ARI.

When the clock ticked midnight, and the bell tower released its deep resonance, I took a deep breath in and a deep breath out. At midnight, though my shoes were lost, my carriage did not turn back into a pumpkin, no men were morphed back into mice, and my dress were not rags. The magic was indeed lost, but hope and faith, were very much alive.

I was covered by a blanket given to me from the paramedics, as I sat at the back of the ambulance getting tested for trauma. Before me, was a commotion fit for a night of anarchy. My party guests all stood behind yellow tape, my friends were speaking to authorities, and the red and blue lights continued to flash in my eyes.

"Are you sure you don't have any pain? In your head, back, shoulders?" The paramedic asked me, as she held a gentle touch to my skull.

I shook my head, "no, I promise. I'll be fine."

"Okay," she nodded, "but I want you to stay here for a while before I release you to your parents, just to make sure everything is a-okay."

The paramedic gave me an assuring smile before walking away to attend to Michael, who wasted no time at all in flirting with the woman. I rolled my eyes and softly chuckled to myself. I trailed my eyes across the scene before me, catching glimpse of Ashton, who was holding a crying Mia.

All of this felt so odd to me; like I was in a dream and it was taking longer for me to wake up. This would definitely be an 18th birthday to remember - no other parties could compare to the one where Jasey went crazy and Reese fell off the roof to save the girl.

"Don't worry, he'll be fine!"

I turned my head to look at Michael sitting behind another medical truck. He gave me a thumbs up as the female medic examined his head and neck.

"Thank God for that awning, huh?" Michael continued.

I was almost for sure Reese was a goner. But thanks to the awning that was conveniently placed below him, it broke his fall, causing Reese to lightly plant on the ground. Granted, he did break a leg and has a concussion, but other than that, I knew the tech nerd would be alright. He would wake up several hours later as a hero, as the boy who sacrificed himself for a girl who wasn't quite all there.

"There's a guardian angel by the name of Brayson Cole who's watching out for the squad," Michael added, "he just needs to keep an eye on the psycho."

Jasey.

It was hurting me than it should've, but at that point it didn't matter. Jasey Lopes was, and will probably be, one of my greatest friends. She ruined me, ruined Luke's life, turned people against me, and wore me thin. But there was a part of me that could forgive her. Jasey wasn't right in the head, and I wished I could've seen that. Maybe if I hadn't been so concentrated with my own issues, I would've had the decency to ask Jasey about hers. Or maybe even noticed that the TicTacs she kept popping into her mouth, weren't even TicTacs to begin with.

"If they take Jasey to Cobb in Napa, should we take a road trip?" Michael asked.

"You wanna go visit the girl who shot you in the head?" I raised a brow.

"More like, we can do something fancy like wine tasting, horseback riding, and eat kale salads," Michael suggested with a grin. "Get some sophistication in our blood before you go off to Newcoast and I spend my days working some lame job while taking pottery courses at the community college."

I don't know why I contemplated Michael's request to go to Napa. There was going to be more up there than just Jasey, horses and a sense of maturity. There was going to be Luke too, and I was more than willing to visit him - besides, who's going to scare off Kelsey and anymore cute employees at Cobb who find Luke attractive?

"Is everything alright?" Luke suddenly stood by me, draping an arm around my shoulder and like reflex, I rested my head against his shoulder.

"I will be," I told him. Looking up at the boy. I wasted no time in giving Luke a quick peck on the jaw, surprising him in the process.

"I'm gonna miss those when I go back to Cobb," Luke sighed, before returning the gesture with a gentle kiss on my temple.

"When are you leaving?" I asked him.

"My flight back leaves tomorrow at noon," he informed. "Do you think you'll be okay without me for a few more months?"

"We can make it work," I smiled, "and besides, without you here, I can actually concentrate on my studies. Senior year, you know."

I playfully punched Luke in the arm to which he responded with a chuckle. Then, as if remembering something, his body jolted. Looking at him with confusion in my eyes, I cocked my head to the side.

"Speaking of senior years," Luke began, slipping a hand into the inside pocket of his blazer. He pulled out a folded sheet of paper, opening it up before clearing his throat.

"What's that?" I asked him.

"A letter," Luke winked before letting his eyes gaze the small print, "'Dear Mr. Luke Hemmings, we are delighted to offer you admission to Newcoast University as an undergraduate student in the College of the Arts for Fall semester 2015...'"

I gasped with a large grin, and in happiness I pulled Luke into a tight hug, "I'm so proud of you."

"You, me, Newcoast this fall," Luke whispered, "I'm not breaking any pinky promises."

