We are one (#Wattys2016)

Chapter 41

I climb up the window in my house and plop through making more noise then I wanted to. A lot more. I swear their going to think I was doing freaking acrobatics in my room. I check my clock. 7:00am. I sigh and walk to the bath room and turn on the shower. The warmth welcomes me and I let the warm water cascade over my body. I wash my hair and body throughly because I actually don't know the next time I will. Whether he's going to remember to pay the water bills or what? After the long shower I dry my hair and put it into a high pony tail. I look once more round my room. Finally, I take my suitcase down and shut the door. To the one room where I first felt safe. Caleb meets me at the top of the stairs and carried my suitcase for me, much to my protest. I make my way downstairs to see Natalie and Andrew serving breakfast.
I come and sit down. She places some Blueberry pancakes and a box in front of me. A smile spreads across her face.
"Happy birthday." She says.
"I told you not to get me anything!" I say. I'm flattered.
"What! Come on your 17! It's the least we could do." She taps the box and hands me the box. I rip it open and see the new black converse in it.
"I-I, you shouldn't have!" I say and hug. Andrew walks in.
"Thank you!" I leap out of my chair and hug them both.
"Awe, it's ok, you told us not to get you anything but we thought we could treat you to some new shoes." He says and hugs me close.
"Yeah, those combat boots were looking as if they were about to fall apart." The soft voice of Christina says. The gang walks in behind her with Tobias at the back. I walk over hug her. It soon turns into a group hug. After a while they step away. Marlene and Shauna look as they've been crying. Uriah, Will and Zeke look hurt and kind of upset.
Tobias' eyes look red and puffy. He wouldn't cry over me. I know he wouldn't. I feel a large lump threatening to claw up my throat.
"We got you something." Lynn says. She hands me another box.
"I told you guys not to get me anything!" I say.
"Please take it. It didn't cost us much. Honest!" Shauna grins. I take the box from Lynn. The box is kind of heavy.
Slowly I undo the wrapping paper. As I undo it. It reveals a scrap book. I flick through the crisp pages. In it includes pictures of everyone. Me and Tobias. Loads of memories that I will never and refuse to forget.
"You guys did this for me?" I ask flicking through the most beautiful pages I've ever seen in my life. They all nod.
"I can't tell you how many times Uri managed to super glue his fingers together" Marlene says. We all begin to laugh and we almost shake off the gloominess of today. Almost. I hear a knock at the door and I almost feel as if I'm about to throw up. Andrew goes and answers the door.
Play along, play along.
"Mr Prior." Andrew says and welcomes him in. The dark figure walks into the room. The gang smile sweetly at him, but I know they absolutely want to throttle him right now.
"Beatrice. Who are these?" He says eyeing the gang. I shudder a little and gulp.
"I- These a-are my friends." I say. He nods a little, almost making a mental note of all their faces. Then he strides over to me. A wicked smile on his face.
"How have you been honey? All packed?" He asks and pulls me into a hug.
Hug back! Hug back! Slowly my arms fold around him. The hug is slightly robotic.
"Where's your suit case?" He says and I point to the bag near the door. He nods and picks it up.
"While I go and put this in the car. You can start to say your goodbyes. I need to get to work as soon as possible." He says and walks out.
Yeah get to work on making my life HELL.
I turn to the gang who breath a sigh of relief that he's gone.
"So, I guess this is it then." Will says and I nod.
"Um can I just say something." I say and they all nod. "Being here. I thought I was gonna hate it. Don't get me wrong. I did at first but then I met Tobias and everything changed. You're honestly the first time I've ever had true friends. I couldn't have asked for better. I specifically remember going into hospital and you all being there holding my hand when I got the news. When you told me Cody was dead. You have been there for me. I won't say from the start because that's not true. But you've been there for me when I needed you most and I couldn't of asked for anything better then that. So all I can say is thank you. Thank you every thing." Christina, Marlene and Shauna are crying right now. Even Lynn has shed a few tears a few tears and that's saying something. The guys look as if their about to cry. And well. Uriah has basically become a girl and is crying with them.
"That was so Effing beautiful." He cries. I go round and hug them all. Zeke pats me on the back. Christina and Tobias last.
She pulls me into a tight squeeze.
"I'm sorry for being such a bitch." She whispers. "I shouldn't have acted like that. Nobody should act like that. Im sorry" I can't swallow the lump in my throat. So all I do is nod.
"Don't worry." I whisper. I go to Tobias. He embraces me slowly and gently.
"Your gonna be ok." He promises. He knows what's going on. I swear he knows. "If you've got any problems call me. I'll be there in a heart beat. I promise." He pulls something in his back pocket.
"Something to remember me by." He hands me it. It's his black beanie. His dog chains and his IPod.
"I can't accept this." I choke and hand it back to him.
I can feel my eyes well with tears. I hug him again and take in every last thing I can. This maybe the last time I see him. Ever and I want to remember everything. I silently sob into his chest. My tears staining his shirt. He doesn't mind. He gently rubs circles on my back and whispers
"You're gonna be ok." I tuck the beanie in the my back pocket. Everything still in it. My dad walks back in. I don't turn around.
"Time to go." He says. I finally turn around to face him and nod. He stands near the door. I turn to Natalie and Andrew and hug them one final time.
"Thank you. Thank you for saving me." I say. I then turn back to my dad and everyone follows me out. I get into the car. My dad starts it and we drive away. Away from my happiness and away from my freedom.