AN: Guys, guys…remember I said back at the top of like, Chapter 10, that there would be FOUR more chapters? This is the fourth and final chapter. Thank you for your reviews, comments, tears, and everything else! It was a lot of fun.

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So once again, August came.

I had to go back to Chicago and pack up for school. It wasn’t that big of a deal, because I knew I was going to be seeing the family a lot more. I was only a couple of hours away in Norman, and Kyle and I would be at the same school. There was still a big part of the picture that was missing—Tucker. Of course he hadn’t decided on anything major for his future, and if he had, he hadn’t told me. I assumed he was still figuring it all out. The day for us to leave came too soon. We were leaving for the airport at around three, so Mom and Jake were having one last lunch together. I was packing up, and Kyle was hanging around. He had gotten the day off from work, but they couldn’t let Tucker go. Conner was supposed to stop by with his father after lunch to tell me a quick “have a good trip” or something.

I still didn’t want to go.

“So you’ll call me next week when you’re at orientation?” I asked Kyle. He nodded while I shoved more clothes into my case. “I guess Lacey…is already down there?”

“If you want her help with something, just call her,” he shrugged. “She looks busy, but she likes to be bothered.” Kyle laughed as he saw me shake my head and pace around the room. “It’s only for a month or so, Nat. You’ll be hanging around here all the time.”

“I know,” I mumbled. “I…I just…”

“Don’t worry, OK?” I had heard that enough. The doorbell rang—it was the Redclouds.

“Natalie!” My mom shouted. “Come say goodbye to Conner!”

“Fine,” I answered more to myself. When I jogged down the stairs, I could see that she was just as hesitant as I was to actually do it—say goodbye. Jake gave me a big smile, and Conner gave me back the necklace.

“This time, I mean it—keep it,” he ordered. I decided it couldn’t hurt. I stuffed it into my pocket and told him I would keep in touch. It was obvious that his dad and my mom would. They had their own goodbye session outside, away from us. When we got in the car with Aunt Jenny, Mom didn’t say much and stared out of the window a lot. I think I even heard her sniff.

So it was going to be like last time, no big goodbye for me and Tucker. It seemed to work out last summer alright. I was getting a stomachache as we drove out of Clearwater and toward Tulsa.

“Well,” Aunt Jenny sighed, “here we are, all leaving the love of our lives back home.” Mom snorted with laughter, and I only rolled my eyes. “I hope you like it in Norman, Natalie. It’s a big change.”

“I hope I will,” I answered.

“If you ever need anything, just ask Kyle, or Lacey, or me…”

“Or Conner,” Mom chimed, “or Jake.”

“Conner?” I echoed.

“He’s going with the whole crowd to OU,” Mom explained. “His father convinced him to take a chance.”

“But…I thought he was just taking classes somewhere…” Mom shook her head. Well, I guess I would know more people than I thought at college. It didn’t sound so bad. Still, the most important person wasn’t there. I pinched myself; no, you’re not following anybody there. You and Tucker are…the summer. We made our way through the airport, and my stomachache doubled. Aunt Jenny stayed with us as far as she could, but she wasn’t allowed past security without a boarding pass. She and my mom said goodbye, and it was my turn to go through the routine. Just as I set my bag down on the x-ray belt, I heard a whistle from the back of the building.

“Hey! Wait!”

We all turned to see Kyle practically sprinting over. What was he doing here? I remembered my cowboy hat, didn’t I? Aunt Jenny started to laugh, and I realized what was going on when I saw who was following behind. Tucker! Suddenly, I broke past my cool, “I’m OK” exterior and ran into his arms. I was wrapped in his tightest hug as he laughed into my ear.

“You’re not supposed to be here!” I scolded.

“I just wanted to say…” he started while letting me go. I kissed him before he could finish. He laughed again. “I just wanted to say see you next fall.”

“What?” I giggled, trying to piece together what was happening.

“Tucker says he wants to be my roommate at school,” Kyle grinned. “I couldn’t imagine anyone else doin’ the job.”

“So see you next fall,” he repeated slower with his quiet smile. “Go Sooners, right?”

Perfect.

Absolutely, completely, wonderfully perfect.

The End.