A/N: This part is upsetting, please read with caution. <3

There was a pit in my stomach that grew day by day as the end of the summer approached, and before I knew it, it was Michelle's birthday.

Heather and I picked up a cake from a bakery that was about 20 minutes away. It was yellow, Michelle's favorite color, and had sunflowers on it.

"I hope she'll like it," Heather commented as we drove back home, "It looked perfect in the store."

I held the cake in a box on my lap and said back to Heather, "No doubt she's going to love it. Michelle is basically if sunshine was a person, and this cake depicts that."

Heather smiled, "Alright, good. That's what I was going for."

As Heather kept driving, I snuck a glance at her.

This girl means the absolute world to me.

That night we planned on having everyone over to celebrate Michelle's birthday, and then Julian, Haley, and Michelle were going to sleep at Heather's so we could have one last night all together.

Victoria set out the most elaborate charcuterie board on a table in the backyard that I had ever seen, as well as the cake for Michelle. There was a cooler full of drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic.

I was planning on drinking alcohol. Possibly even getting more drunk than I had yet. I felt petrified of the unknown that was coming, and at least for one night, I wanted to forget about it. Or at least try.

I could tell that Heather was feeling the same way. We sat in the backyard together before everyone arrived, and she said to me, "I honestly feel like I need a Xanax or something. I am so anxious for what's to come. I don't feel ready for college."

"I'm right there with you, Heather. I feel kind of sick to my stomach when I think about it."

"It's good to know I'm not alone, though I'd much rather you not be feeling this way. I don't handle change very well."

I gave Heather a small smile, "I'm sure that 4 years from now when we've graduated, we'll be talking about how we were so nervous for college, and that we really had no reason. That's what I'm trying to tell myself."

Heather smiled back at me, "I hope you're right. We'll check back in 4 years."

Not long after, everyone started to arrive. Michelle was absolutely thrilled by the cake, and she gave Heather and I both a big hug.

"Oh, it's perfect!" she said, "Thank you so much."

"Thank Heather," I responded as she hugged me, "It was all her idea."

Victoria stuck candles in the cake for Michelle, and we all sang to her. She looked bashful to be the center of attention.

Julian turned to Haley, "Does Taylor Swift have a song about being 19 that you can sing to Michelle?"

Haley rolled her eyes and smiled as she whacked Julian playfully, "She doesn't."

As the night went on, I drank more than usual, and was feeling a buzz. I noticed that we all were drinking more than usual, and Julian was lighting up a joint non stop it seemed.

The five of us sat together at the fire pit, all completely under the influence.

"I haven't been this drunk in, well, ever," Michelle said.

"I'm right there with you," I nodded.

Heather took a hit of Julian's joint and spoke, "It was needed tonight."

"I agree," Haley said, slurring her words slightly, "I know I'm not one to open up about my feelings a lot. But guys, I'm really fucking nervous to move to Florida for college. What if I hate it?"

"You can always switch schools," Michelle said to Haley, "But let's not think like that. I guarantee you're going to love it and do amazing."

Haley smiled at Michelle, "You always know what to say. Become a therapist instead of a nurse."

At one point, Michelle and Heather got up to grab another drink, and Julian got up to grab more weed from his backpack, leaving just Haley and I.

She was across from me, so I got up and sat down next to her. She was staring at the bonfire, obviously drunk.

"Hey," I nudged her lightly, "Are you okay?"

She turned to look at me with her big, blue eyes and said, "I will be. I keep having to tell myself that. But I am really nervous, as I said."

"I am as well. Heather and I were saying earlier than in 4 years we're all going to look back on this and realize we didn't have to be so nervous."

Haley gave me a grateful smile, "Thank you for that, Alice. That's actually comforting. I appreciate it."

All of the adults and siblings left Heather's at around midnight, and the five of us stayed out at the bonfire for a while longer until we made our way to the bedrooms.

Heather stopped me in the hall, "Sleep in my room tonight?"

I nodded, "I'd love to."

Heather and I went into her bedroom, and after she closed the door behind us, she spoke, "I feel so drunk. And so tired."

