Lost Girl Ch. 13

"Jay Treaty?"

"It gives Natives the right to live and work in both the United States and Canada. Meaning I can register as a domestic student in a Canadian university, just the same as I would here at home. I don't even need a visa to cross the border."

"Wow, that's pretty cool." A few moments of silence intercepted her words before she finally decided to speak. "So, I guess you're going to Canada, then..."

"I don't know, maybe." Kimi bit her lip before asking, "What do you think? Should I stay in Montana and go to university here, or try things out in Canada?"

"I don't know, Kimi. That's a pretty big choice." Claudia briefly paused before adding, "I mean, I would love for you to stay here so we could go to school together. But at the same time, going to Canada could be really good for you."

"Yeah." A thoughtful expression appeared on her face. "Well, I'll give myself a few days to think it over."

"Probably a good idea," Claudia said before adding, "I can't lie, though. I was totally hoping that you, me, and Tristan would all go to university together."

"So did I," Kimi said. "Which is why I'm hesitant to move away. Apart from my brother, you guys are the most important people in my life."

"The feeling is mutual, babe." Claudia reached across the kitchen table to grab Kimi's hand. "But whatever your decision, I fully support you. You know that, right?"

Kimi nodded, then gave Claudia's hand a gentle squeeze.

"Speaking of Tristan, I wonder which schools he got into?"

"Hopefully Montana State. I wouldn't wanna go there all alone."

"So you've definitely decided against Seattle University?"

"Yeah, pretty much." The hesitancy in Claudia's voice, however, seemed to indicate that she was fairly unsure. "I mean on one hand, I would love to live in Seattle. But if I move to an entirely different state, It'll only put more distance between me and Lucas. And I really don't want that."

"Aww...you don't want to leave him behind."

"Well, I sort of already am," Claudia said. "Montana State is a four hour drive from here."

"You can always drive up to visit him on weekends. It's what I'm planning to do with Tyler."

"But if you move up to Canada, you won't be able to drive out here," Claudia said. "I mean you could, but it would take way too long."

"Yeah, I know. Which is another reason I need to seriously think this through. Tyler needs someone to watch over him."

"Well if you do go to Canada, I could always check up on him during my weekend trips. And I'm sure my mother and Big John would be totally cool with looking out for him, as well."

"You think so?" Kimi asked.

"Definitely."

"Thanks, Claude. I appreciate the support."

"Anytime."

The girls shared a brief smile before Claudia rose from her seat and headed for the refrigerator. On opening it up, she took out a carton of milk, and after retrieving two glasses and a package of Oreos from the cabinet, retook her seat at the kitchen table.

"So," Kimi said while pouring them each a glass of milk, "I was thinking that you, me, and Tristan could take a camping trip.

"When?"

"How about spring break?"

Glancing at the calendar on the wall behind her, Claudia saw that the date was only two weeks away.

"Sure. Sounds like fun."

"Awesome." Kimi took a sip of milk before saying, "So, since Tristan has a car, I was thinking he could drive us out to Two Medicine. They have a really great campground out there."

"I've never been camping," Claudia said. "Always wanted to, though."

"You've never been camping?" An incredulous look crossed Kimi's face.

"Well, I once spent the night in the backyard of my friend Shauna McDowell's house in the fifth grade, but I don't think that really counts, so..."

A gentle smile crossed Kimi's lips before she said, "Definitely doesn't count. But It's cool. There's a first time for everything."

"So....spring break, huh?" Claudia turned her attention back to the calendar. "Oh my God, I just realized that we only have two months left before graduation."

"Thank God." Kimi retrieved an Oreo cookie from the package on the kitchen table, twisted it apart, and then licked the cream away. "I can't get off this rez soon enough."

Turning away from the calendar, Claudia focused her attention on Kimi. "Two more months, and we'll officially be going out into the real world."

"Actually, It's four," Kimi said. "Most campuses don't allow you to move into dorms until August, so we'll have all of June and July to prepare before we move into the city."

"I can't believe It's actually happening." A faraway look came into Claudia's eyes as she stared off into the distance. "It doesn't even seem like eight months have passed since I first got here."

"Crazy, huh?" Kimi said. "Those months just flew right by."

