(sammi's outfit for this chapter

Alexa and Katie were graduating high school and getting ready to leave for college soon. It feels like just yesterday they started high school. Sammi was going to miss them both so much, but she knew they would go and do great things. Sammi had graduated college with an Associates in General Studies degree not too long ago and was now preforming at different gigs. She was getting paid to play music which was her dream and she couldn't be more happy. She even posted a YouTube channel where she posted covers of songs and her original songs. 

Currently, Sammi was sitting on a chair in the living room, working on a new song in her journal. Jack sat on the couch on his phone while Alexa and Katie were taking selfies in their cap and gown they had to wear for graduation which was today. Sammi glanced up from her journal when Katie gasped.

Katie was looking at her phone then at Alexa with wide eyes. "Is that my email?"

"Is that NYU?" Alexa asked her.

"It was mine." Jack replies. He laughs. "Kyle sent me a picture of his tongue." His eyes widen. "Oh, he's really allergic to mustard." He raises his phone to show the picture to Alexa and Katie and they both exclaimed words of disgust. Jack then went to show the picture to Sammi, but Sammi raised a hand to stop him with a grimaced expression.

"Yeah, if they're reactions are like that then I don't wanna see the picture." Sammi commented and Jack nodded before turning his attention back to his phone. Alexa and Katie resume taking selfies and Sammi went back to working on her song. She had been wanting to finish this song so she could sing it to Alexa and Katie before they left to college. 

Sammi glances over at Lori and Jennifer, who were in the kitchen, when she overheard them speaking. "Yeah, I totally stayed Zen when Dr. Breitwieser called and left a message for Alexa," Lori said to Jennifer. She then raises her voice on the last sentence, glancing at her daughter. "Who still hasn't called him back!" Sammi furrowed her eyebrows, looking at Alexa. She wondered why Dr. Breitwieser called Alexa. She hoped it was nothing serious. 

Alexa sighs. "My mom's been so weird. My dad's also been weird, but, like, a weirder weird." She frowns. "They're definitely gonna embarrass me at graduation."

Katie puts her hands on her hips, humming in agreement. She tilts her head to the side, looking at Alexa with confusion. "Why did Dr. Breitwiser call you?"

Alexa shrugs. "Who knows?"

"You would..." Katie points at her. "If you call him back."

"I'm sure it's nothing..." Alexa reassures her. "And I haven't had to see him in over a year anyway, so..."

After noticing Dave and Lucas walk down the stairs, Sammi closes her journal, setting it to the side as she gets up and walks over to Lucas. He shares a smile with her, kissing her forehead and wraps an arm around her shoulders while she wraps an arm around his waist.

"Aw." Dave comments, smiling at his daughter. "Look at you, graduating high school." He puts a hand on Alexa's shoulder. "Alexa, never forget...You can make a compass with a needle, a leaf, and a little bit of water." Sammi furrowed her eyebrows, thinking it was weird he said that random piece of information. She expected him giving Alexa some fatherly advice about college instead of that.

Dave then twirls his keys around and heads for the door. "We better get going."

"Yep." Alexa nods, pressing her lips together in a tight line. "Definitely gonna embarrass me."

"Yeah." Katie agreed.

Lucas and Sammi let go of each other, holding hands instead as they walk over to the door. Lori and Jennifer walk over to the door as Dave opens it. "Oh, wait. Wait, wait," Katie said, causing everyone to stop what they were doing. "Before we go, today is about us, but tomorrow, Alexa and I wanna do something to thank all of you."

Alexa smiles widely. "We're planning a backyard movie night. 

Nodding, Katie grins. "There'll be food."

"Twinkle lights." Alexa added.

"And a movie." Katie points towards the backyard. "In the backyard." She grimaces. "I guess that's obvious."

"It is." Sammi chuckles lightly and smiles at her and Alexa. "But that sounds great, you guys. That's really sweet of you two to do that for us."

Lori nods in agreement and smiles when she thought of an idea. "You know, I'll have Brian drop off the popcorn machine." Alexa and Katie seemed to like that idea since they both smiled excitedly at each other.

"I can't make it." Lucas speaks up. He grins. "My roommates and I are throwing an insane move-in party." After seeing the look on his mom's face, he looks nervous as he stammers. "I mean, uh...We're going to talk about books."

