One Year Later and the Final Dance
I positioned my bags close to me and tried hard to hold back the tears that were forming silently behind my eyes. Scott, Shelby, Hank, Cameron, Peter, Sophie and the rest of the Cliffhangers had come out to see me off for the final time. I hated goodbyes, especially this goodbye but I knew it wouldn't be forever. Peter and Sophie were the first to come forward.
"It was a pleasure to meet you, Monique." Sophie said after hugging me tightly. Peter did the same voiced his goodbye and then fell back with the others. The rest of the Cliffhangers rushed forward and I almost toppled over when they all grabbed me in a hug at the same time. I laughed through the tears as they all said their final goodbyes.
"I'm going to miss you." Juliet said sniffling dramatically. Even David offered a slight smile. When they all went to join Peter and Sophie, Hank wandered forward, trying his best to look casual but I could tell he was upset. We had been together for a year, since the time he had caught me dancing in my hospital room. A pain struck me hard in the chest when he wrapped his arms securely around me.
"I've never met anyone like you, ever. I'm going to miss you more than anything in the world. Do you really have to go?"
I thought for a second. Was it really necessary to go? Couldn't I just stay? Be a counselor, help out? But as much as I wanted to remain in the security of Horizon I already knew the answer.
"Yeah. I really do."
He nodded valiantly, kissed me and stepped back. I knew that it was hard for him to do but he did it with a smile and tried to be brave. For me, we had said our own goodbyes privately, enough tears had been shed, now it was time to be strong for everyone else. Cameron was next and the first thing he did was pick me up off the ground and swing me around in his strong arms once. Laughing, I returned to the ground and he tousled my hair mischievously.
"I'm gonna miss you, kid but not all those algebra problems!"
"Thanks, Cam. For everything." I said sincerely and he smiled.
"Don't mention it. I just wish I had met you earlier." He had been like a big brother to me since I had met him. There were times when I knew he wanted to give up on me but he never did. I kissed him on the cheek as Shelby and Scott stood next to me. Immediately, Shelby began crying and that set me off. We both stood there, clinging to each other and crying.
"Your, your one of my best friends in the whole entire world." She sobbed.
"I know…I love you, Shelby." I said equally as tearful. We stood like this until Scott cleared his throat.
"I'll let you and Scott have some time. Don't forget to call!" She said before throwing herself into the arms of Cameron and sobbing against his chest. I wiped at my eyes as Scott and I walked a little away from the crowd of people.
"So…this is it." His voice sounded husky and strained. I nodded slowly.
"This is it."
"Mo…I," He began but before he could finish I grabbed him into a hug. It felt like we were holding on for dear life, for a last breath of air.
"God, I don't know what I'm going to do without you. Please don't go"
I released him but held on to one of his hands. "We're eighteen now. We've been at Horizon, learned from each other, grown but now its time to take what we've got and see if we can make it on our own. You and Shelby, Dasiy, David and Ezra are going to college in the fall, Juliet and Auggie are engaged, Can you believe it, Scott, we're grown up! Cameron is going back to Yale to finish his degree so he can help Peter. It's time, I need to go back home, see my family, mend some bridges and find out who I am. Maybe when I get there I'll know what I was meant to do in life and I can be happy but life has no guarantees. I guess, we're all just, winging it. I want all of you to remember something though, I love you and I will always love you, no matter what. Someday you may be lost and not knowing where your going but just remember look out into the Horizon, then into your heart, and you'll always know where to go."
I hugged and kissed him one last time, waved to everyone and then threw the one bag I hadn't already packed into the back of my car. I could see them all now, standing arm in arm, Shelby still crying but holding on to Scott now. They were all together and I knew then that everything would be alright because we would always have Horizon, we would always have the memories and we would always have each other.
THE END
A/N: Another chapter has come to an end in this story and in the lives of Scott, Shelby, Monique, Cameron and everyone else. Truthfully I really just wanted to finish this story so I can start the sequel. I'm really getting into taking the characters and transporting them into a new decade.
Once More With FeelingIt's ten years later, ten years is a long time and a lot of changes have occurred. Step into the lives of Monique, Scott, Shelby and our other characters after Horizon. Life is unpredictable, hilarious, tragic, wonderful and always full of surprises!