until the end of time, my love | luis mendoza³

ONE: MOVE OUT DAY

KENZIE FRANTICALLY RUSHED into the living room with a box full of Grayson's clothes in her hands. She wobbled slightly, nearly tripping over other boxes scattered all around the room. Luis caught her before she could drop the box or fall right on her face.

"Nice save," Kenzie smiled as Luis took the box from her, placing it down with the rest of Grayson's stuff. "who would have thought Grayson would have so much shit."

Luis laughed, "he has nearly twenty boxes alone for just clothes."

"I think Gray beats Em on who has more clothes," Nate's strained voice came from the doorway. He was trying to balance three boxes and was failing miserably. Kenzie laughed at him before grabbing one of the boxes.

"Speaking of," Kenzie began. "where is Em?"

"Haven't seen her all morning," Grayson said as he entered the room with more boxes. Nadia trailed behind, carrying more. The Palmer house was a complete mess and that's putting it lightly. Four teenagers with a shit ton of stuff were moving out at the same time.

Grayson and Nadia would be the first to go. Everyone planned to go to Miami with them for a few days to get them settled at their apartment and explore the city. Plus they got to spend a few extra days before they wouldn't see the two for months.

"Shocking, considering she kept me up until three talking about Miami," Nate said as he wiped the sweat off his forehead. "I thought she would be out here talking our ears off."

"Let's go check on her," Kenzie suggested as she walked up the stairs, everyone trailing closely behind. She knocked softly on the door. She heard shuffling inside the room before the door opened.

Emercyn was standing there with tear-stained cheeks and red puffy eyes. The group instantly began asking questions as she stomped back to her bed and threw herself on it. They rushed in after her, trying their best to navigate through the room that was full of boxes.

"What's going on, Em?" Nate asked as he sat down beside her. Kenzie sat at the foot of the bed as Emercyn screamed into her pillow. Nate backed away slightly before Em dropped the pillow back onto her lap.

"Charlie's going to Boston," She said, sniffling as she wiped away the tears that continued down her face. Kenzie sighed sadly as she crawled over to hug her cousin. Charlie was torn between going to Boston University or going to The University of Chicago.

Kenzie knew that Charlie wanted to go to Boston but he was thinking about Em and was actually considering going to college in Chicago. However, everyone knew that he belonged in Boston, even Em. She was happy for him, excited he was getting to do what he wanted to do but the thought of being so far away was breaking her heart.

"Em, I'm so sorry," Grayson said as he sat down beside Kenzie. She sighed, allowing herself to stop crying for a moment to explain further.

"He just called to let me know he made up his mind," She shrugged.

"He told you over the phone? That's a dick move," Luis shook his head.

"And now we're all going to Florida for the week and when we come back we only have two days before we leave for Chicago. I hate this!" She said but the last part was mumbled since she shoved her face in a pillow. "how are we supposed to cram in three months' worth of stuff in two days?"

"Hey, everything will be okay," Kenzie reassured. "how long until he leaves for Boston?"

"Two weeks."

"Well, how about he comes to Chicago with us?" Kenzie suggested. "that way you two can spend those two days together and then he can come to help us move in, spend a few days, we can take him around the city?"

Em squealed with excitement as she tackled Kenzie back onto the bed, squeezing her tightly. Kenzie laughed as she wrapped her arms around her.

"That's such a great idea! Let me go call him!" She said as she grabbed her phone and ran out the door. A few seconds later she popped her head back in."oh! I hope you guys aren't afraid of heights. We're going parasailing!"

Kenzie smiled, "and she's back."

***

Kenzie handed off boxes to Luis as she stood in her driveway. Nate and Em were rushing between the cars and the driveway, handing off boxes to be shoved into the trunks. Luis shoved the last box into his trunk before closing it.

"That's it," Luis said with a relieved sigh. Kenzie took a step back, letting out a sad sigh at the sight of the cars all packed up. Grayson wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close to his side.

"I can't believe this is really happening," Kenzie whispered against his chest.

"Don't start the sappy shit yet, Kenz. I don't wanna be stuck in the car with your crying for a few days," Grayson said jokingly, even though he was feeling the same way. Kenzie laughed and nodded.

"I don't think I'm going to survive this trip," Nate said dramatically as he leaned against Luis' car. Kenzie furrowed her brows as she walked closer to him. "I can only take you guys in small doses."

"Nate, you literally live with three out of four people here," Em said with a playful glare. Nate rolled his eyes playfully before he got into Luis' car.

"Such a drama queen," Kenzie said shaking her head. Everyone said their goodbyes to Kenzie's parents, knowing they wouldn't see them until they all arrived in Miami. They all said goodbye to Nadia since she was driving down with her parents.

Luis and Kenzie got into the front of the car as Grayson and Em got in the back, making sure to shove against Nate. He started whining, shoving away Grayson's arm that was pushed against him. Kenzie ignored their usual bickering and waved to her parents who were getting ready to leave as well.

"We're going to Miami motherfuckers!" Nate screamed as everyone cheered and clapped. Luis pulled out of the driveway, speeding off down the street as Kenzie's phone gave him directions for their insane car ride.