A thoughtful sort of silence settled between them, and for a few moments each became lost in their own thoughts.

"So..." Claudia said. "I know this is going to sound totally lame, but I'm sort of scared."

"Of what?" Kimi asked.

"Moving away. Going into the city where we know absolutely no one, and starting this whole new life."

"I think It's exciting," Kimi said. "We'll get the chance to live on our own, as actual adults."

"It *will* be exciting," Claudia responded. "But It's going to be a huge change."

"With change comes opportunity. And I think we both could use a bit of that right now."

"Yeah. Guess you're right about that."

Kimi gave Claudia a gentle smile, then grabbed two Oreos from the package before passing one to Claudia. Simultaneously, they twisted them open, silently dunking and munching as they allowed a comfortable silence to settle between them.

* * * *

It was just before sunrise on a chilly April morning when Tristan, Kimi, Claudia, and Lucas set out on the road. The sun still had yet to fully rise, but the first rays of light were just beginning to peek through the clouds.

Tristan, who was seated behind the wheel and guiding his car along the highway that would take them into the city, sat directly beside Kimi, who was leafing through a college information pamphlet. Settled comfortably in the ridiculously roomy backseat were Lucas and Claudia, who were snuggled up and enjoying the warmth of each other's bodies.

En route to a campus tour at Montana State University, Tristan's Lincoln Continental traveled smoothly over the highway asphalt. As the miles elapsed and they grew closer to reaching their destination, Claudia, Kimi and Tristan began to excitedly chatter. But Lucas, who was usually outgoing and chatty, was strangely quiet and emitting a sadness that Claudia took note of.

It was so keen, in fact, that she averted her focus to Lucas's face, and on noting that he was staring glumly out of the passenger window, she placed her palm against his cheek so that his eyes shifted in her direction.

"You okay?" Her eyes studied his face intently.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

A few moments passed where she said absolutely nothing, only continued to gaze at him in silence.

"Something's up," she said. "You've hardly spoken a word since we left the reservation."

"Just a little tired, is all." He pulled her closer against him so that she was embraced in a light squeeze.

"Thanks for coming along," she said. "I think It'll be nice for you to see the university."

"No problem. I'm happy to be here."

The words that Lucas spoke sounded true enough to Claudia's ears, but the way he had been uncharacteristically silent for the past two hours made her a little concerned. She didn't have to guess at what the reason behind it was, though. With only two months left before graduation, the time that she and Lucas had to spend together was continually ticking down.

Once August arrived, she would be going off to college with Tristan and Kimi, but Lucas would remain behind, and it wasn't difficult to figure out that he was feeling insecure about this monumental change that was on the horizon. Hoping to lift his spirits, Claudia tenderly ran her palm along his chest, then looked up into his eyes.

"I can drive up every weekend, you know."

"How? You don't have a car," Lucas said.

"No, I don't. But I'm sure Tristan would be willing to take me."

Shifting his attention to the front of the car, Lucas settled his eyes on Tristan, who was seated behind the wheel and engaging in light chit chat with Kimi. Rather than conceal his dislike, Lucas seemed to openly flaunt it, and as a cold expression crossed his face, Claudia swore she could see a flicker of jealously burn hot in his eyes.

No sooner had this happened did Tristan look into the rearview mirror, and on confirming that Lucas was staring keenly at him, he gazed back with just as much intensity. It didn't take long before a fierce sort of energy began to radiate from Tristan's direction, and that was when Claudia realized the two men were each challenging the other to look away first.

Since Tristan was driving, clearly he should have been the one to accept defeat and shift his gaze. But to Claudia's surprise, he was somehow able to continue driving while keeping his gaze fixed steadily on the rearview mirror, which offered a reflection of Lucas in the backseat.

Several moments passed, and then a full thirty seconds before Claudia began to wonder how Tristan was safely operating the car without glancing at the road even once. Several turns appeared along the road, and even sharp curves which came in rapid succession, yet Tristan took each one with a grace and skill that would have impressed even the most seasoned driver.

There was an otherworldy eeriness to the way he drove entirely without the use of sight, and yet at the same time, Claudia was completely fascinated. Lucas, however, clearly was not, and in a tone that conveyed thorough uneasiness, he made a request.