Hormonal unbalances due to the impeding doom that is my period was a complete understatement, as my 18th birthday was quite an emotional evening. Without warning, tears trickled down my cheeks, but in a way that was filled with joy as opposed to deep sadness. I was finally going to get my life back. Tomorrow would be a new day, a fresh start, and I was more than ready to welcome it with open arms.

These last few months have been torture, but in between all of that affliction, were sweet moments in which made me stronger. I hate to be cliche and say it. But whomever decided to coin the phrase, "what doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger," was one smart motherfücker. That expression seriously boded well, and was nothing but the truth. Now I was confident and equipped with enough mental stability to take on the rest of my life with tenacity - well, at least till the end of Senior year, because AP tests would be the bane of my existence.

"So I'm guessing the party's over?" Ashton mused, a dimpled smile across his cheeks as he approached Luke and I.

"Aw shoot. I was really having a good time," Calum stated, sarcasm dripping from his tone. He sauntered over to us, hands in his pocket and a wisp of his warm breath dancing from his lips.

"So, I propose that after we wake up from the best sleep ever," Michael started, still sitting on the bed of the medical truck, and still being examined by the female medic who looked very annoyed, "we go visit Reese's Pieces in the hospital, sign his leg cast--"

"--no penis drawings!" I warned, a stern expression thrown towards Michael, Ashton, Calum and even Luke.

"Fine," Michael groaned with an eye roll, "but as I was saying, after seeing Reese I think we should--"

"--go to your house to eat pizza, play video games and eat more pizza?" Ashton hinted with a smile.

"Quit interrupting me!" Michael yelled, causing the medic to jump from her skin and glare at the boy with exasperation - she was clearly done with his fuckery.

"Sorry!" Ashton apologized, throwing his hands up in defense, "continue on Clifford."

"I was going to suggest having a study group," Michael finished with a huff.

The entire crew took no time at all in snapping our heads in complete shock upon hearing Michael's academic petition. Not to downgrade my best friend's intelligence, as he could be quite a diligent person, but it was mainly when it came to video games and the consumption of junk food.

"Did I hear that correctly?" Calum raised a brow, "does Michael Clifford actually want to study?"

"Someone get me a medical examiner because I think I'm hearing things," Ashton playfully added, tapping his fingers against his ears.

"Do you even know how to open a text book?" Luke chimed in, "can you even read?"

"Ha. Ha. Real funny," Michael shot up the middle finger, causing us to chuckle in his expense. "We have three months till graduation and I personally want to join you douchebags in the ceremony on the football field, not the stands."

"And I personally want you to be there too," I declared, mimicking Michael's tone before gazing across the group, "so, study group, guys?"

"I'm in,"

"Let's do it,"

"But video games after,"

I knew right then and there that we were going to be okay - more than okay. We were like a wolf pack, The Plastics, or even Friends. If we could make it through all of this, then the rest of our lives as best friends would be a piece of cake. I never have to worry about half-assed friendships because I don't think this crew was even capable of such a thing.

We had three months left of our last year of high school, then after we had the summer. And beyond that, was a new journey to be embarked upon. It wasn't just going to be a new chapter - it was going to be a whole new book altogether. I was scared about what the future holds for all of us, but the reassuring factor in all of this, was the solid reassurance that we held the pens.

We get to write the book of our lives, and no matter what happens, I knew I was going to keep writing, keep editing, and keep telling my story the way I want it to be told. Because if there was one imperative thing I learned in the last several months, is that staying true to yourself will keep you free. And if a blue-eyed drunk boy with a quiff and a Polo shirt comes strolling in an alleyway at 2AM, sometimes it doesn't end up like an episode of CSI.

Instead, it can end up being the greatest story ever told.

//

AHHH!

OHMYGOSH! We did it! The LAST chapter of "Drunk Words, Sober Thoughts," has been published!!

MAJOY THANK YOUS to every single one of you who has read my story. Whether you just read one chapter and got sick of it, or you made it till the very end, THANK YOU for being a part of the crazy ride! While this isn't my first 5SOS fanfiction, it's definitely my most successful one.

I have to give credit to all the readers, those who vote, comment and recommend this story to their friends. I have to thank FANFICTION HQ for featuring this story in their 5SOS list, because without them, I don't think this story would even have half of its readers.

Although this is officially the last chapter, I did promise you all a character ask AND an Epilogue. Those will come to you soon! So below are a list of characters. Please highlight the name and inline comment your question:

ARI

LUKE

ASHTON

MICHAEL

CALUM

MIA

REESE

JASEY

If you'd like to ask me, Audrey Eve, any questions (personal or about the story), highlight my name! :)

Once again a MILLION thank yous to each and every one of you!If I could I'd hug you all, bake a large cake for all of us to share and throw a swanky party so we can all celebrate!!! Love you guys! <333