I stood shocked with my mouth open. I'd never seen Shawn dressed so elegantly, not even in school dances. I looked back to my mom. She was now with a huge smile. "Go change." I kissed Shawn on the cheek and smiled. I ran to my room to change.

By eight fifty we were out the door in very formal clothes that made the weather ten times hotter than it was, even if it was kind of a chilly night and even if I was wearing a dress (which was actually a very fresh dress).

We drove to an Italian restaurant near the beach, one that I used to visit with Logan and my parents when I was younger.

When we arrived, Shawn got out of the car and ran over to my side to open my door.

"You know I have arms to open the door right?" He gave me his famously perfect smile. "I know you can, but I wanted to be a gentleman. And besides, when you tell your friends this story I went them all to go all gooey because your boyfriend opens the door for you and theirs don't."

I laughed at his response and rolled my eyes. I held out my hand for him to hold. "Lead the way." He gave me a smiled and we walked to the entrance.

He told the waitress it was just us and she led us to a table far from most tables.

"So...are you excited for tomorrow?" I shook my head. "Sorta. I mean, it's cool and all that I'm moving and I get to start again but I'm scared of screwing up there. And besides, there are crocodiles everywhere in Florida!"

He laughed. "Maybe you could train one and keep it as a pet." I raised my eyebrow at him. "You wish. Those things are wild; they'd probably eat me before I even get close." He made a confused face. "How would they eat you if you're not close?" I put my finger to my head and said, "With their minds." We exploded with laughter and I understood why the waitress sat us in table so far away.

The waitress came to take our orders and seemed annoyed that we'd ordered a pizza. Seriously, what did she expect from two teenagers in an Italian restaurant.

There was a pause after the waitress left, one that Shawn took to his advantage to try and get a conversation going.

"I know we already talked about this, but I wanted to ask again. Where do you want to go to college? I decided for that art school in Savannah I told you about." I smiled slightly. Talking about college only made it more impossible for me to get over the fact that Shawn and I probably wouldn't get our second chance.

"That's great! I think I decided for NYU, though I still have a whole year to decide what to do. And what about life after college?" I gave away all the hope I was hiding in my voice, the hope that I hoped he would notice and get the hint.

His eyebrows scrunched and his lips pressed together, his head leaning a little to the side, a clear sign he was thinking. "I'm actually not sure, I hadn't really thought about it. Maybe I'll come back to The Town or I don't know, travel the world? I mean, could you imagine the books I'd write if I traveled the world? I'd get to meet so many cultures and people that my ideas would just flow like a river!"

I couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm, it was contagious and suddenly I, too, wanted to travel the world. Not with him, though that would definitely be a bonus.

"What about you Emma? Any ideas of the future inside that pretty head of yours?" I thought about it and tried to think of an answer as good as his, but nothing came to my mind. "Honestly, I have no idea. I'll probably look for a job while I looked for a way to pay for med school so my parents don't end poor after paying that excessive amount of money. And I don't know, I might stay in New York. Start a life there." This time it was his turn to smile. "And you'll invite me to your house, right? Come on, we have to go at least once to Brooklyn together to one of those crazy food places."

My eyes lit up. I'd seen all the videos on Instagram about the things they made in Brooklyn. Cookie dough, ice creams with donuts in the cones, s'mores ice cream... Thinking about going there someday with Shawn made the thought of it ten times better.

My mood had quickly improved and now I had become very excited. "Oh my God, yes! Let's do it. You and I, trip to Brooklyn. It's settled, as soon as we graduate college we're going." My excitement was nothing compared to Shawn's. He was now standing up from his chair. He put his fist in the air and yelled, "Yes!"

A waitress gave him the stink eye and he suddenly sunk into his chair, red with embarrassment. I couldn't control the laughter that was suddenly coming out of me in weird mix between snorts and giggles. I could feel the glare of the same waitress burning my soul behind my back, but in that moment I couldn't care less. I was happy and that was all that mattered.

A while later we weren't sure what our stomachs hurt for, the eating or the laughing. We stayed in the Italian restaurant until a table on the other side of the restaurant complained about us and we were kicked out. Well, first we paid and then we were kicked out.

Despite the fact that we left an hour before it was planned, it was one of the best dates I'd ever been on. Not that I'd gone to many, but usually they were romantic, nice and sweet. There's nothing wrong with that but sometimes all a girl needs is a good laugh. Or in my case that night, a lot of good laughs.

