After all the laughing... After teasing Luca for the hundredth time... After Jake and Nena somehow turned arguing into flirting again...
I quietly slipped away. "...I'll be upstairs."
Nobody stopped me. Jake was too busy convincing Nena that she had stolen his seat. Nena was busy insisting that our spot sounded better than his spot. Luca had somehow become the referee. I left before someone dragged me back into it.
My room welcomed me with silence. Real silence no any noise.
I closed the door behind me and leaned against it. "...Finally."
I let out one long breath.
Today had been... Everything. Graduation. Pictures. Gifts.
The first kiss that still made my face warm every time I remembered it.
And now... Everyone was slowly preparing to leave.
I rubbed my face gently. "...Okay. Fresh start."
I walked into the bathroom.
The cool water against my face immediately woke me up.
I brushed away the leftover makeup from graduation, tied my blonde hair into a loose ponytail for a moment, then let it fall back over my shoulders.
After changing into something comfortable—a cream oversized sweater, light blue jeans and my favorite white sneakers—I stood in front of the mirror.
Simple. Comfortable. Me.
I picked up my glasses from the desk.
Without them... Everything looked like an expensive watercolor painting.
I slid them onto my nose. "There. Now I can actually see people."
Satisfied, I reached for my phone.
It buzzed before I even unlocked it. Ethan.
I smiled without meaning to.
Already packed. Tomorrow I'm leaving.
The smile stayed... But it became smaller.
My eyes drifted to the bracelet around my wrist. Tiny white beads.
One little mistake.
AIANA.
I laughed quietly. "My name really changed."
Running my thumb over the beads, I typed back.
Safe travels. ❤️
Almost immediately A picture arrived. I opened it. And burst into laughter. Ethan was attempting the saddest face imaginable. His lips were dramatically pushed downward. His eyebrows looked like they were fighting each other.
Behind him... Seraphina stood with two enormous suitcases. A travel bag hung over one shoulder. Another bag rested at her feet. She wasn't even looking at the camera.
She was glaring directly at Ethan.
The expression on her face practically screamed "If you don't stop taking selfies and help me, I'm leaving without you."
I covered my mouth to stop laughing. Poor woman.
I typed quickly. Poor Seraphina. 😭
Three dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
Then My phone started ringing.
Ethan Calling...
I answered immediately. His face filled the screen. He looked offended.
"I am the one who's sad."
He pointed dramatically at himself. "Me. And you're saying..."
He narrowed his eyes. "'Poor Seraphina?'"
I couldn't help giggling. "She looks stressed."
The camera suddenly shifted.
Seraphina looked directly into it. "I am stressed."
She lifted one suitcase. "He packed everything..."
Then pointed at Ethan. "...except carrying it."
Ethan sighed dramatically. "I carried one."
"You carried it for six seconds."
"It was a difficult six seconds."
She rolled her eyes. "So brave."
I laughed again.
Ethan looked betrayed. "You're laughing at my suffering."
"I'm laughing because she's right."
He placed a hand over his heart. "I can't believe this."
Seraphina walked past the camera carrying both suitcases effortlessly. "I'll believe it for both of us."
She disappeared.
Ethan sighed. "My own sister."
I smiled softly. "You'll survive."
"I don't know..." He leaned closer to the camera. "I think she's planning my murder."
"You'll probably deserve it."
"...Wow."
"I learned from Jake."
"That explains everything."
We both laughed. The laughter slowly faded. Neither of us rushed to fill the silence.
He looked at me. Really looked.
His eyes softened. "...I'll miss you."
The room suddenly felt much quieter. I looked down for a second.
Then back at him. "I'll miss you too."
Neither of us smiled that time.
We didn't have to.
He looked around his room before speaking again. "Oh. We're actually going out tonight. With the boys."
"And Luca." I nodded. "I heard."
He groaned dramatically. "But he's literally a child."
I immediately pointed at the screen. "Exactly. A baby."
Ethan blinked. "...Excuse me?"
"He is."
"We're only like..." He counted on his fingers. "...Two years older."
"Still."
He folded his arms. "I don't think he's a baby."
I grinned. "Mark says he is. So does Jake."
"...Traitors."
"They're experienced."
He shook his head. "No."
"Luca is just..." He searched for the right word. "...tiny."
"Baby."
"...Energetic."
"Baby."
"...Affectionate."
"Baby."
"...Fine. He is."
I laughed triumphantly. "I win."
"You always do."
Another comfortable silence settled between us.
Neither of us seemed eager to end the call.
He rested his chin in his hand.
I did the same.
Just... Looking.
Eventually... He smiled. "...Okay. I should go. They're waiting."
I nodded slowly. "...Take care."
"You too."
"...Bye, Ayana."
"...Bye, Ethan."
Neither of us pressed the button immediately.
"You hang up." I said after a while.
He smiled. "No. You do it."
"No. I don't want to"
A moment of silence then both of us laughed.
Then... Click. The screen went black.
I stared at my reflection for another second. "...He's really leaving."
Before I could think about it any longer BANG!
My bedroom door flew open so hard it nearly hit the wall.
I jumped. "NENA!"
She stood in the doorway already dressed up.
A black oversized jacket over a fitted top.
Cargo pants. Chunky boots.
Her short black hair framed her face perfectly.
She looked effortlessly cool.
Behind her... Emma peeked in.
She wore a soft beige cardigan over a light blue dress that reached just below her knees.
Her long brown hair rested neatly over one shoulder.
She smiled apologetically. "...Sorry. Nena doesn't knock."
"I do knock."
"You kicked the door open."
"That's aggressive knocking."
I sighed. "...One day... One day you're paying for this door."
"No promises."
She grabbed my wrist. "Come on. We're late."
"We're literally not." I protested.
"We will be if you keep talking." She said her tone changing a little higher.
"I wasn't even talking!"
"You are now."
Before I could argue She dragged me into the hallway.
Emma laughed quietly behind us.
Downstairs... The boys were already getting ready to leave too.
Jake adjusted his jacket.
Mark stood beside him, fixing his glasses while Luca clung to his arm like a koala.
"I told you..." Mark sighed. "...I'm not disappearing."
"I know. I'm emotionally preparing."
"You've been emotionally preparing for twenty minutes."
"It's not enough."
Liam laughed. "I think he's attached."
"I am."
Jake pointed at Luca. "See? Baby."
"I HEARD THAT!"
We all laughed some of us couldn't breath.
Mrs. May stood beside the front door already holding her car keys.
She smiled when she saw us. "Ready, girls?"
"We're ready!" Nena answered before any of us could.
Jake looked toward us. "Have fun."
Nena folded her arms. "We'll have more fun than you."
Jake smirked. "Impossible."
"Oh? We're literally going to a spa."
"We're literally going to annoy Ethan."
Jake nodded thoughtfully. "...You win."
Nena grinned proudly. "I know."
I walked over to Mark one last time before they left. "Have fun."
Mark nodded. "See you later."
Liam waved. "Don't replace us while we're gone."
"I'll try."
Jake pointed at me. "No promises."
"I make no promises."
Luca hugged me quickly. "Bring me snacks."
"...We're going to a spa."
"They have snacks."
"...You know what? Fair enough."
I laughed and hugged him back.
Then the boys headed toward their car.
We watched them disappear down the driveway.
Mrs. May clapped her hands once. "Alright."
She smiled warmly. "My girls. Let's go make some memories."
Nena immediately cheered.
Emma smiled.
I couldn't help smiling too.
Then the four of us climbed into Mrs. May's car...
And drove off into the beginning of our girls' night.