Hollow

Chapter 33

 "Hey, you packed?" Lonnie asked through the phone.

"Yes." I said.

"I can't wait to see you!" He said excitingly,

"Me too." I said, trying to sound excited.

Timmy came through the back door, letting go of his rat, Rein. She ran as fast as she could.

"I love you." Timmy said quietly and dramatically.

I hung up the phone.

I gave Timmy a side hug, "She never liked you, Tim."

"Want me to tell you a secret?" He asked. "I know"

Miss Toledo was taking her boxes and filling up the moving truck. She was going to take them to storage.

The neighbors watched as we all moved boxes in and out of the house.

"I'm really going to miss you Timmy." I said, as we both struggled to get the box out of the house.

"Stop saying that, your making me upset." He said angrily.

"Yeah but-"

"Let's just say that sappy sad memo when we are about to leave, alright?" He said.

"Okay." I said back.

I didn't tell them, but I took something of Timmy and Miss Toledo's to remember them by, noting something important. I just took one of Miss Toledo's sweaters and I took Timmy's rat plushie. Hopefully they don't notice that they are gone.

I walked inside the house, it was empty. More than me and Ma'ams house, I tried to see if there was anything else that we were missing. Then I came into Miss Toledo's room and I heard crying.

I looked inside, and I saw her on the floor shedding a couple of tears as she watched everyone watch the delivery strike and delivery people bring the boxes inside the truck.

She saw me.

I panicked. "Sorry." I said making my way out.

"Come, please," Miss Toledo said.

I slowly walked towards her.

She slowly stroked my hair and let out a slight smile.

"I love you." She said. "I probably don't say it a lot, but I love you, Hollow. I don't think you understand how sad I am to be leaving this house, this town... you. Leaving you hurts the t-t-the most."

She gave me a big hug, it was the longest hug we ever had.

"P-please don't change..." She pleaded as she sniffled. "P-please stay as t-the innocent young teenager you are..."

"I-"

"Don't smoke, never and I say NEVER try any drugs, do not let any boyfriends take advantage of you..."

"I won't," I said starting to cry.

"I-i'll miss you Mary! I don't want to leave you... I'll miss you and Timmy too much.."

She gave me a kiss on the forehead, "you'll be fine, you will be happy that you left this crummy town as soon as you start school." She smiled.

"I doubt it." I said, wiping away my tears.

We both heard a car horn beep. Lonnie was here. I felt that knot in my stomach again. I felt like I didn't want to leave anymore. The sadness is a little too overbearing now..

Timmy was outside in the front. Staring at the limo and crying.

Miss Toledo and I seen him.

"Go say bye to H-Hollow babe."

I went up to Timmy and I gave him a giant hug. I hugged him like I would never see him again. It was our most genuine hug we ever had. We were both crying.

"Hollow?" He said.

"Yea?"

"Please d-don't forget about m-me." He stuttered in his words.

I hugged him even tighter.

"I will never forget you, your my brother." I said.

"You m-mean you look a-at me l-like a b-b-brother?" He asked.

"No. You are my brother."

He smiled.

I started walking towards the limo, Miss Toledo and Lonnie both put my stuff in the car.

"Oh yeah!" I said, "I almost forgot something!"

"Hey Mary, you know the money that Ma'am gave me that's in your account?"

"Oh yeah, I can transfer it-"

"You can have it... all of it." I said.

"You can also have all of the belongings she gave me... sell everything. I left it on the table that says it."

"What? I can't accept that! Go get it now!" She said.

"No. I insist. I had to give you something to say thank you for everything, and also you need it more than me anyway." i said.

"Hollow Mabel-" she said.

"Take it!" I said. "Please, its the least I can do."

She gave me a long, big hug. She started to tear up. "Thank you... thank you so much!"

"I love you.. Both of you." I said.

We all hugged each other, Timmy was squished in the middle but he didn't complain.

Lonnie came out of the limo, "Let's go Hollow, long drive ahead!"

I stepped inside the limo. I took one good look at everyone, Timmy, Miss Toledo, The neighbors, Suzanne.. I looked my house and Miss Toledo's house. I feel like I seen Ma'am stand right outside my house. Our house. She was blowing me a kiss.

"Bye Hollow!" Everyone said.

"I love you guys!" I said slamming the car door.

I rolled down the window, "Don't forget about me!"

"You ready, Hollow?" Lonnie asked.

I ignored the pit in my stomach. I just nodded.

The limo started to move, I immediately looked back to see Timmy run towards the limo. After a few seconds, he stopped.

And before I knew it, I didn't see anyone.

Before I decided to go to sleep, I took one last look at the sign,

"Thank you for coming to Greenville."

I smiled.