I laughed, "As do I. Here, let's get into bed together."

Heather and I dragged ourselves to her bed, and didn't even bother to get under the covers. Moments later, we both passed out, my head on her chest.

I found myself waking back up with the room still dark, unsure of what time it was. I looked up to see Heather scrolling on her phone.

I sat up and she turned to me, "Oh! You're awake."

"What time is it?" I asked her.

"Just after 3 AM. I fell asleep for a while, but woke up about 20 minutes ago. After 10 minutes, I couldn't fall back asleep so I am looking at TikTok's without the sound and only the captions. I didn't want to wake you."

"We both completely passed out," I said softly to Heather, "Do you still feel drunk?"

Heather nodded, "I do. Not as drunk, but still somewhat. I just know that tomorrow is going to bring on a hell of a hangover."

"What a way to spend our last day," I chuckled.

Heather chuckled as well, but I also noticed her blinking more than usual. I could see from her phone light that her eyes were watery as well.

I put my arm around Heather gently, "It's all going to be okay."

Heather turned to face me, and she said softly, "It's not just that. I...there's something I need to tell you."

There was quiet desperation to her voice, which I hadn't heard before.

My heart started to race as I asked Heather, "What is it?"

Heather paused before speaking, and she then said as she looked into my eyes, "Alice, I lo-"

Then, there was a scream from outside. It wasn't just any kind of a scream, it was blood-curdling, and rocked me to my core.

Heather and I immediately jumped up from the bed, and she said, "That came from the backyard, let's go."

We rushed out of the room, and as we started making our way down the steps, Julian came out of his room and followed behind us, "Did you hear that scream from outside? What the fuck was that?"

My heart was now hammering as the three of us ran out to the backyard. It was dark, but I could see Michelle standing by the pool, her back to us. When she heard footsteps behind her, she turned around and her eyes were wide with terror.

"Michelle, what's going-" Julian started to say, and he then said in a panicked tone, "Oh my god. Oh my fucking god."

When I looked in the pool and noticed what he was talking about, my blood ran completely cold.

"I'm calling 9-1-1," Heather said, her voice trembling.

Michelle was still standing there, in complete shock.

And behind her was Haley, floating in the pool.

Lifeless.

I could hardly even register what was happening as Heather started speaking urgently to the 9-1-1 operator.

Michelle finally started walking over to us, and she said, her voice trembling, "I-I came out here because I was h-having trouble sleeping. I wanted to dip my toes in the water, and I-I saw H-"

Before Michelle could finish her sentence, she burst into tears.

I walked over to her and pulled her in for a hug. We held each other, both shaking.

"How did this happen?" Julian paced around, "Oh my god, how did this fucking happen?"

Heather walked over to us and said, "The cops will be here in a few minutes."

I could tell that she was in a complete state of shock as well. Moments later, I heard sirens and then the sound of car doors closing, and that's when Heather's parents and brother came rushing out to the backyard.

"What is going on?" Victoria asked, wide eyes and in her robe, "Why are cops here?"

Heather spoke softly to her mom, "It's Haley. She's...in the pool. Not moving."

Victoria clasped her hand over her mouth as the cops and paramedics entered the backyard.

Everything seemed to happen very quickly before my eyes. It was like I was watching a movie play out in front of me, and it wasn't actually real life.

I stood with Michelle, Julian, and Heather as a paramedic made the call that Haley was not alive.

"I'm going to be sick," Julian said, and he then rushed off toward the bushes and I could hear him start to throw up.

Brian walked up to the cops and said, visibly in distress, "I have full surveillance of the whole house, including the backyard. We will be able to see what happened."

We learned quickly that Haley entered the backyard about an hour before, intoxicated and hardly able to walk straight.

As she was unsteady, she seemed to trip and slip into the pool.

And she emerged minutes later, not moving.

I watched on as Haley was taken away on a gurney, covered so we couldn't see her.

"I cannot believe this is happening," Heather said, "This cannot be real life."

However, it was.

And I knew this was about to change everything.

I just didn't realize how much it would. 

A/N: If you got to this point, thank you SO much! The rest will be posted within the next week or two. :) <33