The End of Seventeen

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Lizzy got ready for school the following morning with a skip in her step. For once, she was actually excited to go to school. Everything seemed to be falling into place lately – her parents liked Parker, and she hoped that the rest of her family drama would settle down.

As she finished packing her backpack, Lizzy practically bounced downstairs to the kitchen, where she found her parents preparing her favorite breakfast.

"I can't believe you remembered," she exclaimed, pleasantly surprised as she took a seat at the table.

"Of course, we did, you used to beg for this every morning until you were ten," her mom chuckled, passing her a plate of fluffy Nutella-filled pancakes with whipped cream and a side of bacon.

"Thanks," Lizzy said gratefully as she dug into the delicious meal.

After a cozy breakfast together, it was time for school. Lizzy rode with Jamie, listening to music on the way. Upon arrival, Jamie sprinted off to join their group of friends, while Lizzy made her way over to Parker.

He was leaning against his motorcycle, looking effortlessly cool in his leather jacket. Lizzy tapped him on the shoulder, prompting him to look up from his phone.

"Hey," she greeted, standing in front of him and wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Hi, my love," Parker replied, pulling her closer as he played with a strand of her hair. "Are you going to be okay today?"

"Yeah, I think I'll be fine," Lizzy replied with a sigh, leaning in for a kiss.

Before things could escalate, Cami's voice interrupted them.

"Alright, enough of the lovey-dovey stuff, it's time to steal my best friend," Cami declared, half-jokingly and half-seriously.

Lizzy pulled away from Parker, rolling her eyes playfully, and joined Cami. Her best friend enveloped her in a tight hug, squeezing the air out of Lizzy.

"Cami, need to breathe..." Lizzy managed to gasp, tapping her friend's back.

"Oh, sorry!" Cami exclaimed, releasing her grip.

"Let's head to the student lounge," Cami suggested, tugging Lizzy inside the building.

The girls made their way to the student lounge, chatting and laughing along the way. As they entered the room, Lizzy noticed a group of girls huddled together, whispering and shooting glances in their direction.

"Hmm, wonder what that's about," Cami mused, following Lizzy's gaze.

Lizzy shrugged it off, trying not to let it bother her. She settled down on one of the couches with Cami, feeling grateful for her best friend's presence.

"Hey, have you heard about the Spring Fling dance next month?" Cami asked, changing the subject.

Lizzy perked up at the mention of the annual school dance. "Yeah, I heard about it. Are you planning on going?"

"Definitely! It's always a blast, and I heard they're doing a masquerade theme this year," Cami said excitedly.

Lizzy smiled, the idea of dressing up and dancing with her friends sounding like the perfect way to unwind after the recent drama.

"Oh, there's Parker," Cami noted, nodding towards the entrance where Parker had just entered the lounge.

Lizzy's heart skipped a beat as she watched him make his way over to them. He greeted them with a warm smile before sitting down next to Lizzy.

"Hey, beautiful," Parker said, kissing her cheek.

Cami winked at Lizzy, causing her to blush. The three of them chatted and made plans for the weekend, enjoying each other's company and the carefree moments they shared.

As they continued to talk and laugh, Lizzy noticed the group of girls from earlier whispering and glancing in their direction again. Curiosity getting the best of her, Lizzy decided to confront them.

"Hey, is there something you all want to say?" Lizzy asked her tone a mix of amusement and a hint of challenge.

The girls exchanged nervous glances before one of them spoke up, "We heard you're dating Parker. Is it true?"

Lizzy couldn't help but chuckle at their bluntness. "Yes, it's true. Is there a problem with that?"

The girls seemed taken aback by Lizzy's nonchalant response. One of them, a tall brunette with piercing blue eyes, stepped forward. "No, no problem at all. We just... weren't expecting it, that's all."

"Well, now you know," Lizzy said with a shrug, not particularly caring about their opinions.

Cami, always quick to jump into any conversation, chimed in, "She's right. Lizzy and Parker are happy together, and that's all that matters."

The girls seemed to relax a bit at Cami's clear support for their friend's relationship. The tension in the room eased, and soon enough, they were all chatting and joking together as if the confrontation had never happened.

After a while, Parker, who had been quietly observing the exchange, wrapped his arm around Lizzy's shoulders and whispered in her ear, "You handled that like a boss."

Lizzy grinned at him, feeling grateful for his unwavering support. With him by her side, she felt like she could take on anything – even nosy high school gossip.

As the bell rang, signaling the start of class, the group dispersed, heading off to their respective classrooms. Lizzy felt a surge of contentment as she walked to her first period, knowing that she had a loving boyfriend, supportive friends, and a bright future ahead of her.

The day flew by in a blur of classes and conversations, and before she knew it, Lizzy found herself outside the school, waiting for Parker to pick her up on his motorcycle. As he pulled up, Lizzy felt a rush of excitement at the thought of spending more time with him.

"Hey, ready to head home?" Parker asked, handing her a helmet.

"Definitely," Lizzy replied, fitting the helmet on and wrapping her arms around Parker's waist. As they drove off, Lizzy couldn't help but feel happy that everything was finally falling into place – and she couldn't wait to see what the future held for her and Parker.