Since Way Back ↷ Jeff Atkins

↷ TWENTY FOUR

Hannah looks around with furrowed brows, slapping her arms against her side. ''She's got a point. This was just the beginning for us.''

She breathes her lips out to a pout. ''What's going to happen to us now?''

Her lips tugged into a soft grin as Kat reach forward to pluck at her chin. ''You guys are gonna get closer. And every time I come back to visit, we'll be able to kick it back in the alleyway of the movie's, laughing the way we always had.''

The blonde shakes her head. ''This isn't the end of us, guys. We're only getting started.''

Her father honks his horn.

She tugs a strand behind her ear before letting her arms fall to her side, she sighs. ''I better get going.''

''We're gonna miss you, Kat,'' Clay had spoken for the group.

She jerks her head back. ''Did Clay Jensen release some sincerity?''

''I expose somebody for the first time and suddenly everyone has trust issues.''

''Gee,'' Devin pursed her lips and furrows her brows. ''I wonder why?''

Kat giggles softly. ''I'm gonna miss you guys, too. I miss you guys now and I haven't even left yet.''

Suddenly, there were no more smiles, no more jokes to crack. All the positivity they tried to maintain vanished in a matter of seconds and their frowns were the only expression holding them back from crying.

She inhales sharply and forced a wry smile. ''I'll see you guys later?''

Hannah breathes out a smile. ''See you later.''

Devin wipes the tears that were threteaning to spill as she turns around and walks off to the truck.

The group stood closer than ever before as Kat's father backed out of the driveway.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Kat rolls down her window and waves at the group her final goodbye before her father drove off.

× × ×

A long sigh drawled from Jeffery Atkins lips as he sat around in Monet's coffee shop with Clay Jensen, Hannah Baker and Devin Greene by his side.

They were silent, their entertainment being the beverage in their cup along with the steam bellowing from it.

Though the group decreased to an even number, things had never felt so odd nor out of order.

''Okay,'' Devin breathes out, leaning back into her seat. ''Chins up, everyone. Kat wouldn't want us to be like this, moping over expressos. I mean, seriously, not one person ordered a frappe.''

In a subtle motion, Jeff shakes his head. ''So, what should we do?''

She pressed her forearms onto the table, leaning into them. ''My grandparents on my dad side, own a lake house just a couple miles outside of town. We can head there this weekend if you guys want?''

''I thought you didn't like your dad?'' Clay prompts with furrowed brows.

''I do,'' She perks up. ''But this would benefit the both of us. We'd get to have fun and my dad would be pist knowing anybody is better family than him.''

''I'll have to check with my parents, but-'' Pursing her lips, Hannah nods her head. ''I'm down.''

Devin arches a brow and drawls, ''Guys?''

''Alright.''

All eyes landed on Jeff, the last person to either agree or disagree on upcoming plans.

''Shit, summer sixteen is gonna be the best one yet!'' He exclaims, a wicked grin conquering his lips.

Devin mirrors his ecstatic, adding along to the energy sourcing through. ''Damn right it is! Come on, what else could we do this summer?''

''We could go to concerts?'' Hannah suggests. She was also feeling radiating vibes and it was pumping her up just like the couple.

Devin and Jeff gasped in unison.

''Oh my god,'' Devin mumbles before turning to her boyfriend. Together, they plan, ''We gotta see Drake.''

''Or,'' Clay chimes in. He wasn't entirely in the mood as his friends were, but he wasn't exactly bummed out about his friends departure. ''We could see Twenty One Pilots?''

The grin on Jeff Atkins face was no longer existent while a corner of Devin's lip twitched into a sneer of bitter distaste. If looks could kill, Clay Jensen would be dead on the spot.

''What?''

''Honestly,'' Hannah raised her hands up in defense. ''They sound way better to see than Drake.''

Craning his neck forward, Jeff's jaw fell into a gape of shock as Devin inhale sharply, slapping a hand against her clothed chest.

''Congratulations, Hannah Baker,'' Devin composed herself in her seat, shifting toward the edge. ''You broke me.''

Her lips pursed out in a pout as she reached over to lightly graze her arm. ''I'm sorry, hun.''

''You know, if anything,'' Jeff points a finger between Hannah and Clay. ''You two could go together while me and Devin see Drake.''

''Devin and I,'' Clay and Devin were quick to correct.

He furrows his brows. ''What?''

''You said me and Devin,'' Hannah prompts, noticing the keen attempt to make a grammar correction. ''The proper way to say it is Devin and I.''

''Summer is not going to be as lit if you guys plan on doing this.''

Clay Jensen, Hannah Baker and Devin Greene broke out into a fit of laughter. Maybe this summer was going to be fun. Maybe they would be fine without their fifth member.