Sammi laughs a bit and playfully elbows him. "Nice save." Lucas rolled his eyes playfully at her and gestured with a nod of his head for them to head out. Sammi nodded, walking towards the door as Lucas let go of her hand to open the door. He let her walk out first, smiling softly and a light blush appeared on his face when she kissed his cheek on her way outside. He then closed the door to follow Sammi towards the car.

****

Later that night Sammi helped Dave move Lucas into his apartment. "I'm gonna miss you." Lucas admitted with a sad smile on his face. He and Sammi were standing outside his dorm building, holding onto each other's hands as they said goodbye. He didn't 

Smiling softly, Sammi squeezes both his hands. "I'm gonna miss you too." They both stared at each other love and adoration in their eyes and before either of them knew it they were leaning in. Their kiss was cut short because of a horn honked. They pulled away from each other, both blushing faintly and smiling at each other.

"I better go." Sammi said, gesturing with a nod of her head towards the parked car Dave was in waiting for her. "That was your dad who honked the horn so he's probably ready to leave." After she and Lucas let go of their hands, Sammi wraps her arms around herself in an attempt to help her get warm. "Plus it's freakin' cold out here." 

Lucas laughs slightly, taking his denim jacket off he wore. "Samshine, you can wear this." He wrapped it around her shoulders, kissing her forehead in the process. Sammi smiled softly, her face growing hot at the sweet gesture he did as she put the jacket on. Lucas' jacket was a couple sizes too big on her, but she didn't care because it was warm and it smelt like him.

"Thanks, honey." Sammi responds. She furrows her eyebrows and a small frown tugs on her lips. "But aren't you cold now? And are you sure you want me to wear this? I don't know when I would be able to get to see you in person to give it back to you."

Ignoring the blush that appeared on his face and the butterflies dancing in his stomach, Lucas smiles fondly at her. Even though they've been together for some time now he still got flustered when Sammi used terms of endearments. "It's fine, babe." He reassures her and now it was her turn to blush slightly and her heart fluttered. Just like Lucas, she still got flustered when terms of endearments were used. "I have plenty of other jackets to wear. And besides," He smirks at her. "You look a lot cuter in it than I do." 

"Thank you." Sammi smiled shyly. 

Lucas then points at her with a playful stern expression. "And you better record your song you're gonna sing for Alexa and Katie 'cause I wanna hear your new song. I might ignore you for a couple of days if you don't do that."

"Don't worry," Sammi giggles. "I'll be sure to record it." She smiles teasingly at him. "I don't think you could last a couple of days without talking to me." 

"Yeah, you're right." Lucas chuckled with a sheepish smile on his face. 

"I don't think I could last a couple of days without talking with you." Sammi told him.

"I love you." Lucas smiled at her.

"I love you too." She kissed his cheek before she turned around and walked towards Dave's car, putting her hands in the pockets of Lucas' denim jacket. 

Sammi was going to miss having Lucas at home. Things were going to be different without him there and things were going to be even more different without Alexa at home, but she knew things would be alright.

****

"Just got Lucas all moved in." Dave explains, letting Sammi walk in first before he followed her and closed the door behind him. Dave smiles and nods, glancing at Sammi. "Nice roommates."

Sammi smiles and nods in agreement. "Yeah, they were pretty nice."

Dave looks back at his daughter and wife with a grin as he did the floss move. "They taught me how to floss." While Lori smiled and pointed at him, Alexa and Sammi exchanged an embarrassed expression.

"I'm sorry you had to watch him learn how to do that." Alexa apologized to her.

Sammi chuckles. "Thanks. But it wasn't that bad. It was kinda funny though."

"Speaking of floss," Dave said and he speaks serious tone as he looks at Alexa. "If you're ever injured you can use dental floss to stitch a wound." 

Alexa nods slowly, putting one hand on her hip. "Good to know."

Dave nods and smiles. Sammi walks to the living room to get her journal as Alexa heads for the stairs to go to her room. "Let me see, baby." Lori said to Dave and Dave did the floss move again. Sammi chuckles, smiling at him with amusement. "Nice." Lori commented with a small smile and Dave groaned as he stopped the move, holding his side since he got hurt.

