Chapter 9
~*CHAPTER NINE*~
"Maddie! Are you almost ready to go?" I heard my mother's voice floating up the stairs and into my room, which I was giving my own personal goodbye. "Well, this is it," I took a deep breath, trying to reassure myself before closing the door of my room for the very last time and descending down the stairs. As I headed outside I found a moving van with most of our furniture inside, the remainder in the process of being loaded. The entire Carter family was out there, along with some other neighbours and friends of our family. "Hey sweetie, where you been?" Nick came up and wrapped his arm around my waist as soon as I emerged from the house. "Just giving my room the last once over..." my voice trailed off in an unsuccessful attempt to hide the tears which were forming in my eyes. "Come on, no tears," Nick smiled slightly and I noticed that his eyes, too, were beginning to get a little watery. "Ok, honeybunch, we're getting ready to leave," my mom came over and smoothed my hair, "Be ready in about five minutes." I looked at Nick with a pained expression on my face. As children we had expected to always be together, never to be separated. However, now the time had come. He pulled me close into a huge hug, rubbing my back as I sniffled into his shoulder, my silent tears dampening the t-shirt he wore. "You better go say bye to everyone else..." he choked the words out, "I'll be waiting when you're done." "Come with me?" I looked up at him, watching him nod in agreement. The Carter kids lined up as I hugged them one by one. Aaron and Angel, then Leslie, and finally BJ. We all vowed to keep in touch and BJ promised to look out for Nick for me. Then I turned to Bob and Jane, my second parents. "We'll miss you, sweetie," Jane hugged me, "You'll have to call lots and keep in touch." "Take good care of everyone and we'll keep Nick in line for you," Bob smiled and hugged me. Then I went over to where Kristin, Gabbie, and Corey stood. They handed me a wrapped package that looked suspiciously like a book and made me promise not to open it until I was in there. Then the four of us gathered together for one last group hug. My girls. I couldn't imagine finding friends as great as them at my new school. At last the dreaded moment had come. It was time for Nick and I to have our final goodbye. For a moment we just stood there, looking right into each other's eyes. I brought one hand up to his face and traced it over his features, wanting to remember every detail. I bit my lip to keep it from quivering, and took a deep breath. Nick held his arms open and I graciously stepped into them, hugging myself as close to him as possible. He breathed in deeply, memorizing the scent of my hair, and my fabric softener. "I love you so much, Maddie," he whispered softly into my ear, "And no matter what, nothing will EVER change that." "Me too.." my voice broke and I was unable to say anything except for three significant words, "I love you." "You have to call me at least once every day..and e-mail me and write letters and everything..." he instructed me. I nodded, hugging him tightly, "I promise to. And remember, the promise from back when we were kids..Always be best friends." "I never, ever break a promise," he looked straight into my eyes. Our lips met gently in one final goodbye kiss. We knew our families were watching, or at least trying to look like they weren't, but at that point we could care less. It was just the two of us in our own world. When we finally pulled away, we knew it was time. In an unspoken agreement, we walked towards my family van, where the rest of my family stood. By that point both of us had tears streaming down our faces. Nick was bashfully trying to wipe his away in an "i'm not crying, I'm a guy, guys are tough!" gesture. I, however, let the tears fall. As I watched Lexi, Nichole, and my parents get into the car, I decided to wait until the last possible moment to climb in. As soon as I had to, I got in and immediately rolled down the window, sticking my head out far enough to kiss Nick again. "Wait!" he cried out as my dad started the car, "I have to give you something!!" Nick ran into his house and came back out carrying a rather large box with a sweatshirt draped on top. I opened the door and he passed the box to me, picking up the sweatshirt and something underneath it. "Don't open the box until you're there. This is for those cold, grey, yucky days, and I washed it and put my cologne on it for you," he handed me the sweatshirt, "Don't open the card yet either...This is for right now, it's yours, it's all cued up. As soon as you can't see me any more, put it on, press play, and think of me," he instructed, handing me my discman which I had forgotten he borrowed earlier in the week. After final goodbyes, and kisses out the car window, my parents pulled away. I took a final long, lingering look at the house which I had grown up in. That house contained so much of my childhood memories, and I would never see it again. I waved and blew kisses to Nick and everyone else until I couldn't see them any more. Then I really started to cry. I was sitting in the backseat bawling with my sisters when I remembered the discman. Complying with Nick's strict instructions, I placed the headphones over my ears and pressed play as one of my favourite songs came on, making me bawl harder, because now the lyrics had new meaning.
When you feel all alone And the world has turned its back on you Give me a moment please to tame your wild wild heart I know you feel like the walls are closing in on you It's hard to find relief and people can be so cold When darkness is upon your door and you feel like you can't take anymore Let me be the one you call If you jump I'll break your fall Lift you up and fly away with you into the night If you need to fall apart I can mend a broken heart If you need to crash then crash and burn You're not alone When you feel all alone And a loyal friend is hard to find You're caught in a one way street With the monsters in your head When hopes and dreams are far away and You feel like you can't face the day Let me be the one you call If you jump I'll break your fall Lift you up and fly away with you into the night If you need to fall apart I can mend a broken heart If you need to crash then crash and burn You're not alone And there has always been heartache and pain And when it's over you'll breathe again You'll breath again When you feel all alone And the world has turned its back on you Give me a moment please To tame your wild wild heart Let me be the one you call If you jump I'll break your fall Lift you up and fly away with you into the night If you need to fall apart I can mend a broken heart If you need to crash then crash and burn You're not alone