Chapter Sixteen. Most of this is true.

I don't own Neopets. Tamara and all them are mine.

Last Day of School
Chapter Sixteen

The last week of school was a sad one; full of studying for finals, turning in homework, and packing to go home. Truthfully, I had no desire to go home. But, at the same time, I did.

I did because I wanted to get away from all the memories. An extended vacation could be good for me. Working at the clinic again would get more practice in before starting school in the Fall.

But, I didn't want to go home simply because the Academy felt like my home. My friends were my siblings. And Teresa was like a second mother to me. I was going to spend the next three months missing this. All of it. The good. And the bad.

On the last day, I walked around campus saying "good-bye" (which I hate) and "see you later" (which gave me pleasure in knowing there was a possibility that I may see them again).

The first person I saw as Kara. I shuffled my feet, awkwardly; trying to bring up the courage to talk to my ex-enemy.

Kara solved my problem rather quickly. She cupped my face in her hands and raised my chin so that we were looking eye to eye. "Tam, I want to apologize for my behavior this year. It wasn't my place to judge you or act the way I did. I'm sorry. And, no matter what, I'll always be glad to have met you."

I gave her a half-smile; happy to receive some form of apology and knowing that I could now call Kara "friend".

"I want to congratulate you and wish you luck." I said, gently pulling Kara's hands from my face.

She smiled and pulled me into a big hug. The first one she had ever given me. As my hands came up to her shoulders, I happened to realize something: Kara was skinnier than she appeared. I could feel every ridge on her shoulder blades, every rib down her sides, and every bone in her spine. She felt so fragile, I was afraid of squeezing too hard. Afraid I might break her.

Then, I left Kara to clean and mend her vest and prepare for Sunday. Fangore and I said good-bye to Callaban (he licked Fangore on the head) then we walked around campus.

Bo picked me up (he was over two feet taller than me) like a baby and held me close to his shoulders and I wrapped my arms around his neck. When Bo—finally—put me down, he rested his hands on my shoulders, and looked me in the eye.

"You take care of yourself, Tam. And you'd better come back alive next Fall." he teased.

I rolled my eyes. Even Bo knew about my almost-suicides. Only, he didn't know I had been spending a few weeks in the counseling center. It was a little detail that I let stay silent.

I smiled and squeezed Bo's elbows. "Don't worry, Bo. I'll be okay. Have a good summer yourself."

His thumb brushed my jawline. "Thanks. You too."

Thor was a little more gentle. In other words, he didn't pick me up. Instead, Thor gave me an awkward, one-armed hug while petting Fangore's head with the other. Thor said good-bye (he was graduating).

I pressed my nose into his chest, inhaling his sweet fragrance; applying it to memory. I looked upon his homely face. I looked away and said good-bye to Mudbane. Mudbane barked and licked my face with his big, hot, sticky tongue. I smiled—wiping my face off on the collar of my t-shirt—and planted a kiss on the top of his shale-and-mud, dappled head.

Alison's hug was long and constricting. I could hardly breathe. But, I held on as long as she did. Her chin resting on the top of my head.

Kayla's "so long" was an interesting one. She was not near as skinny as Kara so my fear of breaking her was not as strong. Kayla's hands clasped at my head and her head on my shoulder, I heard the strangest phrase I had ever heard her utter.

"I'm going to miss you like peanut butter misses jelly."

I tried ever so hard—and failed, epically—not to laugh. But, soon, we had both collapsed on the floor in a bout of laughter that caused our ribs to hurt. I wiped tears from my eyes and patted Kayla's knee. "I'll miss you too, Kay." I said. Then, I smiled, teasingly. "So, which are you? The peanut butter or the jelly?"

"You can be the jelly." Kayla laughed back.

Splash crawled into my lap and I stroked his thick, downy coat. The blue Lutari placed his forepaws on my shoulders and I gently kissed him on the nose. He crawled onto Fangore's back and nuzzled his face into my Lupe's shoulder. Fangore twisted his head around and licked at Splash's squirming form.

I still had a while yet before my mom and brother showed up. So, I went to look for Cam and Randi.

I found them.

Randi's parents were already there; loading her things into a wagon. Sheldon was shuffling his paws, anxiously. When Randi saw me, she begged her parents to wait a while before running across the lot toward me. At high speed.

"FIRE IN THE HOLE!" I cried, moving aside before Randi could collide and crush me. When she had slowed down, I allowed her to envelope me in a bearhug.

I don't know for how long we stood in the log hugging. What I do know is we stood there long enough for me to memorize the pattern of Randi's heartbeat. Soon, Cam joined us. A long, group hug was established between the three of us. And then, Codax appeared in my vision.

I gave a growl of frustration. The last thing I needed was to deal with Codax.

"Come on, Short stuff." He said, gripping my shoulder with a force that caused Fangore to growl at him.

"Wait a moment, Codax." I said. "I'm saying good-bye."

"Well, hurry up. I wanna get back home." Codax grumbled.

I didn't know what he had planned, so I finished my good-byes, helped gather my stuff, and went home.

It didn't strike me that it was sumer vacation until lat at night when I had all my stuff unpacked and put in its place. Fangore and I lay, side-by-side, on my bed. I rubbed Fangore's face, suddenly aware of a feeling of loneliness that came over me.

I rolled over to my other side and realized that Kara was not there. Tears coursed openly down my face and I found myself shaking with sobs. Even if my year with Kara had started off badly, I still missed her even now.

Fangore climbed over me and licked my face; washing the salty tears from my cheeks. "It'll be okay. You'll see them again. Probably."

I smiled. "Thanks, Fangore."