Different

51

My aunt and I packed my last T-shirt into my bag. I looked into the bag sadly. I was going to miss Hawkins and everything in it. The night before I had slept with my window open in hopes that Billy might come by and try to talk to me. He wasn't at school yesterday. I stared into the bag. My aunt Grace rubbed my arm.
  "It'll be okay honey. I know you're sad. But you can come back soon enough." She said cupping my cheek and rubbing her thumb soothingly.
   I leaned into her hand. I brushed off my sad feelings and put the duffel bag into the car. I slammed the trunk and saw a car park in front of my house. The Wheelers all came out.
   "Hello, good afternoon." I said politely.
"Dani! Oh dear, I'm so sad you'll be gone. I made you and your aunt this pie though." Mrs Wheeler smiled holding up a pie tin. I smiled.
   "Thank you Mrs Wheeler. My aunt is inside." I said and pointed her towards the door. Mr Wheeler and Holly walked past me. Holly waved a cute little hand at me.
   Nancy and Mike stood there sadly. I frowned and walked over to them. As soon as I got there Nancy engulfed me in a hug. I hugged her tightly. She sniffled.
   "Aw Nance, Ill call all the time. And I'll write." I smiled at her pulling away. She nodded and wiped her tear.
       "I know it's just, well I'm gonna miss you so much." She smiled.
   "I'm going to miss you too, but I'm going to come back. As soon as I graduate next year I'm coming back." I said looking into her eyes. She hugged me tightly again and then went into the house. I turned to Mike.
   "Hi." Mike said quietly. I smiled at him.
"Hi Mikey." I said ruffling his hair. He smiled at me then suddenly hugged me. I hugged him back.
   "I'm gonna miss you." He whispered. I smiled. I pulled him away.
"I'm going to come back. Don't worry." I said. I leaned down and kissed his cheek. He blushed.
  "Ya know, I'm thirteen now. Only 4 years younger than you. I think I'm old enough to, ya know-" mike stuttered. I rolled my eyes.
  I quickly pecked his lips. He brought his fingers to his lips. He smiled slowly. He dashed inside. I giggled and turned to go in too. Suddenly the ground rumbled. I looked up excitedly, hoping for-well ya know who. I gazed down the street to see Cole on his motorcycle. I waited outside for him to come park. He stopped in front of my house and I walked up to him. I smiled at him. He smiled at me too. He stood up and hugged me. I hugged him back.
   "I can't believe your leaving." He said into my hair. I groaned.
"But hey, Hargrove will be free." He joked. I gave him a fake smile. That made me sad. I wish he wouldn't be free when I left.
   "I'll miss you, but I'll be back soon." I said. He smiled and we walked inside.
___
My Aunt Grace got into the front seat. I sighed and popped my collar. I had a small backpack for the car ride. We would have to drive for 11 hours. I got into the passenger seat and put my belt on.
   "Ready?" Aunt Grace said with a sad smile. I looked out the window for a second. I waited to see if he'd come. He didn't. I turned to Aunt Grace.
    "Yeah." I said quietly.
  We pulled out of my drive way and turned down the street. We drove past my school and the town I called home for a while. I left everything I loved. We drove past the Hargrove house. Billy's car wasn't there. Soon enough we were far from Hawkins and on the interstate.
______
We stopped at a motel for the night. My Aunt and I rented a room with two beds. She went to the bathroom to get changed. I went through my backpack and looked at polaroids I brought. As I dug through my bag my nail caught on a chain. I opened the pocket wider and looked in. I found a note with a chain inside. I opened the note and the rose necklace fell out. My heart fluttered. I looked to the note.
I'm sorry.
Thats all the note said. I smiled and clasped the necklace around my neck.