"I'll chase after the bus once it pulls away, okay?" Fred bopped him in the nose. "I'll make it nice and dramatic. I'll keep screaming, 'Forsythe Pendleton Jones Junior, I love you!' until the bus is too fast for me and I'm left panting in the middle of the road with tears running down my face and you -"

FP quickly planted a kiss on Fred's lips. "Stupid. You have a car. Why would you chase the bus?"

"It's more dramatic that way." Fred adjusted the rearview mirror to see the bus parked some fifty feet away across the lot. "Always go with the more dramatic approach."

"Right. How could I forget your life motto?"

FP turned in his seat, hoping Fred didn't notice the way he checked out all side of the car before leaning in and kissing him again. They were all the way in Greendale, but it didn't mean a familiar face or two wasn't around. Not to mention plenty of new faces too. People heading to the same place as him. The last thing he needed was to get booted out his first day, before he even got on the bus.

"I'll wait for you, you know." Fred stroked FP's cheek as he talked. They slumped down low enough in the front seat that no one would see them. "If that's what you want."

"Freddy, you've never waited for a thing in your life." FP reluctantly pulled away from Fred's touch. When was the next time someone would touch him like that again? "And I don't want you starting with me. It's going to be a long time before I come back."

Fred followed suit and straightened up too. "I don't care, you know. I will wait if you -"

FP shook his head. "I don't want you to wait for me. I don't want you putting your life on hold for even a second. Promise me that."

"But -"

He held a finger to Fred's lips. "No buts. Just say okay."

Fred's voice came out as low as could be. "Okay." He nodded slowly. "Okay, but - but you need to know our story isn't over, FP. Not by a long shot."

They met eyes and FP swallowed the lump in his throat. His heart pounded in his chest twice as fast as what was normal. "Course not, Freddy."

"Plus," Fred tilted his head towards the backseat, "I'm storing all your shit at my house. If you want it back one day, you need to go through me."

Their heads turned in sync to the backseat. Every earthly possession FP had gathered in his nearly nineteen years was piled in boxes and shoved into garbage bags in the back seat, save for one oversized duffle bag in the trunk.

"You sure your folks won't mind keeping it in your basement?"

"Of course not. It's not much."

"No, it's not." He sighed. "It's fine though. Most of it's junk anyway."

"Your stuff isn't junk." Fred playfully hit his arm. "It's yours. Your yearbook is buried somewhere in there. Your varsity jacket. Those eating competition medals. Your Serpent jacket."

"No," FP said quickly. "It's - that's not."

Fred's eyebrow raised. "You tossed it out?"

"Gave it back. You don't just toss out leather, Fred." He pressed his lips together. "Look, even if I - when I come back, I'm not getting back into that life. You need to know that, okay? Army's going to straighten me out. I'm never going back to that."

Fred nodded quickly. He took FP's hand and gave it a squeeze. "Good, F. Good."

He checked the rearview mirror again. "I guess I should get going."

"Bus doesn't leave for another 20 minutes."

"I don't want to start a reputation for being the guy who shows up at the last possible moment. I'm pretty sure timeliness is a big deal with these guys, right?"

Fred scrunched up his nose. "I'm pretty sure that's stuff you should already know before you signed up."

FP pressed a single finger to Fred's lips. "Don't start again, okay?"

"Right." Fred nodded quickly. "And yeah, I suppose you should get going. Good to make a good first impression and all too."

"Yeah." His put his hand on the door handle, but didn't open it. Yesterday he sat with Alice in the car, afraid to confront Fred. Now he didn't know how he'd leave him. "Hey, you remember what box my varsity jacket is in?"

"I packed almost everything myself." Fred twisted his body to reach the backseat, but FP put his hand on his shoulder to stop him. "No offence, but I wouldn't bring it with you. It'll look dumb over your uniform."

"No shit." FP rolled his eyes, but smiled. "Just take care of it. Please? I know it's stupid. It's just a jacket and it stopped meaning something the second we graduated but -"

"Hey." Fred reached out and touched his cheek. "I will take good care of all your stuff, okay? I'll hang the jacket right in my closet. Maybe I'll even sleep with it when I'm missing you." His thumb caressed FP's stubble. "Fuck, I miss you already. I'll probably drive home with it in the passenger seat."

"Freddy." His voice cracked at the name. "I'm - I'm going to -"

"Shush." Fred pulled his face close until their lips met. When they broke apart, he was giving him that smile one more time. "No goodbyes. Goodbye means it's over and it's not over."

"I love you." He nudged his nose against Fred. "I love you, Freddy."

"I love you too, F." Fred pulled away. "Now go make a good first impression."

Both boys got out of the car and walked around the back of the car. FP lit a cigarette as Fred fiddled with the latch of Artie's trunk. He tugged at the zipper of the duffle bag and FP grabbed his hand to stop him.

"Freddie, what -"

"I have a letter for you." Fred reached into the back pocket of his jeans and pulled out a wrinkled envelope. "But you can't read it until you're gone, okay? I just," a flush came over his face, "I half wrote it when you first told me and I finished it this morning while you were still sleeping, so it's probably all over the place." He bit his lip. "To be honest, I didn't even reread it. I was in a daze for most of it. There's probably some awful stuff in here and I should have started over but this way just, it felt more real."

FP extended his hand. "Just give it here."

"No." Fred shook his head. "You're going to read it before you even get to the bus." He cracked a smile. "Well, you would if you weren't the slowest reader ever."

Fred shoved him playfully and FP caught his wrist and pulled him into an embrace, cigarette still perched in his lips. Similar scenes of goodbye were playing out around the scattered cars in the parking lot and no one seemed to glance their way.

