They each carried a bag or box up the stairs and put it in Becky's pod accommodation.

"Well that's the last of it," Michael said as he looked around.

The room was long and narrow. Three metres by six with a sliding glass door that opened onto a small balcony. The wall on the left as you stepped into the room was lined with a very small kitchenette, wall to ceiling pantry with hanging space, then a long study bench with shelving above, until it reached the slider. On the right wall was a small ensuite bathroom with toilet, shower, and a very tiny basin with mirrored cupboard above to store toothpaste, shampoo, soap and not much else. The external ensuite wall acted as a bedhead for the king single bed which ran the rest of the wall. The base of the bed contained drawers for storage and there was shelving on the walls above the bed.

"Should we help you unpack?" Sheila smiled and opened one of the boxes.

"No." Becky swallowed and shook her head. "It'll give me something to do when you're gone."

"Alright." Sheila gripped Becky's hand. "I guess we should get going. We have a long drive ahead of us." She gasped, wiped away a tear and gave Becky a hug. "You know we're just a phone call away. Ring us whenever you want. No matter what time it is. Okay?"

"Okay." Becky nodded and couldn't control the flood streaming down her face.

Michael stepped in and grabbed her. "We're so proud of you, Becky. We love you." He kissed the top of her head and turned to Linc. "Come on now. Say good-bye so we can give your sister some private time with Rob."

Linc bit his lip to stop it from quivering. Becky sat on the bed and pulled him toward her. "You be good for Mum and Dad now. Don't forget to put your clothes in the basket and to scrub your teeth because no girl will want to kiss you with a stinky breath."

He threw his arms around her and nuzzled into her neck. "I ain't into kissing and slobbering like you and Rob."

"Yeah, maybe not right now but you're thirteen and I know boys. They're like guinea pigs wanting to hump everything at your age." She laughed and gave him a punch on the upper arm. "I bet by the end of the year you're gonna have so many girls wanting to pash you that you'll be sucking mints all day."

"No way, Becky." Linc wiped his face on his sleeve and gave her a playful shove. "I'm concentrating on my running and hockey this year. Girls are just pests." He kissed her cheek and gave her another hug. "When you come home at Easter I'll be able to run ten kilometres in forty minutes. That's my goal. I want to win the cross country this year now that my leg is all good."

"You be careful. Don't overdo it because you do still have a limp."

"Yeah... but I'm not gonna let it get in me way." Linc grinned. "We're super kids remember. Nothing can stop us now, Becky."

She clung to him. "Yeah... we're super kids. Heroes of the world." Becky looked him in the eyes. "Thank you for being my brother, Linc. I love you so much." She beamed at him. "I'm going to train while I'm here and run that ten kilometres with you when I get home."

He stepped back and held up his thumb. "You're on, Becky but, I'm gonna whip that fat arse of yours."

"Why... you little..." Becky lunged but Linc took off and darted out the door before she could grab him.

Michael and Sheila laughed, lifted their hands in a wave and followed him. "See you at the car, Rob."

As the door closed behind them Rob stepped forward. "Well." He looked around. "I hope my room is going to be bigger than this."

"It will be." Becky jabbed him. "Because you'll be sharing it with twenty others. Isn't that how it is in all the movies? Double bunks in a big dorm. Oo..." She shook and head and laughed. "All that testosterone and smelly sweat. Ugh. Give me my little box of a room any day."

Rob sat on the bed and bounced up and down. He grinned. "No squeaks. That's good. When I come over on long weekends no one will hear us bonking."

"Rob!" She gave him a shove but he caught her wrist and pulled her to straddle his lap.

"Ah... Becky." Rob ran his fingers down her face and shook his head. "This is so fucking hard."

"I know," she whispered and put her lips on his. When they pulled apart Becky caressed his cheek. "I think you should leave now. Dragging it out is going to make it harder." She gasped back a sob. "And everyone's waiting for you." Becky threw her arms around him and shuddered.

They clung to each other until Rob stood with her in his arms. "We're going to get through this, Becky. One day at a time."

"Yes." She smiled as he put her on her feet. "One day at a time."

They stepped out into the hall as Demi opened her door. She smiled, and then frowned when she realised Becky had been crying. "Oh." Demi looked up at Rob. "You must be the scorching boyfriend."

Becky couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Rob. This is Demi. We met yesterday at the auditorium."

"Hi." Rob held out his hand.

"Well, she didn't lie," Demi said as she took his hand.

Rob cocked his head and frowned in question. Becky giggled again as Demi laughed.

"Becky told me she had a scorching boyfriend and she's right. You are hot." Demi took in a breath, closed her eyes as if she smelled a flower and made a shiver as she looked back at them with a grin on her face.

"No wonder you're crying, Becky." Demi stepped forward and put her arm around Becky's shoulder. She looked up at Rob. "Don't you worry; I'll take care of her." She dabbed Becky's wet cheeks and smirked. "Look at you all swollen up like a puffer fish." She winked and added, "Lucky you're pretty."

Demi pecked Becky on the cheek, and then said, "You go say goodbye to him. When you come back we'll have a coffee. I want to know all about him." Demi pointed at Rob and waggled her finger. "Good and bad." She took another breath, flapped her hands in front of her face, wiggled her hips and headed down the hall as she called, "Imma just gonna go get me some oxygen. So much testosterone leaves a girl breathless."

Rob roared with laughter and was glad to see Becky giggling. "I think you're gonna have a lot of fun with her." He put his arm over her shoulder as they walked down the hall to the stairs and out to the car.

This is it. :(

Goodbye, Rob. ♥♥♥ 

Goodbye, Becky. ♥♥♥

I think they deserve a vote. ;)

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