Criminal ~ Shoey

Chapter 35 - The Goodbye

So this was it:

Soft yellow sunrise. Humidity tugging on lazy sky. Two cars packed full of boxes, bags, and packages of food still unopened. I knew if I dared to turn around, I'd see Shane and his brothers hugging goodbye. And beyond that: The shade-drawn window to the upstairs room Shane and I shared, half-empty. All of his stuff cleared out. I wasn't sad. But I did feel like crying. Though I knew if I did, Shane would never leave. He'd wanted me to ride with him to Brown...but I'd never be able to say goodbye if I did...I just wished I hadn't disappointed him when I'd refused. Maybe he understood. Maybe he never would.

To keep my mood from souring, I thought ahead to all the vacations in which Shane would come down to visit. And how happy I'd be to see him. I didn't dare let my mind imagine him finding someone else.

Shane came up to me. He was crying. "I'm gonna miss you." He said. I laughed, looked down, met his eyes again then said: "I'm gonna miss you too." That's when we reached for each other, forming a tight hug. My heart ached for what I was losing, but I wasn't taking this opportunity from him. I'd see him again.

Our embrace lasted forever. We only pulled away when Shane's mom honked from inside her car. She was ready to leave. Ready to send off another one of her children to their future, apparently."I. Love. You." I murmured, pecking his lips quickly. If the kiss lasted any longer than that, I would've insist he stay. "I love you, too. Forever. You're my dream guy, Joey...It was a gift that I found you...I thought you were unattainable. So.. you, me, in four years. Don't go finding anyone else."

/Now/ I /was/ crying. But I laughed through my tears as he got in his brother's car to drive away. "Bye, Shane," Jared called from somewhere behind me. Shane started the car before saluting us with a meek, heartbreaking wave.

I sniffed and wiped at my eyes, watching as Shane pulled away from the curb, trailing his mom's car. Taking a deep breath, I finally allowed myself to feel everything I'd been numbing for the weeks after finding out he was going. It hurt, deeply. I felt as if I might never see him again. And maybe I wouldn't, maybe he'd find someone else. But I couldn't dare to think like that.

So...Shane's really leaving. And I would say I regret letting him go because I love him, and watching his car fade in the distance breaks my heart but I know he'll be back. I wasn't a criminal for nothing, stealing Shane's heart was easy. I just hope I can hold on to it until he comes back: Now /that/...is the hard part.

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The End :3 Yes, really this is the end! But whether there's more is up to you....

Sequel or nat?

I know this is the shortest ending in history...I'm sorreh ;-;

Thanks so much for reading this story, voting on this story, commenting on this story, putting up with this story, and putting up with me. I wrote this because of you guys. I finished this because of you guys. Thank you for pushing me to do something I never knew I could achieve.

bhye.