****

(sammi's outfit for this part of the chapter)

The next day Sammi decided on going to Wired to get a cup of coffee. She noticed that Alexa and Katie had been acting weird throughout the day and if one of them or both of them were at Wired's she wanted to ask them what was going on. 

Sammi walks into the coffee shop, smiling slightly upon noticing the artwork on the chalkboard that's on the outside of the front counter. She then glances at Aiden, who was behind the counter with Katie. "Hey, nice artwork, Aiden."

Aiden smiles at her. "Thanks." He tilts his head to the side, raising his eyebrows. "What can we get for you?"

"A coffee to-go, please." Sammi smiles a bit and Aiden nods, pointing at her before he started making her coffee. "You know," Sammi points at him. "You should go to an art school."

Katie grins, pointing at Sammi. "That's exactly what I told him!"

Aiden rolls his eyes and chuckles lightly. "Like I told Katie, I'm not really a school guy."

"Okay," Sammi nods, sending him a small smile. "But you should think about it. You're a really talented artist." Aiden really did have talent. She thought it was so cool he was showing his talent by making art on the chalkboard counter here at the coffee shop where anyone could see. She also thought that he should go to art school to become a professional artist and show the whole world his talent. 

"Exactly," Katie grins. "Which is why you should-"

When he noticed Alexa and Spencer walk in, Aiden smiles with relief. "Yay, Alexa's here." He interrupted Katie's sentence and then he started making Sammi's coffee.

Sammi laughs lightly, shaking her head. She steps to the side, standing by the counter to lean an elbow on it as she watches the interaction between Alexa and Katie. Alexa clears her throat, putting her hand sin the pockets of her pants. "Hello, local barista."

"Hello, customer I cannot help." Katie responded.

Spencer smiles and nods. "That's my cue." He points at Katie. "Two coffees, please."

With a smile on her face, Katie clicked her tongue and pointed at him in response before she walked around the counter to get their orders ready. 

"Sammi," Aiden got Sammi's attention and she glances over at him, smiling slightly as he sat a coffee mug in front of her. "Here's your coffee to-go." 

"Thank you." Sammi said and she paid for her coffee before she grabbed the mug and took a drink of it. 

"Alright, now I get the whole art school question." Aiden nods in realization. "Because of the whole not-helping-Alexa thing, you're all backed up with advice." 

Sammi raises her eyebrows, setting the mug on the counter. "Hold on, what's the whole not-helping-Alexa thing?"

Aiden glances at her with surprise then glances at Katie. "You guys haven't told her?"

Katie grimaces. "We forgot to tell her. We were so busy with coming up with the movie night and then the not helping each other plan that we forgot to tell her."

"It's okay." Sammi reassures her. She looks at her with confusion. "I just wanna know what the plan is 'cause right now I'm so confused."

Katie chuckles lightly. "So, Alexa and I decided to not be friends until after the movie night to prove how bad everything will be without us being friends."

"Okay." Sammi nodded slowly, still confused as to why they were doing that.

Aiden points at her in a sign of agreement. "Right? I was confused about it too."

Katie rolls her eyes and grabs the coffee mug she had poured coffee in before she walks around the counter. Aiden picks up the coffee mug he had poured coffee in and followed her. "And I guess it also explains why you wanna coordinate outfits and why you keep trying to finish my-"

"Sentences!" Katie interrupts Aiden with an excited smile. She giggles. "I got that one." Aiden rolled his eyes with a smile on his face. 

Sammi smiled as she watched the couple's interactions. She thought Aiden and Katie were perfect for each other and she was really happy Katie found someone who could make her happy. After saying goodbye to her friends, Sammi left and went back home to make some finishing touches on her song she was planning on singing tonight.

****
It was finally backyard movie night. But earlier that day Sammi had asked Alexa why her doctor called her and she was relieved to find out her doctor just wanted to congratulate her for graduating high school.

The Mendoza's backyard was decorated, there was a table with snacks on it, chairs set up in front of a projector screen and there was even a popcorn machine that Lori borrowed from Brian. Sammi was at the snack table with Katie and Spencer when Alexa walked over to them, carrying a bowl of salsa.

Alexa scoffs. "Great. We both brought salsa. This is what happens when we're not doing stuff together," She sets the bowl of salsa on the table. "Salsa overload." 

