A/N: Woah I updated so fast I'm like the Usain Bolt of updatinggggg. I swear- like after two days I'm amazinggggg! Lol nd humble amirite?

Le reviewssss:

Lilac: Aww thanks! :) I hope it seems that low on the cliche-o-meter XD! Yessss everything's intensifying isn't it? Tysm for reviewing!

MakandCheese907: I'm honored by your rating. Justifiably I'd give my own fanfiction something much higher O.o but it makes me happy you think it's less than a five lol. LMAOOO RIGHT?

MYSTERIXUSCXSMOS: XD YUP! IKKKK! Thanks for reviewingggg!

22- Goodbyes

Avery had finished making our passports now. I stare down at the card I held in my hands. Mareya Winchester. This was the ticket to a new persona. A new life. I swallow down my sadness and squeeze the corners of the paper firmly, handing it back to Tam. "When are we leaving?" I softly force out, lightly coughing into my elbow. All the emotions swirling in my gut must've provoked a response from my sick immune system.

"Tomorrow," Tam answered evasively, bending down to the two huge sagging backpacks on the floor and zipping the passports shut in his.

Emora had done a quick shopping trip again, buying the biggest backpacks she could find. "You're gonna need a lot of room for all the supplies you'll bring," she had pointed out.

"What time?" I quietly ask, twirling my fork around in the box of Chinese noodles.

"Your airplane leaves at four p.m," Avery said without meeting my eyes, instead his focus was completely on his fortune cookie.

"What's it say?" Emora asked curiously, peering over Avery's shoulder. Once she read it, she cocked her head to the side, her brown hair falling over her ear. "Huh. That's weird."

"Never trust fortune cookies," Keefe said as he bit into a chunk of broccoli covered with soy sauce. "They're evil," he added for dramatic effect as the soy sauce dripped over his bottom lip.

I roll my eyes, cramming the forkful of noodles into my mouth. "What did they ever do to you?"

Keefe looked like he had prepared himself. He cleared his throat, setting down his fork on his knee. "It was a dark night-"

"We don't care," interrupted Tam with a sigh as he paced around the room in deep thought. His gaze snapped on me. "Well? Are you just gonna sit there and eat?"

I blink, not moving from my comfortable position on the floor. "Um, yeah," I state, bringing another forkful of slippery noodles into my awaiting mouth, chewing with a tiny smile.

Tam raised an eyebrow but didn't retort with a snarky comment like I thought he would. Hmm. What do you know? He walks over to the bags by the door and starts to unload them, packing them tightly into the backpacks. I saw a couple of cans of almonds, bags of dry fruit, and cookies, along with some unidentifiable boxes.

I frown. "Tam, how many of us are going?" I ask, pointing at the three boxes of toothbrushes. "Are we really gonna need that many toothbrushes?"

He shrugged. "Who knows? It's a whole 'nother country. Italy's toothbrushes might be expensive, so Emora went all out. You'd be surprised by how many toothbrushes two people can use up."

I snort, gulping down the noodles. "I mean, I guess," I admit, pushing my fork around the box only to realize it was empty. I frown down at the finished dinner and leave the plastic fork leaning the side, getting up and placing the box on the table.

"If you're done, do you mind finally getting your lazy ass over here and helping me?" Tam called.

I sigh and join him by the backpacks, opening a bag and pouring the contents out on the carpet. Hydroflasks for the both of us. I took them and slid each into the side compartments. I pull out a bag of salt, frowning. "Tam, why the hell would we need salt? I mean, it's not a necessity-"

"We're bringing it," Tam spoke, grabbing the bag from me and cramming it into his bag.

"Well okay..." I blink, picking up a box of pretzels and fitting it into my backpack. "What about clothes?" I quickly ask, wrinkling my nose. Tam sighed, taking my backpack from me to yank some stuff out only to stuff it back in. Crinkling my eyes at him, I snatch it back, unzipping it to peer inside.

"You were packing things too loosely," Tam explained with an edge of tiredness to his tone. "You need to do it more tight-knit, so more stuff can fit."

"I didn't know you were a packing expert," I tease.

He just blankly stared at me, letting out a sigh as he took the last bag and crammed the supplies into his pack.

"About the clothes-" I start nervously. I didn't want to be annoying but clothes were a necessity. And currently the outfit I was wearing I had on me since- three days ago.

Tam zipped the backpacks shut with a note of finale. They were stuffed to the brim and the zipper got stuck midway, but Tam managed to pull it with a little extra effort. Tam rolled his eyes, patting the closed backpack. "Emora didn't know your size so she bought a few different sizes she thought might fit you. If they don't, we can buy you some once we reach Milan."

