Chapter 22 *Final Chapter*

My pen hovers over the piece of paper, not sure how to word the next few, and possibly last, sentences that I'll ever make to Haley and Lucas. Once I think of the right words, it suddenly isn't enough and I toss the draft to the trash. I sigh slightly frustrated and scratch my forehead. I'm not getting anywhere with this but I need it done. After listening to my favorite song, Never Too Late, I finally find the right words to say and write it down.

I sign my name on the button and place it underneath her phone in her dresser before walking away from her room. On the way to the living room, I pass by the hall where Cassandra places her framed photos of us and stop, smiling at a familiar photo.

It was during our sophomore year. Haley, Lucas, and I had a paintball war that day. We're all covered head-to-toe in different colors with silly grins on our faces. We look so different, so young, so happy...

Oh how times have changed.

I hold back my tears and move on to the picture next to it. It was during Easter, and Haley and I were wearing bunny ears and making the duckface at the camera, while Lucas was behind us with a straight face probably questioning our sanity since I think that was the year when he first started hanging out with us.

The next picture after that makes me choke up on a sob. It was the start of our senior year. All three of us were posed outside of the school in our backpacks with goofy smiles on our faces, completely naive on the events coming up. What makes a tear slip out is the engraving on the frame.

Born on different sides of the world, joined together and will never part.

It hurts knowing I was about to break the last part of the quote.

I take my phone and and take a picture of every framed picture on the hall before putting it back in my pocket. Yeah, I might die but in the rare chance that I don't I want to be able to have something to remember them by. Something to remember them by...

I walk back into Haley's room and look around her study table. After searching for a few seconds, I finally find the ring that Haley had outgrown but still fits me and slip it on. For Lucas, I grab one of his beanies I find on the floor and place it on my head. He has a lot so I'm pretty sure he won't mind losing one.

Now's the hardest part of the entire mission, sneaking out. Before I can make it out her room, my phone vibrates in my pocket so I take it out to check the message.

Hey cutie! I'm going on a date with Lucas so I'll be back round noon, see ya then!

~Haley

I smile against the tears fighting to escape and place the phone back in my pocket. Since they're gone, it'll make getting out of the house a lot easier. I walk all the way to the living room and make a move to open the door when a voice stops me. "Braska!" Oh please not now.

Turning around, my strong front wavers seeing Jason's smiling face. He's looking up at me with nothing but joy in his eyes, thinking in his little mind that everything is okay in the world, that everything is perfect. My heart starts to crumble knowing that I'm about to leave the little guy.

The main reason for me losing sleep the other night and during my nap was because I was trying to figure who was going to watch over Jason. I probably won't survive, so I need someone who can watch over him that he trust. That person is going to be Haley.

She loves children but doesn't have any siblings. Plus whenever we hang out she's been fantastic with Jason, and I know she'll be a lot less strict on him that I ever was. She also has a car with a license so I don't have to worry about him waking anywhere anymore. Another thing is that she also lives with her mom, so Jason will experience what it's like having a full-time mom around.

"Braska? What's wrong?" Jason asks, hugging my right side and that's when I notice that I'm full out crying. Instead of trying to hold back the tears, I just let it all out now and hug him tighter to my chest. It's ridiculous that I'm acting like this is going to be the last time I'll ever see him, but in the worst case scenario it will be the last time.

After a few minutes of just hugging each other, I fake a smile and wipe away the last of my tears. "Um, Jason, I'm going to be away for a while," I explain, wincing when my voice cracks at the end.

He frowns and slowly lets go of me. "You'll be gone like Mommy?" he asks, his bottom lip quivering.

I sniff back some snot in my nose and shrug. "I don't know buddy. It could be a few hours or a few days. But I promise I'll come back," I say, struggling to keep my voice as strong as I want it to sound. No, there's no way I'm letting Jason fend for himself. No matter what happens, I have to make sure that he's safe.

Jason looks me in the eye and holds out his pinky. Taking a deep breath, I interlock my finger with us and smile. Here's hoping I don't break this promise.

***

I move around on the bench nervously while looking around the entire park. There's a couple of people scattered around here and there and I envy their simple lives. Their lives, though no doubt not perfect, are still better in my point of view. Maybe it's just nerves talking, but thinking of everything that could go wrong makes me wish that I was any of these people. Even the old man walking around with his dog. His life sure did look fine.

