Misfits (Original Version)

Chapter 21; The Required Goodbye

"Shelby, I regret to  inform you that, at the rate I have noticed with the data I've collected, you are in a considerable amount of danger with Mack and I, than without. I believe it would be in your best interest...to let us go on our ways...away from you." Jeremy broke the uncomfortable silence. But the conversation he started was even worse than not talking at all.

"What...what makes you say that?" I didn't want to lose them. Even though I had almost died countless times since the two showed up, it was fun. I had always thought I would live a regular, boring life, but I had just the opposite.

"Before you found Mack, the percentage of you encountering new people was at 2.39485761 percent a year, that includes everything. That two percent and change is only teachers of each new school year. That little bit of new people leads me to understand that the chance of danger was incredibly low." He paused to make sure I understood, so I nodded. He kept going. "However after you found her, that percentage went up to a startling 89.302958662 percent. Almost all of that is either police, or those who wish to do you harm. That makes your risk of danger critically high...That makes me think that Mack and I are putting you in danger. Therefore, I can assume that it would be best for you if we left." He finished.

"No...no! I've never felt more alive before! You guys are all I have now!" I didn't want them to leave, not after all we'd been through!

"Soon, you might not be alive. I absolutely despise agreeing with him, but I'm not in a cage anymore, I can go home now." Mack commented.

"I..." I looked at Chris.

"I have nowhere else to be." He smiled gently, at least he would stay.

"I apologize, and it may be a pain mentally, but Mack and I leaving is the best choice of action to keep you safe." Jeremy's face was grim and almost remorseful. He didn't want to leave either, but he had to, for me. They both had to go, no matter what I wanted. 

"I don't want you to leave... " My stomach filled with despair and abandonment, but it didn't matter that I didn't want them to go, they were going to anyway.

"I'm sorry." Jeremy whispered. It was the most human he had ever sounded. I could hear pure guilt in his words, but he wouldn't act upon it, unless he just didn't know how to.

       I wanted them to stay. Jeremy was getting so much more humane as he spent time with us, Mack was less afraid. They were growing as beings, and they probably wouldn't be how they are now if they hadn't found me. Jeremy started off so monotone, robotic, he didn't have an ounce of human in him. That statement disregarding the fact that he yields a human heart in his torso. He changed, so much. And Mack started off so scared and alone, but she knows that she'll never be alone now. She always has, and will always have, all of us beside her. In the courthouse, when they were separated from us, they stopped fighting somehow, they didn't show too much aggression towards each other after that. They transformed into brand new, wonderful things, and I wanted to keep watching that. 

       I could feel my face dampen as I started to cry. 

"You must be incredibly hydrated to be able to keep emitting tears like that." Jeremy stated. Him talking like that made me miss him even before he was gone.

"Leave her alone, you mechanical piece of garbage." Mack snapped at him. I guess I was wrong on their aggression lowering. "Shelby, thank you for caring for me...but I need to go home."

       I could only watch as she took off down the empty road. Her feet helping her travel faster than a race horse, and she was gone with a gust of wind. That was all she left.

"Inconsiderate extraterrestrial." Jeremy looked down at me, and bent down to his knees, placing a heavy hand on my lap. "I apologize for our leaving right after a milestone, however I must go. I hope you will not forget me?" I shook my head, I would never forget them, ever. Jeremy smiled, "I will not erase you all front my databases." He stood, and turned away.

      He started off down the street, but stopped after a few paces.

"Shelby?" He asked.

"Yeah?" I was choking on my words.

"Thank you." He bent his head down, and kept walking down the street slowly until he was out of sight.

       I broke down right there. Wailing, and crying, and shaking. The two that had changed my life forever just left me, in the worst way possible. There are fates worse than death, and this was one of them.

"Shelbs" Chris started, "I'm never gonna leave you, okay?"

       I nodded, and he embraced me tightly in his arms. He was warm, like a blanket fresh out of the dryer. Even though I wouldn't be happy for a long while, I knew it was going to be okay.

       Yeah, it was all going to be okay.