23rd December 1959

I dusted snowflakes from my coat as I reached my front door. My parents followed behind me, my dad brandishing the key that would allow us to finally escape the bitter cold. As we all hurried inside, the cold made a few more stinging bites before finally leaving us alone. I peeled off my coat and many other layers, removing my hat and gloves and scarf and shaking myself back to life, but even with all that I had still felt completely numb walking around the Christmas market with my parents. I kicked off my winter boots and slid my feet into a pair of comfy slippers.

"I'll be making a call in just a moment" I announced to my parents as I made my way over to the house phone.

"It's all you've talked about today" Dad pointed out, taking a seat in the living room, "How could we possibly forget?" He flashed a smile as he picked up the newspaper laid out on the coffee table, ready to continue perusing from where he left off.

The house phone was a white dial phone not too unlike the one that I'd had back at Welton. It was located on a single table stood by the base of the stairs. There was also a chair purposefully placed by me, as well as a small phone book and pencil.

I settled myself down on the chair and began flipping through the phone book until I reached the letter P. It seemed pointless to being looking up his number – I already knew it off by heart – but I just loved seeing his name scrawled in his almost indecipherable handwriting at the top of the page. Neil was the one who insisted on giving me the phone book when we met for the first time after he left with his father back at Welton. He was adamant that despite everything happening, we were never going to lose contact. I also possessed the number of one Charles Dalton, and also that of a Gerard Pitts and a Knox Overstreet. Every member of the old society was in the book. Even Richard Cameron, though it wasn't a commonly used line.

When I reached Neil's name, I began twisting the dial round to enter all the correct numbers before bringing the handset to my ear. I waited for him to pick up.

"Hello, this is the Perry household, who's speaking?" A voice asked. It was undeniably him.

"Why do you always sound so formal on the phone?" I teased, an uncontrollable smile taking over my face.

He chuckled, "Well Hello to you too. How are you?"

"I'm pretty well. I left for the Christmas holidays just yesterday, spent some time afterwards with Chris seeing as I won't be able to see her until January, been shopping with my parents at the Christmas market this afternoon and now we're currently getting for the party later on. Anything interesting on your end?"

"Well Welton has been as boring as ever, especially without you, but now I'm home for the holidays. I am currently working out what to wear for later tonight. I must ask, do you prefer me in red or green?"

"Oh how festive! Hmm, I'd say you'd look good in most things, but if I had to pick…ooh…I'd have to say green."

"Green it is then"

We spoke for a good hour or so before Mom started chasing me up about the size of the phone bill and the fact that I was supposed to be helping with set up.

"You'll see him in just a couple of hours" She insisted, "And then you can have all the time in the world"

"Fine" I sighed, "Neil, it's been so nice hearing from you. I'll see you later"

"See you later. I love you."

I began smiling coyly at my shoes, "I love you too."

Guests began arriving just a few hours later. In that time I had helped in arranging food and small snacks around the living room as well as hanging the various Christmas decorations around the house. It sometimes felt odd to make such a tribute to a holiday that was really a Christian one, but if anything it was a way to be social and to remember to be appreciative. Kind of like Thanksgiving.

I was upstairs in my room finishing off the last of my makeup when the first few guests arrived. When I was finished I twirled around in front of my mirror, taking the time to check how I looked in my ivory circle dress. The fabric was dotted in small, delicate red flowers and I wore a think red band around the waist.

As I twirled, I spotted the angel and dove statuette on my desk. I stopped my little show and walked over, picking it up and turning it in my hand. I saw it every single time I woke up, but today it felt powerful and interesting. It was a reminder of how much had changed and how far I had come. I was finally in an understanding relationship with my parents, my current friendship group was the best and truest I had ever had and even though I hated myself for ever giving into an opportunity like Welton - given the pain that I caused - I knew that where I was now would have otherwise been impossible.

"Elizabeth!" Mom called.