I shrug; that was good enough for me I supposed. There were plenty of clothing hacks that could get the clothes Emora got to fit me okay. I stare at the floor, remembering that Edaline had taught me quite a few. I purse my lips and try not to think about her. Thinking about my mom or dad just made me feel like needles were repeatedly stabbing my heart.

"Goodbye," Tam nodded at everyone in the room, narrowing his eyes into catlike slits at Zed before normally shifting his gaze over every individual. "Take care of the bunker for me," he added seriously.

"We will," Avery promised, dabbing lightly at his eyes as if he had tears in them. He had an arm slung around Emora's back, who appeared unfazed by all the emotional goodbyes.

Dex and Fitz were making out in the corner of the room, and then Keefe... He was on his phone, playing some game, but now he set it down, standing up with his arms awkwardly out. "Hug, bro?" he tentatively suggested to Tam.

"No," Tam snapped.

Keefe sighed. "Same as always," he commented, a small smile slinking over his face. "Hug, Sophie?" he tried.

I nodded, and walked over to Keefe. He hesitantly put an arm around me and I pulled him in, giving him a noogie. "Not the hair," he wailed.

I patted his shoulder.

"I'll miss you, Keefe," I murmur. All awkwardness remaining from that kiss a long time ago dissipated, and he nodded, pulling me into another tight hug. I glanced over at Tam, who looked like he was ready to murder someone. I smile sadly up at Keefe.

"See you around," Keefe said, his voice sounding a little tight strung, probably trying to hide his emotions.

I give him a short nod, moving on to Zed. "Dude, you're Tam's old enemy now turned prisoner sooo-"

"Nah, I got you," Zed replied, nodding. "It'd be weird."

I move on to the next person. Avery. "Hey, we hardly know each other but- have a good life," Avery spoke first. He held out his hand, as if for a handshake.

I surprised him by yanking it and pulling him into a quick hug. He stiffened but hugged me back before I pulled away with a small smile. "You too, man," I reciprocated.

Next was... Emora. "Um, we also don't know each other that well, but... thanks," I say. "You were the one who went on the errands and got-"

"It's no problem, girl," Emora flashed me a grin. "Girl to girl, y'know," she lowered her voice, "good luck sharing space with Tam... he snores. At least," her voice returns to its normal, hypocritical beat, "that's what Avery tells me."

I nod, and high-five her.

Then I clear my throat, awkwardly trying to avert my eyes from the very explicit sounds and sight before me.

"Fitz!"

I heard a faint grunt, and when I risked a glimpse I saw Dex was beet-red. "Sorry, Soph," he apologized. "Here you are, saying your goodbyes and Fitz is in the mood for-"

"Hey!" Fitz protested. "You didn't complain when I initiated it!"

Dex blushed even harder, if that was possible.

I held out my arms, ignoring what I could NEVER unsee- and Dex threw himself at me, sniffling. "I'm gonna miss you, Sophie," he mumbled.

It hit me then... Dex left his family behind, his aunt and uncle were in danger, and now he had to say goodbye (possibly for a long time- which I was desperately trying not to think about) to his cousin by adoption, who was very close to him. Closer than some of his friends. This was just about as difficult for him as it is for me.

"Bye," he mutters, and I pull back, scowling at the tears on Dex's cheeks.

"Don't cry," I wipe a tear off his face. "It's okay, Dex. Just- don't forget to call, all right?"

Dex nodded, forcing a smile. "I won't."

I lift my eyes to Fitz, my lips tightening a little. This guy had been the cause of so many problems in my life... and the way he coped with his issues, I definitely didn't approve of. But nonetheless I'd miss my old crush. "Goodbye, Fitz," I tell him, nodding at Dex with a hardened glint in my eyes. "You better treat my cousin well or I'll skip my ass all six thousand miles back here to beat you up."

We both knew I couldn't really beat anyone up, but I'd definitely attempt to go through with my threat and with a little YouTube watching I bet I could become a master puncher in a matter of days.

"I will," Fitz swallowed, nodding, raising his hand to do a salute.

I grin, folding my arms over my chest. "Good."

"Are we done here?" Tam droned, leaning against the wall typing something into his cellphone with a frown. Probably trying to get Wi-Fi.

"Yeah," I glance over my shoulder, slowly joining him by the door, "yeah, we are."

A/N: Wow, this was- definitely not that easy to write. And I hated killing Biana off in the chapter before, believe me. But everything happens for a reason...