Chapter Text
They left for California on New Years’ Day. Lexie and Ethan said it sounded good. As Ethan put it, it was ‘symbolic and stuff, new beginnings and all that Hallmark channel shit.’
Tom and Becky had been helping them load a few more belongings into Ethan’s car. Most of their stuff was already in there, from the morning of Black Friday. Hannah remembered that Lex made her pack clothes and stuff, what she needed plus some other fun things to keep her entertained on the long drive. Ethan had promised they’d go get some chocolate for the car, at the candy store, before everything had turned bad.
Now he was holding a Hershey bar out to her, pilfered from his Uncle’s refrigerator as Lex checked their supplies one last time.
“Hey, Banana Split,” he said, smiling his signature lopsided smile. “I promised you some chocolate for the ride, didn’t I?”
Hannah smiled softly up at him and took the chocolate from his hand. “We’ll share.”
Ethan was still healing. His limp had noticeably lessened and he had full mobility back in both his arms. He claimed that he was shipshape, but he still winced sometimes if someone hugged him too tightly and he still couldn’t look at screens for too long. Nevertheless, Becky had cleared him to leave for California, under Lex’s watchful eye. The only condition was that Ethan was absolutely not allowed to drive. Hannah wasn’t sure if that was actually Becky’s rule or Lex had just told him it was.
Either way, it left him free to entertain her on the way to California, so she wasn’t upset about it.
“Will you sit in back with me if Lexie has to drive?” Hannah tilted her head as she looked at him. Hatchetfield Middle School hadn’t taught her much, but Hannah did understand the fundamental principle of puppy eyes. Some life skills couldn’t be taught in schools.
“I don’t know, Banana,” Ethan said, grinning and ruffling her hair. He knew full well he’d give in to whatever she wanted. “Don’t you think Lexie will get lonely in front without me?”
“Maybe a little,” Hannah said. “But at least for a little while?”
“For a little while, I will,” Ethan promised. “Someone’s gotta share your chocolate bar, right?”
“No!” Hannah giggled and swiped it from Ethan’s hand, moving it away. She didn’t care what she’d said before. “All mine.”
Ethan pretended to look hurt, and pouted, but before he could say anything in retort, Lex poked her head out the door and waved them inside.
“Hey, you two,” she said. “Come say goodbye before we leave. Car’s all packed.”
Ethan gave her a thumbs-up to show he heard, and then turned to Hannah. “You up to say goodbye, Banana Split? I can do it for you if you just wanna sit in the car.”
Hannah shook her head vehemently. “No. Wanna say bye.”
“Alrighty, then,” Ethan said with a laugh. “Just thought I’d offer.”
Tom, Becky, Paul, Emma and Henry were all gathered in the kitchen. Tom and Lex were talking quietly, Tom seemed to be giving her advice about something. Henry went up to Ethan to hug him goodbye. Hannah gave Paul and Emma hugs first.
“Be safe out there, alright, kiddo?” Emma said, rubbing Hannah’s back gently. Hannah knew she’d had a lot of champagne last night, so the fact that she’d gotten up to say goodbye meant a lot. Emma was good. She was nice.
“Yeah,” Paul agreed. “I’m gonna miss you, Hannah.”
“Come visit.” Hannah shrugged and said it matter-of-factly. She’d miss Paul and Emma too, but somehow she knew they wouldn’t be apart forever. Even without Webby, she knew.
“We will,” Emma promised. “Soon as this mess is sorted out, you best believe I’m coming to hang out at the beach.”
“Good.”
Hannah gave a quick hug to Tom and said goodbye to Henry next. Then she finally turned to Becky. This was going to be harder. She and Becky had gotten very close in the month and a half they’d spent together at the bunker. She’d been there for her when Lex couldn’t be. She’d listened to Hannah cry about Webby, or Linda, or a hundred other things. She was more of a mom than Hannah had ever had.
“I’ll miss you, Becky.” Hannah’s lower lip began to tremble and she bit it so she wouldn’t cry. This was a happy day. “I’ll-I’ll miss you lots.”
“I’ll miss you too, Hannah,” Becky whispered as she pulled Hannah into her arms. She pressed a light kiss to the top of Hannah’s head. “I’ll miss you so much, but you have the phone number, right?” She waited for Hannah to nod confirmation before continuing. “And you know that you can call me anytime you need anything, or just want to talk, or anything…”
“I know,” Hannah said, swallowing hard. “I’ll call. Promise.”
“I’m glad,” Becky said, pulling away and cupping Hannah’s face in her hand. “Webby’d be proud of you, y’know.”
Hannah just nodded. She still hadn’t heard anything from Webby in all this time. She’d had to come to terms with the fact that she probably wouldn’t ever hear her again. “Hope so.”
“She is,” Becky murmured, pressing one more kiss to Hannah’s head. “She is.”
She gently pulled away from Hannah after that, and went to go stand by Tom, lacing her fingers through his. Ethan put one arm around Hannah and one arm around Lex and pulled them both close as Tom addressed all of them.
