Laurance's POV

It's days like these where spending time with my sister means more than anything to me in the world. Today, all those years ago, marks the day of our biological parents death.

Though, we have grown used to the constant reminder that they have passed, it doesn't make it any different. There isn't as much sadnessness or "what if's" like when we were younger, but it's still a day that makes even the sunniest days rain.

The day itself tried to present itself as normal. We hung out with friends and laughed and joked around, but there was the thought of what date it was that loomed in the back of our minds. It's been months since we moved to Phoenix Drop, but this date never seemed important enough to tell our friends. I didn't want to tell Y/N it.

Instead, today Y/N was met with a happy and smiley Laurance. Though, it seems that she was able to see through my facade when she pulled me to the side.

"Laurance, what's the matter?" She asks, looking into my eyes with concern. It's small things like this that make my heart speed up ever so quickly. I've never met a girl in my life that had enough balls to push me into a pool before. And even then, she made my heart speed up too.

"Nothing's wrong," I tell her, offering the most sincere smile I could ever muster.

She doesn't believe me and places her hand against my skin. Her hand is warm and soft. Our eyes break away from their shared gaze to look at our touching body parts.

"Laurance, please, I've grown to know you for the past few months. I know something is wrong. Why won't you tell me?" I look at her, sighing. She removes her hand from my arm. And for a moment, just a small moment, I yearn for her touch to return. So much so that I impulsively reach out to hold her into my embrace. "Laurance. . . please."

Her voice seems to be begging, and it makes me feel as though I am being unfair to her for keeping the date secret.

I pull away and rub the back of my neck, shaking my head before she grabs onto my hands. The skin contact returns, and I find it to be comforting.

My head hangs down in shame. "You remember when I told you my parents died in a car crash?" I ask her, but I don't even wait for a response. I don't need a response from her because I know she remembers. "Today marks that anniversary."

Her eyes widen as she looks at me. I can feel her gaze, but the overwhelming feeling of being ashamed swirls within my body. So much so I don't wish to meet her gaze in return.

Y/N takes it upon herself to lift my head up to meet her gaze. She seems genuinely upset, more so than I intended her to be.

There's constant apologies soaring through the air, but they're unnecessary. Y/N wasn't the cause of my parents death, so I don't understand why she is apologizing.

"There's no need to apologize," I say, a little chuckle following afterwards. "Baby Y/N didn't drive a car to hit them. I'm alright, truly."

Y/N locks eyes with me once more and reluctantly nods her head. Even though I know she knows otherwise, those words are understood but left unsaid.

It's silent words like this that bring comfort. I don't have to admit to them out loud for Y/N to understand. It's just someone's presence that brings comfort. There isn't always a need for words.

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

"Laurance." I look over at the sound of my name. The sky is dark with twinkling stars. The breeze is cold as it whisks another's hair asking my bare skin. "Do you think they're proud of us?"

The words are soft, quiet. It's like the speaker is afraid to say them because of backlash. I look at my little sister and place half of her blanket across my shoulders.

My attention is placed back upon the stars. I remember once being told that the brightest star was a loved one looking down. My eyes scatter across the night sky looking for the two brightest stars. I find them, inches apart from one another, and I suddenly know the answer.

I nod my head, smiling fondly at the two stars. Alex looks at me, awaiting for a vocal answer. "Yeah, I do," I say, looking down at her before point back up at the sky, pointing. "They're right there."

"How do you know that?"

"They're the brightest stars I've found," I tell her.

Right here, right now, on top of this roof makes me think back to all the other times. Back to the orphanage and the beginning of our adoption where we'd sit outside for hours, together. It's always been us. Just the two of us.

There's warmth on my shoulder, and I glance over to see Alex's head resting against it. I kiss the top of it with a small frown. This day may be a bit tough, but there's always the reminder that I'll always have my sister that keeps me going. My sister. My family. My friends.

My parents.