❛ I'll find you in the morning sun and when the night is new. I'll be looking at the soon but I'll be seeing you. ❜

DEAD POETS SOCIETY
chapter twenty-seven

KNOX HELPED ELIZA into the cave. Richard quick to take her hips as she dangled in and lowered her onto the uneven ground below. Knox jumped inside beside her. Then, all at once, five flashlights turned on to showcase the faces of the boys Eliza once grew to know and love.

⠀⠀⠀"Oh, my God!" Eliza exclaimed, her shaky hands reaching up to her trembling lips to feel her warm breath stutter against her palm.

⠀⠀⠀"Eliza!" the boys shouted, all rushing forward and taking her into a hug with Knox pulled in as well.

⠀⠀⠀Richard was reminded of when she and Knox had reunited in his dorm. They stood like this as if they were tethered to one another. Hugging like it was the only thing that brought her life.

⠀⠀⠀"Meeks! Pitts! Todd!" she cooed, her cool hand reaching for their faces to assure herself that they were there standing with her. She smiled more beautifully than Richard ever thought he had seen. Even more than the night, they had gotten engaged.

⠀⠀⠀Eliza's eyes landed on Charlie. Her figure became hesitant. She walked over to him, the backs of her fingers brushed against his cheek. A delicate tenderness different to what she had given the other boys. She smiled kindly at him, and he smiled back, something erupting in the pits of their stomachs as nostalgia and good feelings came to coat their insides.

⠀⠀⠀"If everyone could take their seats, we have a meeting to conduct," Todd called, a familiar navy book rested between his fingers.

⠀⠀⠀"Todd!" Eliza gasped as she settled beside him, Richard following. He wrapped his arm over his shoulders, taking hold of her hand as they relaxed beside each other. "You're going to read the introduction?"

⠀⠀⠀"Yes," Todd smiled, and the warmth of his confidence assured Eliza that Welton had done alright on him over the years. "I hereby reconvene the Dead Poets Society for one night. Tonight.

⠀⠀⠀"Tonight's meeting will be conducted by myself, Todd Anderson, in honor of our dear friend and poet, Neil Perry. And now, the opening message by society member Henry David Thoreau."

⠀⠀⠀Chris and Richard watched in amazement as the cave filled with the members' voices, reciting the text without hesitation.

⠀⠀⠀"I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life. To put to rout all that was not life, and not, when I had come to die, discover that I had not lived."

⠀⠀⠀Silence filled the cave, the quote reflecting on their time at Welton, pinching at their heartstrings. Richard squeezed Eliza's hand reassuringly, and across the cave, Charlie watched.

⠀⠀⠀"We want to thank Chris Overstreet and Richard Beasley for joining us," Knox began, raising his hand like he held a cup for a toast. "No one could replace Neil Perry, but Richard, you're doing a fine job of replacing another Richard we all know and hate."

⠀⠀⠀Richard smiled at the sentiment and clinked an invisible cup back.

⠀⠀⠀"Intermission," Eliza called, clapping her hands together to look at her boys. "What have you boys been up to? Tell me everything!"

⠀⠀⠀"Well, Pitts and I have worked for an engineering company," Meeks began with a wide smile.

⠀⠀⠀"That's interesting," Eliza stated, stroking her chin in thought. "You guys enjoy it?"

⠀⠀⠀"It's alright," Pitts shrugged. "I'd rather have my own... well, our own company where we come up with the designs, but even if that's possible or profitable, it's not in our cards right now."

⠀⠀⠀Knox rolled his eyes at the two.

⠀⠀⠀"It's definitely something you guys can do!" he claimed. "You made a radio from scratch at Hellton just to be able to listen to music on the roof."

⠀⠀⠀Eliza laughed as she remembered, turning to Richard, "They said it was a radar detector."

⠀⠀⠀Richard laughed, "Seriously?" he asked, and she nodded.

⠀⠀⠀Eliza turned away and caught Charlie staring. He looked away for a moment but could not keep away for long as his eyes jumped back to her. Eliza held out her hand towards him and pulled her fingers back towards her.

