AFTERGLOW |TSITP

𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓

LANELLE SMILED as she saw her friends having a good time, they were dancing.

Belly, Conrad, Jeremiah, Steven along with her mother, Laurel and Susannah.

They were happy, the sun shined on their faces along with smiled adorning them.

Susannah looked at the girl and smiled,

"Take my hand." She whispered.

Lanelle smiled and stood up, putting her hand in Susannah's.

But as she tried, her hand fell through.

Lanelle snapped out of it as she heard people clap, she looked around and saw Steven on the stage.

Next to her were Belly, Taylor and Laurel, along with two empty seats.

"Right." She remembered, Conrad and Jeremiah aren't there and so is Susannah, she died about two months ago.

The girl kept looking around but her mom was nowhere to be found..as usual.

Ever since Susannah's death everything has changed, Ilana her mom and practically her best friend changed, her mom was basically rotting away.
Susannah's death has absolutely ruined her.

It's like Lanelle and her mom switched roles, she always has to fix everything, she always has to take care of everyone.

It gets a bit exhausting, but someone needs to do it.

Lanelle hasn't spoken to Jeremiah in weeks, and her relationship with Steven if you could even call it that is off, he's better off with Taylor.

Ever since Susannah's death, Lanelle has been out of it. She's been keeping herself busy with overworking for school, she's probably ruined all the friendships that she had because of her distancing, it's like she's there but she isn't, not really.

Once the graduation ceremony ended, everyone gathered outside to take pictures with Steven. The now graduated boy took out his diploma along with a smile adorning his face.

Lanelle looked at him and smiled, she's so proud of him. The girl knows that he deserves it more than anyone else.

"You did amazing Steven." The girl praised him as she gave him a proper hug.

Steven slightly squeezed her waist, "Thanks Nelly." he replied as he gave her forehead a kiss.

Lanelle felt Belly's and Taylor's eyes on her, the girl shrugged.

If Steven wants to kiss her forehead he can, but he shouldn't expect anything from her. She's not ready for a relationship, not right now.

"The speech was definitely extra." Taylor laughed,

"The people loved my extra speech, thank you very much." Steven scoffed while wrapping his arm around Lanelle's shoulder.

The girl playfully rolled her eyes as she felt Steven look down on her. He nudged her with his hip and that caused her to laugh.

"Yeah,yeah whatever, come on before we're late four our lunch reservations." Belly chimed in a smile growing on her face from looking at the two.

Belly patter her brother on the shoulder, "And congratulations dummy, never thought you would!"

Steven looked at his sister and laughed, "Please Belly, of course I'd graduate, I got into Princeton"

"We get it, I'm really happy for you and we're all proud." She told him.

The boy smiled, "Thank you Belly, but I have to go round up some people for graduation party tonight. You guys are coming right?"

Steven looked at Lanelle and saw the doubt in her eyes, he took his arm off her shoulder and held her hand instead.