Marks silhouette came into view under the motel lights. He was sitting down on the pavement and he looked like he was drawing. Jack half jogged the rest of the way stopping in front of Mark.

    "Almost didn't think you'd show you took so long," Mark jokes as he looks up, a bright smile worn across his features. Then he raises his eyebrows as he sees Jacks guitar. "You had to take that?" Jacks face goes beat red and he looks away.

    "My dad gave it to me," to which Mark nods and stands. Jack notices he has all of his stuff together. A leather suitcase in one hand and a backpack worn across his shoulders. He was sporting a heavy red flannel.

    "Lumberjack much?" Jack says jokingly as they begin to walk themselves toward the diner.

    "Shut up," Mark laughs. Jack looks at Mark and a sudden realization dawns on him. He was leaving, possibly for good. He still didn't have clear water with one of his best friends. He had stolen his aunts money and possibly the worst of all, he had just killed his mother. Cursing himself he tries to stop thinking but all that flows is that he murdered his mother. Murdered the only family he had left, even if it was a barley recognizable face. Blinking he shakes his head, that wasn't her anymore and Jack knew that but he still couldn't shake the feeling.

    "You know this time last year I never would have been thinking that I'd run off twice. The first time away from the only home I've ever know and the second with some, might I say, dashing young lad who I'm helping go to Stanford," Mark chuckles and looks down. "I thought I would be looking for colleges right now maybe even slammed down a scholarship at my number one, Ohio State," Jack smiles and looks down at his shoes.

    "I thought I'd still be right were I was month ago before I meant you... absolutely nothing," Jack looks up, partly to see Marks reaction who has a light grin on his face. He whispers something but Jack can't hear it.

    "What?" He asks. Mark turns to him a full fledge smile draped across his features.

    "For better our for worse," He says to which Jack grins and reaches down, enlacing his free hand into Marks free hand.

    "For better or for worse," he repeats.

    Robins blue pickup slowly came into view as Mark and Jack walked, hands still pressed tightly together. When they slowly get closer Jack sees Robins not alone. Jack squeezes Marks hand who squeezes right back. Taking a deep breath they walk toward the group.

    "Hey," Jack says to which Robin swirls around a smile on his face that dare Jack thinks looks sad. The next person he sees is Bob and then Wade. The gangs all here. One last hurrah.

    "Hey," Bob says lifting his hand to give a pathetic wave. Jack just narrows his eyes and glares.

    "What are they doing here? I told you to keep this between us," Jack says shooting a pointed look at Robin who looks down.

    "You know this could be the last time any of us see you so... I just wanted to you know let everyone tie there ropes and say goodbye," Robin says sheepishly and Jacks heart just melts. Mark squeezes Jacks hand one last time and lets go leaving his hand feeling cold and empty.

    "Jack I just wanted to say I'm really sorry. I over stepped my boundaries," Bob steps forward. "I don't care if you and Mark are dating, friends or fucking each other silly I just want to clear the water before you go," Jack looks at Bobs face and in his eyes he sees only a sincere apology. Jack shakes his head.

    "I forgive you," he whispers to which he can practically hear Bob breath a sigh of relief. Jack looks at his shoes and twist them in the dirt, not knowing what to do. He looks up and smiles lightly at all of them.

    "We should go. It'll be daylight soon and we've got to be close if not at the highway by then," Mark says stepping forward and placing a hand on Jacks shoulder. Jack flinches but nods.

    The world speeds by fast as they drive the dirt road out this town. Jack looks out the windows, trying to take in everything one last time. Turning away, finally giving up, he shuts his eyes. He hated this road the moment he saw it.

    "Why do I have to live here?" Jack asked, his voice was fragile back then, small.

    "You'll go live with your aunt. Shes a nice lady. I've meant her," Margaret told Jack has she straightened up her pan suit. That didn't answer my question Jacks mind thought. He looked out the window and watched the pine trees and trailer homes roll past as the car speed down the road, kicking up dust.

    "I just wanna go home," Jack whispered to himself as he pressed his head against the cold glass. "I just want to have Dad back,"

    Robin was in the front seat, driving with his windows down. Bob was in the passenger while Wade road in the middle. Mark and Jack were smashed together in the back that was barley able to fit a single person.

    "Change the station," Wade groans as he flips away the country music. Robin swats his hand away and flips it back on.

    "Shh shut your cake hole," In the back Jack hears Mark shift position, uncomfortable.

    "Pretty boy," Jack whispers just loud enough that only he can hear. He pats his lap to which Mark unhooks his seat belt and lays his head on Jacks lap. Absent mindlessly Jacks begins messing with his red hair. He liked red on Mark, it made him seem strong. Soon he saw his breathing settle down into a sturdy pattern.

