I sat up in the hospital bed adjusting my leg. I had been shot three weeks ago and today I was going to be able to go home. Although home wasn't really a place that existed really. When I decided to leave Odessa I was leaving and I wasn't going back.

Cathy walked into the room smiling. "Are you ready yet?" She asked.

"Yeah." I said nodding. I moved my leg so it was hanging off the side of the bed. I grabbed the crutches and stood myself up.

"Do you want to stop by your uncles first?" She asked.

"No they aren't home." I said looking at the clock. "There's a football game tonight." I explained.

She nodded. "Do you want to stop and see the score?" She asked unsure. "You can go back. Don and Charles want you back." She explained.

"I know." I said walking towards the door. "I decided to leave." I said. "I know David is locked up and the chances of him getting out are so small but I can't take that risk. He is going to get out eventually." I stated.

"By the time he gets out October you're going to gone. He isn't going to care anymore." She stated.

"He made a plea with the jury." I said. "In 15 years he gets to leave and go look for me." I said my eyes beginning to water.

"Look everything is going to be fine." She said.

"Ok but I still want to leave. I want to go back to Chicago." I stated. Cathy nodded.

We drove to the field. The lights made the field the brightest place in all of Odessa. I walked up the gate and looked at the score. The Panthers were well ahead of the other team. I could see the number 20 flashing on the field. Running around doing the best he could. Being the best he could.

I smiled watching him. I was going to miss Mike more than he realized it. The whistle blew and the team crowded around Coach Gaines, this mouth moved quickly and then they ran back onto the field. I turned and began to walk back to Cathy's car. I knew they were going to do good.

Mike closed his eyes and rested his head against his pillow. He was more than tired. He was exhausted. Practice had worn him out and need to win every game was breaking down his spirit. All Mike wanted was to open his eyes and see October. It had been three weeks since she left and he didn't know where she or where she was going.

Mike knew that's the way she wanted it. He wanted to respect her wishes but he needed her now. He opened his eyes and sat up quickly. He walked over to his dresser and opened the top drawer. He took out the envelop and opened it. He carefully unfolded the letter and reread it.

The creases in the paper were beginning to get worse. Mike folded the letter when he was done and placed it back in the envelop and then back into the drawer. He sat back on his bed feeling slightly better.

October was better now where ever it was she had disappeared to. He knew that. He also knew how much she cared about. Maybe even oved him. He wasn't sure. He just knew he had to get out of Odessa. He couldn't stay and become nothing. He needed to get out and find October again. She wasn't just going to come back and he knew that.

There was a knock. Mike looked at the door and saw Don standing there. "Hey there buddy." Don said walking in and sitting next to him. "Whats going on?" He asked his foot tapping the ground slightly.

"Nothing really." Mike answered unsure why Don was really there. "Is there something wrong?" He asked worried. "Your Dad or October?" He panicked slightly.

"No everything is fine. I think at least." Don said unsure. "Well I haven't talked to her but I know shes fine. The crazy happy social services woman told me." Don said shuddering at remembering meeting Cathy.

"Thats good I guess." Mike shrugged. "But are you here?" Mike asked bluntly.

"I know October is fine." Don stated. "I want to make sure you're fine too." Mike starred at him blankly. "Well are you fine?" Don asked.

"I'm good Don." Mike stated. "I really am." Mike smiled.

The sound of the final bell rang through the stadium and the Permian Panthers knew they lost the game. Carter High School beat them and there was nothing they could do to change that. The players on and off the field had uncontrollable tears flowing. The crowd that was supporting the Permian Panthers was feeling an overwhelming feeling of joy and sorrow.

Their boys had failed. Their boys had lost. But they were anything other than losers. They all grew and changed over this football season and whether they received scholarships or not they were different.

That moment replayed over and over in Mike's mind. He couldn't get it out.

I looked down the street and crossed quickly. There was a group of kids playing football. They were playing for fun. One day football would become more than just fun to them and they would have to go through what Mike and Donnie went through. They would have to question the game they were raised to love.

The football rolled off and thats when I saw him again. I wasn't expecting to. I was going to visit but when my eyes landed on him everything froze. He bent over and picked up the ball. He tossed it over to the boys. He knew what they would go through one day because he just went through it.

Mike turned and Donnie and Chavo were standing waiting for him. I smiled seeing them standing waiting. It was like nothing changed. It was like everything was the same as before.

I walked over quickly. Donnie spotted me first and his eyes widened. Mike and Chavo turned to see what he was looking at. "Hey there boys, I heard there was a football game last week?" I asked smiling at them.

"Well if you heard right you would know we lost." Chavo replied smirking at me.

"Yeah thats what I heard." I smiled.

"Hi October." Mike said his eyes locking with mine.

"We'll see you guys later." Donnie said grabbing Chavo and pulling him away.

"I didn't know you were going to be here." Mike stated. "Back in Odessa that is." He clarified.

"Yeah well I wasn't going to come back." I stated. "But then I remembered a certain promise I made to this guy I fell in love with." I said.

"What was that?" He asked taking a step closer to me.

"That he would get out of here one day and get to see the beach." I shrugged. "And since I'm living in Chicago now...they have beaches. I figured maybe you'd wanna see them sometime." I reasoned.

"I think that sounds like a wonderful idea." Mike stated. "As long as you're there."

"I'll be there." I stated. Mike leaned down closing the space between us. His lips felt so perfectly against mine. I pulled back slowly. "And for the record, I don't think you really lost that game Mike Winchell."

Thanks for reading my story and all the reviews I got for it. Please let me know what you think of the ending. I know its kind of abrupt but there was nothing more to add to it. I think it was time for it to end but Please review still!