Taylor

We're done, and we're driving away.

We're only two minutes out. I'm driving, eyes flicking to the rear view mirror, and Lana is in the passenger seat, looking at the side mirror. Jude and Rani are in the back, twisted around because they're looking through the rear windshield. We can still see the building.

It's leaking water, making noises, has vines bursting through the seams, and, yes, due to them urging me before we left, part of it is on fire. The further we get, the harder it is to see the details, but broken windows and fire are still clear as day. A firetruck and police cars roar past us, a regular group of kids on a drive, and we're all silent, the weight of what we've done settling heavy on our shoulders.

It's an uncomfortable few minutes as the adrenaline wears off and we see the destruction we caused fade away into the distance, despite the fact that it will remain in our heads forever.

When we're too far to see even the smoke, I hear Jude and Rani slide back into their seats to face forward, Rani mumbling holy shit under her breath. I wonder if now's a good time to mention that I have no idea where we're going, and I've just been driving straight.

"So," Lana clears her throat. "Now what?"

I'm suddenly glad that I'm driving, because it means I don't have to meet anyone's eyes. I stare at the road, mind blank.

"Well..." Rani shifts in her seat. "I was thinking...if we're too messed up to be heroes, maybe we could be something else."

"Something else?" I repeat.

"Look, we're clearly not cut out to be noble, righteous heroes. None of us are doe-eyed or hopeful or golden-hearted. Not anymore. But maybe we can still try to be something, and do it our own way, like, ah—" She trails off and throws her hands up in frustration. "What's the word?"

"Anti-hero?" Jude suggests.

"Anti-heroes!" Rani repeats. "The ones who are kind of grey. Unconventional. That is—" she looks around awkwardly "—if we want to stay together at all."

No one says anything for at least a minute.

Finally, Lana shrugs. "I'm in," she says.

"Well," Jude sighs. "I've always wanted a close group of friends. But..." He meets my eyes in the rear view mirror. "I'm only in if everyone's in."

I look at the road again, but I can feel their expecting stares. "I know I was the first to say I was out," I say quietly, "and I know I said we were monsters, and I still believe that...but I also think we're good people. And we're worth a chance."

"Does that mean you're in?" Rani asks hopefully.

I smile. "Yeah. I'm in."

They all smile, too, and the energy in the air changes. There's a an ecstatic buzz and a relief to not have to say goodbye again. Our faces are glowing and happy, not with the rush from destruction, but with genuine excitement for the future.

Oh. Speaking of the future.

"Seriously, guys," I say. "Now what? At this exact moment? Because I've been going straight this entire time."

Jude and Rani shove their faces into the front to look at Lana expectantly, and I glance at her.

"If you're going to ask if I know a diner," she says, "I do know a place that has nice seafood."

I immediately signal a left to get on the highway. "To Portland?" I ask.

Lana grins, nodding. "To Portland!"