By eleven I was at home and Shawn had insisted in putting me to sleep as if I were a child. My mom laughed the whole time at us, but I couldn't care less. I was with him, the guy I loved and didn't want to let go of. And even if my mom had been laughing her ass off outside my bedroom door because of us, I can assure you this: there's no point in having a significant other who works for nothing more than hook-ups. In a good relationship what matters is how you are with each other, the dreams you share because you trust them, how they won't leave your side when they know you're okay and don't need them, how they stand by your side even when it seems like the whole world is against you. That's a good relationship, and Shawn gave me the best one in the world.

I slept five hours that night, but I'd never had a more resting sleep in my life. I looked around the apartment, everything was in boxes. The house was empty except for a few things that came in it when we rented it. It seemed like only yesterday I walked in there for the first time, mad because my parents had divorced and I knew my life had changed forever.

I walked around the living room where the couch used to be. I traced the floor with my foot and a tear fell down my face. It felt like not long ago I'd sat in that spot with my mother as we both cried because she had lost her job and we had nothing to do.

I sat in the empty place where I tripped when I tried to sneak out for the first time. I smiled at the faint memory of my mom all serious faced like the great mother she is, talking with a stern voice, preparing herself to yell at me the dangers of going out at three in the morning. Instead she didn't. She laughed at me and I stood there like an idiot, confused as I'd ever been in my life because my adorable boyfriend ratted me out because he knew I'd get caught either way.

I thought of all the memories I had in that small apartment in such little time, and though of all the memories I could have had if we stayed. Tears streamed down my face. This was it. I'd always dreamt of leaving The Town, but never like that. Never before I finished school.

I always had a plan in my head of how my life would be, but it all changed the moment I decided to walk down the street looking at my phone on that sunny November afternoon. If I'm grateful for something, I'm grateful for that.

At the airport my mom and I were once again surprised by all the people who cared for us. That included my friends, my mom's best friends and my dad. All of them patiently waiting for us at six thirty in the morning.

I knew I had to leave soon, so I after I hugged my friends I began with the speech I'd somewhat rehearsed the last few days.

"I have something to tell you guys, all of you. So please, shut up. You probably won't understand anything I'm saying because it's so early, but please try to stay awake."

All of them nodded, except for Vincent who threw his head to the side and said, "Ugh, I already fell asleep." Tamara and Michael playfully hit him in the back of the head. Then I began.

"I never thought I'd find people like you guys to be my friends. I was always this shy little girl sitting in the front of every classroom because I was a complete teacher's pet.

"Never in a million years did I imagine I would be friends with the cute little boy who later helped me plant a tree in the wrong pace.

"At first I couldn't imagine being friends with you Shawn, but after some days I couldn't imagine a world where I wasn't your best friend.

"Then middle school came and you betrayed me. I get it now, why you did what you did. I don't understand it, but at least I know why.

"After that I couldn't imagine someone would ever want to be friends with me. Then Vincent came, the sweet little boy who didn't know how to flirt with girls in elementary, and he took me under his wing. You took care of me and showed me new friends.

"Tami. You were the one who became fond of me the fastest. It seemed like I finally found another friend who would love me like Shawn did. But then your dad left and you became distant." I could see the guilt form in Shawn's face, it was when Tamara's dad left that he finally had a present father.

"You became so distant and I didn't understand why. You became mean but I let you because I thought you were hurt. And it's fine to be hurt. I want you to know that whenever you are hurt you can come to me in a heartbeat.

"Then, Michael. You were always like another older brother. Logan even saw you as competition. You've always been there for me. Sure, we drifted apart at some point, but then we came back together like gravity keeps the planets right where they're supposed to be.

"Sweet John... I don't think I even have words to describe you. We haven't always been very close, nor are we very close now, but I still wish this wonderful little friendship we have developed never dies.

"Kasey and Michelle...when we first met I thought you were these stuck up brats who were stuck to each other like glue because they thought no one was good enough to be your friends. But then I go to know these small, little creatures and I realized your weren't at all how I imagined you. You were two very different people who don't even seem like twins unless you look up close. You weren't as stuck up as I thought you to be. Yeah, you both had your bitch moments but that's what makes you unique."

At this point we were all crying. I knew they wanted me to stop so we'd all stop crying, but I didn't. I made a small pause long enough for me to catch my breath but short enough so that they couldn't interrupt me. I wiped the tears from my face, took a deep breath and continued.

"Kasey, you are so sweet and trust me when I tell you that your kind heart will take you places you never imagined.

"Michelle, your hard personality is sometimes hard to deal with but it doesn't matter because at the end of the day you are one of the best people I've met.

"My Shawn. I have no words to tell you that I haven't already. I won't say that I can't live without you because I know I can. I'm not that kind of girl. But what I will say to you is thank you. Thank you for being there for me when my parents were fighting. I don't know what I would've done without our move nights until very late, waiting for my parents to finally give up in yelling.