⠀⠀⠀"What would this meeting be without light, Dalton?" she asked with a small smile.

⠀⠀⠀"What makes you think I still smoke, Bir—" he said but cleared his throat and said, "Eliza?" Charlie leaned back cooly where he sat beside Knox and raised his hands over his head with a sly smile that assured Eliza that he had a pack on him.

⠀⠀⠀"Either that thing in your pocket is a pack of cigarettes, or it's another page ripped from Playboy," Eliza mused, shaking her hand. "Which is it?"

⠀⠀⠀Charlie rolled his eyes and pulled the pack out to place in her outstretched hand.

⠀⠀⠀"D'you want one?" Eliza asked, looking up to Richard, who refused. She nodded in response and tossed the pack back to Charlie with the stick in between her lips. "Light?" she asked, and Charlie dug one out of his other pocket.

⠀⠀⠀"What about you, Charlie?" she asked, cupping her hand around the bud and lit it. "Banker?"

⠀⠀⠀Charlie laughed lightly, but shrugged.

⠀⠀⠀"No, after Welton, my parents sent me to military school," he explained. "I went into the Air Force for four years, and then I got a job as a prison guard. Learned after two years that I hated it," he explained, looking down at the lighter she had tossed back into his lap and using it to light his own cigarette. "I've recently gotten a job as a reported, so we'll see how it goes."

⠀⠀⠀Eliza grinned, happy that Charlie could break the mold his parents had formed for him.

⠀⠀⠀"Really?" she asked, and he continued to nod his head with a stupid smile before taking a long drag. "That's good, Charlie. I'm really happy for you."

⠀⠀⠀"And?" Todd spoke up, kicking his foot against Eliza's. "What about you?"

⠀⠀⠀Eliza turned to Richard, then back to Todd, and slowly made her way across the boys as she spoke.

⠀⠀⠀"Well, I got my masters and teach at Oxford now. Uncle Keating retired from there, and I basically took his job," she explained with a humble shrug.

⠀⠀⠀"No one could do an English class like Mr. Keating, though," Todd mused with a small smile.

⠀⠀⠀"You'd be surprised," Richard commented, turning to Todd with an amused smile. "One the day when I stopped by, she had all the students at different corners of the room shouting quotes from Shakespeare at each other."

⠀⠀⠀The cave burst into laughter, a flood of memories drifting back to them before the loudness stilled.

⠀⠀⠀"Have you made them stand on their desks yet?" Pitts asked curiously, an amused smile on his face. "Or walk around in a circle in the courtyard."

⠀⠀⠀"No, I haven't made them stand on any desks," she laughed. "I'm worried one of those rich, snobby parents are going to sue me if their kid slips. I don't want to pay a fortune because someone fell," Eliza sighed, a thoughtful look coming across her face after a pause. "Although, I forgot about the conformity exercise. I should do that one."

⠀⠀⠀"If you got sued," Chris piped up, her hand rested lovingly on Knox's chest as she stared up at him with a love-struck smile. "You have the best to represent you."

⠀⠀⠀"Yes, right, of course," Eliza smiled. "I'm not gonna chance it still."

⠀⠀⠀Charlie turned to Todd, nodding his head, "Tell her what you do now."

⠀⠀⠀"Oh, um," Todd mused, a blush falling on his cheeks as he turned to look at Eliza. "I work at Welton, actually."

⠀⠀⠀"Really?" Eliza asked, her eyes almost falling out of her skull.

⠀⠀⠀"Yeah," he chuckled. "I hope to one day take over Nolan's job, make some actual change there. It deserves to be better. For Neil."

⠀⠀⠀"But are you gonna let girls into Welton?" Eliza asked seriously, placing her hand on his knee.

⠀⠀⠀"Um, I don't know. I haven't thought that far yet," Todd nervously chuckled, rubbing his hand on the back of his neck.

⠀⠀⠀"Then what was it all for, Todd?!" Charlie exclaimed.

⠀⠀⠀"Right now, I'm just teaching English. The last teacher didn't last long, and Mr. Nolan likes me well enough and knows I don't have the stones to be as ambitious as Mr. Keating," Todd explained with a shrug. "I still do small things, though."

