AN-Sadly, we've come to the end of The Katie Banks Chronicles, story 1. Yes, I said story 1, meaning, I'm planning on writing 3 more stories, making this into a little series. I go on vacation next week, so I'll probably start writing then. Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed and I'm glad you all enjoyed it.
So, here it is, the final chapter.
''I'm going to miss you so much.'' Adam murmured.
He was currently biding a farewell to his girlfriend Julie, who spent her summers in Maine.
''I'm going to miss you too.'' she said.
They kissed passionately.
''Oh come on!''
''Does it really take this long to say goodbye?''
''Dude, she's got to leave in a few minutes. Can't do it with your tongue down her throat!''
Standing a few feet away from the couple were Charlie, Katie, and Maddie who were here to say goodbye, and then hang out with Adam. Julie's best friend Connie would have been there, but she was currently enjoying the Florida rays with her boyfriend, Guy, and his family.
''If you're this upset, I can help find you a new girlfriend!'' Charlie shouted.
Katie tugged on his hand, which was entwined with hers. ''Be nice and be thankful that your girlfriend lives right here with you.''
Charlie grinned. ''You're right, I should be thankful.''
He pulled her into a gentle kiss.
''Ok, let's get one thing straight.'' Maddie announced.
The couple broke apart and looked at her.
''There is no way I'm going to spend my summer with you, if you can't keep your hands off each other for more then five minutes.''
Charlie grinned. ''Then, I guess you're not hanging out with us.''
Katie let go of his hand and smacked him on the chest. ''Pig.''
''Nope, just your average hormonal teenage boy who is head-over-heels in love with his girlfriend.'' Charlie explained, embracing her.
Katie smiled softly and leaned up to kiss him.
Maddie rolled her eyes. ''Very corny Charlie.''
''I don't think so.'' Katie replied with a sigh as they broke apart.
''Uh guys? Can I interrupt your moment here?'' Julie asked.
The trio looked up and saw Julie standing in front of them.
''If Charlie keep his hands off her.'' Maddie said.
''Jealous, Mads?'' he asked.
Maddie rolled her eyes and grinned. ''In your dreams, Conway.''
''How did you know?'' he asked.
Charlie did let go of Katie and embraced Julie. ''Have a good trip, Jules.''
''Thanks Charlie. Keep him sane for me, ok?'' she asked.
Charlie laughed. ''Yea, I'll try.''
Julie laughed and hugged Maddie.
''Have a good summer Mads. If Charlie gets to be too much, let me know.''
Maddie laughed. ''Don't worry, I think I can handle him.''
Now it was Katie's turn. She hugged her brother's girlfriend.
''You want me to keep him sane too?'' she asked.
''No, just keep an eye on him for me.'' Julie said.
They laughed and Adam took Julie's hand leading her away.
''Wonder what deep and important message he's telling her.'' Charlie said.
''Probably something along the lines of, 'Baby, don't forget me. I love you with all my heart, and don't let some Maine boy take you away.''' Maddie said.
Katie and Charlie laughed.
Finally Julie boarded the plane and the four kids left the airport.
''So, what's on the agenda?'' Charlie asked.
''A movie. I want to go see A Walk To Remember.'' Maddie said.
Katie nodded in agreement. ''Me too, it looked really sweet.''
Adam groaned. ''So my girlfriend left and now I have to go watch some chick movie?''
''You don't have to. You can go off by yourself.'' Katie offered.
''What do you say Charlie? Wanna ditch these girls?'' asked Adam.
Charlie chuckled nervously. ''Actually, Banksie, I'm uh, going with them.''
There was a moment of silence as Adam stared at Charlie, clearly shocked.
''You're going to see A Walk To Remember...willingly?''
Charlie nodded and Adam turned on Katie.
''This is what you're doing to my best friend?!'' he demanded.
Katie laughed and tugged Charlie ahead. Maddie turned to Adam.
''Face it Banksie, he's a goner.'' she said.
