Amaya held a bittersweet smile on her lips as the last piece of jeans were settled into her luggage. There was boxes upon boxes packed and ready to ship to Knightsfairy. From across the hall her mom was looking into her room, inevitable tears were rimmed in the brinks of her eyes.

The young girl caught sight of her and closed her eyes, tears also rimming in her own. "No mama… don't do this to me!"

The woman walked in quickly, her arms embracing her daughters thin frame. They held like that for a few moments before tears finally turned into sobs.

"Please remember to call me, everyday."

The young girl nodded as she let go of her mother, "you know you don't have to worry about me, mom. I promise you will regularly hear from me…" she smiled holding on to her mother's hands, the bracelets on her wrists jingled.

"I have to finish up, mom. Mr. Mecano will be here in any time now!" she let go of the older woman and rushed back to her bed, where the rest of her stuff was laid out. There was backpacks, boxes, bags, and a giant luggage that needed to be zipped up. Amaya hurried over and quickly shoved some hair straighteners into one of the backpacks. "I'm really only taking the most necessary items," she turned to her mom again, "I'll be back before you know it, mom."

Without a chance to reply her father walked through the door of her bedroom, holding some balloons that read congratulations, and a cake, along with a bouquet of dark red roses. His eyes were welled with tears and he had a sad smile on his lips. "Since we won't be there for when you graduate…" he didn't finish his sentence, and simply pushed the items in his hands towards her.

There was a moment of silence before the girl quietly walked over towards the two people that had selflessly loved her.

"I love you guys…" another stream of silent sobbing echoed the walls of her now empty room.

Her dad let go, holding onto his two girls with tender love. "This room will be just the way you leave it, no one will clean it up… nor will we rearrange it…" his eyes watered up again, "just so you know, you're always welcome home, sweetie."

There was silence again and the family once again joined in a hug. Only to release when the loud of the doorbell echoed the walls.

"He's here!" Amaya let go of her parents and quickly jogged across the hallway of her house, her footsteps loud against the wooden floors, as she ran down the stairs.

"Coming!"

She hurriedly unlocked the door and opened up. Her brown eyes were greeted by the young man that she was expecting.

"Hello, Amaya…"

Her cheeks flushed bright red as his smile reached his lips. He was wearing his aviator glasses with his classic look; a black leather jacket, a white v shaped shirt, dark jeans, and cowboy boots. His hair was perfectly fluffed back, and the cologne that pulsed from his body smelled delicious. He looked spectacular.

She blinked a few times, regaining herself and she blamed the rush of excitement for taking extra notice on him.

"Romeo, hello." She nervously giggled and opened up the door widely, "come in, won't you?"

He pulled off his glasses and rested them against his shirt and nodded with that smile of his. He seemed so fresh, so impeccable, once again worry settled in the pit of her stomach… what if she wasn't good enough? The voice of her parents welcoming her back home relaxed her yet again.

"I have a U-haul on its way… just so the trip could be more comfortable." He closed his eyes as he walked passed her into her parents house. "they'll take care of everything… don't worry it runs on me." He smiled again, his wolfish white teeth making her blush again.

"Mr. Mecano!"

Dan walked downstairs, a bunch of bags against his shoulders, his wife walked behind him with a pile of boxes in her hands too. Romeo quickly walked over to them, helping the couple settle some of the luggage on the couches.

"Dan. Gretel." He greeted the two. "Good morning."

There was a loud rumbling just outside the driveway and Dan quickly walked over to check out what the ruckus was. "Strange, a U-haul."

Romeo nodded his head and quickly rushed behind the older man to greet the transportation drivers.

Amaya nervously bit her lip with her eyes glued on to her mothers. "He-he… I didn't ask him to hire-"

Gretel crossed her arms and shook her head. "I know, and that's what worries me. He's too attentive towards you." There was a dry chuckle escaping from her lips as she walked towards her daughter. "just remember you can always come home. No strings attached. No matter what." Her eyes locked on her daughters as she grabbed at her shoulders. "Just be careful, I know he's gorgeous. Be cautious."

