I finished watching What's Eating Gilbert Grape last night. It's a good movie, I recommend it. Unless, of course, you hate either Leonardo DiCaprio or Johnny Depp…but their performance was phenomenal.

Last chapter, everyone!

April fifteenth.

It came so unexpectedly.

Like a random avalanche of bricks or something like that.

I wish I had the power to stop time, to maybe change history. I could change it so Mother and Daddy would love each other again, and that we would all stay together. But I didn't. I was powerless.

All the suitcases and the cardboard boxes were now stuffed in the already cramped van of one of Mother's friends. The house was a lot emptier and bitter, as if all signs of life were already wiped away. It felt lonely and dreary, a gust of cold chills always affecting all of us in our hearts.

Mother and Daddy didn't care. They were absolutely thrilled that they were going to be separated. I balled my hands into fists, anger surging in me. They didn't think about us, did they? They didn't care that Ryan and I were going to be torn apart. I hated them for that. I hated them for everything they did that hurt us. But all this hating wouldn't do any good for me but build a towering wall of grudge between me and my parents, though they pretty much deserved it.

I heard the housekeeper quickly shoving boxes into the overcrowded van and Ryan talking on his cell phone to Gabriella. The day felt so hectic and bustling, but I felt absolutely cold and lifeless. I gazed at the mosaic clock on the crème walls. 9:55 AM. Ryan was leaving in five minutes. Five minutes, and he'll be gone forever.

"Hi Shar," said a soft voice. I blearily turned around to be face-to-face with Ryan, smiling weakly.

"Hey, Ryan," I mumbled glumly. I sighed, glancing outside the window where Mother was scolding the housekeeper to pick up the pace. "I wonder how it'll be in Ohio."

"Nowhere near as wonderful as Albuquerque," Ryan said earnestly. I snickered, combing my golden hair with my fingers.

"Nowhere in the U.S.A. will be as great as Albuquerque," I added.

"Nowhere in North America."

"Nowhere in the Northern Hemisphere!"

"Nowhere in the world!" Ryan and I burst out laughing, hugging each other so tight we would've melted together.

"What if Mother remarries, or Daddy?" I whispered. "Then I'll some other sibling dumped onto me."

"If so, give them a chance," said Ryan. "They could be pretty awesome. But whoever I get as a sister, she'll never be as wonderful as you are." I somewhat doubted that I was all that wonderful, considering I almost killed my only brother.

"And if I got a brother…he'll never, ever be as amazing as you," I said. "Not every brother would be willing to get beat up for their sister." Ryan tightened his grip on me, and when we let go, I could see his eyes were quite wet. I didn't know that I was on the verge of tears too.

"Ryan, it's time to go!" Both our heads whipped at the clock. I gaped, 10:00 AM. That quickly? Five minutes felt less than a nanosecond. I immediately grasped Ryan's hand tightly. Ryan took a deep breath as we both slowly strode outside.

The air felt freezing cold. The sky was heavily blanketed with thick, swirling gray clouds that threatened a storm at any minute. I shivered as an icy draft surrounded us. I gripped Ryan's hand so hard my fingers hurt. The van seemed miles away from the porch, and I yearned to whirl around and drag Ryan back into the house. My eyes darted to Ryan, who was shivering slightly. Whether or not it was because of the cold, I didn't know.

"Come on, Ryan!" yelled Mother, who was in the passenger's seat. One of Mother's friends was driving Ryan and her to the airport. We both halted and Ryan slowly loosened his grip on my hand. I reluctantly let go. Ryan slid open the van door and clambered into the backseat. As the door slammed shut, Ryan immediately scrolled the window down. I rushed over, grabbing his hand again.

"You promise me that you'll call right when you get off the plane?" I asked. The engine revved and the car was slowly moving, so I had to pace quickly to catch up.

"I promise," Ryan murmured. "I'll talk to you every day, for as long as possible."

For the first time in my life, I saw Ryan crying. Silvery tears were streaming down his pale face. I bit my lip, my heart mangled with pain.

"And you promise that you'll visit me or vice versa?" I asked. Ryan opened his mouth, but his throat was caught up with tears and he couldn't speak. He nodded.

"You'll be okay, right?" I asked. "You aren't going to be bullied at school or something like that, right? You'll be okay?"

"I will be, Shar, I will," Ryan assured me. I sniffed as my vision blurred and salty tears soaked my cheeks. I clutched his hand tighter, refusing to ever let go. I made a terrible mistake my whole life, and I didn't want to err again.

"Promise me you'll be strong?" whispered Ryan.

"I promise," I choked out. The van was quickening, so I had to pick up my pace. Before long, I was sprinting, still clenching Ryan's hand, refusing to ever let go.

"Sharpay, please let go!" ordered Mother. I held my breath, my eyes darting towards Ryan for help. His baby blue eyes had so much pain it killed me.

"I love you, Shar," he whispered. Slowly, his fingers slipped out of mine and the car was immediately swallowed into the distance and disappeared around the corner, taking my heart with it.

I don't know how long I stayed there, rooted to the spot. Outside grew chillier and the cruel wind whipped my hair around. I felt my limbs grow numb with loss. The cascade of tears steadily strengthened. I could still feel Ryan's warm hand in mine, my fingers twitching as if I could still feel his smooth skin. All there was left was broken hearts and iciness. I remained standing on the sidewalk, my mouth whispering a dwindling thread of words that would forever echo in the air.

"I love you too, Ryan."

Quite a short chapter, but I think that it shouldn't be too long. It's only two pages, not counting this author's note. Anyways, I want to thank all of my readers for reading and reviewing, I really appreciate it!