When Friendship Becomes Forever

Chapter 28

Nancy

Everything was back to how it was supposed to be, if not better.

The days Robin and I didn't have work, we would meet up at Max and El's new house and watch crappy movies and play games and just...have fun.

On the days it was hot we would go and lounge around at the pool for hours on end.

And work was getting better too.

Laura and I were friends now, and I was excited to give her the news that she would be taking over the Hawkins Tiger while I was away at college.

Oh yeah...college.

I left for Emerson in a week's time, my first real trip out of Hawkins where I had spent my entire life.

I didn't let it show but I was terrified.

Massachusetts was nearly 1000 miles away and that meant 1000 miles away from my friends, my family and...my entire life.

But this was what I had wanted forever.

Robin, El, Max and I were sitting on Max's bedroom floor; a pile of letters and college papers placed in front of us, as well as two very large suitcases of mine.

We were attempting to pack light but it was a lot more difficult than it seemed.

"Do you think I'll need toothpaste or can I buy it there? Does Boston toothpaste taste different than Hawkins toothpaste?" I asked and the others simply shrugged.

"California toothpaste tastes the same," Max suggested and I nodded.

"I'll just by it there then. Okay, what's next on the list?"

Robin looked at the piece of paper in front of her.

"Books. Like textbooks or whatever. Do you have them?" she asked.

I nodded, gesturing to the canvas bag I had brought with me.

El grabbed it and placed it inside one of the suitcases.

"Stationery," Robin said and I reached for my pencil case, new markers and all of the college papers, handing them to El to put in the suitcase.

"And that's it!" Robin cried with satisfaction.

Max and El zipped up the two suitcases and we smiled at each other, though there was sadness laced into our expressions.

"I cant believe you're going," Max murmured.

"Hawkins wont be the same without you, Nance," Robin said, reaching for my hand.

I took it, smiling sadly.

"I...thank you. For everything. For this summer, and this past year, and just being my friend. I know...things haven't been amazing all the time but...I'm going to miss this. All of this," I murmured, tears springing to my eyes.

"Will you come back next summer?" El asked and I smiled.

"For the Fourth. I'll be here."

"And we'll write you," Max said.

"And I'll call every night. I don't care how expensive it is," Robin told me.

And I knew she would.

I knew they all would.

"You'll always be one of us Nancy. Always," Max said and I grinned.

"Even if you find someone else?"

"There's no-one else as cool as you," Robin said and I laughed softly.

"Or as badass," Max added.

"You're totally tubular," El said and the four of us burst into laughter.

I didn't ever want things to change.

I wanted this feeling, these people, this moment.

Forever.

But tomorrow always comes, whether you cheer at its arrival or at its inevitable demise.

There is always another day, for as long as you are alive on this Earth.

So live.

Go out and find your people.

Find the ones that make you smile and laugh and cry all at once.

Find the person you love and never give up on them.

And if you do, if you must, don't give up loving.

Look for the beauty in everyone and maybe you'll find something you never expected.

I had found my people, I had found the girl I loved and I had found a future.

A bright one at that.

I had dreams, I had a whole life in front of me.

And I was ready to live.

(A/N: Hey. We're nearing the end of this story and I think this chapter is important to a lot of people. Go out there and live. Be the person you want to be. And you won't regret it. Stay safe and totally tubular (cos thats what you are) and I'll see you all in the next one xxx)