A/N: Hello all! no reviews sob but i'll get over it. enjoy chapter 14!

Chapter 14

Aunt Areida, Mother, Emily and I got back to the inn and separated into our rooms. Before I fell asleep, my last thought was a mental picture of a sleeping Jem, with the rose clutched in his hand.

When I awoke my trunk was packed and a travelling gown was draped across the chair next to my writing desk.

Packed trunk? Travelling gown?

We were leaving!

I raced downstairs. It must have been noon atleast. My thin nightdress and hair flew behind me as I ran barefoot into the kitchen. Emily was crying, but Aunt looked calm, as well as Mother and Father.

"What's going on?" I asked shakily.

"El, get dressed quickly, we're leaving soon." Father said between bites of toast.

"W-what?"

"We told you you were only staying for six months." Mother reminded me. Tears were welling up in my eyes. I had lost track of time. Slowly I turned and walked back upstairs.

I put on my dress and put my hair in a long braid.

We were leaving. Chris would obviously stay with Emily before the wedding. And Jem, when would I see him again? I supposed he would be at the wedding, but that was months away.

As my thoughts sank in I followed Uncle Tye downstairs as he carried my trunk.

Emily and I said teary good-byes and she promised to write about all the plans they had. We hugged again before I stepped outside.

Chris and Jem were there when I emerged from the house. I thought I had finished crying, but when I saw them more tears rolled down my cheeks.

"Just another six months, El," Chris said while he hugged me.

"It'll seem like forever."

He went to Emily and she rested her head on his shoulder while she cried silently.

Next I faced Jem. After introducing him, my parents got inside the carriage.

"Will you write?" he asked.

"Of course!" I said. "Though every time I do I'll wish that I could just ride here every day and talk in person."

Another tear rolled down my cheek. He wiped it away, then hugged me tightly. I hugged him back and ran to the carriage.

A/N: yet another short one, iiii kno.