The year to close it all

[Friday]

"Every year, it's always the same shit…" Owen said as he reached a new high on the swings.

"That's pretty impressive," Ethan said watching him. "Aren't you scared?"

"Not at all, this is how I improve my depression. These swings cure-all."

"I agree…" Lily said rivalling Owen's height.

"What's the plan, what are we doing here?" Ruby said with the others who weren't interested in the swings.

"Would do you normally do?" Claire asked.

"Last year we went to get food," Simon said. "We don't really do much…"

"What do you know?" Owen said. "This is only your second meeting."

"It's my first," Claire said happily jumping in the conversation.

"And your last…" Owen said as if he planned to kill her. Despite this, Owen didn't want to kill Claire, just yet. Instead due to not knowing where they would be next year, it's possible that they may not meet up again for a while.

"Why don't we just do what we did last time?" Kaylee suggested. "How was everyone's Christmas?"

"Same as always," Owen said slowly breaking the limits on his swing to beat Lily.

"Mine was surprisingly fine," Ruby said. "I was worried but I didn't even have to perform this year. I'm glad…"

"Mine was good!" Sean said. "I had fun chilling at home."

"I just slept," Owen said almost doing a full spin on the swing.

"Well, wonderful," Ethan interjected. "This conversation is as dead as I expected."

"Think of something to do then." Owen snapped. "Just think of something or leave. Simple…"

"Oh, I know! What do you all think about the upcoming year?" Kaylee said as Owen and Lily came to a halt on the swings.

"I look forward to it," Claire said casually hitting Simon.

"Me, too. I hope it will be a fun one." Sean jumped on the swings and started to beat Owen's height causing him to start back up again.

"What about you Owen?" Ethan asked.

"He hates goodbyes… he'll hate leaving us in the summer." Ruby said.

"Maybe," Owen said. "But who knows what will happen then. Things may change, isn't that right, Ruby?"

The two of them were locked in a rather strange battle. It was as if Owen was challenging Ruby but no one knew what it was a challenge for.

"I'll be happy to graduate with good grades," Ethan said.

"Same…" Kaylee, Simon and Sean all said together which caused a weird three-way staring contest.

"H-hey?" Lily said focusing all attention on her. "Even when we graduate, we'll all be friends right?"

"Of course!" Kaylee said squeezing her when her swing came to a halt. "I would never leave you…"

"It's strange. It's coming to an end quickly…" Owen said "we don't have long at all. Even if we all keep in contact, we may never meet up again like this. Things will be different at university."

"Y-yeah," Claire agreed with her head low. "But it's something to look forward to… A new environment… I was worried when I joined but you all treated me so nicely… I was worried I wouldn't make friends."

"We were worried. Transfer students seem to have a history of trouble." Owen said making obvious contact with Kaylee and Simon who looked away like a child that acted innocent after painting the walls.

With the new year, the end of their school life also started to close. The months between January and July were the last days they would spend together, a journey that some of them have been on since Year 7, and now as they are in year 13, their journey may continue. So long as they all continue to hang around with each other, they will always cause problems for each other.