Remember Me??

Good-byes

Moving days on the movies an T.V. shows give no justice to the real thing. It's a grueling, sweaty, nasty, tiring day filled to the brim with back breaking work.  The moving truck was parked out front and after packing up all my things I helped out my mom and the movers a little. I finished loading the boxes of delicate dishes into the truck before turning to jog down the path and catch up  with my mom.

"Is it alright if I go say good-bye?" I asked her. She turned at my request and smiled sadly, she knew how this was going to be.

"Yeah," she consented, "just be back by 2:30, okay?" I agreed and jogged ahead of her, and into the house to grab my phone. 

Gabriel, Justin, Thalia, and Lolá knew I would be going to the park. I had to say good-bye. I couldn't leave if I didn't. Not only was this the place we all met, but it was also the place I had my first kiss, my first date, I even took my first steps in that park. I wasn't leaving without one last memory.

I walked down the street, pulling up my hood to protect my curly chestnut hair from the whipping wind. I felt the nice, San Francisco, breeze fly through the rips in my jeans. I looked towards the sky sighing, as I thought of how much I was going to miss this place.

Everything would be different. I could only hope that we would come back to visit. I mean, she was here, and I couldn't ever leave her behind.

I rounded the block and spotted the park up ahead. The big willow, sitting dead center dotted with four figures around it. I smiled as I walked towards them. Gabe, turned first, always claiming he could sense my presence. That I just had an aura he liked. He grinned when he saw me.

Gabriel Munson, was a classic romance novel prince. He had chocolate locks that curled just right and stopped at the tips of his ears. His jawline was chiseled enough that the girls drooled over him.  Even I had to admit, with his tender gold eyes he was a hunk. Just not my type.

Once I reached  the group he picked me up in a bear hug, wrapping his arms around me. His hugs were always the most comforting, I felt safe as I stood in his 5'8" frame.

"I can't believe you're really leaving," I heard Lolá say as she came over and wrapped her arms around me as well.

Lolá was a petite blonde, with blue eyes and her smile was just adorable. She was such an innocent sweetheart, and the "softie" of our group. She was always the one to feed the homeless and make sure they had lunch before her. I was gonna miss her kindness.

"I know," was all I could seem to say. Seeing all of them here almost brought a tear to my eye. I needed them, how was I going to leave all this behind?

I felt another set of arms encircle the four already surrounding me, an I knew it was Thalia, when I saw an electric blue stripe of hair sway in the wind. She was our punk. Chokers, piercings, and tattoos were her style and she rocked them well. She was a porcelain kind of perfect with her dark blue eyes. She couldn't say anything it seemed, which was a first, so she just held on to me.

Finally, I felt Justin's arms surround us, and we just say there as a group, hugging and I was near tears. Justin's hair was the same color as mine- almost -and he had some of the darkest brown eyes I had ever seen. They weren't cold though, they were gentle and kind, just like him. I grabbed his hand as I felt it next to mine, and squeezed. I knew he hated hugs because they felt awkward to him. He was our little geek, standing at 5'7" I guess he wasn't that little, but he was still our geek.

We held each other in embrace for a while longer, knowing this would be the last. When we broke apart I caught a glimpse of Gabe, turning away to swipe a tear that had escaped from his eye. I almost lost it, but I held it together for them. I looked at my phone, it was 1:30.  "Mom, said I have to be back by 2:30. That's when we're leaving." I mumbled the last part. I walked over to the base of the willow, and slid down the trunk, landing on my butt with a thunk.

Thalia came over and joined me, and the rest of them followed her. She reached into my lap and took my hand as we sat there in solemn silence. I heard a quiet sob, and looked up to see Lolá crying. I gave her a reassuring smile, and finally Gabe cleared his throat.

"Let's talk. We can't just cry your last hour away." He paused before a ghost of a smile crossed his lips. "Remember, the time we all snuck out, and came here?" A ring of chuckles and agreement went through the group. And so just like that Gabe  started telling stories, and we all spent my last  hour together reminiscing.

2:20 rolled around and I stood up. This was the part that I had been really dreading. This was the reason I knew I would leave in tears.

Thalia came to me first, holding me at arms length. She smiled at me as her eyes  started to water. "Don't think too hard," she started, and I laughed, "remember to have some fun, and meet a boy. See if he has a brother, too." She added. "No, seriously, just don't forget me, or us. Call me, whenever you need me, and don't let yourself get bad again. She wouldn't want that." I nodded my head as the tears began to fall. She pulled me in tight and sniffled. "Bye, I love you. " she whispered in my ear.

She walked away and started home. They had decided against staying together that day, they all wanted some time to be alone.  

Justin came next and he laughed, as he ruffled my hair. "Awe, Crissy, what am I gonna do with out you. C'mere." He pulled me against him and I cried into his shirt softly. He stroked my hair and kissed my head. "You're gonna be great. You'll make tons of friends and every guy in that place will be all over you." I rolled my eyes at that. "You know it's true. Just, don't forget us, and please come home someday. Visit." He looked sad as he finished. "I love you, Crystal."

"I love you, too." He hugged me one last time and waved good-bye as he went the opposite way. I was getting my last glimpse of him.

Lolá attacked me next, in a hug. I was going to miss her so much, she was like a little kid in some ways, like my little sister almost. She held me tightly and I laughed. "I'll miss you," she said.

I nodded, and she continued, "Don't forget to call me and send pictures. We'll keep you up to date." She latched on tighter as her good-bye came to an end and I felt a few more tears escape. She squeezed my hand as she told me she loved me, and turned away wiping her eyes.

I watched her until she disappeared around the corner, and I turned to see Gabe smiling sadly, as tears streamed down his face. He walked over to me with his hands in his pockets and stared into my eyes for a moment. He let loose a small bubble of laughter, and tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear. "I'm gonna miss those eyes of yours." His eyes searched my face, as he committed it to memory. That would be all he'd have left. Memories. "They're worth a fortune y'know. Pretty  little emeralds like that." He wiped away the new tears and continued,"You better send lots of pictures." Finally
, he lost it as he stifled a sob and pulled me in. "I love you so much, Crystal. You have no idea how hard it's gonna be here without you." I cried even more. He sighed, "Time to go." He kissed my cheek and turned away. "Bye Crystal."

I watched him go, before I made my way back to my childhood home. My mom was waiting on the porch talking with a mover when I got back. She spied me over the mans shoulder and noticed my blotchy, red face. She didn't look surprised. She had known how this would go. The man confirmed something she was saying, and she used that moment to politely excuse herself.

"Ready?" She asked. I sighed and nodded my head. "I'll be in the car."

She walked to our silver Ford Focus and ducked into the drivers seat. I looked back at the house over my shoulder, and whispered, "Good-bye." I joined my mom in the car, and that's  where our journey begins.

Good-bye's are the hardest.

A/N: First of all, to those of you who read this before I revised it, my many, many typos made me cringe. I'm sorry, it was a story inspired in a moment, and I write quickly not wanting to lose my thoughts. I hope you enjoyed. As always thanks for reading.

XOXOXOXO SweetThang013