Amanda's departure

Finn couldn't get over the week the Keepers had just experienced. With the thrill of graduation slowly fading away, they were all awakened to Amanda's departure. Finn offered to take her to the bus stop along with the other Keepers, since they all wanted to go together. Finn was happy about this fact as he figured his goodbye to Amanda wouldn't be as hard or emotional if there were others watching. They all piled into the van Maybeck had volunteered to drive them all in to the bus stop located on the Disney property.

"Everybody ready?" Maybeck asked the crowd that had quickly filled the vehicle. A series of nods assured him that he could take of.

Finn was sitting in the far back seat with Amanda as recommended by Jess so they could spend Amanda's last hour in town together where they wouldn't be disturbed…much. I mean, Maybeck was in the same van as them so no promises could be made. Surprisingly enough, Maybeck had been relatively good, only making one remark that they were sitting close to one another but that had been the extent of it.

They had in fact been sitting VERY close together, much to Finn's surprise since Amanda had initiated this in the first place. She had draped her legs over one of his and laid her head on his shoulder while Finn wrapped his arms around her small figured as to provide comfort. Every now and than, the occasional sniffle came from the girl Finn loved so much. He couldn't help but get a little choked up too, but as long as he didn't think about the letter he wrote to her, he figured he could make it through this. Thinking of the letter made him realize if Amanda was already starting to lose it, she would surely be a wreck on the bus. This got him thinking.

Finn turned his head slightly and placed a gentle kiss by Amanda's ear than whispered, "Amanda." She looked up as her response as Finn realized she had in fact been close to tears.

"Do you want to read my letter now? As apposed to on the bus?" he asked. She nodded again as Finn reached for the letter in his back pocket. Amanda repositioned herself so she could read it as Finn immediately started rubbing her back. He knew this letter was going to be as hard for her to read as it was for him to write.

Dear Amanda,

I've never done this before so bare with me. This is a first for me. Well, a first for a lot of things. And I guess that's what I'll write this letter about, being first.

You are my first girlfriend, first kiss, first hand I ever held, and the first person to ever give me butterflies just by first glance.

I've always tried to put you first in this relationship, as it should be, but over time we both learned through our ups and downs that balancing is the best way and what seems to work for us.

You were the first girl I ever imagined myself with, which was hard you have no idea. You were my first date to a school dance, remember prom? How could we forget that night? You were captured, my leg broke, fireworks at magic kingdom, dancing at midnight, it'd be hard to forget a night like that.

After all that happened at prom, the one thing that I remember, and cherish, more than any other memory in my mind is when you told me you loved me. Even though it started with my slip of the mouth while I was sleeping but, now you know what I dream about.

We have since said those three words to each other time and time again over that last year or so but I've never meant it more than I do at this point in time when you look at me with those beautiful eyes and the smile that makes my knees go weak. I love you.

Since the first day, I've always loved being able to say you were mine. It wasn't a matter of possession, but of pride. I never expected to have a girlfriend, or just a friend that happened to be a girl, that would change my life like you have. I will never know how to say thank you enough. It's the same as telling you I love you but it doesn't seem like it will ever be enough. There are no words to describe how much I love you.

Amanda, you are the love of my life. This means something more to me than simply saying 'I love you' because it means you are the only one for me, the only love I want in my life.

I love you. Always will.

Yours always,

Finn

If Finn was sure about anything at that point, it was that Amanda was crumbling to the ground emotionally and physically. He could feel her body sink into his as she wrapped her arms around his body and buried her face in his toned chest. Finn stopped rubbing her back to drape his arm around her and his vacant hand on her head. Finn greatly appreciated that nobody else in the van turned heads or questioned what was going on, but kept busy with a conversation that involved pineapples and coconuts.

"Shhhh…" Finn tried soothing Amanda's sobs back into sniffles, "Hey, it's ok. You have nothing to cry about. It's just my feelings for you," he whispered. Amanda's grip on him tightened as if she did so, she wouldn't leave. Finn secretly wished this was the case but in a way, this situation helped him get his real feelings down on paper for Amanda to read.

He bent his head down so that his lips were at the same level as her ear, "I love you, so much" he continued to whisper as he kissed her there once again. Amanda lifted her head up as Finn took advantage of the this to kiss her down her neck slowly only to make his way back up to just below her eye. He could feel her tears as he checked with Amanda before leaning in for what would be one of the last kisses they would share till her return.

Finn made it to his intended destination with the same softness he'd shown Amanda on their first "real" kiss that didn't involve either one of them in a desperate fight for their lives at the parks.

His initial intention was to keep it so, until Amanda placed her hand behind Finn's neck and pulled, forcing his lips to add more pressure to hers. Although Finn was not opposed to this, he leaned back ever so slightly so he could move his mouth against hers. They soon developed a rhythm that they'd never been able to accomplish. As they explored this newfound technique, Finn moved his hands to her waist in a tight grip as she placed her free hand behind his head and grabbed a fist full of hair. Finn had never felt the urge to moan before when kissing Amanda, but found this to be different as a moan escaped his lips. The way Amanda had enforced this kiss was doing things to his mind, especially the way she continued with as much enthusiasm as she started with.

"Amanda" he croaked, for his mouth was extremely dry by this point, "I don't want you to go" Finn whispered as he put his head back so Amanda wouldn't see the tears that were falling down his face.

"I don't want to either" Amanda finally said, "But I have too." Finn simply nodded in agreement as she wiped his tears with her hand before continuing talking. "This letter" she paused as she held it up, "came from your heart. The place only you can access. You will never know how much this letter means to me and how much I love you. You are, just like you said, the love of my life."

"We're here," Maybeck said from the front seat in a gentle voice compared to his often-booming vocals. He had a compassionate face as Charlene had her hand on his shoulder and her other over her mouth. Finn thought it looked like she had a single tear on her cheek. Philby sat quietly sat with his head down and his arm secure around Willa's shoulder, who leaning on Philby. Jess sat with her knees up to the rest of her body with her head also down. Nobody in the van was looking forward to this departure.

Because this chapter is long than I had anticipated, I'm going to make everybody's goodbyes into a separate chapter. That should be up sometime later this week, possibly even in the next day or two if I get lucky enough to sit down and write.

Please comment…this chapter almost made me cry as I wrote it. –Amanda

p.s. A few chapters back I had Amanda reading the letter on the plane but I realized that if she was a Disney intern, she would probably take the bus from Disney. Sooo if anyone noticed that, oops! But now it's explained! :)