"mom."

Gretel let go of her daughter and rolled her eyes with a smile on her lips, "I know you think so too."

Amaya blushed, her lip getting caught between her teeth, was it that obvious?

"Come child. Let's go get the rest of your things, let's help the transporters."

The men suddenly walked into the house, Romeo and Dan laughing wholeheartedly at something only they knew about. Amaya stared at her mother and the older woman shrugged. The transportation crew came in through the door, and greeted the two women. Dan with Romeo tailing behind him, lead the other two men upstairs into the girl's bedroom, hauling more things downstairs and directly outside into the truck.

Without more to do, Gretel invited her daughter to make breakfast. They still had a couple of hours before the trip was programed.

Amaya walked into the kitchen behind her mother, the doors of the refrigerator opened, and quickly the two women pulled out tasty ingredients. Eggs, milk, butter, bacon, waffles, orange juice, muffins, and sausage. The two girls laughed and joked as they cooked together in the kitchen. It was almost nostalgic, and Amaya could feel the strings of sadness pull on her heart. She stared at her mother with a soft smile, as the woman cooked while humming an all too familiar tune.

There was a ding on her phone, and she settled down the egg cartons on the counter, and quickly fished up her phone from her pocket.

Amaya pulled up on the notification bar and blinked at the message. A message from her group chat with her two friends popped up.

'Amaya, tonight. 6:00 P.M! Be there were playing against the Peacocks!'

'we're*'

'we're totally going to destroy them!'

'Amaya, you there?'

'You want to ride with us to school today?'

A few minutes passed by.

'yo, Amaya! Why is there a U-haul outside your house!?'

She stared at the phone screen, as guilt rose in her heart. She settled her phone down suddenly, and with a sigh she closed her eyes. She felt the need to tell herself that it was better that they didn't know. She figured it was actually best if she said nothing to them. She didn't want to confront them. Tears welled her eyes again. Memories of all those long years together crashed her mind, smiles and laughs, heartbreaks, and all those years as superheroes. She didn't want to say goodbye, but knew this day would eventually have to come. They were soon to be adults anyways, Greg would soon leave to study Zoology, Conner would either join the military, or become a soccer player, and she? Well it was happening before time, but it was inevitable.

She was lost in thought , when suddenly there was a loud sound against the walls, and her heart clenched.

"Amaya!?"

"Morning, Mr. Dan!"

"Where's, Amaya?"

The voices of the boys bounced from the entrance of her house into the kitchen.

She clenched her eyes and tears fell down her face, as her mom looked towards her. "Did you not tell, Conner, and Greg!?" there was a disbelief look in her mothers eyes. "They don't know you're leaving?"

Amaya bit her lips together, guilt and excuses rising in her chest, her eyes were stuck on the kitchen counter. Gretel pushed the kitchen door open only to see Greg, Conner, her husband, and Romeo, all silently staring at one another.

"Hello, boys!" she tried, the air in the room everything but comfortable.

"Mrs. Gretel, good morning. What's going on?" Greg looked around as the piles of boxes were being taken and being loaded into the truck.

"oh you know, Amaya…" she looked around, and quickly caught the tension between, Conner and Mr. Mecano. "she didn't tell you guys?"

Conner gritted his teeth. His eyes flashing hatred towards Romeo.

The adults stared quietly, watching the scene unfold. "where's, Amaya?" Dan blinked and shook his head slightly.

"Conner," Gretel went over to the boy and wrapped her arm around the boys shoulders, he looked dangerous. Mr. Mecano on the other hand was relatively casual. Awkward but casually picking up the boxes and hauling them over towards the transporters.

"Come, so you can talk to, Amaya." The boy seemed to snap out of his trance suddenly, and with wide eyes nodded towards the older woman. She was confused to say the least.