"You always were patient with me. You waited until I realized what I felt for you, you gave us time to form a beautiful friendship before we jumped into a relationship. For that I will forever be grateful."

I looked at Ashley who was nervously chewing her nails, waiting for her turn in my speech. I gave her a weak smile, one that I hope would send the message that she was next and there was nothing to be afraid of.

"Don't think I forgot you, Ashley. How could I forget you? I won't hide the truth. I admit that you made me feel like a hopeless piece of trash more than once.

"It hurts me that you betrayed me and even blackmailed me to get your spot as team captain. You hurt me in a way that I thought I'd never forgive, but I did. And look, we're friends again. I forgave you after what you did and there's no better feeling than that of forgiving someone.

"We're no longer like we were before, always watching our backs in case one of us was preparing for the kill. We were so used to betrayal in this friend group, but we changed. We learned about forgiveness and love, and we learned it all together. There's nothing better to have learnt that with you guys by my side.

"Before I finish," I turned my head over to Ashley who was in Kasey's arms, sobbing uncontrollably. She looked up from her best friend's shoulder, probably sensing what was to come next.

"Ashley, why did you treat me like that?" She let go of Kasey, the guilt in her eyes was obvious.

"I did it because I was jealous. I was jealous of your friendship with Shawn, you weren't afraid to share your feelings for the world. You forgave him so easily while I could do was keep grudges. I was jealous that you had a friend like Shawn, so caring and sweet and loyal. I wanted that, and let's be honest, there wasn't much of that between any of us. But I'm not jealous anymore, never will be. You and Shawn deserve each other. I have a boyfriend who ditched his friends because of me, what else can I ask from him? Maybe I still am a little jealous of how perfect your love story turned out, but I don't want it. It's yours to have and enjoy and I'm so happy for you. I'm sorry too. I truly am, you have no idea."

I could no longer contain myself; I hugged Ashley like never before. Tears cascaded down my cheeks and that was when I once again realized something very important.

There's no bigger pain than leaving the people you love behind, especially when it's not your choice, but that's how you know which people are worth it and which are not. And like Winnie the Pooh said, how lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.

I hugged my friends one last time, not wanting to let go. I didn't want to leave them, not then, not ever. I wanted to stay there forever with them, stuck in the moment when we found out that our love and bond was stronger than we realized.

We finally let go after what I hoped was an eternity. The tears were streaming endlessly down all of our faces, making no attempt to stop.

My mom finally gave me the sign that we had to leave even though I didn't want to. I looked at my friends for one last time in what would be a long time.

I said a small goodbye to my dad since I'd be seeing him in two weeks when I drove to Georgia and I turned around, hoping that if I didn't see their faces I wouldn't think twice about not leaving.

I felt someone grab my arm and I turned around before to see who the hand belonged to. It was Shawn. My mom sighed and said, "Please Shawn, we have to leave now or else we'll miss our flight." Shawn took his phone out of his pocket. "You still have ten minutes, Mrs. R. It'll be quick, I promise." She caved.

Shawn took out something the size of a book, all wrapped up. He smiled and gave it to me. "I got you a little going away present." I carefully opened the present, trying very hard not to rip the wrapping paper apart. I looked at him from the corner of my eye and I could tell he was more excited than I was.

I opened it and looked at him with gratitude. "A journal?" He nodded with a huge smile plastered on his face.

I was looking at the brown journal he'd given me when suddenly an idea came into my mind. "Do you have a pen by any chance? Quick." He looked at me with a questioning look and then searched for a pen in his pockets.

He gave me a blue inked pen. I took it and immediately started writing. I'd never written so fast in my life. I was standing up, which made it ten times harder.

Shawn looked at me with a puzzled face. "What are you writing?" I looked up from my new journal and smiled.

"I'm writing everything that has happened lately, so that I don't forget. If I don't write this quickly, I'll forget it. And besides, this way I will know what not to do the next time I meet a handsome boy."

He smiled. "So, basically it's an idiot's guide to falling in love?" I laughed.

"Yes, exactly." We both stayed silent for a few seconds, just looking into each other's eyes. "Wait, did you just call me an idiot?" He looked at me, trying to contain his laughter, but he couldn't.

We both started laughing like idiot's until he finally said, "Goodbye, Emma." I hugged him and kissed him one last time.

"Goodbye Shawn."

I was about to turn around and leave when he asked, "Wait! How does it start?"

I smiled and read out loud, "Walk faster. Walk faster..."

A/N

I think this is for sure my favorite chapter of the whole book, I nearly cried while writing (and I don't cry easily). I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!

Stay tuned on November 1st, the final chapter will be posted that day!