"Why did today have to come?" I solemnly ask Dill as I watched him pack up last of his things. It was the fourth Monday in August and for me, my school year would begin that Wednesday. Dill's school year would start tomorrow and that meant he had to catch the early train back to Meridian. I got up at 5:30 just to watch him pack up and to tell him goodbye. Miss Rachel was just as much of a prude as Calpurnia and did not want me going with them to the station. Hell, I'm surprised she even let me come see him before he was off to the station. I guess if we have to kiss each other goodbye we'd be better off doing it in private rather than public.
"I think you ask that every year," Dill commented.
"You're right. I can't wait for the day when I don't have to dread August."
"Listen," he said, coming over to me and picking me up off his bed by the shoulders. "We only have a few more years. A few more years and than we can do what we want when we want."
"It's too long for me," I cry out. I can't help but begin to sob. Why does everything good have to end? Dill wrapped his arms around me and began to kiss my neck. It tickled me and I began to giggle. He kept doing it until I pushed him away from me.
"I knew that would get you feeling good," he said.
"You are a devil, Dill Harris," I said in response.
"What are you going to do about it?" He was teasing me now.
"Absolutely nothing," I say, taking him back into my arms. I began to kiss his neck this time and he made a noise I never heard before.
"Are you all right?"
"Yeah, that just felt really good."
"Want me to do it again?"
"Yeah."
I was willing to do anything that would make Dill happy. If I had to kiss the sweet spot on his neck for an hour, I would do it. After the second neck kiss, I moved up to his ear, to his temple and to his cheek until my mouth found his lips. He held me tight as he kissed my lips back. Oh, how I wished it could go on longer but I knew we had to stop.
"Let's not get carried away," I say, holding myself back now.
"Yeah," Dill had to agree. "If Aunt Rachel knew what we were doing she would...she would..."
"Strip your room and disinfect it until the cows came home?"
"Yeah," he said. We shared a laugh over that.
"It's quarter of eight, Dill," I say, staring at the clock. "Your train leaves at nine."
"Don't remind me," he sighed as he went to pick his bags up off the bed.
"Hey," I say, punching his arm. "Where's the big, strong man who promised me only a few more years?"
"He got his neck kissed," he said with a smile. I was beginning to think I should be ashamed of myself. I walked back over to him as he turned around to face me. I took his face in my hands and kissed his lips one last time before we shared another glance. Tears fell onto my cheeks but Dill let them fall this time. I think he would have cried with me if Miss Rachel didn't walk through his always opened door.
"It's about time, Dill," she said like she was in a hurry.
"All right," Dill said, never taking his eyes off me.
"You can go home now, Jean Louise," she told me in a not very nice manner. I didn't care.
"All right," I said, never taking my eyes off of Dill. Even as he began to follow his aunt out the door.
"I love you," Dill said as he finally stepped foot outside his room.
"C'mon, Dill," Miss Rachel was mad now. "We don't have time for that!"
"I love you, too," I tell him, ignoring Miss Rachel. Dill turned himself back around and walked down Miss Rachel's stairs for the last time that summer. I stood at his doorway long after I hears Miss Rachel drive off with him. I couldn't leave and nobody seemed to care how frozen I was.