So, this is my new story. If you hate it, honestly, tell me in a review and I'll update my other ones faster. I'm not really sure if I want to keep this going, so tell me if you like it or if you totally despise it.

Disclaimer: Don't own SWAC

Here we go..........................................................................................................................

I looked at the clock repeatedly for the last hour, still not finding the time I wanted. Four in the morning wasn't coming fast enough. I had slept all day, telling my mother I was sick so I could stay up all night to get ready. I hated lying to her, but it was for good cause. That's the worst kind of lying- for a good cause. So far, I had packed everything I needed except for toiletries. I quickly grabbed everything in my bathroom and shoved it in the one extra carry on suit case I had. I snuck every travel bag from the basement a while ago. My cell phone and iPod were currently charging in the corner of my room. Those were the only other things I needed to bring along with me.

I looked around my room. The lime green walls, purple carpet, and yellow sun-covered bed that was now dimly lit would be behind me. I would miss it horribly. All the good times I'd had in my room, they were going to be memories that would soon be forgotten. I would make new ones when I leave, and they would be more important. More special.

I hope.

Sighing, I continued to take my last glances at the room. I gasped quietly as I noticed I'd forgotten one more thing. How could I not remember? My black and white Dalmatian stuffed animal sat very still on my purple pillow, waiting for me to pick him up and pack him along with my other belongings. I smiled sadly as I picked him up delicately, running my hand over his soft back. I gently placed him on the very top of my suitcase and watched him.

I had gotten Max a long time ago; when I was five years old, a gift from my father for my birthday. This was four years before he died. I was nine then. I don't remember him that well, for my mom had hidden all the pictures so she wouldn't be tempted to look at them. Of course, I couldn't find them. My mother had been the most affected by our loss, but that doesn't mean I wasn't hurt. It was extremely painful and sorrowful to have him leave me, but I always told him smoking was horrible for you. Mom told me to tell him repeatedly because it was upsetting her extremely. We were both scarred deeply when he died, but eventually we got a lot better, I being the one who will never be completely healed, but extremely close. She never forgets, though- sometimes I even hear her crying herself to sleep, but that was more than two years ago. She never felt the same about another man again, or at least tried not to. I remember about my father the feeling he gave me when he had looked at me with piercing green eyes- the only fact I remember of him, and the only feature I inherited from him. My eyes were very dark green, but there were many different shades of it blending in with one another. Everyone had complimented my eyes when I went out with my mom to dinner or grocery shopping, and I would thank them generously before my mom freaked out. Sometimes I don't bother to remember my dad, but then I feel bad about not being curious about him.

My birthday that year was good. Straightaway when I opened the door once the doorbell rang I had good luck: my boy crush had come over and given me a present. He was our neighbor, and I had known him for my whole life. We had been best friends then, openly. But everyone thought we liked each other, everyone knew we liked each other. His name was Devon, and he had gotten me some blue and yellow play dough. I was completely obsessed with it then, loving the way it felt against my fingers and the way it hardened. I had made a replica of his face after the party, and kept it till I was seven and he moved away. I was so upset I ran out to the front yard and shattered the horrible model of him and the pieces scattered everywhere. I never bothered to pick them up, and sometimes I swear I still see a little yellow eye glaring at me as it tried to find the rest of its pieces. I was mostly upset about the fact that I did that, but that's what he gets for not saying goodbye to me. Mother and I never let another man in our life again, officially agreeing they were not worth the pain.

I loved my mother like my best friend, my other half. She is and always will be. I thought she would think the same of me, and I hope she does, but she needed to understand my choice. I needed to do this. It was best, right? Yes. And she will realize that when she sees me again, just not in person. Maybe she would come and visit, and be utterly furious with me, but I'm not changing my mind. I was going to do this, and not even Mom, the person I was closest to on the planet, could stop me. I loved her, but if she loved me like she says she does, she'd understand.

I felt horribly guilty. And guiltily horrible. I was going to hurt her, but it was what had to be done. So, here I am doing what needs to be done. My other best friend, Lucy, knew of my plan. I would miss her, too, for she was the one person I was second closest to, and God were we close. I was leaving her along with my other half. What would be left of me when I escape this town?