⠀⠀⠀"You'll have to call sometime, and we can chat about our classrooms," Eliza stated, removing her hand from his knee. "Or if I ever come visit Vermont, I'll just sit in your class and have the whole class pee their pants like with you guys."

⠀⠀⠀The boys chuckled.

⠀⠀⠀"You could always do the same if you're in town the next week," Eliza explained with a small smile.

⠀⠀⠀Todd frowned, "Our flight leaves tomorrow morning."

⠀⠀⠀"Well, you'll have to come back sometime soon," Eliza told him with a small smile, rolling her hand with the diamond engagement ring at Todd. "Maybe for our wedding."

⠀⠀⠀"Maybe," Todd chuckled lightly.

⠀⠀⠀"And that goes for all of you," Eliza called out, pointing to the boys. "The visiting and the wedding," she smiled. "But before we get back to the reading, are any of you dating or engaged? But not married. You can't be married because I never got an invitation, besides Discipline," Eliza stated, almost bursting out of her seat to know the answer. She loved her boys so much, and while at Welton, she never had the pleasure of girl talking with herself being the only girl on their minds.

⠀⠀⠀Well, now that Eliza thought about it, she had plenty of girl talk with Knox over Chris.

⠀⠀⠀"I've been dating a girl named Kiera. It's been going good, three months," Meeks started first, a smug grin appearing across his face.

⠀⠀⠀"She sounds pretty," Eliza said with a smile.

⠀⠀⠀"Yes, very, she's just not very bright," Meeks explained finally, the boys jesting the poor sucker.

⠀⠀⠀Pitts finally spoke up, a sheen of nervous sweat coming to his forehead.

⠀⠀⠀"I, um, Eliza, you're going to hate me," he admitted, hanging his head. "I got married two years ago. Her name's Becky."

⠀⠀⠀"How could you do this to me, Pitts?!" Eliza exclaimed, falling back into Richard's chest as if Pitts had flung a spear into her chest.

⠀⠀⠀"I'm sorry, El! I didn't know how to contact you!" Pitts admitted, holding his hands out towards her as if to catch her.

⠀⠀⠀"It's fine, Pitts. It's fine," she pouted teasingly, turning to Charlie.

⠀⠀⠀"No, I'm not seeing anyone," Charlie stated to her unasked question. "I like to keep my options open. Don't really wanna settle down with anyone at the moment."

⠀⠀⠀Eliza smiled.

⠀⠀⠀"That's good that you know what you want, Charlie. Just make the girls you're goin' around with know that too or else they might cut something off."

⠀⠀⠀Charlie chuckled and rolled his eyes.

⠀⠀⠀"How about you, Todd?"

⠀⠀⠀"Um," Todd muttered, looking around the room before back to Eliza. "I'm engaged," he whispered, reverting to that boy she had met on her first day of Welton so long ago.

⠀⠀⠀"What's her name?" Eliza whispered back at the same volume as Todd.

⠀⠀⠀"His name is Julian," Todd began, his features visibly tense from the worry of how she'd react.

⠀⠀⠀"No!" Eliza exclaimed loudly, jumping away from Todd, and her face turned red out of anger. Her eyebrows furrowed deep into her forehead, and she practically glared at Todd. He turned a similar red out of embarrassment and surprise at seeing such a strange reaction from Eliza. "That asshole who cornered me on my first day at Welton?!"

⠀⠀⠀Todd let out a relieved sigh, then an odd chuckle, before stating, "U-Um, yes. Yes, that's the one."

⠀⠀⠀"God, Todd! How could you?" she asked, setting her hand on his knee again. "I'm sorry. My reaction was supposed to be teasing. I didn't mean to come off as if I didn't accept you."

⠀⠀⠀"Yes, I understand. Don't worry," Todd assured her, taking her hand and squeezing it.

⠀⠀⠀"Y'know, Oscar Wilde was gay."

⠀⠀⠀"Okay, Eliza!" Todd groaned, his hands plastered to his face as the cave erupted with another wave of laughter.

