Title: Life Everlasting

Author: Jade Hunter

A.N: Okay, I read the book in like fourth grade and hated the sad ending. I went to see the movie in hopes for a glorified Hollywood happy ending, but was let down because FOR ONCE the writers stuck to the true ending. So, nagged incessantly with a feeling of disappointment and a need to write an alternate ending, I finally decided to put all my other projects on hold and write this.

Disclaimer: None of the characters of Tuck Everlasting belong to me, and neither do the spring and its magical powers.

"talking"

thinking

emphasis

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"What do you think will happen now?"

Winnie turned expectantly towards Mike, her eyes full of worry and her heart heavy with the news they had just received.

America had joined the war.

He turned to her, his eyes darkened with worry and fear.

"I don't know," he admitted. He was not yet jaded, like many boys his age with their status, and freely admitted his emotions. "But I think I'm terrified."

Winnie bit her lip. She didn't know what to say to comfort him. Everyone knew that if a draft were called, Mike would have to sign up and head overseas, as he was an adult in the eyes of the country. Although the rate of volunteers was high, it could change, and who knew how long the war would last.

"Me too," she said, finally.

He sighed, then said, "But it's not all that bad."

She shifted to face him again.

"I mean, a part of me wants to just volunteer, anyway," he explained. "Because if I do, I'll be doing something worthwhile, something meaningful."

Though she was growing increasingly frightened at what her friend was saying, Winnie still had enough wits about her to retaliate with a terse, "Something your father won't approve of."

He shot her a look.

"Don't try to hide it, Mike," she snapped, angry at him, angry at the government, angry at the war, and just angry because she was scared. "Your father will do anything to make sure you stay safe, because you're his only heir, you know it. He might even be able to pay you off the draft list. And that makes you mad more than anything else does. The fact that your father is deciding what will affect your life, even when you're legally of age."

His glare softened slightly, and he quirked a humorless smile.

"You always knew me better than anyone else," he shrugged. "Yes, that makes me angry. Maybe angry enough to join up."

Winnie felt like screaming. Her anger boiled in her veins and she glared at him as heatedly as she knew how, her hands fisting tightly.

"I'll hate you," she bawled suddenly, hot tears streaming down her cheek. "If you join, I'll hate you forever!"

Then, turning her back on him, she began to cry earnestly into her hands.

You won't live forever, idiot, she wanted to scream at him. You can't take a bullet and get back up! You're not immortal! You're not Miles! You're not…

But all she could do was cry and choke on her emotions.

Winnie was vaguely aware of Mike, awkwardly patting her shoulder, telling her not to cry, telling her that he was sorry for mentioning it. She absently took the handkerchief he offered meekly.

As her cries diminished into sniffles, he said softly, "I won't join, if it means that much to you."

Taking a deep breath, she turned to face him.

"Not because of me," she told him, wiping her eyes. "I can't make you do something, or make you not do something. That'll make me your father."

"But prettier," he quipped.

She glared.

"Sorry."

"Anyway, I can't stop you from doing something," she continued. "And I won't tell your parents or anything, either, so don't worry."

He smiled, for real this time, "I knew you wouldn't tell. That's why I told you."

They fell into a comfortable silence.

"You're my only friend, you know," she said, out of the blue.

He turned to her.

"It's true," she nodded, but didn't elaborate further.

He didn't need her to, however, "I know how you feel."

From anyone else, it might have been meaningless words meant to comfort a young woman who had just opened her heart to her sole friend. From Mike, Winnie knew that it was genuine, because he suffered the same as she did. Most people their age weren't – by their society's standards – not 'good' enough to be around. The ones who were up to their families' social standards were, the lot of them, completely impossible. Winnie couldn't stand them, and she knew Mike couldn't either.

She sighed.

"I don't want to die."

"What?" she asked, not sure she heard him right.

He glanced at her, then repeated, "I don't want to die."

Shocked that her own words from almost two years ago had come out of her friend's mouth, Winnie could only stare for a moment, dumbfounded.

"What brought this on?" she finally managed to ask.

He shrugged, "The talk about the war, joining up, and all that. I was worried that you might think…"

"That you had a death wish?" she finished.

Mike nodded.

Winnie shook her head. "Not many people want to die, Mike."

There was a time, not so long ago, when she would have said that no one would want to die. But that wasn't true. Winnie knew that now. There were some people in the world, one in a million, who would give anything, just to be able to die.

This time, the silence was longer, though still companionable.

For a moment, Winnie continued to gaze at her friend.

Then, she turned back, tilting her head up towards the sky.

"I don't want to die, either."

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~Jade Hunter~