Fred had refused to shower at the trailer, complaining of lack of time, the shitty water pressure, not having his favorite shampoo on him. FP inhaled the light smell of sweat from the clothes he'd been wearing from yesterday. How long until would be be able to trap that smell in his nose and remember?

When they broke away, FP turned to the trunk and grabbed the duffle bag with ease, tossing the strap over his shoulder. He flicked the ashes off his cigarette and unzipped the tiniest hole, just big enough for Fred to slip the letter in. He closed it quickly before Fred could look inside.

"This is it," FP said simply. Fred slammed the trunk closed.

"For now at least." Fred leaned against the trunk. "Now get lost. And don't read that letter until you're gone. Don't tear it open while I'm still sitting here."

FP gave him a half hearted salute. "Well don't sit around waiting for the bus to leave, okay? Just get going. Spend some time with Mary before she leaves." FP took a few steps backwards. "Stay gold, Ponyboy."

Fred laughed. "Get the hell out of here. I know you never finished that book." He jutted his chin out and mouthed, "I love you."

"I love you too, Freddy."

That smile was back on Fred's face. FP spun around quickly. He wanted that to be the last image of Fred burned in his brain for the next four years.

He stomped out his cigarette a few feet from the bus and gave the uniformed officer his name before getting the clearance to climb aboard. He couldn't help himself and took one last look. Artie's car was still there, but Fred must have gotten back inside.

There were a dozen or so other guys on the bus, no two people sitting together. He dropped his bag on an empty seat and unzipped it. The letter had fallen between the side of the bag and his bunched up Serpent jacket he'd smuggled along.

How could you start a new life if you didn't bring apart of your old life to remember who you were? Or hell, maybe he'd find a place to burn it once he got there. Only time would tell.

He tossed his bag in the overhead storage and looked out the window again. Artie's car was pulling out of the lot. He plopped down in his seat and tore the letter open. Fred's messy scrawl greeted him.

Dear F,

Fuck you. I fucking hate you and you're never going to hear from me again. Chew this letter up and choke on it after you read it for all I care.

FP held in his snort. Fred was full of passion, even in writing. He turned the pages over. Five and a half pages, ending with a -

You're sleeping right next to me but I miss you so much already.

Love forever,
Freddy

The front of the bus creaked as another person stepped aboard. FP's lip twitched at the sight. He waited for the boy to look his way before he waved him over.

Tom Keller's eyes locked with his and he swore he almost saw them roll to the ceiling. Tom forced a smile before making his way over to him. FP quickly shoved the letter in the pocket of his jeans. He'd listen to Fred and read the rest once he was far away.

"Tommy Keller!" FP grinned brilliantly at him and stuck out his hand. Tom eyed FP for a moment before sticking out his hand as well.

"Forsythe Jones," he said in the same tone. The gave each other a rather enthusiastic handshake, as if they hadn't seen each other in years instead of just the few weeks since graduation.

FP pat the empty seat next to him. Tom shrugged and hoisted his duffle bag on to the carry on rack above their heads.

"Your hair! It's gone." FP reached out and rubbed his head. "You look like a different person."

Tom smacked his hand away and smoothed what was left of his hair. "Yeah, well they were going to cut it anyway, right? My mom thought it was a better idea to just get it over and done with."

"Right, right." FP nodded. "I ditched the earring." He pointed to his ear. "I didn't think I'd be allowed."

"Didn't think," Tom mouthed softly. "You - did you read the guide?"

"There was a guide?"

Tom shut his mouth and forced out another smile. "Don't worry about it." The bus doors slammed shut in the front. "You won't be the only one, I'm sure." Tom looked straight ahead. "I thought I saw Fred driving past us when we drove in, but I wasn't sure."

"Yeah, that was him alright. He dropped me off."

Tom glanced sideways at him. "Surprised he didn't stay to see you off."

"Told him not to." The bus started up and slowly moved across the parking lot. "You know him."

"Right." Tom turned his whole body. "I'm sorry, FP. I don't mean to be rude, but what the hell are you doing here? You're not - since when have you been interested in the military?"

FP ran his hands down the side of his pants, feeling the crinkle of the letter in his pocket. "I had no other plans, you know? Why the fuck not join the army?"

He could see Tom's jaw clench. "This isn't a joke you know."

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding." FP let out a long sigh. The bus pulled out of the parking lot. "I need to get my life together, okay?" he said softly. "This is the best way I knew how. Maybe it's not the right way. Maybe I won't make it until the end of the week. But hell, I need to do something, you know?"

Tom blinked twice before nodding. "Yeah. Yeah, I get that. Sorry."

He rubbed his hands down his jeans. "Don't worry about it. You're right to question me. When have my intentions ever been pure?"

Tom cracked a smile in spite of himself. "Never. I won't lie though." He glanced around the bus. "It was kind of nice to see a familiar face. Even if it is you."

"Same, Tommy. Same." They passed a sign reading You are now leaving Greendale! "Hey, we sat next to each other at graduation. We might even be bunk mates." He nudged Tom's arm. "Won't that be fun? Jones and Keller."

"Oh God," Tom chuckled. "I hope not."

They drove past another sign reading Welcome to Riverdale! The Town with Pep! They'd have to pass around the outskirts of town to get to the highway. Tom craned his neck to get a look at it.

"This is going to sound messed up," Tom started, "but I never want to see that sign again. Goodbye Riverdale and good riddance. What about you?"

FP turned in his seat to see the sign shrinking in the distance. "We'll see, Tommy. We'll see."