"You wanna keep your eyes on the road?" Lucas angrily asked. "We're gonna end up in a ditch."

"No," Tristan said in a deep, low voice. "We won't."

No longer just perturbed, Lucas seemed downright wary, and as Tristan continued to drive without the aid of his vision, Lucas shifted his eyes to give Claudia a look that seemed to say, 'what the hell'? Rather than offer an explanation, she only shrugged, then turned her attention back on Tristan, who had finally decided to once again look at the road.

"Thanks again for driving us, Tristan," she said.

"No problem." Just briefly, he glanced in the rearview mirror to give her a soft smile.

"Wow, this is awesome," Kimi said from the front passenger seat. "Did you know they have a golf course on the Montana State campus? They also have a garden where you can learn to grow your own food, and living learning communities where you're matched up with people who have the same interests."

"Sounds cool," Claudia said.

"I know, right?" Kimi studied the pamphlet in her hands for a bit longer before finally speaking again. "Four more months, and we'll be off the rez and living in the city. God, I can't wait."

"Me either," Claudia said, but as soon as the words left her mouth, she instantly regretted having spoken them.

Even before she allowed her eyes to rest on Lucas's face, Claudia could feel him staring at her. The weight of his gaze was so strong that she couldn't help but shift her attention to his face, and on noting his unhappy expression, she instantly felt bad.

"That came out wrong." She spoke in a lowered voice so that only she and him were privy to what was being said. "I'm not looking forward to leaving you, of course. It's just the thought of starting off new..."

He nodded, but his lips remained tightly drawn.

"I can always drive up to the rez and see you every weekend. Or, you can come down to visit me." She briefly paused before adding, "Either way, we'll still be able to hang out."

"I don't want to just hang out, Claude. I want us to see and be with each other everyday. A proper relationship, not just a weekend hook up."

Taken aback by the emotion in his voice, Claudia stared at Lucas. Along with the fact that his eyes had visibly softened, she also noticed that the corners of his lips were turned downwards.

"You're my girl, Claudia. It doesn't feel right to have you moving so far away."

"I have to go, Lucas. You know this."

Very slowly, Lucas nodded. And with a gentle sigh that he pushed out through his nostrils, he slipped his fingers through her curls and gazed deep into her eyes.

"Sorry. I just get this terrible knot in my stomach everytime I think about you leaving the rez."

"Yeah, babe. I know." Lifting her palm so that it cradled his face, she allowed her thumb to glide along the hard line of his jaw.

Their eyes locked, and for that moment they shared an inevitable truth. A truth that neither really wanted to face, but knew was the truth all the same. As Tristan and Kimi once again fell into light chatter, Lucas and Claudia shared a few soft, sweet kisses. Their fingers linked, palms clasping tightly as they embraced.

Every once in awhile, and with a slyness that kept him from being discovered, Tristan would allow his gaze to drift to the rearview mirror. Still snuggled against one another, Lucas and Claudia were completely ignorant to the fact that Tristan was watching them.

If either had directed their gazes towards the rearview mirror, they would have noticed

a sullen look suddenly cross Tristan's face. But as soon it had appeared, it was suddenly gone. A few seconds later, Tristan's eyes were once again on the highway, focusing on the road that lay ahead of them.

* * * *

At half past eight in the morning, Tristan's Lincoln Continental pulled into the huge parking lot of Montana State University. Dense with oak trees and boasting a lush green landscape, the college campus was situated on 220 acres.

Even before she stepped out of the car, a sense of excitement began to overtake Claudia, and with an eagerness that was palpable, the four teenagers exited the vehicle and headed across the pavement of the parking lot.

Almost immediately, Claudia, Tristan and Kimi fell into stride next to one another, amiably chatting as they walked briskly towards the large campus. Not wanting to be left out, Lucas grabbed Claudia's hand, holding her palm with a tender firmness that Claudia couldn't help but take note of.

From the first moment that they officially stepped onto the walkways which were flanked by green grass, Claudia felt her pulse quicken, but it was the stately buildings and immaculate courtyards that made her go breathless with awe.

Due to the size of the college campus, Claudia didn't have the faintest clue as to which direction they were supposed to be heading in, but upon consulting a map, Kimi led them towards a building that was known as Cheever Hall.

