riley walked up the stairs to the dolan household, making her way to ethan's room. sadly, her last time doing this for a while as this was moving day. "hey, e, we're downstairs for you." she peaked her head in the room, finding him sitting on the edge of his freshly made up bed.

"oh! right. i'm just finishing up some stuff in here."

riley shrugged, not sure what he was talking about. everything he needed was packed away. "looks empty."

"does it? my parents probably don't want it that way." he cautiously looked around his room as if something wasn't right.

"i mean, it's looks fine. no big deal," she'd never seen ethan so frustrated like this. times like this he'd be more than prepared. "you okay?" she rubbed his shoulder as she sat beside him.

"i've done a lot of things but not this. going away from people i love is hard but i know i'm capable." he spoke, sliding his hand over riley's and looking over at her.

"i know you are too. you got this."

he smiled, pulling her closer to him by her waist. "at least let me hold you one last time."

"well not the last time. maybe last time in a while?" riley suggested, feeling weird about if this was their last time doing stuff together.

"yeah, you're right."

the two held each other for quite a while. this moment being harder than they imagined. yes they were prepared for this day to come but being with someone 24/7 and then only seeing them maybe a few times a month is a big difference. it'll definitely take some getting used to.

after a moment, ethan finally spoke again. "i always thought i could never love you. the fear of loosing you would be too strong. but i got over that a long time ago because i do love you. i will no longer allow myself to pick and choose what others want but what i want. i want you, an education, a career..

i actually don't know what i'm talking about but i just want you to know that i always knew this day would come. for that reason, i'm not unprepared. but you make it so hard to leave."

riley truly felt for ethan. he was facing adulthood and she couldn't help to feel that she was somewhat in the way. although she never told him this. she didn't want him to feel any differently about leaving her than he already did.

all those time he made things better for her, she had to make this better for him. "nonsense. i'm only a couple hours away. i'm looking forward to the excitement of seeing you again. or even mailing you random stuff. visiting is always gonna be there. so go chase a bag, don't worry about me."

"you did not just say chase a bag?" ethan laughed, furrowing his eyebrows at her.

"mhm, i did and i mean it." she nodded, proudly before standing up with her hands on her hips. "now let's go, you have to get on the road."

"okay okay," he chuckled, standing up as well. "oh, one more thing." he mumbled before pulling her into a long kiss.

sooner or later, the two had made their way downstairs. it almost felt like a now or never type thing. like if ethan doesn't leave now, he probably never would.

ethan said his long goodbyes to his family, saving riley for last. "i'm going to visit you every fucking chance i get." he told her, pulling her into a hug.

"no you need to focus on school." she shook her head, giving him a slight pout. he'd miss her personality.

"we all know my main focus has always been on you." he said, making her laugh. he'd miss her laugh.

"bye ethan, i love you." riley sighed, hugging him tighter. he'd miss her hugs.

ethan gave her one last peck on the lips. "and i love you, riley." he'd miss her lips.

hesitantly, he got in his jeep. riley stood at the window not stopping the few tears that were beginning to fall. he found it hard to not bring her with him so he made one last promise. "i'll be counting down the days until i see you again, my sweet little baby." and with that said, ethan drove off to what his future may have in store.

++
honestly took me good min to actually finish this up bc i really enjoyed writing this book which is probably why i wanted it to go on forever.

thanks so much for all the support on this story. especially if you've made it this far! unfortunately, it's the end for ethan and riley. idk really know about a sequel, i've only ever done it once before.

but i do have other couple stories so be sure to check those out! tbh every story i make is different and they're based things like the movie "the mid90's", the group illegal civ, maybe some boybands, etc

- jay