I checked my clock regularly, grinding my teeth as it just neared three-thirty. Just half an hour left until I could be out of here, but I guess I should go say goodbye to Luce.

Sighing, I used the sneaky escape route. It was my window, duh. Lucy and I were lucky enough to both have the easiest and cheesiest way out: the vines that went up the house. When my mother gardened they had grown onto it, and I waited three years for then to be strong enough for my one hundred pounds, and thank the Lord they were. We would sneak outside and to each other's house when we were bored or needed to talk to one another. We had gotten extremely close then, we had the other's back and were always there for the other. But now, we wouldn't be. But Luce respected my choice, even encouraged me, and I was very lucky to have her as a friend best friend with no blood relation. She lived two blocks down.

I opened the window as quickly and quietly as I could. Looking down, I realized I couldn't see a thing. Oh, well. Here goes nothing. I slowly swung my legs over the side of the house, searching blindly for the easiest way to get down, the way I'd been familiar with for forever. I found it easily, so, smiling widely, I swung the other leg over and continued my exit. I closed my window only part way so I could still open it when I came back. Once I succeeded, carefully, I climbed down the vines that had captured my house on one side and jumped down the last five feet. As my feet landed safely on solid land, I giggled. Staring up at the house that I would probably never see again after an hour, I made my second to last silent goodbye.

I jogged east, passing the two houses in that direction before I made it to the house that was a light red shade, with just a few bricks to accent the exterior. My eyes had adjusted quickly to the darkness, so I easily spotted the vines that had engulfed part of Lucy's house. Quickly, I ran up to them, eager to see her face. I wonder if she was asleep? I shook my head, she told me she'd be waiting for me if I actually came. Of course I was coming. I pushed on the window with my palm, angling my arm upward so that some sort of pressure would move it up. Eventually I got the right angle and the window opened almost silently. We both had opened these windows so many times before that they would open and close soundlessly. About five minutes later I made it from my room into Lucy's.

The room was a dark purple shade, and had white stars scattered everywhere as an accent on the wall that faced toward my house- west. Her bed was a black canopy bed, which reached six feet off the ground. The was a curtain thrown across the top of it, a lighter shade than the walls, sort of pink and purple. The closet was a startling white in the light, but now it all looked like a very dull and boring. Though, Lucy made it the second-most exciting room ever- for se had voted mine best, and I had embarrassingly agreed. It made me sad we couldn't talk alone in here, enclosed as the walls guarded us from the outside world. The way we got lost in a conversation was hilarious to others when we did it in public, but it was intriguing with all the creative ideas we make up. Were quite the pair of friends.

"Sonny!" Luce whisper-screamed. I swung my right leg over the window and she ran up to me. I gladly accepted the hug she forced me into, and I hugged her tightly, pulling back so we could say goodbye aloud.

"I just finished packing," I sighed. Lucy smiled sadly at me.

Pulling her arms back, she nodded. "Cool. you're leaving in about twenty minutes, right?"

"Yeah," I said slowly. "I am."

We both looked down, for the first time in our sixteen years feeling uncomfortable around one another. It was weird, we were always outgoing and easy, but knowing this was not usually tolerated made it that much more awkward.

I wasn't having the last conversation I have with my best friend be awkward.

"Luce--" I stopped short, realizing she had started to talk, saying "Sonny-"

"No, you go first." We said simultaneously. We both laughed.

I sighed, going first as she gave me a look that told me to. "I'm going to miss you. A lot. I'm going to miss our super long conversations, our sleepovers, our friendship. Lucy, I'm so sorry I'm leaving. But-"

"Don't be sorry, Sonny." Se interrupted seriously. "I'm happy for you. You've wanted this your whole life. Half of our conversations are about this! And now, this dream you keep telling me about is finally coming true. It's coming true, Sonny!" I smiled, excited at the reassurance. "And, being the great friend you say I am, I have to do what's best for you. Which is letting you go and accomplish this. I'm so happy for you, and I am not letting you stay back no matter what!"

Tears stung at the corners of my eyes. This was the most serious moment we've ever had. I love Lucy so much, how could I leave her? But then again, she wanted this for me, too. And I would call her every single day and night.