Katie nods. "Yeah."

"There's plenty of chips inside." Spencer spoke.

Alexa and Katie sends him a disapproving look and Sammi chuckles. "Probably shouldn't have said anything, Spence."

Spencer nods in agreement with a grimaced expression. "I'm gonna go sit down."

With her hands on her hips, Alexa hums in agreement. She walks around the table, standing beside Katie. "And my brownies are a nightmare. I mean, I didn't have you to remind me to put in the walnuts. Walnut underload." She giggles as Alexa smiles. "Just the beginning of horrendous night." Katie commented excitedly.

Alexa claps her hands with a grin on her face. "No one's going to have fun."

"Yeah." Katie agreed.

Sammi chuckles lightly, shaking her head. "Still don't understand why you guys are doing that plan, but good for you, I guess."

"Love the brownies, Katie." Joe called out to the blonde, giving her a thumbs up.

Katie waves a dismissive hand. "Joe loves everything."

"Okay, I'm gonna go get some popcorn 'cause it smells really good." Sammi announced and waked over to the popcorn machine. After getting herself a bag of popcorn, Sammi sat down on the chair between where Alexa and Katie were going to sit.

"This popcorn is so good." Dave commented, eating some popcorn from the bag he had. His wife, who sat beside him, hummed in agreement as she ate some popcorn from her own bag.

Brian, who sat behind them, leans forward. "Almost as good as a proper invite and not just a, 'Hey, can we borrow your popcorn machine?'."

"Oh, Brian, I thought the invitation was implied." Lori tells him. She chuckles. "You know, of course I'd want my business partner to come to my daughter's 'thank you, family' movie night." Brian just smiled and leaned back. 

"Did you know I'm old enough for a scary movie now?" Jack asked Aiden, who sat behind him. 

Aiden's eyes widen slightly and he chuckles nervously. "Uh, what do you mean, 'scary'? I thought it'd be more family friendly."

Sammi glances at him with raised eyebrows and smiles teasingly at him. "Aiden, are you scared of horror movies?" She chuckles, waving a dismissive hand. "It's okay 'cause I am too." She pouts, leaning back against the seat. "I would've stayed inside if I knew what movie we were watching." 

"I thought it'd be more family friendly." Aiden admits. "You know, like when you can hear what a dog is thinking."

"I love those movies." Joe smiled.

"Oh, me too." Jennifer agrees and she chuckles. "Turns out, dogs like to be in a convertible with Dennis Quaid as much as I do."

Joe nods. "I love Dennis Quaid."

Katie walks over to stand in front of everyone. "Alright, so tonight's movie is the chilling horror film, 'The Terror'."

Aiden chuckles, but this time it sounded like it was forced. "Okay. You weren't kidding, it-it is scary."

"So, uh, enjoy movie night...If you can." Katie said in a scary tone before she walked to her seat between Aiden and Sammi.

"'Cause it's gonnna be a train wreck'." Alexa commented excitedly in a sing-songy voice and Sammi chuckled. Jennifer turned on the movie and everyone cheered. Then suddenly the projector screen fell down, causing everyone to groan.

"Train wreck!" Katie exclaimed.

Alexa stands up, facing everyone, not knowing Joe was fixing the projector screen. "You know, Kati and I normally put up the screen together. You know, total fail, guys. I'm so sorry. Movie night is over, and-" Everyone cheering interrupted her sentence, causing her to sit down and Joe sat back down just before the movie started.

Jack smiles. "Awe, I'm so glad this is not..." The smile on his face fell as the movie starts. A scared expression forms on his face. "A little kid movie." He closes his eyes. "Oh, this is awesome."

"Totally awesome." Sammi comments, covering her eyes with one hand. "Someone let me know what happens 'cause I'm too scared to uncover my eyes."

"Ah, sorry. You know, the movie's...A little scarier than I thought. Just another example of how bad movie night's..." Some of the others shushed Katie, causing her to grow quiet. 

"Hey, there are ants on the brownies!" Alexa notices. "Okay, now we need new treats. This night is a to-" She stopped talking when some of the others shushed her. By this point, Jack had covered his face completely and Sammi was peeking through her fingers since her hand still covered her eyes. 

