The next morning, I woke up to dozens of notifications from the group chat.

To my horror, the guys were still sending my picture back and forth, using it as a reaction to each other's messages. I had become a meme in my own friend group.

Instagram

❤️✨rat squad✨❤️
10:27 AM

lanini
I hate all of you

Sapnap
someone's salty

GeorgeNotFound
Just like in the picture

lanini
I was not!

Dream
sent a photo

Sapnap
DUDE FRIENDLY FIRE

Dream
sent a photo

GeorgeNotFound
DREAM DELETE THAT RN

Dream
and I have way more so quit it

Sapnap
awwwwww

GeorgeNotFound
So cute

Dream
stfu

TommyInnit
sent a photo

Dream
TOMMY

Dream
sent a GIF

TommyInnit
wjhere did you get that??? dsajb

Dream
your bruno mars shame lives
on the internet tomathy
stop sending her pic

TommyInnit
why
it's so funny
she looks stupid

Dream
tommy i will ban you from the smp

GeorgeNotFound
Simp

Sapnap
simp

TommyInnit
why is he a siump??
*simp

Sapnap
you'll understand when you're older

TommyInnit
TELL ME

seen by all

Laughing, I climbed out of bed to shower and get ready for breakfast with Melody.

Clay called while I was curling my hair, amped about a new idea he had to replace manhunts for a while. He rambled for at least fifteen minutes before trailing off awkwardly when I didn't reply.

And I wanted to. There were a hundred things I wanted to say to him, but I couldn't find the words. Nothing seemed to capture how I was feeling and what I wanted. I was stuck in limbo with him, missing what we were before and despising what we'd become.

I set the iron on the counter, staring at myself in the mirror. Terror set on my face — the raw fear of never getting back what we almost had.

Clay called my name a few times, but I couldn't bring myself to answer until his panic was evident.

"Did something happen? Are you okay?"

"Perfect," I whispered, then cleared my throat. "So, the group chat was something else this morning."

"Yeah, it was." His voice hitched, like he wanted to say more.

"It was nice of you to defend me."

"Well, only I can use it against you," he said simply.

I rolled my eyes. "That's not very princely."

"I did come to your rescue though."

"Yes, you did." I smiled, wrapping a few strands around the wand. "You know, most damsels know what their princes look like."

"Do they?" He faked surprise.

"Yes! They see them riding up on horseback ready to save them."

"Good thing it's not medieval times," he chuckled.

"Clay."

"Nala."

Sighing, I said, "It's a little unfair that you know what I look like, but I have no idea about you."

"I'm sorry, Lani, but I have to be careful." He did sound sorry, deeply. "My best friends didn't even know what I looked like until they met me in person."

I decided not to push, returning to my tragic mess of hair. "Well, that's just rude."

"Respectfully, suck it," he shot back, and I imagined him snapping his fingers. Without another thought, he said, "Guess you'll have to come to Orlando and meet me, too."

My heart leapt, and I replied, "I guess I will."

↠

Melody pulled a face, sticking her tongue out in disgust. "You two are so cheesy, I think I'll make some nachos."

I shoved her arm, making her swerve slightly. "You and Ronnie are way worse, so I don't want to hear it."

"No, we aren't—Well, yeah, okay." She shrugged, conceding. "But you can't blame me for having whiplash from this whole thing."

"What?"

She tapped her nails against the steering wheel. "Loving him, hating him, then loving him again."

I sat back in the passenger seat, staring at her. "First of all, I don't—"

"Bitch, don't argue with me when you know I'm right." Melody glanced over at me for a second, one eyebrow raised.

"Okay, I didn't hate him," I clarified. "I was just confused about everything."

Melody stopped at a red light, then turned completely to face me. Her free hand found one of mine, squeezing gently. "Are you still confused?"

"Sometimes," I admitted, noticing the disapproving look on her face and adding, "but it's getting better!"

The light changed, and her attention returned to the road. But she didn't hesitate when she said, "Lani, don't let him back until he deserves it. A half-assed apology and explanation isn't enough to turn back time."

Her words sat with me after she dropped me off at the house. I walked up the winding stone path with a heavy heart, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. I thought I changed for the better, but I was terrified that I'd reverted enough to let another person trample over me.

And I hated to think that person was Clay.

My nerves got the better of me, whispering in my ear as I walked through the front door. A familiar tightness formed in my stomach, swirling and dredging up past habits. I held a hand over my mouth, pleading with myself to hold it in.

"Is that Lani?"

Brook poked her head into the hallway, retreating as soon as our eyes locked. "Yeah, it's her."

I stepped into the kitchen, the bad feeling in my chest replaced with confusion. The entire house was home on a Sunday afternoon — a very bad omen in our group.

Brook stood behind the island, her yoga mat under one arm. Rye's headphones were nestled around his neck as he leaned against the countertop. Major's back was to me, his muscles tensed and stiff.

"What's going on?"

"Tell her," Rye said, his tone stern and completely unlike him.

Major finally turned, the pain in his eyes making my entire body ache for him. "My company is transferring me to San Francisco at the end of the month. They want me to head a new project to get their California branch off the ground."

I could hardly breathe, my words escaping through fresh tears. "You're moving?"