ELIZA COULDN'T SLEEP in the hotel room she and Richard shared. She laid awake under the thin blankets and stared at the ceiling above her. The tick of the clock was about to drive her insane. So, ever so slowly, she dragged herself out from under the blankets and made her way into the bathroom.

⠀⠀⠀On the toilet, she sat as she did in her bed. Unable to remove herself from her thoughts as she stared at the wall in front of her. She may have sat there for hours or only minutes before she finally stood and leave the bathroom.

⠀⠀⠀She needed out of the hotel room, so she was assured she wasn't disturbing Richard. She didn't want to wake him and worry him when this happened. When she was stuck awake thinking of nothing and yet everything all at once.

⠀⠀⠀Eliza found Wuthering Heights on the small coffee table that she had left. She picked it up and snuck out of the room to where she found the dining hall empty. It was dark in the room and most likely not meant for guests to spend their time in. However, she sat in a booth near a window. She fixed her book to rest in the small amount of light from outside.

⠀⠀⠀An hour passed, and then two, until she heard the soft steps of someone approaching. Worried that one of the employees had spotted her inside the dining room, she shrunk into the booth and waited for them to pass. Although they grew closer until she could make out the familiar features of Charlie Dalton.

⠀⠀⠀"Birdie," Charlie greeted, sitting beside her.

⠀⠀⠀"Nuwanda," Eliza nodded, returning them to their silence.

⠀⠀⠀"Couldn't sleep?" he asked, taking a seat beside her in the booth and extending his long legs to rest on the table in front of them.

⠀⠀⠀"No, you?" she asked, turning a page in her book.

⠀⠀⠀"No," he sighed.

⠀⠀⠀Eliza hated that something in her gut erupted when she saw Charlie again. She knew it was stupid and shouldn't have meant anything to see him again, but it meant everything. Charlie had been her first love, and no one really got over that.

⠀⠀⠀But now, she has Richard. A man that Eliza loves deeply, that she's promised her hand in marriage. Even if Charlie was back and was single and was still the boy she had fallen in love with years ago, she wouldn't fall back into him.

⠀⠀⠀The feeling of Charlie was different. He was different, and so was she. The feelings between her and Charlie were nostalgia mixed with a sense of no closure after being forced to break up. There was also the stale taste on her tongue that Chris and Knox had made their relationship work, where Eliza had told Charlie that it would never work. How they would grow tired of each other so easily.

⠀⠀⠀She felt guilt stir in her stomach. That's what it was.

⠀⠀⠀"What are you reading?" Charlie asked after growing uncomfortable in the silence they should be easy to fill.

⠀⠀⠀"Wuthering Heights," Eliza stated, tabbing the edge of her page and closing the book. "My students are reading it, so I make sure to read along with them. If any of them say they were too busy to read it, I can always tell them I went to a wedding, met my old friends, and still had time to read three chapters," she explained with a shrug. "Although insomnia helps."

⠀⠀⠀Charlie chuckled, his head leaning against his fist as he turned himself to look at her.

⠀⠀⠀"Don't look at me like that," Eliza told him after a moment, keeping her eyes away from him as he watched her.

⠀⠀⠀Charlie furrowed his brow, "Like what?" he asked innocently.

⠀⠀⠀Eliza glanced back at him as his brown, stupid eyes stared holes into her forehead. He watched every twitch of her muscles as if he had studied the manual.

⠀⠀⠀"Like that!" Eliza stated, "Like you did when we were at Welton."

⠀⠀⠀"Sorry," Charlie sighed, regaining his posture. "I didn't realize."

⠀⠀⠀Eliza nodded reassuringly.

⠀⠀⠀"You've kept it," he mused.

⠀⠀⠀"What?"

⠀⠀⠀"You kept the, um, the necklace," Charlie stated, his hand raising and resting gently against the locket he had given her on her last day.

⠀⠀⠀"Well, of course. You guys were the best friends I ever had," Eliza said, rolling her eyes but catching the frown that tugged at Charlie.

⠀⠀⠀Charlie's hand twitched as it accidentally brushed her smooth skin. His hand gently came to cradle her neck so subtly she barely noticed he had moved past her necklace. Her eyes were on him, and she wanted to get away as fast as she could but also stay where she was to feel him one last time.

