It was strange to think that for all the time Ty had spent waffling about what he wanted to do, as soon as he had a goal in sight, his impulse was to run to it straight away without looking back. He had never had to say lasting goodbyes to anyone, especially to his mother, and it had been a terrifying thought to know that in the time he was gone, something could happen to her and he wouldn't be able to help her. He had roped in most of his friends to check in on her when he couldn't, and saying good bye to them didn't really feel real, either. He was sure it would sink in a few months from now, when he couldn't just pick up a phone to call Delilah and listen to her lectures, when he wouldn't get into random weird meme wars with Kira, or when Felix wouldn't be setting his phone off at odd hours.

It made him anxious, but his fear was far outweighed by his eagerness. He just had to make it through this party and make it on the plane tomorrow.

As he pressed through the throngs of people all greeting him, someone pushing a drink in his hand, he couldn't help but boggle a bit. It didn't hit him until everyone he loved and cared about was in one room how many people he was leaving behind. With the most obvious one suspiciously absent.

"Hey, can I trade you a drink for a cigarette?" Ty asked as he poked his head out onto the fire escape, carefully balancing both drinks as he stepped outside. He was feeling good and buzzed, his limbs loose and easy. "And when were you going to make an appearance you ass? I kept waiting for your dramatic grand entrance."