A/N: Last chapter!!!! I can't believe it myself. I've been working on this story for over a year now and it's incredible to think that this part is almost over. Anyway, once you've read this last chapter, you can head on over to A Forced Family: Kate's New Life. Thanks guys!
Haru continued to get increasingly better with each passing day, and when he was well enough to travel, returned home to his parents, who were both obviously concerned about him, but couldn't get up to the school on account of business. According to Haru, it was very typical.
Before Haru left, however, he and Tiffany made up and were back on again, much to Tiffany's delight, who couldn't stop smiling for the next few days.
It was a very emotional time for all of us when Haru left. Tiffany and I were crying openly while the guys didn't cry, saying roughly we'd see each other again within a few months. But nearly losing Haru had made us all feel very close, and I knew they were feeling exactly as Tiffany and I were feeling.
"Hey," I said as he was packing to go. "You're gonna call me this summer, right?"
"Course, babe," he said cheerfully, tossing some Silly String into his suitcase, followed by a glass case full of some jelly-like green substance. "You think I'd lose touch with the prettiest girl in school? Besides my girlfriend, of course."
"What happened to Brianne?" I asked. "You never told us about her."
"Oh, yeah," he said as he tossed some Playboy magazines into the open suitcase. (I didn't ask how he got them so don't ask me.) "Brianne took it kind of hard, then she left me a note saying she'd had sex two hours after we broke up."
"Nice of her," I commented.
He shrugged. "Not a big deal," he said. "Now that Tiffany and I are back together."
"Yeah," I said. "Anyway, heal fast. The doctors said you'd be able to play football again, right?"
"Yup," he said. "And I can tackle and everything." He winked roguishly at me. I rolled my eyes.
"Glad to see you didn't lose your sense of humor," I said.
"Perish the thought," he gasped. "So, what about you and Matt? You guys still together?"
"Of course," I said defensively. "What made you think we weren't?"
"Nothing," said Haru innocently. "Oh," he said, moving to take off the krynaih which was still around his neck. "You'll probably want this back."
"No, you keep it," I said, handing it back. "It won't work for me anymore."
"What do you mean?" Haru said, his brow screwing up with confusion.
"The krynaih will come to your aid three times," I said. "It's already helped me three times. Now it's your turn."
Haru grinned. "You don't believe in superstition, do you, Kate?"
"With all my skeptical heart," I answered.
He closed the suitcase and gingerly stood up, wincing. He came over and hugged me, kissing my cheek. "Take care, Kate," he said to me.
"You too," I said. "But don't expect me to go easy on you next year."
He grinned at me as I left. I hate good-byes. –sniffs—Me too.
Matt was going to go with Gary to spend a week at Gary's brother's house and then was going to take Cleo home with him. After that, Gary was going to summer school because he had failed English 10 and Matt was going to drop in to give me a visit sometime after he got back from Alaska.
Scott was heading to Hawaii to learn how to surf with his family, and promised to bring me back some sea air in a bottle.
Calvin and Niran were spending the summer at a camp as counselors to meet hot girls because supposedly this was their life-long ambition.
And Tiffany was going to the Bahamas to get "the perfect tan" for her "honey darlin' Haru".
Haru was going to recuperate and spend a lot of time calling Tiffany in the Bahamas and catch up on Baywatch reruns after he and his family moved. ("Just keep them running all the time!" he yelled at the TV set. He says he hates Friends but he loves it. He just won't let anybody know it.)
And me? I was moving as well—into a new family and a new life. My summer was going to suck: the only bright spot in it was the fact that Matt was going to drop by and see me. Until then, I expected a thoroughly miserable summer.
Tiffany and I were very emotional as we prepared to leave and hugged each other sobbing while the guys rolled their eyes and muttered under their breaths.
"I'm going to miss you," Tiffany sniffed as her mascara ran down her face.
"Me too," I choked out. "Will you call me?"
"Okay," she said, hugging me one last time as a car horn beeped. She turned to look at the Rolls-Royce and waved, turning one last time for another hug. She looked hesitantly at the guys, who had hated her since she cheated on Haru. "Bye," she said timidly.
"See you next year," Matt said, smiling at her.
She beamed as the others gave similar sentiments and ran to the car, waving once more before getting into the car and driving off.
Matt put his arm around me, kissing my forehead as we each waited for our rides.
"Gonna miss this," I sighed, putting my arm around him as well.
"Yup," said Matt.
"See you guys," Calvin and Niran cheered as they spotted their ride. "We'll be callin' you and telling you that you totally missed out on all the hot chicks!" Niran cackled.
"Just you wait," Matt said. "The only girls there'll be either 76 and cranky or ugly as hell." He high-fived Gary and me as Calvin and Niran made faces at him.
"See you, Kate," Niran said, high-fiving me and running to the car. "I claim you for our first football game next year!"
"Too late, man," Gary called. "She's on my team."
"Bye, guys," Calvin said. "See you next year," he said, and followed Niran to the car.
Gary, Matt and I waved good-bye as they drove off until they were out of our sight.
"Knowing my luck I'm going to have an ugly, evil stepsister," I groaned.
"Let's hope she's not ugly," said Gary. "'Cause I need a date."
"Ha ha," I said dryly and pushed him teasingly.
"That's our ride," said Gary suddenly. He picked up his suitcase and gently punched my arm. "Later, Kate. Be careful opening your suitcase," he said before running towards the car.
"Why?" I yelled.
"Because I put a can of opened spaghetti sauce in there!" he yelled back.
"RAT!" I screamed at him.
"Love you too, darling!" he shouted before slamming his door closed.
"This is my ride," said Matt as he turned to me. "Guess I gotta go."
"Yeah," I said sadly. "I guess you do."
He picked up his suitcase and started off towards the car before stopping. He put his suitcase down on the ground and strode back to me. Before I could question him, he had swept me into his arms, dipped me back and kissed me.
He gently brought me back up before letting me go. I swayed slightly, a dreamy smile on my face. "What was that for?" I said.
"To remember me by," Matt said, picking up his suitcase again. "And to keep you from getting a new boyfriend before I see you again."
"Like that would happen," I grinned at him.
"Just so you know," said Matt, "I see good things in our future."
"Yeah?" I said. "That a guarantee?"
"Definite," he answered, and gave me one more grin before getting in Gary's brother's car. I waved until they were out of sight and sighed heavily.
"Ms. Bradley?" called a chauffeur.
"That's me," I called back, picking up my suitcase and walking towards him.
"I'm to take you to the airport," he said.
"Thanks," I said.
He loaded my bags into the car and then we started off. I turned to look back at the school I had hated at first and then come to enjoy. You'll be back again soon. I know. But I'm gonna miss it. I'm gonna miss them and all the memories we've made. Something better though: next year there won't be a Laramie or a George.
I smirked at that thought.
It was going to be a bright future after all.
THE AUTHOR'S FINISHING NOTES: I hope you've enjoyed reading this first volume as much as I've enjoyed writing it. Thanks to all my loyal reviewers who've been with me every step of the way who have encouraged me. If you want, you can now go to A Forced Family: Kate's New Life and continue with the saga or it can end here. (Of course I'd prefer if you would keep reading, but hey: your choice.) Love you all!