⠀⠀⠀Charlie leaned into her quickly, wanting to kiss her deep and passionate to make up for all the years he had wasted not going to look for her. It would've been easy. So, easy. He had kept in contact with Knox and knew of Richard, how happy the two were together, how they loved each other more than what Eliza and Charlie had seemed to.

⠀⠀⠀Knox had told Charlie that he wouldn't put Eliza into the position to choose, but if Charlie wanted to fight for her, he knew where they were. And then were times he had his bags packed and ready to leave, and then something would stop him. It was always a minor inconvenience. Like his friend needed help moving. Or he stubbed his toe against the dresser. Or the fact that the newscaster said that it would rain.

⠀⠀⠀So, he moved in close but didn't kiss her as he wanted. Instead, he rested his head close to hers, nose brushing the skin of her face. Their lips were inches apart, and they could just make out each other's eyes, but they stayed close.

⠀⠀⠀"What are you doing, Charlie?" Eliza whispered hoarsely, worried that if she moved, she'd make a mistake.

⠀⠀⠀"What does it look like I'm doing?" he teased, a smile making its way to his face.

⠀⠀⠀"It looks like a mistake. One I don't want to make," Eliza stated.

⠀⠀⠀"Well, I call it very close talking," he explained, shrugging his shoulders lightly.

⠀⠀⠀"Charlie, I'm getting married in a few months."

⠀⠀⠀"I know," he whispered, almost choking.

⠀⠀⠀"I love you, Charlie," she breathed. "But our life together has passed. We have to move on."

⠀⠀⠀"I love you, too, Birdie," he whispered, a tear falling down his cheek before he moved away and wiped his cheek. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

⠀⠀⠀"It's okay," she assured him.

⠀⠀⠀"I, um, maybe I'll see you tomorrow?" he asked, walking backward as quickly as he could.

⠀⠀⠀"Yeah, I planned on seeing you guys off. Maybe bring John with me."

⠀⠀⠀Charlie nodded, "Right. Right. Okay."

⠀⠀⠀Then, Charlie was gone. He went back to his room while Eliza stayed in that booth until morning, unable to grow the courage to open her book and try to read without her tears staining the pages.

ELIZA AND JOHN Keating made it to the airport a little after the other boys had. Knox and Chris had gotten on their flight early in the morning, so it was only Meeks, Pitts, Todd, and Charlie they were sending off.

⠀⠀⠀When the boys had seen John, they all jumped and practically screamed like little girls. They rushed over and hugged the man who had made their lives so much more. John laughed heartily at them. He could barely get a word in as the boys babbled about Welton after he had left, what happened, and how Todd had taken over his role at Welton as the English teacher.

⠀⠀⠀John was very excited and happy to hear from his boys. He had taught many students, but these boys had a truly special place in his heart. Not for the fact that Eliza had been a part of their class. Or Neil had killed himself that made the year stand out so blatantly to him, but it was the boys themselves who so desperately wanted to live.

⠀⠀⠀After a while, the boys had settled down. They had taken their seats as they waited for their plane to be called. They shared stories and poems and just general excitement until they were called away.

⠀⠀⠀The group stood at their feet and smiled at each other.

⠀⠀⠀Eliza got to say goodbye to Todd first. She hugged him tightly and whispered into his chest, "Neil would've been so proud of you," making both of them burst into tears.

⠀⠀⠀Eliza continued, though, "I'm going to visit Vermont soon. We should catch up. I'd really like to discuss your teaching methods. I know we have similar inspiration, but it would be nice. Oh! And I have the right to make sure Julian is fit to be your husband, seeing as he was an asshole to me!" she exclaimed, pointing a dangerous finger at Todd.

⠀⠀⠀Todd raised his hand in surrender, nodding fervently, "Of course, of course, captain!"

⠀⠀⠀Eliza grinned and then was grasped tightly by Pitts.

⠀⠀⠀"Oh, Pittsy!" she exclaimed, holding him back as tightly as she could. "I'm going to miss you! I miss you already!"

