(A/N FLASHBACKS ARE IN ITALICS)
Belly and I were both lying next to the pool. Out of nowhere, we hear the Fisher boys, our boys. Jeremiah joins me on the chair and kisses me. He drips his wet ocean hair on my face as he leans closer to me.
"You're back," I say.
"Of course, I missed your lips."
I smile and see Susannah walking over to us.
"Both of my girls, and both of my boys, the perfect pairs," She flashes a big smile.
Steven shakes me awake.
"Wake up Lauren." He says.
I rub my eyes and realize that I fell asleep during my last class of High School. I was finally free of my four-year sentence.
This is the first year where I am not counting down the minutes until summer. To be frank, I couldn't wait for summer to end.
Jeremiah and I weren't together anymore, and Susannah was dead. Nothing would ever be the same again.
~
"This almost doesn't feel real," I say to him as we walk back to the house from the beach.
"How about now?" He answers back and kisses me.
"I can't stop smiling," I say with a giggle.
"You have the prettiest smile, Laur," He says.
Even though we are together I still can't help but blush.
I stop and hug him, "I wish we figured this out sooner," I say, "It's the end of the summer..." I look up at him.
"So?" He begins, "We'll make it work, Laur, don't worry." He kisses my forehead and I hug him tighter.
~
I went to my locker and dumped everything into my backpack. I spot Belly and Taylor so I walk over to them. Then Steven and his friends are coming to us.
"High school is over, bitches!" Steven said while running down the hall.
"You're such a clown, Steven," Belly said.
"Hey, if I were going to Princeton, I'd be screaming about it, too, I answered back.
"Thank you, Lauren, but Finch is cool too." He said.
"What time's the grad party tomorrow?" some guy asked.
"The band comes on at 10:00. I'm dating the singer," Taylor answered.
I stop listening and just completely zone out.
"Lauren! What are you going to wear tomorrow?" Taylor asks.
Over the past year, Taylor and I have become closer. Before shit went down, Belly and I practically never left one another's side, but that has changed recently.
"Oh... um... I don't think I'm going," I say.
She and Steven looked shocked, "You can't not go to your own Grad Party." Steven says.
I shrug my shoulders and look at Belly, she tries to give me a slight smile but the College counselor pulls her into her office.
~
It was the last night of summer. Jeremiah and I had a 'sleepover' in my bed, we stayed up all night just talking, like the old days.
"I did some research on the trial my mom agreed to. And, Lauren, I'm feeling hopeful."
"That's great. I mean, I'm so glad that Susannah agreed to do it."
"Yeah. I mean, if I'm being honest, I'm still kind of pissed Conrad never told me what was going on with her, but... you know, at least it worked out, right?"
"Right," I smile at him as he hugs me.
"It's already sunrise," He says.
I look out my window, "Oh, it is..."
I feel my throat start to choke up and tears forming, "I don't want to leave you," I say.
He grabs my hand, "We are going to text every day, we are going to call all the time, at least until you get sick of my voice. Lauren, you are all I need, I am going to fight for us and make this work."
I give him a half-teary smile and he just kisses the top of my head and cuddles me.
~
"We should already be in the car!" My Mother yells.
"Steven, did you iron your shirt?" I ask.
"I used the starch spray that makes it look real smooth."
"Perfect," I say.
Our mother has been going through a hard time, to say the least, she can barely take care of herself, let alone three kids. Therefore being the oldest daughter I have been kind of playing the character of mom. I have been feeding Steven and Belly for the last few months and making sure my mother is eating.
"Shoot, I forgot to make the reservation for lunch," My Mother said, stressed.
"I already did," I answered.
She comes over to me and hugs me, "Thank you, Lauren."
I nod my head. I'm worried that when Steven and I leave for college, what is she going to do? Belly shouldn't have to be alone and take care of her.
I'm ironing my dress when the doorbell rings.
"Can you get that Steven?" I yell.
He comes back with two gift baskets.
"Sweet! A new laptop," he says.
"Who sent this?" I ask.
Belly chokes on her words, "It's from Sussanah."
"She must have planned it before, classic Beck," My mother still would talk about her in the present tense. I see my mother start to slip, "I wish she could have been here."
I look down, I wish she was here to see all of us graduate, but she's not.
~
"I don't want to leave," I say while Jere puts my suitcase in the car.
"I'll only be a few hours away."
"Five hours isn't a few," I say while looking down.
He grabs my chin and kisses me gently on the lips.
"I bought you something."
"You didn't have to do that Jere..." he puts his finger on my lips causing me to stop talking.
"Close your eyes."
I do as I'm told and he puts a small golden locket around my neck, I open it, and inside is a photo of Jere, a big grin is across his face in the photo.
I look up at him and kiss him hard, "Thank you."
~
I'm in the audience listening to Steven give a speech at our graduation. I zone out for most of it. I'm only thinking about one thing, what is Jere thinking about right now? I mean, he's graduating today too, I wonder what he's doing. Maybe he has a grad party planned like Steven, I don't know.
I hear whoever is speaking say, "To the class of 2023!"
Everyone threw their caps up and I couldn't be more relieved, all I wanted was to get out of there.
~
After the awkward and dreadful lunch with my family, we are finally home. As soon as I see my bed I practically fall into it.
Summer is only a few months, then I'll be off at college, I thought to myself.
Steven knocked on my door.
"Come in!" I yelled.
As he entered he had a concerned look on his face, "I'm worried about you."
"What do you mean Stevo," I sat up.
"You've been so focused on caring for Mom and Belly... when was the last time you did anything for yourself, Laur?"
I shrug my shoulders, "I guess that's just a part of life."
"Treat yourself," he began, "Come to the party tonight, I need my twin there."
"I don't know Steven," I said, "I don't feel very well."
He could read right through my bullshit answer, "Yeah... sure."
"I think I just want a chill night."
"Okay... but I'll text you the address if you change your mind."
I thank him and he leaves.