Some Thorns, Some Roses

XXXXI | For the Conclusion

A Couple Weeks Later 

"Serena, you have visitors." Perris came up from behind and wrapped his arms around my shoulders. 

My fingers didn't stop typing from the keyboard. "One more paragraph. I just have the conclusion left." I continued working on the last part of my college essay. "I'm almost done." 

He looked at the computer screen and I could feel his smile. "I'm proud of you." 

And for the first time, I was proud of myself. I was sure of myself in a way that I have never been before. Maybe it was the security that Perris provided or maybe it was the fact that the future didn't seem so bleak. I knew what I wanted for my future. 

Perris was a major part of that future, but I also wanted a career for myself. One that I could succeed in. 

Social work will help me be able to achieve my goals of helping children who may be in tough situations. The only thing that is keeping me from tasting my dreams I guess is the looming question of whether I will be accepted into my dream program.

Despite being accepted or not, at least I had a future to dream about. At least I had tomorrow. And that was more than enough for me. 

The Brat Pack sat in front of me with snacks and my favorite movies for our weekly catch up. It took a while but Atwood and Seraphina slowly found their way back to each other. It was nice to have my very best friends back together. 

Atwood and I, of course, had to have a long conversation about everything. He was respectful, kind and polite about everything, which reminded me the different ways I admired him. 

Seraphina spoke of PJ and respectfully left out some details to spare me. She seemed happy. We all did and that was enough for me. 

Eventually Perris came to join us and slowly but surely, everything fell into place all at once. 

That's the thing about the future. One may never know whether the next day will bring joy and pain. But I am willing to take the risk, even if I am met with disaster. I have seen them, lived them, and I have fortunately been able to lend help to those around me when they have faced them.

It wouldn't be normal if Angel didn't address the elephant in the room. "So you never told us about the talk with Beau." She gave Perris an apologetic glance. "Sorry. If you wanna hang, you gotta ignore statements like that." 

"I don't know if you remember, but I have been present for way worse. You have a dirty mind." He smirked at her while nodding his head. That caused laughter to erupt from all of us. 

I rolled my eyes and told the truth, "It went... well. He obviously wasn't the happiest because a piece of him still loves me. But he was also relieved because he knew I was miserable and hated to see me like that." 

"And you're happy now?" Woods asked, looking at me with severity. "Honestly." 

I smiled and nodded. "I'm very happy. Safety is nice. And... having a super cute husband is a plus." I nudged Perris a bit with a giggle. "There's one last thing that needs to fall in place and I would be complete." 

"College." Atwood gave me a gentle smile. 

"I told you to turn in your application ages ago Rena!" Seraphina immediately lectured me. "Me vuelves loca."

"Not too much because you certainly do not give me sanity. Especially with how things were going with you and my brother." 

She rolled her eyes and waved her hand. "That's all in the past now. PJ knows who he belongs to." 

I raised my brows with a mischievous smile. "I absolutely love this." 

And I really did love it. 

. . . 

"I want for them to be able to smile and be happy. I genuinely want children and teens to be able to experience the kind of joy I did. Even though it was hard and some days I did not think I would make it though, I was blessed with the ability to be able to hold on for those around me. That very same school of thought is the only reason why I have seen horizons better than anything in the entire world. Love. Even if I do not get accepted into this program, I would still find a way to enact change. I would still find a way to show my gratitude and my appreciation. I have lived well and it is my duty to give back in a way that helps the people who are suffering. Through bad times and good times, I still want to repay my debt to the universe for allowing me to live through such joyous moments." I recited the last part of my college essay until Atticus interrupted me. 

"This shit is so sappy." He rolled his eyes and was instantly shoved by Auggie. 

"Would you shut the fuck up and let her finish?" He sneered at him. 

I couldn't help but laugh. 

"I think it was an amazing essay." Quincy added, giving me a giant smile. "I would like to never hear you talk about boys in that way, but it was still incredible." 

"I'm literally married." I raised my brows, nodding. 

"We don't give a fuck if you are married with forty kids." PJ inserted with a grimace. "There are some things you wish you didn't hear." 

"First of all, that bold coming from since I basically know everything about your sex life now." 

"Woah..." Atti's eyes popped out of his head. 

"Hey!" PJ exclaimed, pointing at me. 

I shrugged and closed my computer. "You wanted my best friend and now you have to live with those consequences." 

"Y'all can't make a rule where you don't talk about stuff like that? Don't girls do things like that?" 

"Talk to your girlfriend." I told him and stood to my feet. "Anyways... it's getting late. It's about time for me to go home." 

"Wait!" Auggie stood up with puppy dog eyes. "Can't you stay the night? I mean... Quincy and Atti are leaving tomorrow and we don't start school for a little bit. Don't you just, I don't know... wanna pretend like this isn't the conclusion?" 

"What do you mean the conclusion?" Quincy furrowed his brow in confusion. 

"Doesn't this feel like the last chapter to you? Where things close up." He bit his bottom lip. "And I don't know... if this is the conclusion, I want it to end with us. Just like how it started." 

PJ smiled at his twin with adoration. "Like when we used to have movie nights when mom and dad were out of town." 

This even made Atticus chuckle a little bit. 

"We used to order a shit ton of pizza and eat candy til we were sick the next day." He reminisced on the old days. 

"And you would make us hot chocolate." Quincy tapped my leg, nodding his head. "Or watch some stupid cartoon movie." 

"Hey! Disney movies are top tier." I defended my younger self. "And I didn't hear anyone talking shit when the credits would roll." 

"Just one more time." Auggie gave me a boyish smile that could persuade anyone to do anything. "For the conclusion." 

At the edge of paradise. 

He was right. It was the conclusion and that hit me harder than any truth could ever. But I didn't mind it. Some things have to end, even if it hurts and even if you don't want it to. 

But I guess that's how life works... some thorns, some roses.

"For the conclusion." I nodded with the widest smile of my life.