Last chapter, you guys!

Chapter Fifteen

May looked around at her bedroom.

Her bags were all packed and she'd made sure to leave everything as clean as it had been when she'd arrived. Maybe the bed wasn't made as perfectly as it had been before but she'd done her best.

May took the folded piece of paper out of her pocket and stared at it for a couple of seconds.

I'm so sorry, Merlin, she thought as her eyes began to water. But I love Jonas too much to let him go.

May gently set the piece of paper on her bed, making sure Merlin was clearly seen on top.

May picked up her two bags and walked out of the room, shutting the door as quietly as she could. She walked down the hallway and towards the front door silently.

"Good morning, May."

May jumped in surprise. She peered her head into the kitchen.

Mr. Scoggins sat at the table, reading a newspaper and drinking coffee.

He raised his eyebrows at her. "You're up early," he commented.

"Um, yes, sir, I am," May answered.

Mr. Scoggins eyes dropped down to her two bags in her hands.

May's heart began to pound quickly and she looked down.

What am I suppose to tell him? she wondered. I didn't think anyone would be up this early!

May had known Mr. Scoggins woke up early to go to work every day but she hadn't know how early he woke up.

"Are you leaving already?" Mr. Scoggins asked.

May didn't look at him as she nodded.

"Well, that's a shame," Mr. Scoggins answered. "I thought you were going to stay longer."

"Me too," May admitted.

"Then why don't you stay?" Mr. Scoggins asked.

May looked at him. "I've already made my choice, Mr. Scoggins," she answered. "I can't stay."

Mr. Scoggins set his coffee cup down. "People change their minds, May," he said.

"I know," May responded.

"I won't ever get bored of you. And that's a promise."

"And that's why I have to leave, Mr. Scoggins."

"Did you change your mind then?" Mr. Scoggins asked.

May shrugged. "My mind was never set in the first place," she admitted.

"Then why is your mind suddenly set?" Mr. Scoggins asked and set his newspaper down.

"Someone else changed their mind, Mr. Scoggins," May told him.

"How do you know that person won't change their mind again?" Mr. Scoggins asked and raised his eyebrows. "Have you thought of that?"

"He said leaving you was the worst mistake he ever made."

"Because I trust that he won't," May said quietly.

"I see," Mr. Scoggins answered.

May looked at her feet and didn't answer.

"Well, May, I just want you to know that it was nice to have you here for as long as you did," Mr. Scoggins told her.

"Thank you, sir," May answered and looked up at him.

"And you're welcome back here any time you like," he told her.

"Thank you, but I don't think I'll be coming back," May admitted and looked away.

They were quiet for a couple of moments and May was about to open her mouth to say good bye.

"Maybe in another life," Mr. Scoggins interrupted her.

May smiled sadly at him. "Maybe," she agreed.

"Good bye, May," Mr. Scoggins said.

"Good bye, sir," May answered. "And thank you for everything."

And she turned and walked down the hall. May reached the front door. She took a deep breath.

Good bye, Merlin.

May turned the door knob and left.

She headed towards the path and turned to look back one last time.

Maybe in another life.

May smiled sadly at the thought.

Maybe in another life where there's no Jonas, you and I will be together, Merlin, she thought.

May turned back to the path and walked on.

Maybe.

And just like that, May left.

And as she walked away, she never looked back at the house again or thought of what Mr. Scoggins had told her. But for years, she wondered what would have happened if she had.

Dear Merlin,

By the time you're reading this, I'll be long gone. I'm sorry I couldn't stay and make this my home with you. I just couldn't. We're two young and stupid complete strangers talking about forever. I know you think that we have something. But we don't. I already have something with someone. You may have made me feel happier than I think I've ever felt before in my life but he's the only person I can ever really love. The only one I can ever make a home with and have that perfect family with. The only one I'd ever go all the way to California for. I'm so sorry, Merlin. But just like I did from the second we thought we could be something more, you should have known that we were just joking ourselves. There's no such thing as love at first sight. And that's what we were trying to convince ourselves that this was. So I have to go, Merlin. Don't come after me. Just let me go. Live without me. I was just a bad choice you made.

-May

Merlin stared at the letter, his breathing beginning to become uneven and his eyesight blurring from tears.

"Merlin, what is it?" Mrs. Scoggins asked and put her hands on her son's shoulders. "What did she say?"

Merlin shrugged his mother's hands off and threw the letter down. "She's gone," he answered. "She said she's going back to someone else."

"Oh, Merlin-" Mrs. Scoggins reached for him.

Merlin pushed away from her.

"Merlin!" Mrs. Scoggins exclaimed.

"I loved her!" Merlin cried out. "I knew it all along but I never told her!"

"Merlin-"

Merlin turned and strode out of the room.

"Merlin!" Mrs. Scoggins chased after him.

"Leave me alone!" Merlin yelled at her.

Mrs. Scoggins stopped in surprise.

Merlin shook his head and turned away from her. "I loved her," he said again.

"Sweetheart..." Mrs. Scoggins murmured.

Merlin turned and left the house, slamming the door after himself.

He started to run. He didn't know where he was going but he need to go somewhere. He needed to get out of there.

He needed to get out of that boring little town that May had loved so much.

Merlin suddenly stopped.

I was just a bad choice you made.

Merlin shook his head and clenched his fists, as a tear slid down his cheek.

But you won't be the worst choice I ever make, May Clutterbucket. And that's a promise.

Well, there's the end. This story was a lot of fun to write. I may write a sequel, but who knows. But I promise I'll be back with a Lucaya story soon enough. :)