She led him to the kitchen, where they found the young girl crying against the kitchen counter. Greg followed the pair into the kitchen. He was also greeted by the sad scene of his girl friend crying. When she finally looked up, she quickly ran up to them and clung onto their shoulders, bawling like they had never seen her before.

Gretel bit her lips and quietly stepped out of the kitchen. Sensing that the trio needed privacy.

Amaya sobbed, her tears wetting the sweaters of her boys. They all stood there without moving, only her crying. Greg was confused beyond compare, while Conner stared emptily at the stove.

"You chose him, didn't you." Conner pulled away from the two, "you chose, Romeo over us." It was almost a whisper, but the two friends both heard.

Greg rose a brow, "what are you talking about?"

"answer, Amaya!?" Conner gritted his teeth, "you chose, Romeo didn't you!?" He shook his head, his blue eyes going bloodshot, "you're leaving with him. Aren't you?"

"it's a scholarship!" she said in between sobs and slowly pulled away from her blonde friend.

Greg was taken aback, "what!?" He stared in disbelief, "you're leaving with, Romeo!?"

She shook her head, "I'm going to a university, I won a scholarship… it's just that-"

"you're leaving with him…"

Conner looked to the ground as Greg went on, his eyes finally letting out tears.

"You're leaving with… him?" The young blonde couldn't wrap the idea around his head. "why didn't you tell us anything, Amaya!?"

"I couldn't… you guys were always so busy with your guy's own life. I just didn't want to- go through this."

She wrapped her arms around her body and tears filled her eyes again.

There was silence for a little, one minute, two, five.

"maybe we should go somewhere to talk?" Greg blinked, scratching the back of his head, "do you have time?"

Amaya silently calmed herself from the crying, and slowly looked up to them. Conner avoided her eyes all together, but she agreed with Greg. "let's go somewhere else to talk…"

The trio silently began walking out, the three adults inside the living room simply stared at them. Romeo caught the eyes of the jock, and unfortunately he only felt pity. Deep down he knew that Conner shared those romantic feelings for the girl. It was just that he hadn't discovered it yet.

Silence dominated the room and they finally walked out, the silence for the first time ever, being awkward between the three. They walked until they reached the nearby park. The grass was still wet from the dew of the early morning, and the smell was fresh. Their shoes crunched with the blades ever so softly until they all came to the set of three swings that sat in the sandbox in the middle of the park.

They sat on the swings, Amaya in the middle swing and the two boys each on one of her sides.

They sat in absolute silence for a little while. Greg sat and leaned into the chain of the swing, his attention on the girl. Conner sat with his hands wrapped around the chains but inside his pockets, his dark blue eyes lost deep in the sand.

Amaya sat with her feet hanging from the swing, her eyes glued onto her lap, and her arms wrapped around herself. Her glasses were foggy from silently crying.

Another while went by and not one had shared a word.

Conner suddenly cleared his throat. His eyes still glued to the sand. "So you're leaving with, Romeo?"

Amaya stared emptily at her lap, and slowly she nodded her head, "I am."

Greg gulped quietly and stared at his two friends. "Does this mean there will be no more, PJ Masks?"

Conner made a noise with his throat, "ask, Amaya that, Greg. She's going with Romeo."

Suddenly the girl stood angrily, placing herself in front of the jock. "what's your problem with, Romeo anyways!?"

Conner suddenly stood and he was officially a head taller than her, and she had to look up to him now. His eyes showered her with sadness, and guilt rose in her heart again. Without warning she threw her arms over his shoulders. The comforting scent of familiarity overtook her. Greg stood and bit his lip. There was a feeling deep in his heart that let him know that he should go for a bathroom break. There was obvious need for them to get things off their chests. Unresolved conflicts. Maybe it wasn't all too late anyways. He began away undetected leaving behind the two embracing one another with tears.

Conner pulled away slightly and their eyes met. Her brown irises sparkled with fresh tears, and she looked beautiful to him with her nose red, and cheeks flushed. Why hadn't he noticed it before?

"No, Conner… don't do this… not now."