“Drive safe, you three,” Tom said softly. “Give us a call when you get to California, so we know you made it okay, alright?”
“We will, Dad ,” Lex said, a grin spreading over her face. “Come visit soon.”
“Soon as we can,” Tom promised. “And don’t get smart with me.”
“Uh-huh.” Lex rolled her eyes and then turned to Ethan and Hannah. “You two ready to split?”
Hannah and Ethan looked at Lex. After a moment, they both nodded.
“Go,” Hannah said. “California.”
“That’s right, Banana Split,” Ethan said. “Let’s go Califor M.I.A.”
As promised, Ethan sat in the back of the car with her as they left Hatchetfield. It didn’t take them long to reach the edge of town, and Lex abruptly stopped and pulled the car over.
“What’s up, Lex?” Ethan said, reaching over to break off a piece of Hannah’s chocolate. She kicked him lightly in the shin in retaliation and he teasingly stuck his chocolate-covered tongue out at her before turning back to Lex. “Why’re we pullin’ over here?”
“Well, since we’re leavin’ here and never comin’ back,” Lex replied. “I figured we should stop and say a few words. It’s like a funeral, but for trauma.”
Ethan burst out laughing and Hannah began to giggle too. “I like that.” Lex grinned back at them in the rearview mirror.
“Would you like to start, Ethan?” Lex said, pretending to dab her eyes with a tissue. “I know you must have a lot to say.”
“Sure,” Ethan said. “I’ll start.” He made a big show of clearing his throat, pounding a fist on his chest, wincing, and then apparently deciding it was a good idea to stop. “Hatchetfield...you suck. You really, really, really suck. Which is why we’re leaving. I would also like to take this opportunity to say that Sam the cop? If you’re alive, no one likes you and you’re a terrible person. ACAB.” He turned to Lex. “Okay, I’m done.”
“That was beautifully said,” Lex said, giving him mock applause. “The remark about Sam the bastard cop was an especially nice touch.”
“Thanks, I was inspired,” Ethan said. “Your turn, Lexie.”
“God, I’ve been waiting for this.” Lex actually turned and knelt on her seat, so she was looking back towards the island and the town they were leaving behind. “Hatchetfield? It’s been real. Real bad. A lot of people are sentimental and shit about their hometowns when they leave, but I will not be. Hatchetfield sucks.” Lex waved her arms around wildly as she spoke. “And a general PSA to all the Hatchetfield parents except for Tom and maybe like two other people: please learn how to parent your children so their lives aren’t miserable. Thank you. That is all.” She sat back down and grinned. “How’d I do?”
Ethan pretended to wipe away tears. “And the Oscar goes to….Lex Foster, for the most amazing performance in the entire history of Hatchetfield.”
“Thank you, thank you,” Lex said, taking a bow in her seat. She turned towards Ethan. “Will you come sit up front with me now? I want company up here. I’m lonely.”
“You okay with that, Banana Split?” Ethan asked. “I’ll ride in back with you next time we stop, promise.”
Hannah nodded. “I wanna say something too.”
“Okay,” Ethan said with a nod. “You deserve it. Here, come outta the car for a sec.”
Hannah did as he asked, and Ethan hoisted her up and put her on his shoulders, wincing a bit as he did so.
“I’m fine,” he protested at Lex’s reproachful look. “It’s fine. It’s worth it.” He looked up at Hannah, who had her hands on his head to steady herself. “Alright, Banana. Say what you wanna say.”
Hannah took a deep breath and tensed her shoulders. She let her arms spread as her proclamation echoed across the lake.
“FUCK YOU, HATCHETFIELD!”
“ Hannah !” Ethan and Lex chided at the same time. Hannah giggled hysterically as Ethan set her down and she crawled into the backseat, putting her seatbelt back on.
“Felt good,” she said with a grin.
“I think we can let it slide this once,” Ethan said as he settled into the shotgun seat beside Lex. “If you bribe me with chocolate.”
“And me!” Lex added, holding her hand out with a mischievous smile. Hannah gave them each a square of chocolate without argument. Ethan tousled her hair before Lex shoved the chocolate in her mouth and slammed on the gas pedal.
“Agh, Lex!” Ethan protested, though he was laughing as he put his own seatbelt on. “Warning next time?”
“You drive faster than this!”
So Hannah watched the world go by as she listened to Lex and Ethan banter in the front, Hatchetfield and the pain in the past growing smaller and more insignificant behind them. Every mile they drove was one closer to California. That was a good thought.
Hannah remembered the last thing Webby had said to her: Enjoy California, Hannah.
Don’t worry, Webby, Hannah thought. She didn’t know if Webby could hear her at all, but she somehow felt that Webby would know. I will . We’re gonna make it to California.
There was maybe a universe where they failed. Where they all died tragically in a mall with no one around to remember them. That wasn’t this universe, though. In this universe, Lex, Ethan, and Hannah, with a little help from a kooky professor, a nurse, a teacher, and a spider from outer space, they made it. That was a good story, Hannah decided. This was the best story of all.