Possessing a striking red-brown brick façade, Cheever Hall was adorned by a bell tower that only added to its stateliness. Fashioned from solid oak, the double doors that led into the grand structure had an imposing yet majestic look about them, and after climbing a broad flight of steps, the four teens passed through the entryway and into the foyer, which was teeming with a large group of high school seniors.

Standing beside a sign that read SENIOR VISIT DAY 2014, stood a woman who was dressed in a pastel skirt suit that was impeccably tailored. Coiffed in a blonde chignon, her hair perfectly complemented her face, which was creamy white and dotted with faint freckles.

"Welcome to senior visit day," she said which handing each of them of a glossy pamphlet. "The meet and greet session will begin at nine o'clock, followed by a campus tour. A continental breakfast is currently being served, so please, enjoy it at your leisure."

With a sweep of her arm, she gestured towards an area where several long buffet tables were set up. With plenty of other high school students in attendance, Kimi, Tristan, Claudia, and Lucas should have quickly blended into the crowd. But as Claudia scanned the various faces which were crowding around the buffet table, she realized there were only a handful of Native American teens, and even fewer black ones.

This thought did make her a bit uncomfortable, but considering that she was used to being the lone black girl on an Indian reservation, it really wasn't a huge deal. After all, it had only been eight months since she'd started living on the rez, and she was already accustomed to life there. So if she'd gotten used to living on an Indian reservation, she could surely get used to living on a university campus.

So lost in her thoughts, she barely took note of the light hip bump that Kimi gave her, and realizing they had reached the front of the line, Claudia began filling her plate with breakfast food. Once they all had food in hand, the four teens made their way towards an empty table where they promptly dug into their meals.

"Too many white people in this school," Lucas said while cutting a sausage link in half. "There's no diversity here at all."

"It's a great university, though," Kimi said. "And from what I hear, they have an excellent Native American Cultural Center."

"Attending a university in order to learn about your own culture...." A smirk cut across Lucas's lips. "If that wasn't so damn sad, it would actually be pretty funny."

"I *know* my culture," Kimi snappily responded. "I just think It's nice they have a special building where Native students can go to socialize and talk about our traditions."

"The cultural center is a good thing," Tristan said while resting his gaze on Lucas. "Native students need to maintain a connection to each other. It's important for our identities."

"Well from what I can tell," Lucas said, "we're the only Indians in the entire room, so what good is a cultural center going to do?"

"There's an Indian guy over there." Kimi tilted her chin toward a table that was a few rows over. "So looks like we're not the only ones after all."

Following Kimi's suggestion, Lucas did turn his head, and on noticing the ponytailed boy with tawny skin, he released a faint snicker. "Doesn't count. He's an apple."

"You don't even know him," Kimi said. "How can you call him an apple?"

"Look at him," Lucas said while focusing his eyes on the Native teen. "He's sitting at a table filled with white people. You think a proud Indian would do that?"

"Besides us, there aren't any other Natives around. So what is he supposed to do? Sit all by himself?"

"I would." Lucas said it solidly and with utter conviction. "Better to be alone, than trying to fit in with all these napikowaan's."

"Since when are you against white people?" Kimi asked. "From what I hear, you've been banging some blonde girl who lives in the city. So don't give me that 'white people are devils' crap."

Rather than immediately respond, Lucas gave Kimi a long, hard stare that was just as icy as it was intimidating.

"If you're referring to Alissa, I'm no longer banging, or even in contact with her," he angrily stated. "And I never said that white people were devils. I just don't understand why any self-respecting Indian would wanna hang around with them."

"There are good and bad people out there of every color," Tristan said. "If you got off the rez sometimes, you would realize that."

"You think I've never been off the rez?" A deep crease formed between Lucas's brows. "I've driven into the city plenty of times, and no matter where I go, seems like I'm always getting pulled over by a cop. Or talked and laughed about by racist whites for being an Indian man who Isn't afraid to wear his hair long. I might drive a broken down rez truck, but those bumper stickers on the back of my Chevy display my pride of being Native, and a lot of white men don't like that."

"Okay, well that's great and everything," Tristan said, "But when I said off the rez, I meant going away to college. Or getting a job in the city and opening yourself up to opportunities."