He hushed her with his index finger, and she soon realized how close they were standing. "Amaya…"

She closed her eyes and tears flowed again.

"no-no-no-no, don't cry… I promise- I'm sorry… sorry about everything. I've been such a stupid-ass as of late… and I was just- I'm worried for you."

He spoke fast, and his eyes went from her eyes to her plump lips.

"Will you forgive me?"

She stared into his eyes, "I'm the one that should be apologizing to you guys…" she looked around and couldn't see Greg, "where's he?"

Conner didn't bother to look around, his eyes attached to the way the sun's rays were grazing her brown eyes, making them shine a beautiful amber brown.

"Have you always been this beautiful?"

Her eyes went wide and went straight towards his. Another blush echoed her face and she looked down in slight shame.

"Don't go, Amaya…" He held her hand and placed it over his chest. She took in a sharp breath, her palm felt as his heart pounded irregularly in his chest.

"Stay with me…"

"I-I can't." she blinked a few times and pulled her hand away from his chest. "Romeo… he's been nothing but kind to me… he's already invested so much- I can't."

"invested in what?" The jock pulled her back into his chest again, "where is he taking you?"

She blinked again and her throat dried, "to a university…" her eyes searched his, "I'm going to a university. He's sponsoring me…"

There was confusion in the boys eyes and he asked the inevitable, "why?"

Her cheeks flushed suddenly and she pulled herself away from him. There was a sudden irritated tone to her answer. "because he believes in me. In my academic potential. That's why."

She stared at the boy again, and he stared silently. She heard foot steps and finally Greg had come back.

"That's the only reason I'm going with him. To study a career." She took in a deep breath. "it's nothing more, I promise."

Conner looked over to the blonde boy, and the blonde bit his lips together. "So, it's a for sure thing?"

The girl nodded, "but I'll be back as soon as I finish my career. He's only sponsoring cause it's like a tradition- like a school program." She looked at them her stance firm. "Now that you guys know 'what I've been up to' you guys can stay calm. I'll be back on vacations and every couple of weekends."

She looked to Conner who stared at her back, "there is nothing going on between, Mr. Mecano and me." She looked down to the sand, "so when I come back I'll still be the 5th wheel, you guys don't have to worry just yet." She smiled and then hugged herself again. A feeling of them being selfish towards her erupted through her chest. Why could they have girlfriends but she couldn't even consider, Romeo as a potential anything, without them getting worked up?

"If you have to go…" Greg smiled sadly, "I guess we'll wait for you here." He placed his hands in his pockets. "What time are you heading out?"

Conner stayed silent and also placed his hands in his pockets, his eyes once again glued to the sand.

Amaya bit her lip. "Actually, Romeo was there to pick me up… we're leaving very soon."

"Today, huh?" The blonde bit his lip, his arms opening up for her to come in. The girl smiled, with tears spilling from her eyes again. She rammed herself against him clinging onto him as if life depended on it. His warm scent made the butterflies in her stomach calm down. She laughed as he spoke softly in her ear, "I will head down there myself if you ignore my messages one more time." He pushed away slightly, and their eyes locked, there was a shimmer in them that she had never seen before, and when he leaned in to give her a kiss, he pecked her lips softly. The girl stared at him, his green eyes locked on hers.

Conner shook his head and smacked the boy upside the head and Amaya let go of him with slight awkwardness. She cleared her throat and Greg scratched the back of his head, "sorry… I've always wanted to do that…" there was a soft shy smile on his lips, "it was now or never." He smiled sadly. "but I promise it's completely platonic."

Amaya blushed and looked to the sand. Her emotions in a million now. She nodded to Greg and smiled knowing that out of everyone he was the one that she could rely the most on. Her eyes went towards Conner, unlike him… he was always emotionally exhausting.

Without a word the jock began back across the park towards their neighborhood. A feeling of defeat was embedded in his chest, but there was no way he could change her mind. Maybe if he had known sooner he could've done something, but now it was too late. He looked back at this two friends and as she giggled over Greg apologizing again and again for pecking her on the lips. His heart clenched and finally he let tears escape his eyes. When she came back… things would never be the same again. Was it a crime that he didn't want things to change?