    Turning, Jack looks out the window just quick enough to get a final glance at the town as Robin turns to corner, heading to the highway. Jack takes a deep breath and forces his eyes away. That wasn't home anyway, just a house with empty people and even emptier promises.

    "You never told me where you're going after this," Robin pips up as he turns down the radio. Jack looks up and raises his eyebrows.

    "Oh yeah that," He chuckles. "Well hopefully Stanford but thats only an if,"

    "You got into Stanford?" Wade asked obviously astonished.

    "Sorta... its a long story but the end result is that the Academic University Scholars of America chose me, along with twenty others to go to Stanford to be given training to take on roles of top jobs in this country. I didn't send the letter in Mrs. Guen did," Jack finishes, not sure why he added on the last part.

    "Goddamn son of a fucking bitch our boy here is a genius!" Wade says slapping his knee which makes Jack laugh.

    "No just lucky," he looks at the three in the front seat and he's flashed to old times. He was in the back, Wade still sat in the middle and Bob was shotgun, Robin driving, Felix right next to Jack. The windows were down and they were all silent, just letting the ride wash over them. Music was blaring and wind lashed through their hair and it was all good at that moment. All good.

    "Jack?!" Robin yells and Jack snaps from his dream world.

    "Yeah?"

    "Whats Mark play in this?" He asks his eyes not really focusing on the road.

    "Oh," Jack turns his head down to Mark. "the six year program is $120,000 and I can't pay for that but Mark said he knew a guy who would help,"

    "Who's the guy?" Bob asks raising an eyebrow. Jack furrows his own eyebrows and tries to think back but only comes up blank.

    "I never asked," he finishes.

    "Wait a gosh diggity darn second you didn't even ask who you were getting the money from?"

    "I trust Mark and besides I'm desperate and he's all I got," Jack says as he looks down at Marks features. He runs a finger along his jaw line and pulls his other hand through Marks hair. Bobs turned around watching Jack run his fingers over Marks face.

    "You've got that look," he says turning back around.

    "What look?" Jack asks his face turning beat red.

    "The look that says I would run the world for you,"

    It was daylight when they pulled into the rest station, just breaking morning light. Mark had slept the whole time while Jack was restless, unable to shut his eyes in the slightest bit.

    "Pretty boy our adventure awaits us," Jack whispers to Mark as he shakes him awake. Marks eyes blink awake and he rubs them while yawning.

    "We're here? Felt like I just went to bed," He says stretching out. Jack laughs and crawls over the seat, his bags in hand.

    "You fell asleep before we split town," Mark shakes his head out and follows Jack outside. Wade, Robin and Bob all stand side by side in front of the other two boys.

    "So this is it right? We wave our hands goodbye forever?" Bob laughs lightly and Jack grins an looks down.

    "Yeah I guess it is," Jack steps forward and offers a weak smile. "You guys are good people and even better friends. You've dropped everything for me and I don't think I'll ever thank you enough," Mark steps beside Jack and offers a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

    "I want to say thanks too. You were nice to me even though he barley knew my name and I will be forever grateful. You guys are good people. Really good people," Mark cast a sideways glance at them before looking towards the sunset. Jack, however, looks right at them. He swallows a thick lump in his throat and walks froward, taking them all into a hug.

    "Wade I want you to follow your dreams of getting into engineering school," he hugs him and Wade puts up a smile and a nod. He moves to Bob. "Bob you need to get finally get that stupid business you want so bad off the ground," Bob laughs but Jack sees behind his eyes that he looks upset. Then he moves to Robin. Robin was always his closest friend. He holds Robins shoulders tight, who looks like he might burst into tears.

    "Robin you need to get out of this town. Go to college and get a family... you have too much of a future," Jack says his voice steady and firm before he pulls Robin in for a tight hug. He squeezes and he feels Robin take in a shaky breath.

    "Go after him and don't look back Jack. I'm so proud of you," Then he pulls back and wipes his now red eyes. He smiles and then Jack hits a wall. He really might never see these guys again. He'll never watch them get wasted and be the only one who remembers their horrible antics. He won't be able to fist bump them when they all graduate. He won't be able to sit at Wades house as he helps him through Math. He can't go to Bobs house when he needs a place to be. He can't go to Robins anymore and just sit on the floor, playing video games for hours until his mom kicked him out. He might never even see their faces again.

    "You guys are the best friends I've ever had. Thank you. For everything," Then he gives them one last smile and a slight lift of his hand before watching the blue pickup drive away. He watches it until it's nothing but a speck and then Mark wraps his arm around Jacks waist.

    "For better or for worse," Mark whispers.

    "For better or for worse," Jack repeats.