''So, with my girlfriend being out of town, and you having no boyfriend, we should stick together this summer, huh?'' Adam asked.
''Why Adam Banks, are you hitting on me?'' Maddie joked.
''No, of course not.'' he said.
''Are you jealous?'' she asked.
''Of?'' he wondered.
''Of the fact that your best friend wants to spend their time with someone else.'' Maddie explained.
Adam shook his head. ''Are you?''
She bit her lip, uncertainly. ''A little. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for them. I mean, I don't think I've ever seen Katie as happy but...I miss my best friend.''
Adam smiled. ''Yea, I kinda miss mine too.''
The teens arrived at the mall and to their dismay, except Adam and Charlie too, the movie was sold out.
''Why don't we just hang around the mall?'' Maddie suggested.
''We do need to find something for mom's birthday.'' Katie said to Adam.
He nodded. ''What can we get her?''
''While you guys think, let's hit some stores.'' Charlie offered, wrapping an arm around Katie.
Maddie wanted to hit the nearest clothing store, while Katie wanted to head to the bookstore.
''Come on Kat, you could find something for your mom.''
''I can do that later. Tell you what, Mads, we'll go to the bookstore, then meet you there.'' Katie said.
Maddie opened her mouth to protest, but Katie and Charlie were already on their way. Maddie turned to Adam.
''Aren't you going?''
''And watch my best friend make-out with my sister? No thanks.'' he said.
Maddie laughed. ''Well, I'm going to be clothes shopping.''
''Trust me, this is the least painful of the two.'' Adam said.
''Do you think I left Maddie high and dry?'' Katie asked.
Charlie looked up from Hockey's Greatest Legends and shrugged.
''Well, you did ditch her to hang with me, but who can blame you?''
Katie sighed and Charlie put the book down and hugged her.
''Kat, we have been spending a lot of time together.''
''We're dating. Of course we're spending time together. Do you not want to?'' she asked.
Charlie shook his head. ''No, no, nothing like that. It's just...well, don't forget your friends just because you have me.''
Katie smiled and kissed him. ''You don't mind if I ditch you today?'' she asked.
''Of course not. Kat, we have all the time in the world to spend together. Go, hang with Maddie. I'll rescue Adam.''
Katie laughed and the two left the store.
They found Maddie and Adam in American Eagle. Charlie dragged Adam away and Katie found Maddie.
''Hey Mads.'' she said.
Maddie looked around. ''Where's Charlie? Are you actually letting him out of your sight?
Katie sighed. ''I know, I've been kinda a brat lately.''
Maddie grinned. ''Well, maybe you ignoring me was payback for the dance?''
''Duh! Why else would I do it?'' she asked.
The girls laughed. ''So we're good?''
''Good as gold.'' Maddie assured her.
''Sweet. Now, I need to find mother darling something, and I'd love your shopping expertise.'' Katie said.
''Not to worry, Kat dear, I can help you find the perfect gift.'' Maddie said.
Katie smiled and laced her arm through Maddie's. ''Ready, best friend?''
''You bet, bestest friend.''
The Banks Household
''Come on...come on..you can...YES GOAL!'' Adam cheered, high fiving Charlie.
Him and Charlie were watching the hockey game, and their team was winning.
As they sat back down, Adam turned to Charlie. ''So, did Katie ditch you or something?''
''Nah. We both just wanted to spend time with our best friends. Is that so wrong?''
Adam grinned. ''Nope.''
''Adam...if things don't work out with me and Katie...would we still be friends?''
''Are you planning on dumping her?'' Adam asked.
''No! I don't want to dump her, and I don't want her to dump me. I just want to know I won't lose my best friend again.'' Charlie said.
Adam sighed and ran a hand through his hair. ''Charlie, you're like a brother to me. No matter what happens with you and Katie...I'd want it to stay that way.''
Charlie grinned and clapped him on the back. ''Thanks Bankie.''
The boys heard the girls laugher as they came into the house.
''Hey Adam. I got mom a designer purse from us.'' Katie said, setting the bag down and sitting next to Charlie.