The walk back home was nastily quiet, aside from the sounds of their shoes against the ground, there was no other noise. They neared the neighborhood and Amaya could see that her driveway was cleared of the transportation truck. Which meant that her things were already on their way to Romeo's house. Her eyes wandered towards her two friends, and the saddened faces that they expressed.

"Guys, I promise I'll keep in touch. You can't get rid of me that easily." She giggled slightly, trying to lighten the mood, yet the two boys didn't react.

They went ahead and reached her house, and outside Romeo stood. He was talking to her parents and had a folder tucked away in his left hand, and his car keys on the other. She could faintly hear what he was saying to her parents, but her focus was completely out of whack.

Romeo nodded with that smile of his and soon everyone went quiet, the three friends had finally arrived.

"Conner, Greg," the scientists greeted the two, and placed his hands behind his back, the way teachers did when approached by students.

"Romeo." The two boys answered, Conner still staring daggers into the man. He didn't know why he had to dress up so much. Why did he have to go and dress like a normal person. Wasn't this a school project thing? Why wasn't he dressed with his lab uniform? Why did he put so much effort in dressing to impress even her parents? He clicked his tongue and looked to the side, rolling his eyes at just the sight of the scientist.

"Amaya, whenever you're ready." Romeo offered her an apologetic smile.

This impeccable man turned to face her parents, a smile on his lips, and offered them his hand. "Dan, Gretel, its been a pleasure." They shook hands and he nodded towards the girl. He had to rush a few papers to his lawyers office before they headed to the airport.

The girls eyes teared again, and she ran up to her parents embracing them in a hug. The older couple held onto her tightly, almost so she wouldn't leave. The two boys joined in and soon she was sandwiched in between all those people who loved her.

Romeo stood to the side, a soft smile playing on his lips. It had been a while since he had seen such a heartbreaking scene. It had been a while that he had even seen his parents. His father was still an active military lieutenant colonel, and his mother was also still an active ICU nurse. He had come home, and had spent more time with the family of an ex nemesis, more than his own. He looked to the ground, his eyes catching onto a pebble, maybe he should pay his mother a visit before they left. He looked up to see as Dan cried and kissed his daughter multiple times on her forehead. It had been more than 5 years that he had last spoken to his father.

As far as he knew he was still married to his mom, then again it had been almost 4 years too, that he had last spoken to her.

After a long while the family finally let each other go. Laughter replaced the tears and soon they were all waving goodbye as the girl began towards her mentor.

She waved ecstatically towards her family and friends, she was just now leaving behind. Romeo looked beyond that and settled his eyes on the Jock who waved back towards the girl. The smug smile on his lips played, and Conner unfortunately caught on to it. Soon the daggers that once had been visually shot at him, were thrown again. Romeo shook his head with a chuckle and opened the car door for the girl to enter.

He waved a goodbye, as well towards the small crowd. With that wolfish smile of his, he placed the glasses on his face and entered the car to buckle up. He started the engine and with a final wave he shifted the car in gear. Looking back once again, his eyes caught onto Conner and with another smile the pair drove off, out of her neighborhood.

Music blasted through the speakers of his car, and warmth and hope for a bright full future filled Amaya's mind. She knew that this was the beginning of something good.

Romeo stopped at a red light, and pulled his glasses off as he turned to face her. "you excited?"

The girl bit her lip and took in a deep breath. It felt like after an eternity, it had finally happened. She was on her way to independence.

"I really am." She grabbed on to the seat belt and adjusted it. "It feels foreign. A little scary, if I'm honest."

The young man nodded and chuckled, he knew the feeling all too well.

"Before we head out, though-" his blue eyes went towards her brown ones. "can we… do you mind if I make a quick stop at my mother's house?"

Amaya blinked, "of course."

He smiled again and once the light turned green they were on their way again.