My eyes widened. "You're… you're kidding me, right? Please say you're kidding me."

He slowly shook his head, "I leave January 3…"

"When did you get the letter?"

"A week ago." He took the folded up envelope in his pocket out and handed it to me.

I took the envelope and red through it, trying to hold back tears, yet I had a strong feeling I was failing miserably. "Have you told anyone else about it?"

He shook his head, "Thankfully, I got to the mailbox before my mom or Keilah that day."

I felt like my heart shattered in a million pieces and that I was going to have some sort of emotional breakdown right then and there. I tried to remember anything Marilyn had said about this, Suzie too, but nothing came to mind. "I don't want you to go," I whispered.

"You think I do?" he chuckled. Only he could make a comment like that to lighten up the mood somewhat, yet I was happy he did. He sighed, "I don't know how I should tell the rest."

"Well, I could tell Evie, Candy, Suzie and Marilyn if you want me to."

He nodded, "Ok… Rain?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you alright?"

He looked more worried than I'd ever seen him before. I felt the tears I was holding back start for what felt like forever start to roll down my cheeks and I felt weak and small. "No…" I choked out and buried my head in my hands. He quickly pulled me against him. I buried my head into his shoulder and parts of his shirt were balled into my fists. I know I wasn't being very encouraging at the moment for his sake, but I couldn't help it. I mean, just like I knew would eventually happen, someone I love was being ripped away from me. I prayed he'd be ok, but if he got hurt, everything would change. I could feel it.

I pulled away from him a bit. "You're gonna be fine, alright? I know, that when you come back, you'll be exactly how you were before… except maybe in a uniform and maybe different hair," I chuckled and wiped my cheeks and eyes with my shirt sleeve. He gave a small smile and kissed my forehead.

We went back inside and everyone was sitting and talking. "You two alright?" Darry asked and we both nodded. "Darry, can I talk to you about somethin', real quick?" Two-Bit asked him. He nodded and the two went outside. Candy and Evie dragged me back into my room. I knew what they were gonna ask. When we got to the room, Evie was about to shut the door but Marilyn came in as well- I saw her walk into the house- and she closed it. "So you two talked about it?" Candy asked.

I sighed and nodded, "Yup… everything came out."

"Did it help you two at all?"

I felt tears in my eyes again. "I don't think so."

Marilyn gave me a confused look. "Why? What happened?"

"He…" My voice was quiet and shaking a bit.

Evie sat up, "Don't tell me that boy broke up with you, casue if he did-"

"No!" I yelled and stopped her, then sighed to compose myself. "He didn't break up with me, Evie."

"Then what happened?"

I still had the letter. It was folded up in my pocket. I slowly took it out, unfolded it, and placed it in front of the three. They looked at it cautiously at the letter that had a return address that the name said Selective Service System. I could tell by the look on their faces, they knew what it meant and what he had said to me outside on the porch.

"Rain, I'm… I'm so sorry," Marilyn said in a quiet voice and put her hand on my shoulder.

"Does anyone else know?" Candy asked.

I shook my head, "Unless that's what he wanted to talk to Darry about, no. Just us two and you three."

"When does he leave?"

"January 3, same day as Suzie's brother."

"You gonna be ok?" Evie asked, placing her hand on my arm.

I sighed a bit and nodded. "Yeah, I think so… but I may ask to stay over with one you sometimes while he's away."

They all nodded as if they were all planning on that anyway.

The four of us went back to the living room. The rest were all talking and at the moment, laughing. Darry was in the kitchen- not a shocker. But just because he was in the room, didn't mean he didn't listen in on the conversations going on.

I went over to him in the kitchen. I stood next to him by the counter and gave a small smile when he glanced over at me. He copied my action and went back to looking at the book in front of him. I glanced at it as well. "I know what you're gonna ask," he said, looking at me from the corner of his eye.

I gave a nervous laugh. "Then would you anser it? Kill my suspense?"

He chuckled and nodded. "He asked me if I could help him tell the rest, and if I could check on his mother and his sister while he's gone. Make sure they're ok, help them out if they need anything, that kind of stuff."

…the next night…

As far as I knew, Two-Bit still hadn't told any of the guys other than Darry about the draft. I had called Suzie to tell her. She told me her brother's name who was leaving the same day, maybe they'd be in the same unit. Her and her family were coming back from Tennessee January 1, probably in the evening or by midnight they'd be back, at least that's what she said.