"Hey, uh, I'll help." Aiden offers and chuckles nervously, standing up to follow Alexa inside. "Uh, 'cause I want to help, not because I'm scared." 

A few moments later, Katie and Spencer took in some of the other snacks since there were ants on them. And a few minutes later, suddenly the sprinklers went off, causing everyone to scream and run inside. But by the time they were inside, they were all laughing. 

"The sprinklers came on." Jack informed the others.

Joe smiles, putting a hand on his hip. "I love sprinklers."

"It's a good thing the sprinklers came on 'cause the movie was at a really scary part." Sammi said with relief. She frowns, crossing her arms. "I'll definitely get no sleep tonight after watching that."

Alexa and Katie turn to each other with smiles. "I forgot to turn the timer off." Alexa admitted.

"And I-I wanted to remind you but couldn't." Katie stutters and she grins. "Total cluster-jam." 

Alexa chuckles. "Ah, movie night was an absolute dumpster fire."

"Not for me." Jack comments. "That movie was so scary, I'm okay with raccoons now." Yeah, apparently Jack was afraid of raccoons which stopped him from going outside. How he was even afraid of raccoons? Sammi wasn't for sure. But at least that movie helped him get over that fear. 

"We heard the sprinklers and came in." Lori smiled.

"And nobody even got wet." Dave added.

"Yeah." Lori nodded.

Everyone looks at the door when Brian cleared his throat as he walked in and he was soaking wet from the sprinklers. Sammi covers her mouth to stifle a laugh. "Except that guy." Aiden remarked, pointing at Brian.

"My name is Brian..." Brian tells him, folding his hands in front of him. "And I don't run. Good night." He moved his wet hair out of his face and left. 

Sammi laughs a bit and shakes her head, walking over to the living room where she set her guitar case. "Okay, so I know this was a thank you night for all of us, but I wrote a song for Alexa and Katie and wanted to sing it tonight." She gets her guitar out of its case, glancing at the others with a nervous expression. "Is that okay?" 

They all smile at her and nod. "Of course it's okay, Sam." Alexa reassured her. 

"Okay, great." Sammi smiles with relief, putting the strap around her shoulder. "Oh, before I start, Lucas wanted me to record this song so he can listen to it." She takes her phone out of her back pocket of her jeans, going to her video camera and looks at Lori with a hopeful expression. "Lori, could you record it for me?"

"Sure." Lori smiled, taking her phone from her. Sammi nodded at her, signaling for her to start the recording. Lori started the recording making sure she was getting a good shot of Sammi.

"This song is called 'Believe That' and I wrote it for Alexa and Katie." Sammi announces, smiling at the blonde and brunette, who both smile back at her. "So, just think of this as a graduation present for you guys. The song is about how the world can knock you down, but you always get back up. And that's exactly what you've both done really you're whole life and I'm proud of you both. I love you guys."

Alexa and Katie share a smile before they both smile at her again. "We love you too." They both said in unison. 

Sammi takes a deep breath, closing her eyes and then opens them. She began strumming her guitar and then started singing.

https://youtu.be/G3FhgZSEEpI

After the song was over, the room was erupted into cheers and applause for her. She smiles widely at everyone. "Thank you."

As Alexa and Katie walk over to her with tears in their eyes, Sammi puts her guitar behind her so its resting on her back. "Sammi, that was amazing." Alexa compliments, pulling her into a group hug with Katie. "You didn't have to write us a song though."

"I wanted to." Sammi confesses. "I wanted you guys to know how much you mean to me and how proud of you I am." Before she knew it, tears were forming in her own eyes and she hugs her best friends tighter. "You guys are like sisters to me and I'm just gonna miss you both so much."

"I can't say it for Katie, but you've always been like a sister to me too." Alexa admitted, pulling away from the hug along with Katie.

Katie chuckles. "Of course you're always a sister to me too." 

"When you guys go to college, you better contact me a least once or twice a week and update me on your life." Sammi told them.

"Don't worry, we will." Alexa reassured her.

****

(sammi's outfit for this part of the chapter)

Two months later and it was time for Alexa and Katie to be sent off to college. Katie found out she got accepted into NYU and decided on going there even though it meant she and Alexa wouldn't be going to college together. They both decided that's the right thing to do.

