more prone to suicidal accidents.

But this time, this time she was staunch. Nothing less than an actual, permanent death would be able to bring her back before time. And maybe she'd actually be able to pass a class this time. Maybe. She wasn't holding her breath though; probably best to start off small and work on passing a test before she jumped into the deep end.

And maybe make some friends too. Yeah, that'd be nice. Leo nodded to herself. Very nice indeed.

((Tinytiny solo!))