I took a moment to breathe, bringing myself back into the room, before placing the statuette back on the desk and heading downstairs. As I reached the bottom of the stairs I saw Charlie waiting with his parents, his hands dug deep in his pockets and a signature smirk on his face. It grew even wider when he saw me and I mirrored his look.

"It's been a while" He proclaimed, pulling me in for a hug, "Welton isn't the same without you"

"You're telling me. I refuse to believe it's only been a couple weeks, but I guess that must feel like a lifetime when I had to see an ugly face like yours on a daily basis" I jested

He held a hand to his chest in mock offence, "Well I might have to take all that I said back"

"O, please" I laughed. I excused myself from our conversation for one moment to introduce myself properly to Mr and Mrs Dalton and to dissipate their growing concerns towards my peculiar words with their son. I shook both their hands firmly and with a welcoming look as my parents always taught me. They both flashed a polite expression, "You're more than welcome to continue into the living room. There's already some food available and if you want any drinks just ask my Mom over there. I hope you enjoy yourselves" Mr Dalton gave me a nod and the pair went to join my Dad who was busy talking to another couple completely unknown to me.

"Well you really do know how to adapt" Charlie noted.

"I guess so." I replied, "Now if we want to hang out upstairs we need to go now before my Mom can completely object"

"Then let's go"

We made a hasty exit up the stairs and to my bedroom. It seemed like the only suitable retreat for a group of teenagers as opposed to the stuffy environment slowly brewing downstairs. Charlie took some time to admire my room, noting anything unexpected or different from my old Welton one. I rested on my bed.

"So how is the great Nuwanda these days?" I asked.

"Well I have decided to drop Nuwanda" He began.

I tilted my head to one side, "Really? Is this Charlie speaking or your parents?"

"Charlie." He affirmed, "Nuwanda just didn't have the right vibe to it for a first name. It's more like that exotic middle name you get to surprise people with as an interesting fact"

I nodded, "So Charles Nuwanda Dalton then?"

"Well, Charles Harvey Nuwanda Dalton" He corrected

"I see. Well Mr Charles Harvey Nuwanda Dalton, would you like your present?" I reached over to my desk drawer before he even had a chance to respond and pulled out a small package wrapped in brown paper and string, "Nuwanda/Charlie" scrawled across the top in black ink. I handed it to him.

"Well what do we have here?" He said as he began to squish the gift in hopes of discovering it's nature, "You don't mind me opening it now do you?"

"Not at all"

Charlie began to carefully deconstruct my wrapping until the paper came away to reveal a knitted scarf. He began inspecting it, taking note of the yellow and brown colour scheme.

"Did you make this?" He asked

I nodded, "Mom decided she wanted to help me with my knitting skills after coming back from Welton. It's certainly a good way of making a gift when there's not a lot of money to spend."

Charlie slung the scarf around his neck and fastened it, "How do I look?"

My response was interrupted by a knock at the door.

"Who is it?" I inquired.

The handle turned and two heads popped round the door. I broke into a wide grin. It was Pitts and Meeks, Pitts naturally the higher of the two heads. When they saw my expression they opened the door wider so they could make their way in, revealing Knox as well. I embraced the pair in a hug and then later Knox. They shared a similar greeting with Charlie.

"Your Mom sent us up" Meeks explained to Charlie and I, "She kind of concluded that you to would be here. She didn't seem happy about it, but she certainly wasn't mad either."

"She's become a more understanding person lately" I sighed contentedly.

I later gave the others their gifts. Knox received gloves, Meeks a hat and Pitts a pair of socks; they were all knitted by me, of course.