⠀⠀⠀"I'm going to miss you, too, Eliza," he laughed.

⠀⠀⠀"If you and Meeks get that business launched, let me know," she told him. "And tell Becky that I am determined to meet her. I believe she is fortunate, and I hope she is good and kind to you because my Pittsy only deserves the best."

⠀⠀⠀"Alright, alright," Pitts assured her with a timid smile.

⠀⠀⠀"Meeks!" she exclaimed as the two hugged.

⠀⠀⠀"Eliza!" he exclaimed, just as she did.

⠀⠀⠀"I never knew someone as quick-witted and stupid smart as you. I can't believe I have to go without you giving us the right facts and correcting us kindly if we're wrong!"

⠀⠀⠀"And I miss your stupid face and quick wit. But, oh, Captain, my Captain! There will never be another Captain as well-fit to lead the Dead Poets Society," he sighed, pulling back and holding his arm out in a salute.

⠀⠀⠀Meeks walked away from him. Pitts and Todd moved to talk to Keating one last time while Charlie made his way towards Eliza.

⠀⠀⠀"Hey," he smiled awkwardly, his hands tucked deep within his pockets.

⠀⠀⠀"Hello," she smiled, raising her hand to him as she chuckled to fill the silence.

⠀⠀⠀Charlie stared at Eliza, and her bright green eyes and her calming atmosphere and everything reminded him of that year. He wanted to hold her tight and never let her go.

⠀⠀⠀"I'll miss you," he said instead.

⠀⠀⠀"Yeah," she nodded, looking past him. "I'll miss you too. All of you," she corrected.

⠀⠀⠀They stood in silence once again.

⠀⠀⠀Charlie grew agitated before he muttered, "Fuck this," and placed his hands on the sides of Eliza's face and pulled her close into a deep kiss. The men beside them grew quiet as Charlie held her close, and Eliza didn't seem to pull away. They would've stayed in that same spot forever if it weren't for the need to breathe and Eliza's mind clicking into place.

⠀⠀⠀She gasped for breath, and as the air revived her head, she took a step back, her hand on her lips.

⠀⠀⠀"Goodbye, Eliza," Charlie stated, his chest puffed but a sense of finality in his voice.

⠀⠀⠀"Goodbye, Charlie," Eliza nodded, her eyes wide as she watched him shake Keating's hand and walked to where his plane was.

⠀⠀⠀Meeks, Pitts, and Todd quickly said their goodbyes to the Keatings before following Charlie in a hurry. The two were planted in their spots as they waited for something to crack. In the distance, they could hear whistles and a loud scream of carpe diem.

⠀⠀⠀"Don't worry," John assured his niece as he wrapped his kind arm around her shoulders. "I won't tell Richard if you won't."

⠀⠀⠀"Shouldn't I?" Eliza asked. "Tell him?"

⠀⠀⠀"No," John said. "That was your closure."

⠀⠀⠀Eliza looked up to John, who smiled down at his niece. He knew she had wanted more from her ending at Welton. Then, however, something that wasn't so definite. And this, after years of living a good life and finding Charlie amongst that, allowed her to see that she loved Richard Beesly. She wanted to marry him and shouldn't feel guilty for still having her heart cracked because of Charlie Dalton.

AUTHOR'S NOTE —

This is the final chapter. I've done it very deliberately so that I stay up late enough to complete this story on my birthday. The ultimate gift to myself, finally finishing a story that I feel is good. I can't believe we've gotten here. It has been a long time since I've finished writing a book and I can't believe it. Charlie and Eliza's story is over. They have had their relationship be good to them and later be broken apart only to find each other again. Although, sometimes you don't get to end up with the person you thought you needed to be with all along. 

However, I love all the comments about their alternative endings for this book. They make me laugh every time I read them.

I hope that the ending wasn't too heart breaking for you guys but I know it's a bit devastating. And I also hope that you are able to find more stories of mine that you enjoy.

Thank you, once again. 

SONG: I'll Be Seeing You by Billie Holliday

Thank you for reading! Leave comments telling me your thoughts on this chapter, but however you interact, know that I really appreciate you reading. I hope you enjoy, and until the next one.