There was one good thing about his departure date: it was after the New Year started. We all wanted to be here, though Suzie was an exception considering she was with family. But other than that, we'd all be together like we wanted to be. We all did that anyway every year, filed in to the Curtis' house, but this year, like I had previously explained, it would be different this year- so we really wanted to be together, trying to ignore the sudden change this year. And it was the same for New Year's Eve.

We all sat around the house, just doing whatever we thought of doing. It was snowing a bit, and we didn't wanna get stuck in snow. Mostly what we were doing, involved: card playing, making fun of the Beatles or whatever other bands we hated, talking about shows, etc.

Two-Bit wasn't there. I suggested that he tell his mom and sister. I felt kinda bad that he told me first out of anybody. I get his concern with telling them, but I still think that he should've told them first, then me. I asked him if he wanted me to go with him, but he said no, but said he would call the house if I should come over.

The door opened and he came walking in, flurries from the snow following behind him through the doorway. Everyone said their hello's and he came to sit next to me. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and I turned to kiss him. "How'd they take it?" I whispered when I pulled back.

"Not too bad, I think… but my mom said she was gonna call here soon cause she wanted to see you, I think," he answered.

About five minutes later, just like he said, the phone rang. Darry picked it up and all throughout the call, he shot glances at the two of us. "That was your mom, Two-Bit, she wants to see Rain," he said and put the phone down. The two of us got up and left the house, unfortunately though, not remembering how cold it was.

We got to his house and took off our jackets. When we got inside, Keilah was sitting at the dining room table, what it looked like, doing homework. She looked up and smiled when she saw us. "Mom! Keith and Raina are here!" she called into another room. I rubbed my hands together to warm them up while we waited for her to come into the room. She smiled when she saw us. "Hi, Raina! How are you, sweetheart?" she smiled and greeted me with a hug.

I copied her actions. "I'm fine, how are you?"

"I'm ok… can I talk to you about something?" She gestured to her bedroom, like she always did when she wanted to talk.

I nodded. "Of course."

We both started toward her room, when she quickly turned around, "Keith! Watch Keilah while I talk to Raina!" She turned back around and I followed her into her room as she closed the door. She sat on the edge of her bed, gave a small smile and patted the spot next to her. I sat where she patted her hand, like she gestured. She gave another smile, yet this one was more comforting, "Are you doing alright?"

I know what she was talking about. "Yeah," I hesitated, "Are you?"

She shrugged, "I'm ok, I guess. Am I worried? Of course I am, he's my son. I'm just worried about Keilah. I don't think she fully understands the severity of the war going on, but honestly, I kind of prefer it that way. I don't want her to get scared."

I nodded. "I understand."

"But there is another thing bothering me?" I gave a confused look. "You're not telling me the whole truth, Raina."

"I'm sorry, I don't understand what you mean."

"How did you react when he showed you the letter?"

I gave a heavy sigh, "Worried… scared…" She nodded and waited for me to continue. "I just don't wanna lose him. I mean, I haven't been so worried about anyone since two of our friends ran off a few months back. No one knows what'll happen there, and like I said, I just don't wanna lose him." I looked down at my hands.

"You love him, don't you?" I quickly looked up and my mouth gaped open. "Don't tell me I'm wrong," she chuckled, "I can tell you love him. And lucky for you, I can tell he loves you too."

"How do you know?"

She thought for a moment. "Let me put it this way… that boy looks at you the way Elvis looks at Priscilla, or how Rick looked at Ilsa."

I couldn't help but laugh at her analogies. The fact that she used Elvis Presley and Priscilla, who recently got engaged and obviously madly in love. And then Rick and Ilsa from Casablanca, how madly in love they were and just-

I just proved her point, didn't I?

"Look, anyway, if you ever need anything while he's away- and I mean anything- my door is always open. Alright?" she smiled.

I smiled back and nodded. "Thank you, Mrs. Mathews."

She got up and left the room and I followed. Two-Bit and Keilah were sitting at the dining room table looking down at a paper. "…and that's how you draw Mickey Mouse!" he smiled at his younger sister, who admired the drawing. I bit back a laugh, but Mrs. Mathews didn't hesitate to laugh at the scene in front of her. This is one thing I'm gonna miss for a while. I thought, thinking about what other scenes I had seen with the two siblings and him acting like a little kid or helping, just for Keilah.

The two turned and two-Bit got up and stood next to me. He took my hand and wedged his fingers between mine, lacing them together. I bit back a smile, knew my cheeks were pink, and leaned against his arm as I used my free hand to wave goodbye to the mother and daughter as we walked out the door back to the house.