He nodded solemnly.

I found myself looking to Brook, whose face morphed from inexpressive to passionate in seconds.

"We're going to Disney."

Major cast her skeptical look, but Brook stared him down.

"We're going, Hayden," she barked. "We all swore we'd go together."

"When we were in high school!"

"We're going."

Major's head turned to Rye.

"I agree, man. This may be the last time we do anything just the four of us." Rye's eyes caught mine, glimmering with emotion.

I looked everywhere but at him.

"Lani?" Major whispered, his voice strained and searching for any support.

"We did promise, May."

He sighed in defeat. "I guess we're going to Disney World."

Brook cheered, immediately delving into the dirty details. She was spouting off things we needed — hotel rooms, tickets, new outfits — when I slunk out of the room.

The entire room felt like it was closing in on me; I had to be anywhere else. I ran upstairs with the intention of calling Clay, but an incoming call popped up before I could hit his contact.

My heart pounded as I stared at the unknown Orlando number, but I let it go to voicemail.

I waited in the middle of the hallway for the voicemail notification, the entire world fading into the background. As soon as it came through, I practically jumped to listen.

"Hello, Ms. Roswell, I'm calling on behalf of Fuller Events. We're pleased to inform you that you have been selected for our paid internship. If you choose to accept, please call back at this number within the week. Congratulations, Ms. Roswell."

I scrambled to call the professional-sounding woman back, my entire body shaking. She answered after the first ring, her delicate voice filling my ears. I shuffled down the hall into my room, collapsing into my desk chair.

I listened to her explain the details of the internship, but my brain couldn't process her words. Thankfully, she said everything I needed to know would be sent as an email by the end of the business day.

"I understand you currently live in Miami. As Fuller Events is stationed out of Orlando, this internship will require you to relocate for the duration of your employment. On your application, you noted that this wouldn't be a problem. Is that still the case?"

When I found my voice, I squeaked out, "Yes, I am still willing to relocate."

"How soon?"

"I can be out there by the end of the month."

"Wonderful. We look forward to working with you, Ms. Roswell."

"You, as well."

The call disconnected, and I gasped for breath. Dozens of thoughts raced through my mind, but they all ceased when Brook appeared in the doorway, knocking lightly on the door.

I didn't even realize I'd left it open.

"Hey, sorry to bother you—" she started, running a hand through her hair.

"You're not at all. What's up?" I threw my phone on the desk, forcing myself to relax.

"I want to throw Major a going away party, but not the kind Rye and I used to have. I want Major's, like, interests involved and stuff."

"He loves Italian food," I offered, shrugging. "That's a good place to start."

She nodded, eyes twinkling with determination. "Italian, right. What about alcohol?"

"Um, I think his favorite is scotch."

"Really? I would've thought it was some kind of beer. You know, bro-style."

I laughed, lifting my legs onto the chair to rest my chin on my knees. "He hasn't done anything 'bro-style' since his senior season ended."

"Right, okay. Thanks, Lani."

She left without anything more, but I wished she hadn't. Part of me wanted to commend her for trying, for actually taking our fight to heart. If I could change, could pull myself from her shadow and be a new person, I knew she could, too.

↠

I checked in with Major later, curious about the details of his new job. I assumed no one in the house had asked yet, with the Disney preparations and natural shock from the news.

His guilt about leaving vanished when I excitedly probed him about his opportunity. He dove into the analytical, marketing side of it. Though I hated the numbers and statistics of our careers, the way he lit up when he talked made me think it wasn't so bad.

I also saw why he was entrusted with this project — his dedication and passion for what he did spoke volumes.

"What about you? How's the diner going?"

My nose scrunched, and that was answer enough for him.

"Maybe you should look into something new. Have you heard anything from your applications yet?"

"Actually . . ."

He squinted at me, then his eyes widened in realization. "You got one, didn't you?"

"I got the call from Fuller earlier today."

"Lani, that's amazing!" He wrapped me in a hug, his excitement pouring into me.

"I'm still in shock," I sighed when he pulled back. "There's so much to do and I don't know where to begin."

He grinned. "How about with a trip to the happiest place on earth?"

I laughed and nodded. "Guess I'd better start packing."

With a gentle kiss to my forehead, Major ushered me out of his room to do some packing of his own — both for the trip and for the next phase of his life.

In less than two weeks, we'd be in completely different cities with new responsibilities. It would be the first time any of us had been apart in years.

As I closed my bedroom door behind me, I thought about the day we all moved in. My mom thought it was a horrible idea, living with friends my first year of college. She insisted that I choose a dorm on campus for the "experience" and revisit the idea in a year.

Not listening to her was the best decision I could've made.

I learned more in the house than I ever could've in a dorm. I deepened connections that had been surface-level for years, and found a true best friend in the chaos — Major.

I found someone who'd stand by me through anything.

And he was about to be three thousand miles away.

I was terrified to be without him, to be alone all together. Fuller Events was the first step to the rest of my life, and I knew deep down that it was the right move. But the fear gnawed at me.

What if I hate it?

What if I lose all my friends?

What if I fail?

My phone started ringing on the desk, illuminated by the one person who made the world disappear.

And, in that moment, I had the most important answer: Then at least I'll know I tried.