Sammi was walking down the stairs to check on Lori, who was down stairs working on packing things to help Alexa. She smiled and quietly said 'awe' when she saw Alexa and Lori hugging. She looked at the door when it opened, a surprised expression forming on her face when she saw her boyfriend walk in with all of his stuff.

Lucas groans. "I got kicked out of my apartment." He sets his stuff on the floor, closing the door behind him. Putting one hand on his hip, he looks at his family and girlfriend. "I thought our sink was a garbage disposal, but it was just a sink."

Sammi chuckles softly and shakes her head. Sometimes she wondered how he was making it through college. "So, I tried to take the meatloaf out of the drain." Lucas continues and groans. "Water everywhere. But, long story short, I live here now, and I owe my ex-landlord a new sink."

"Come here." Lori said with teary eyes, gesturing for her son to join her and Alexa. "I finally cracked." Sammi smiles slightly. Lori was determined to not cry until Alexa left and everyone thought she was going to cry at some point before Alexa left. At least she made it all the way until the last day. Lori wipes her eyes as she continues to cry. "Some of these tears are for you." 

Lucas smiled and walked over to join the hug. When she realized Sammi was standing on the bottom step of the stairs, Lori smiles and gestures her to join. "You come on over too, Sammi."

Sammi smiles softly and joins the hug. A few moments later, Dave walks down the stairs and smiles. "She finally cracked." He commented and he joined the hug.

"I did, big time." Lori spoke.

Dave glances over his shoulder, just then seeing Lucas' stuff on the floor. "Why are Lucas' suitcases here?"

"Oh, so I thought our sink was a garbage disposal-"

"Yeah," Lori interrupts him, patting his shoulder. "Not now, son."

****

Before anyone knew it, it was the day Alexa and Katie were leaving for college. Sammi, the Mendoza's and the Cooper's walked out the side door in the kitchen, meeting each other in the yard where Alexa and Katie already were at saying their goodbyes. Everyone had some kind of boxes or bags, helping the girls carry their things. Before the girls were sent off, everyone got to hug them both. Everyone had tears in their eyes, all sad to see the girls leave. 

"Call me right when you get to UNC, okay, Lex?" Sammi said to the brunette, pulling her in for a tight hug.

"I will." Alexa smiles at her. "I'm gonna miss you so much, Sam." 

"I'm gonna miss you too." Sammi replied. After she hugged Alexa, she went over to hug Katie. "You better call me when you get to New York, alright?"

"Okay." Katie smiles, chuckling as she hugs Sammi back. "Sammi, I'm gonna miss you so much."

Sammi hugs her tighter. "I'm gonna miss you too." 

Then when everyone was done they picked up the luggage they had put down to hug the girls and began to walk to the cars Alexa's and Katie's luggage needed to go in. Sammi walked beside Lucas, sharing a sad smile with him as they intertwined their hands together. Things were going to be so different without having Alexa and Katie at home, but she knew that they all would be okay.

****

(sammi's outfit for this part of the chapter)

It has been over a few months since Alexa and Katie were sent off to college, but now they both were visiting home for Thanksgiving break. As they held hands, Sammi and Lucas walk down the stairs to greet Alexa and Spencer, who had picked up Alexa from the airport. Dave and Lori were already at the door waiting for Alexa and Spencer.

The door opened a few moments later, revealing Alexa and Spencer. "Yay!" Lori exclaimed excitedly.

"Hey! Welcome home!" They all pulled Alexa into a group hug. 

"It's so good to be home." Alexa grins when they all pull away. 

"Yeah, it's so good to see you." Lori smiled. Everyone tried calling Alexa back when she walked past them all and went up the stairs.

"Sometimes I think she loves Katie more than us." Sammi chuckled and the others nodded in agreement.

Spencer closes the door behind him as he walks in and awkward silence fills the air as they all look at him. Spencer smiles awkwardly, outstretching his arms. "Hey, everyone."

Sammi shares a look with Dave, Lori, and Lucas, before they all smile at Spencer and greet him. "Hey!"

Then they all pull him in for a group hug. "Welcome home!"

A/N it's the last chapter 😭 i loved writing this book so much & im gonna miss writing sammi's & lucas' relationship, they were so cute you guys! thanks for all the love & support on this book, love you guys <3