Today is the day I say goodbye. Grabbing my coat; my University stuff such as textbooks; student ID; and my suitcase – y'know, that sorta stuff – I remember that I'm meeting Emma in a few minutes. That's our final goodbye for a year.

Heading out the door, I begin to walk to the train station ... so I don't need my car today; I'm taking the train to Oxford, obviously. Doesn't it sound great? A long, three hour, always-have-nothing-to-do journey to Oxford ... and I'm gonna know nobody, too. Why did I sign up for this?

When I arrive at the train station, I find that Emma is already there. Wow; early for once. That really makes a change.

She immediately sees me and runs to me, hugging me straight away, so I hug her back. God, I'm gonna miss her.

"I'm gonna miss you so much," I frown.

Emma frowns too. "I'm gonna miss you, too. I'll have no one to hang round with ... " she says.

"At least you aren't going to a new place with new people ... " I say sadly.

Emma sighs, knowing that I'm right. Deep down she knows she's got it easy compared to me. "I know, I know ... "

In self-pity, I look down at the floor. Then, I hear it.

"Good luck, pal!"

"Smash her!"

"The Jax won't be the same without you, Michael!"

I feel a shiver; I can almost feel him coming towards me. I can feel those deep brown eyes piercing through me, though my back is turned.

"Your train'll be here soon," Emma tells me.

"Yeah ... not long," I say through gritted teeth.

I turn around to see Daniel, Miles and Kieran all patting Michael's back in good luck and goodbye. It's also probably happiness at the notion that Michael's gonna hurt me once we get to Oxford.

Michael then turns around. He's wearing the old tracksuit business again. I think I preferred the leather and the buckles. But, I feel if I judge, I will die, so I'm just gonna keep my mouth shut.

Emma pats my back as the train arrives at the platform.

"This is it," I say sadly.

Emma frowns. "I'll miss you so much." She has tears in her eyes, but she's trying to hide it.

It takes a lot for Emma to cry, but this seems to have broken her. So much so, tears start to form in my eyes too. We embrace one another in a hug – the tightest, most prolonged hug we ever had to date. Once we finally let go of each other, we can't help but cry uncontrollably. When my crying has reduced a little, I pick up my suitcase from the floor and carry it to the door of the train.

"Goodbye," I say.

Emma is wiping the tears from her eyes. "Goodbye, Cozzy," she says, whilst fresh tears fall down her cheeks.

I wipe the new tears from my eyes as I enter the train and look around for a seat. There's one by the window, as part of a four seater table. Slowly, I make my way over to it and sit down. I look out the window to find Emma waving at me, tears still in her eyes. It kills me to leave her this way. I don't wanna leave her this way. But I have to.

Then, I turn my head back around, looking inside the carriage of the train. Michael walks slowly down the aisle, carrying his faux leather suitcase in his leather-covered hand. It's difficult to try not to gain eye contact. I don't wanna gain eye contact. But yet I gain eye contact. And when I look, he's already got his eyes on me.

Those eyes ... those eyes ... those ey—

"Excuse me?" a girl about my age asks.

Shaking my head to rid my little trance, I look up at the girl. "What?" I ask with a smile.

"Can I sit here with you? There aren't any other seats on the train," she says again politely.

A polite smile upon my face, I nod. "Sure. Be my guest. I'm Becky; Becky Costello. And you are?" I question.

She sits down and places her bag under the table. "I'm Rachel. Rachel Scarlettson," she replies.

Again, I nod. "And, where are you going?" I ask.

"Oxford. I got selected from my class ... " she replies, with a frown.

"You didn't wanna come either? Signed up for no apparent reason?" I ask.

She nods, a small chuckle passing her lips. "Yeah ... " she admits. "So I guess you made the same mistake?"

"Yeah. And, guess what? I came with one of my biggest enemies!" I growl.

Rachel widens her eyes. "Who?" A curious smile is growing on her face.

"Michael Jackson from The Jax," I reply.

"Woah, girl. How'd you make enemies with him!" she asks, her expression indicating that she's genuinely interested.

I roll my eyes. "Cos I saved an eighth grader from getting killed by him, that's why."

She chuckles. "Oh, I get it. At least he got away, the eighth grader."

"Yeah, I guess," I chuckle.

The train then judders a little. Due to the sudden movement, I look out the window to find Emma. She's still there, waiting for the train to leave. As it finally begins to leave the station, I wave at her and she waves back. Tears start to form in my eyes. When Emma is out of sight, I sit back in my seat.

"Leaving a friend?" Rachel asks.

Still a little upset, I nod. "Yeah. Emma Woodthorpe," I reply.

She nods in understanding. "I'm leaving my boyfriend, and a few friends," she says.

"Oh. Who you going out with?" I ask with a smile.

"Well ... I'm going out with Mark, Emma's ex-boyfriend," she says.

Well, now I feel bad.

I've become friends the new girlfriend of my best friend's ex. This'll be interesting.

~~

-Edited July 24, 2016-