Sighing, I fix my glasses on my face with a frown. It sucks how I'm as blind as a worm without them. Not sure if worms are blind or not but the one I accidentally ate in first grade didn't have eyes so I'm assuming they're blind. Don't judge me, I thought it was a brown gummy worm.

The sun starts to set over the park, setting off an orange hue that blends with the blue in the sky. It also makes the lake much more beautiful than it already does. The water is still, except when the occasional soft wind blows across making the water ripple.

"Beautiful isn't it?" I nod without taking my eyes off the lake. I can feel someone take a seat next to me but I don't turn around. Instead, I try to absorb as much of the scene as I can before...well you know. "Wasn't talking about the sunset, love."

The comments hits me like acid and I instantly jump to my feet and move five steps away from the voice. In front of me, leaning casually against the bench, is Layton. For some reason, he has on a dark gray hoodie with the hood on and he's facing away from the sunset. He looks really good- No! Stop it! Bad Braska!

"So how come you couldn't return the keys to me at eight?" he asks, curiously leaning forward, making me take two steps back. The move doesn't go unnoticed by him and he frowns at me.

"Well, actually I sorta maybe um...lied?" I lamely reply, giving him a sheepish look. Please don't kill me for lying, I silently chant in my head.

He gives me curious look and slowly stands up. "What do you mean?"

I gulp and subtly look around, checking to see if there's any witnesses around. All I see is the old man with the dog, but he'll talk to the cops if something goes wrong right? Here's hoping he's not blind and that the dog isn't a seeing eye dog.

"I uh...I don't have your keys," I clarify, standing up a little straighter. If I'm going to go down, I'm not going to go down looking like a crippled cat.

"Then why'd you call me here?" he asks, taking a few steps towards me which makes me heart beat faster out of fear. He stares at me with a weird look but I keep my brave front up.

"Look Layton," I pause, not knowing the right words to say. "Layton, I know your secret."

His eyes look like they turned darker as he stares me down. I struggle to keep my composure under his sharp gaze. "What do you mean?" he asks, in a low voice.

Okay now I'm done with him. "I mean I know your secret Layton! How long did you think you could keep pretending before I found out? Huh?" I shout.

Despite my loud volume, his expression didn't falter. He doesn't even looked fazed at all by me. "How did you find out?" he asks, looking around in panic.

"Do you take my for an idiot? Layton, I saw you! I heard the rumors, I saw the evidence, I know! What I can't believe is why...why didn't you tell me?" I ask, trying to keep my tears at bay. I will not let him know he's affecting me.

He visibly swallows before coming towards me fast and I take that as my signal to run away. I turn around and start dashing for the nearest group of people. Unfortunately, my lack of skills in running made their appearance since I took about five steps before an arm wraps tightly around my waist. "Someone hel-" I shout before a hand covers my mouth, muffling my screams.

"Nebraska, calm down!" he whispers in my ear, but I simply shake my head and continue to struggle. I'm not going down without a fight. "Damn it!" he swears, letting me go for a second. I wasn't expecting that so when he releases me, I accidentally throw myself hard to the left making my head hit the ground. Black spots start forming in my vision before I close my eyes, letting them take over.

Shit shit shit...this is not how this was supposed to turn out.

I grimace at the sight of her unconscious body on the ground before carefully picking her up and making sure that she's positioned comfortably in my arms before sprinting towards the car. As soon as I arrive, I open the backseat and lay her down there before going towards the drivers seat. Sighing loudly, I slam the wheel with my hand before running it through my hair. How did she know?

Levi finally came inside and looks at the sleeping angel in the back. "Damn it Layton, what happened now?" he asks, looking tired.

"She found out I'm a vampire," I whisper, trying to let it sink it. How did she find out my most well-hidden secret?

Levi turns to me with a shocked look. "Wait what? She knows?" he asks, with a panicked look that mirrors mine closely. I stay silent and start the car. "You know what that means right?" he asks gravely. I nod before slowly driving back home.

Now that she knows about vampires, I'll have to turn her into one.

_______________________

And the book is done! The next one will be about soon but it'll take a while since I like to write a few chapters ahead so I know where the story will go.

Thanks for all who voted and gave their feedback, it not only helped me write the story but encouraged me to continue writing. Thanks so much and I hope you continue to follow Layton and Nebraska for what happens next in their journey!