The End of Seventeen

Chapter Three

Lizzy woke up the following morning with a wide grin on her face. It had been years since she had last experienced such an amazing night, and it filled her with immense joy. After getting dressed, she made her way down the stairs where her parents and Jamie were already seated at the breakfast table.

"Good morning, sweetie," her mother greeted.

"Morning, Mom," Lizzy replied, pouring her mother a cup of coffee.

"Why don't you join us for breakfast?" her father suggested.

"I would love to, but I actually have somewhere to be," Lizzy said, grabbing a piece of bacon.

Excusing herself, Lizzy returned to her room to call her best friend, Camilla. Camilla was the only person who truly understood Lizzy.

"Hey, Cami, would you like to hang out today?" Lizzy asked as soon as Camilla picked up.

"Of course. Is everything alright?" Camilla asked, sensing Lizzy's underlying concern.

"Everything is great. I just really want to spend some quality time together," Lizzy reassured her.

"Sounds good! We can hit up some stores or something," Camilla suggested.

"That sounds perfect. Let me know when you arrive," Lizzy replied before ending the call.

A few minutes later, a gentle knock echoed through the house, prompting Lizzy to practically bounce down the stairs. Her excitement couldn't be contained as she swung the door open, greeting Cami with a warm, enthusiastic hug.

Cami chuckled, hugging Lizzy back. "Well, someone's in a fantastic mood," she teased.

A beaming smile adorned Lizzy's face as she replied, "You have no idea! I'll fill you in later."

Interrupting their joyful exchange, Lizzy's mom called from the kitchen, interrupting their joy-filled exchange. "Hey, Lizzy, can you take your sister to the mall so she can meet up with her friends?"

"Sure thing, Mom," Lizzy responded, rolling her eyes playfully.

Cami stifled a giggle and shook her head in amusement. Jamie joined them, and the trio made their way to Lizzy's car. Soon, they were en route to the mall. The initial silence in the car prompted Lizzy to liven the atmosphere by turning on some music and lowering the windows, allowing the cool breeze to envelop them.

After dropping off Jamie, Lizzy decided to make a quick stop at a nearby record store. With Cami by her side, they strolled through the vibrant aisles, browsing the wide selection of music. Lost in her own world, Lizzy accidentally bumped into someone as she turned a corner. As she looked up, her eyes widened in surprise - it was Parker.

"I sincerely apologize for not watching where I was going," he said earnestly, cradling his hand.

Lizzy quickly reassured him, "No worries at all. I should be the one apologizing!"

As Parker extended a hand to help her, they momentarily froze, realizing how close they were. Lizzy's heart skipped a beat as he gently tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.

"Yeah, I'm okay," she replied, reassuring him.

Cami cleared her throat, causing Lizzy to quickly release his hand.

"Am I interrupting something?" Cami asked with a smirk on her face.

"N-No, not at all," Lizzy stammered, feeling slightly flustered.

Parker laughed and shook his head.

"Well, it was nice to see you again, but I should be going," Parker said, waving at Lizzy before leaving the store.

"What was that all about?" Cami inquired, her curiosity evident.

"I'm not sure," Lizzy breathed out, feeling puzzled herself.

"And why did he mention seeing you again? What's going on?" Cami probed.

"I promise I'll fill you in when we go to the diner," Lizzy assured, wanting to have a more private conversation.

The girls resumed browsing through the vinyl collection, picking out albums from their favorite artists and bands. Once they had everything they needed, Lizzy drove them to the diner, eager to share her story with Cami.

As the girls settled into a cozy booth towards the back of the diner, they wasted no time in ordering a delectable basket of crispy fries accompanied by luscious milkshakes. Their anticipation was palpable, evident in Cami's eager expression.

"Okay, spill the beans," Cami urged with a hopeful glimmer in her eyes.

Lizzy couldn't help but grin from ear to ear as she recounted her evening. "He took me to this enchanting spot called Lumina Nights. It was an absolute blast," she exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement.

"We stayed out until the first rays of the sun graced the sky," Lizzy continued, reliving the magical moment.

Cami couldn't conceal her delight. "Sounds like you had an absolutely magical time!" she exclaimed, a wide smile spreading across her face as their much-awaited treats arrived.

Lizzy savored a sip of her decadent strawberry milkshake, her taste buds dancing with joy. "Oh, I definitely did," she replied with a contented sigh.

As the girls relished their milkshakes and savored each crispy fry, their booth became a haven of laughter and heartfelt conversation. However, their blissful moment was momentarily interrupted when Lizzy received an urgent text from her sister, asking for a ride home from the mall.

Lizzy read the text with a frown, realizing that their time at the diner would have to be cut short.

"I'm really sorry, Cami, but I have to go pick up Jamie," Lizzy apologized, feeling a pang of disappointment.

Cami nodded, understanding the situation. "No worries, Lizzy. Family comes first. We can always catch up later," she said, giving Lizzy a reassuring smile.

Relieved by her friend's understanding, Lizzy quickly finished her milkshake and hailed the waiter to pay the bill. As they stepped out of the diner, Lizzy turned to Cami.

"Thank you for being here today, Cami," she said sincerely. "It means a lot to have someone like you in my life."

Cami grinned and hugged Lizzy tightly. "You know I'll always be here for you, Lizzy. Through the good times and the bad."

With a final wave, Lizzy hopped into her car and drove off to pick up Jamie, feeling grateful for the incredible night she had experienced and the amazing friend she had by her side.