"Sonny." Luce began again. "I want you to succeed. And when you do-because I know you will- you'll have so many things to do, so many new friends and a whole new life and world. So...promise mew you won't forget me."

I gasped. "No, Luce, no! I will never forget about you! I'll call you four times every day and on the plane and everywhere all the time! I swear to you!"

I forced her into another hug, and we held onto each other tightly for about five minutes. The sobs escaping my lips were about as loud as hers. We were both equally upset about my departure from my childhood home, from each other. I would never ever ever ever a billion times forget Lucy and all the amazing times we had together. She already has a place in my heart, a handprint on my life. She will always and forever be remembered and absolutely never forgotten. I'll think about her and my mom and Wisconsin every day if it kills me.

"I love you, girl." I choked out.

"Love you, too, chic." We addressed the other with the name we always called each other.

Then, wordlessly, we did our handshake. We'd been doing it for years since we were about six, and have done it all the time. It was like nothing you'd ever seen. I'm so not describing it though, it's really long.

After we finished spinning around and shaking the other's ankle, we straightened up, giggling uncontrollably. I swiped my hair out my eyes with a jerk of my head, and smiled sadly at Lucy.

"What will you tell my mom?" I asked her, testing.

Lucy looked confident. "That you went to go achieve your dreams and completely deserve to."

I nodded.

"Goodbye, Lucy."

"Goodbye, Sonny."

We hugged forever and ever until I saw the clock, and regrettably pulled back. I wiped my eyes with my hands to clear up my now blurred vision because of the tears. Turning around, I walked to the window and opened it soundlessly. Miserably, I swung my leg over the side of the window and then the other. Staring back at Luc, who was watching me leave, I caught a last glimpse of her. I nodded, and she nodded back.

"Good luck," She whispered, and then her face disappeared behind the side of the house as I climbed down her vine for the very last time.

I glumly grabbed my purse, which contained my passport, some extra cash, my credit card. I threw my iPod in there along with my cow-print cell-phone. Double checking my bags and drawers, I made sure that I had everything. Realizing I was set to go, I slowly picked up two of the seven of my bags which contained almost everything I owned, and opened the door quietly.

Ever so carefully I carried the two bags out the door, past the hall and down the stairs. The stairs were especially annoying, for they would crack and creak when I least wanted them to. I would stand still and pray that my mother hadn't heard. After I successfully got the bags downstairs, I placed them down so I could open the front door as silently as possible.

I stepped into the world outside, the frosty morning air engulfing me. I dropped the bags once more and opened my truck to my sleek, black convertible which I got as s birthday/Christmas present. I stood and admired it for a minute before going back inside to repeat the quiet process.

Five minutes later every belonging of mine was in my truck or in the backseats ready to go. The top had been currently up, so I didn't have to bother doing that. I nodded, probably reassuring myself for some unknown reason. Doing that, I stepped back inside.

Sighing silently, I walked slowly, so I wouldn't make noise, to the kitchen. I grabbed a notebook that I usually wrote the grocery list on, and a pen. I put my elbows on the table, tapping the blue pen to my chin as I stared at the blank paper. Then I sighed again and began to write.

Dear Mom,

If you ever even read this without freaking out and trying to stop me, this is what I have to say: I'm sorry. But, it's for the best. It's a once in a lifetime chance, and I'm not just giving it away because you don't want me to leave. I'm an adult now, turning eighteen in three months, and I'll be perfectly fine on my own. I don't know how' you'll take my note, if you'll be proud of me or completely furious at me, but I'm going. I love you so much, and Ill call you when I'm brave enough. It will be the most awkward phone call I've ever had, but whatever. Please, please, please don't come after me. I'll be fine. If you really love me, you'll let me go. I'm ready to leave Mom, are you ready for me to leave?

I'll miss you,

Allison

I don't know why I felt the need to sign my real name, but it just felt right. The tears that dripped from my eyes as I wrote had fallen off my cheeks and onto the pages. Some words are a little splotchy, but she'll understand the message. Nodding once again, I looked around the house for the last time. I made my way to the door.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped out of the house for the very last time.

Solo, what did you think? If it totally sucks, I understand. I haven't given you much yet, but it'll become better. I promise. But I'll only update if everyone reviews, so please, please review!