Through it All

1.

"You still have no clue?" Mary asks as she dumps what looks like a moldy muffin into the trashcan between them.

"I've never really thought about it before," JoJo replies. "I had more important things on my mind." She grabs a handful of loose papers of the locker shelf as she talks and sorts through them, dumping anything school-related since she no longer needs it.

"Well, you could always go to Manson College like me!" Mary chirps happily. She turns to JoJo with a large, goofy grin on her face. "Tanya will have to deal with us for a few more years. It's a community college with no dorms."

JoJo sniffs, but smiles softly before she says, "maybe" and closes her locker for the last time.

It was surreal; last night they had graduated, and today they were cleaning out their lockers. It will be the last time they would ever set foot in the high school they had spent the last four years in. To be honest, it feels like a huge accomplishment for JoJo. She never thought that she would survive middle school, let alone high school. Yet here she is, nearly ready to walk out the front doors and on to the next part of her life. Which she still has no clue what she's going to do.

JoJo suppresses a groan and smiles at Mary as she too slammed her locker shut. They drag the now full trashcan back to its original position in the corner, then Mary links her arm through JoJo's and they make their way towards the doors.

"I think I'm gonna miss this place," Mary muses as they walk out.

"Are you really, though?" JoJo replies. "Seriously, what good was there here?"

"There was - " Mary stops abruptly. "You know, there's gotta be something... It left us able to go to college?"

JoJo snorts and hikes her backpack higher up on her shoulder.

They talk quietly the rest of the ten minutes it takes to walk to JoJo's house, and then call out greetings once they open the door. Tanya replies from the kitchen, so the two hurry over.

JoJo is immediately hit with the smell of freshly baked cookies, which causes her mouth to water and grin happily at her mother as she grabs one off the cooling rack.

"You'll spoil your dinner," Tanya scolds, but allows it.

"One won't!" JoJo replies with a cookie-filled grin.

Tanya makes a disgusted face and shoos the two out of the kitchen. The two make their way up to JoJo's room and collapse on the bed after throwing their bags in a corner.

JoJo sighs as she relaxes on her back. Everything starts to hit her, and she feels her chest constrict and tears threaten her eyes.

"I can't believe you're leaving me," she says, trying to make everything go away. She hopes her voice isn't wobbly, and if it is, that Mary won't comment.

"Not for over two months," Mary replies. "And not very far; it's only two hours away."

"That's two hours too far!" JoJo whines, turning on her side to face her best friend. She pouts and Mary pats her cheek.

"You'll live. I'm sure you'll come visit me every weekend."

"What happened to Tanya having to deal with us for a few more years?"

"She will! I'll be coming to visit, too, ya know. You can't expect me to cook for myself all the time. We all know I suck at it." Mary makes a face and JoJo starts to giggle. Given the chance, Mary could probably burn water. As it is, she has burnt pasta in the past, which JoJo had previously thought was impossible.

Both girls fall silent, leaving nothing to distract JoJo from the gross feeling in her chest. She tries to will it away, but knows it won't happen. Instead, she gets up, needing something to distract herself.

"We have to make the best of this summer," Mary says suddenly as JoJo is rifling through her desk. "Let's go on an adventure."

"Where to?" JoJo asks. She moves to her bookshelf, straightening everything out.

"I don't know. Somewhere."

Someone knocks at the door, startling JoJo.

"Can I come in?" Tanya's accented voice filters through the closed door.

"Yeah," JoJo breathes, sill clutching at her chest, willing her heart to slow down. Mary lays laughing on the bed, but makes room for Tanya to sit when she walks over.

"So, how do you feel about going on a trip?"