Drive [h.f-t. & j.l.] (COMPLETED)

Epilogue - Fall Into Place

fall into place - apartment
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josephine's pov

The next week passes in a blur. It feels weird to sleep in my bed again, to eat breakfast with my dad as nothing happened. As if he never happened. My dad didn't want to talk about it and I wanted to avoid being the target of his gaze. Like he was disappointed, in me or himself, I wasn't sure.

The house didn't feel like a part of me anyway, nothing reminded me of the people I met a few months ago. Maybe that was the reason I stayed in my room most of the time, hiding under my blanket with Hero's necklace cold against the skin on my collarbone. The first few times I tried to call him, it went straight to voicemail, and just a couple of days ago the annoying robotic voice was telling me the number is no longer available. I knew he probably threw the phone away as soon as he was out of L.A., not because I tried to call him but it still hurt.

And you'll come find me? I had asked him that night, the one that seemed like it was years ago. I could still hear his voice in my head, the feel of his hands in my hair, the tears on my cheek. Yes. Someday.

On a morning the following week, I woke up to the sound of my phone buzzing. As I roll over I groan, still feeling sore and bruised. At least the visible injures were almost completely faded. Trying to find my phone without opening my eyes - still half-asleep - I struggle to pick it up.

"Hero?" I automatically ask, but the voice on the other side destroys that beautiful dream immediately.

"What? No, it's Priya. Where are you? Graduation is about to start!" My best friend says and at her words, my eyes shot open and I sit up in my bed.

"Shit! I'll be right there!" I call out to her, throwing my phone beside me without ending the call.  I throw off my covers and jump out of bed, digging out my cap and gown from my closet. I quickly make my way to my bathroom with some faded jeans and a simple dark blue shirt to put under and start to get ready in record time. My blonde hair was fighting hard against my comb and I sigh, braiding a small strand of hair at the top of my head to at least look like I made an effort. I pin it to the side of my head and wash my face, grabbing for my little make-up bag beside the sink, simultaneously.

It's not long before I find myself at my school with the graduation ceremony about to begin.

I scan the crowd for my dad but don't see him.

"Jo! Over here!" Priya's voice calls out to me and I turn my head in her direction, seeing the bright smile on her face. Priya waves me over to where the other seniors are lined up and waiting to take their seats. "You look great, by the way. No one will ever suspect you woke up like, ten minutes ago." She says, as soon as I sit down.

"Priya, shhhhh!" I say but couldn't help laughing along with her. Priya had her hair in a half up half down style and was wearing her usual gold eyeshadow, only a little thicker for the special occasion. I was about to tell her that she looked great too when the voice of our principal comes over the speaker.

"Seniors, quiet down, please! It's time to take your seats, then the class salutatorian will introduce the valedictorian for her speech!" He says and I take a deep breath as my senior class fills onto the field. 

"Jo! It's almost time for your big moment!" Jesse appears next to us, wrapping an arm around Priya's waist. "Lucy, are you ready to introduce her?" He says and just then I notice her standing next to me, her blonde hair falling past her shoulders in carefully placed curls.

"Absolutely." She says and Lucy and I share smiles. I whisper to her: "I'm glad we worked things out." She reaches to squeeze my hand before going on stage.