The Way We Were

The Way We Say Goodbye PT3

Marcy, Karen and Daisy looked at Mari, Tina, Anna and Carly cry. They were saying goodbye because most of them were leaving within a week.

Marcy of course was traveling the world but Karen was going to see her grandparents in Italy (Marcy made sure to sync up so they'd be able to hang out, even though they'd be living in the same state) while Daisy was going to Mexico to spend time with her estranged father.

Carly was spending her summer getting used to Oregon but also visiting her grandparents in Ireland (her father was adopted), Tina was visiting Korea and Mari was getting set up in France then visiting her mother's home-country to see extended family.

Anna was staying in Lima until the last week of summer vacation.

The friends looked at each other. "This is it."

Daisy couldn't believe it but she was starting to cry, too. "I'm going to miss you hags."

"I'm going to miss how mean you are!" Carly wailed.

Marcy was over this. "I didn't know we were all fucking dying."

Karen snorted with laughter. "You wouldn't shed a tear."

"Your face is dry."

"I'm crying on the inside."

"Where you hold that three year old inside you?"

Karen narrowed her golden eyes.

"You said it."

Mari blubbered, "I can't believe I'm going to miss you guys' fights!"

"Me too!" Tina warbled.

"I'm leaving." Marcy turned around.

Karen yanked her back. "Stop being dead inside and just admit you're going to miss us."

"Why? Planes exist. We pay our phone bills. We have hands and know how to write."

"Nobody stays friends after high school." Tina worried. Would she not find friends at Brown?

"T. We're better than nobody. We're us. If we want to stay friends, we will. It won't be like before but if we put in the work, we'll be fighting over who's going to be the maid of honor at your and Finn's wedding."

Tina couldn't help herself and hugged Marcy. "It'll be you." She whispered in her ear.

Marcy smirked.

"Will you be by France at all?" Mari hoped.

"Yes. We'll be in Paris for a few days so my sisters can do some shopping and my brothers can do some eating."

The girls giggled before Mari went on. "Will you visit before school starts?"

Marcy held out her pinky. "Promise."

Mari looped her finger around Marcy's. Both leaned forward to kiss their thumbs.

"Will you be by Denmark near the end of summer?" Anna hoped.

"Sorry, A. The nearest Denmark we'll be is Sweden and that's our first stop." Marcy hated that. "But just think, once you're gone, you never have to come back to Ohio ever again. Damien will take care of you. He's a part of my family and we'll see each other that way."

Anna beamed. "Good."

"Will you be by Mexico?" Daisy wiped her tears.

"No." Marcy shook her head. "But you'll be having so much fun with your Papí that you won't even remember us. Then you and Javi are going to save the world. Drop us a line when you tie the knot. We'll be there."