''How did we afford that?'' Adam asked, careful not to look as Katie greeted Charlie with a kiss.
''Dad's credit card.''
''Nice.'' Adam commented.
''We found the cheapest most expensive one.'' Maddie said, sinking down in the easy chair.
''The what?'' Adam asked, looking at Charlie.
''Yea, like I would know.'' he said.
Maddie and Katie laughed. Charlie checked his watch. ''Crap, I gotta go.''
He stood up and Katie did too. ''Where are you going?''
''I have to get things ready. You doing anything tonight?''
Katie shook her head.
''Good, I have something planned. I'll be back later.''
He kissed her and she walked him out.
''So, did you have fun with your best friend?'' asked Adam.
Maddie nodded. ''You?''
''Yep.''
''Cool.''
''Yep.''
Later that Evening
Katie sat in her room, looking over the things she brought from her dorm room. A whole year of Eden Hall was behind her, and she couldn't be more thankful. She was going to be a sophomore next year. She was pretty excited, the prospect of spending a whole year being Charlie's girlfriend, looking pretty enlightening.
She heard a knock on her door and her father stuck her head inside.
''Katie? You have a visitor.''
''Who is it?'' she asked.
''Charlie.'' her father said.
Katie grinned. Ever since her father found them kissing out front, he had been trying to accept that his daughter was growing up.
''Thanks. Tell him I'll be right down.''
And right down she was. After running a brush through her hair, she put on her shoes and hurried downstairs. Charlie was in the living room watching the game with Adam.
''Hey Charlie.'' she said.
He turned his eyes away from the screen and smiled at her. ''Ready to go?''
She nodded. ''Bye Adam.''
Adam barely waved, too engrossed in the game to care. Phillip walked into the room.
''Be home by 9:30, Kit-Kat.'' he said.
''Don't worry sir, I'll have her home by then.'' Charlie assured him.
Phillip just nodded as the two teens left.
Charlie took her to the Eden Hall grounds.
''Charlie, are we supposed to be here?'' she asked.
''No.'' he answered.
''Oh thank God, I was hoping we'd something illegal tonight.'' she snapped.
Charlie grinned. ''Trust me, you'll love it here, once you see.''
''See what?'' she asked.
She got the answer immediately. Charlie led her to her tree, no, their tree. He had set up a picnic, complete with candlelight.
''Charlie.'' she whispered.
He turned to her and grinned. ''You like?''
''I love.'' she said, and she kissed him.
After a delicious picnic, Katie and Charlie lay side by side staring up at the stars.
''It's beautiful.'' Katie whispered.
''So are you.'' Charlie whispered.
She turned to look at him and smiled. ''If I wasn't having the best evening of my life, I would totally tell you how corny you sounded.''
He smiled and kissed her.
''These words come from my heart.'' he told her.
She smiled and leaned her forehead against his. ''I love you.''
''I love you too.''
They kissed again, and Charlie pulled a bottle out of the basket.
''Alcohol? So that's why we're here. Charlie, Charlie, you would be the last person I suspect of trying to get their girlfriend drunk.'' she said.
Charlie gave her a look. ''It's apple cider, ok?''
Katie giggled and Charlie poured some for both of them.
''What is this for, Charlie?'' she asked.
''A toast.'' he said.
''To?''
''To us. May we have the most incredible year next year, and may we love each other for years to come.'' he said.
Katie smiled as they hit their glasses together and took a sip.
''You're a hopeless romantic sweetie.'' she said.
''Only for you, Kat.'' he whispered.
They kissed again and lay back down, looking at the starts, wishing for a long future together.
AN Yes, I will be making more. Like I said, 3 more stories yet to come, The Katie Banks Chronicle is far from over.
No, there will NOT be a Maddie/Adam hook up. I know I might be making it seem that way, but no they are just two friends, dealing with their best friends dating. Adam and Julie belong together and Maddie belongs with...well, you'll have to read to find out.
Thanks once again to everyone who read and reviewed.