Graduation came and went, and the day Axel was leaving for war arrived. I was anything but ready for him to leave. I just wanted to hold him and never let go if it meant he got to stay.

That morning I woke up, everything became dreary. Axel wanted to take me out before he left, but every passing second was just another minute closer to his departure. I didn't want to see him get on that train and head to war where he could get killed, but I also wanted to be the last one to see him before he left, so I could mentally keep his handsome face fresh in my mind.

I slowly rolled out of bed and got dressed. I slid on a pastel pink dress, paired with white flats. I pulled my hair into a lose pony tail and applied light makeup. Axel always said he liked my natural look, but I wanted to look my best on my last day with him, considering he would be gone for four years and there was a possibility he wasn't coming back.

Someone knocked on my front door, and I ran out to open it. Axel was standing on my door step, cleaned up and dressed in his army suit. In his hand was a bouquet of yellow roses, and he held them out to me with a small smile on his face.

"Hi, baby." He whispered, and I took the flowers, throwing my arms around his neck.

"Thank you, Axel. They are beautiful." I said, tightening my arms around him. "I love you."

He let out a chuckle and pulled away to kiss me passionately. "I love you too, Michelle." He shot me a small grin. "No sad faces. Smile for me, baby girl."

A smile slowly grew on my face, and his smile grew bigger. I ran into the house and placed the flowers in a vase before I ran back out to Axel. He intertwined our hands, and we walked into town to eat lunch at the diner. We talked, flirted, and laughed for three hours, and then he took me to his beach. We sat on the sand, watching the waves slowly crash onto the shore, and I leaned my head on Axel's shoulder.

"Michelle, I've been meaning to give ya this.. but I didn't know how. So, here." I glanced at him and saw a gorgeous silver ring in his hand. I gasped, and he slid it on my finger. I stared at him with teary eyes, and his mouth quirked up the slightest. "It's a promise ring-- my promise that I'll always be with you and love you."

Tears strolled down my cheeks, and I wrapped my arms around him. "It's beautiful, Axel. Thank you so much."

"You're welcome, baby." We pulled away, and his lips turned down in a frown. "It's almost time for me to leave. We better go."

Axel and I reluctantly left the beach, and we walked to the train station. The rest of our group was there, including Axel's family. The guys each gave him a bro hug and passed jokes around, and Bev and Bonnie gave him a hug. When Pam hugged her brother, she started to cry, so he held her tighter. Their parents were teary eyed watching the siblings.

"Kick ass out there, brother." She whispered, and Axel chuckled, "But don't forget to come back, because if you don't, the first thing I'm doing at heaven's gates is smacking you."

Axel busted out laughing, and then he kissed Pam's cheek. He gave her another quick hug, and then Pam went to Danny. He held her in his arms, and Pam buried her head in his chest. HIs parents walked up to him, each giving him a long, tight hug.

"We are so proud of you, Axel." His mother said, a smile on her face and tears in her eyes, and Axel smiled before he pressed a gentle kiss against her cheek. When they moved away, Delores ran up to him, and Axel bent down so she could hug him. Delores sobbed in his shoulder, and Axel's eyes filled with tears. He whispered something in her ear, and she nodded before kissing Axel's cheek and walking back to her parents.

Axel turned to me, and I hesitated before walking up to him. He held my face in his hands and shot me his gorgeous smile. Tears filled my eyes, and one single tear trickled down my cheek. Axel wiped it away, and then he wrapped his arms around me and tilted me backward. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and then he crashed his lips into mine. This kiss was everything. It was so gentle, so passionate, yet a part of me felt like it was really goodbye. It felt like a goodbye kiss.

When he placed me upright, he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me to him. I clasped mine around his neck and buried my head in his shoulder.

"I love you so much, Axel McCarthy." I whispered, and his grip around me tightened, "And I need you to come back. Don't leave me forever. I love you."

Axel pulled away, wiped my tears, and I held his face in my hands. The corner of his mouth quirked up the slightest, and he leaned closer to me.

"I'll come back, baby. I promise." He whispered, gently kissing my lips,

And then I woke up.

//////////////////////////////

Hey Guys!

Only one chapter left, and then this book is finished (after eight long months, haha). I can't wait for you guys to read the ending!

Make sure to comment, vote, and spread the word!!

Thanks for reading!

Much love,

-Abby