We spent some time discussing all sorts of Welton news, such as the sad announcement of Keating's departure from the school. It sucked. It truly did. But it was also inevitable. Even after coming to accept his son, Mr Perry couldn't get over the illusion that Keating was to blame. It was difficult to understand his son's pain and I think he just needed someone to be the villain, someone that wasn't himself. And so, after filing a complaint, Mr Perry had Keating kicked from the school. It was probably a relief for Mr Nolan. He'd undoubtedly been looking for every possible way to get the Captain out of Welton; he just didn't have the appropriate ammunition until that point. It hurt knowing that the others all had a chance to say goodbye. I hadn't been so lucky.

Meeks and Pitts were busy telling me about some girls they'd met in the village when I was called downstairs by my Mom. I followed her call, leaving the others behind, and as I emerged from upstairs I realised that he was here. Him and Todd. Neil was standing with his best friend by the front door, their parents having already joined the festivities elsewhere. As with the others, I greeted the both of them with hugs before leading them back up to my room.

Being with the group that night was more than I possibly could have asked for and I never truly told them about the emotions that overcame me as I led Neil and Todd into my room and watched as they sat down and began smiling and laughing with the others. I presented parcels to both Todd and Neil, Todd receiving a scarf like Charlie and Neil a sweater.

As we continued to exchange gossip, Neil asked if he could see me outside for one moment, earning a round of wolf whistles and laughter. I nodded my head, rolling my eyes at my friends and followed him into the hallway. The others began discussing Knox's recent outing with Chris.

"What did you want to talk about?" I asked after ensuring I'd shut my bedroom door properly. As the door clicked shut, I noticed how the conversation inside the room came to a halt and there was a sudden scuffle of footsteps and harsh whispers just on the other side of the door. Neil and I shared a knowing look.

"I wanted to give you your gift" He revealed, producing a package from a satchel he was carrying with him. It was thick and heavy, quite unlike the sweater I'd given him. I pulled apart the wrappings until I finally recognized the dark green binding and the golden letters stating "Five Centuries of Verse" surrounded by a golden wreath.

I looked up at him confusedly, "Neil…"

"I want you to have it" He insisted, "Keating would too."

"Keating…" I murmured. The book felt like a goodbye in itself; a bitter, yet comforting memory of times past. Even if I couldn't speak to or see Keating again, this book provided me with closure. "Do you like it?"

It took a moment for my head to start nodding in response. It seemed strange to me that something so simple could catch me off guard like that.

"I love it" I finally insisted. I looked up at him a smile, unexpected tears forming, "Thank you" I got up on my tip toes, held his neck with my spare hand and pressed a kiss on his lips. I suddenly laughed, tears glistening on my skin and Neil raised an eyebrow, "I'm going to have make you fifty poorly knitted sweaters now and perhaps some matching gloves and a hat too"

"One sweater is perfectly fine" He replied with a comforting smile, "I also recommend opening it"

I furrowed my eyebrows and turned over the cover to reveal a phone number. My expression was as equally perplexed as it was before I even opened the book.

"It's Keating's number if ever you want to talk to him." Neil informed me.

"What?" I felt numb. The moment between learning and understanding – incomprehension. Then the information set in and I was flooded with ecstasy, tears still happily dribbling down my face. I flung my arms around Neil's neck and buried my head in his neck, "Make that seventy sweaters, ten scarves, five hats and four pairs of gloves"

Neil let out a laugh as he pulled back. He wiped away the tears from my eyes and cupped my face in his hands.

"Do you want to call him now?" He asked

"Later" I determined, "For now I want to spend the evening with my best friends – the people I love. I think I'll try to call Keating tomorrow afternoon."

I would like to thank every single person who has taken the time to read this story, to those that favourited and followed and reviewed. It feels strange to think that this story started over two years ago and here I am over 50000 words and 20 chapters later at the very end of the journey. This story has changed in so many ways to what I originally expected and there have been some good chapters and some not so great chapters but despite all that I can't deny how proud I am of this because this is technically the first story I have ever finished, period. I hope this ending didn't disappoint anyone. Now I bid you all farewell and thank you once again. Who knows perhaps I might upload another Dead Poets story in the future :)