We're Just Kids

It's Okay to Move On

{Savannah's POV}

Fifteen hours left until I had to say goodbye forever to Shailene. Fifteen hours until I lost one of the only friends I had in this orphanage.

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Two hours.

"Shailene, I just want you to know, I'll miss you forever. But I want you to know, it's not your fault. Rachael and I think of you like a sister. A sister we'll think of every day, even when you're gone," I told Shailene.

1 hour and 59 minutes.

"Yeah, totally. Shay, when I die, I'll meet up with you in Heaven, so we can watch a movie or somethin'," Rachael laughed, but in an I-didn't-really-think-that-was-funny way.

Shailene smiled.

"Thanks. We can play soccer, too," Shailene joked.

I joined in.

"And I'll wave to you guys up there. When I outlive both of you."

Shailene started cracking up.

"You'll outlive me, that's for sure," she acknowledged.

"You guys are the best. I'm going to miss you," Shailene said softly.

1 hour and 53 minutes.

"Well, there's a chance you'll get the better half of the deal, and fall into a coma. Hey, maybe when you wake up, you won't have cancer anymore!" I offered.

Shailene crossed her fingers and smiled.

There was a knock on her bedroom door. I got up to answer it. It was Steven and Noah.

"Hey, we just wanted to see how you're holding up," Steven said to Shailene.

"Not too well, to be honest," she smiled weakly.

"We're gonna miss you," Noah told her.

"Oh, I'll miss you guys, all of you, more than you can imagine," Shailene whispered.

1 hour and 49 minutes.

Steven hugged Shailene, and Noah high-fived her. Not in a happy way. It was like a, "Good-bye, I'll miss you, but hugging is for little kids and people dating each other," way.

There was silence for a few minutes, and then Shailene finally broke it.

"I don't want you being upset when I die, or go into a coma. I want you to move on, and be happy. Remember me, but don't go get depressed when you get adopted and your new mommy's name is Shailene, or when your new sister's zodiac is Cancer or anything."

We all nodded our heads, not saying a word.

1 hour and 37 minutes.

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23 minutes.

We sat in the backyard of the orphanage, because Shailene wanted whatever happened to her to happen under her favorite maple tree. The one she had been sitting under before Ms. Turner came to get her to introduce her to all of us.

We just sat there under that tree, talking, laughing, and sharing random stories.

"Your parents would be proud...about how strong you've been through all of this," I said to Shailene, giving her a pat on the shoulder.

"Thanks," she said, wiping a tear from her eye.

17 minutes.

Ms. Turner came outside and gave a big speech to Shailene about her favorite moments with her, and how strong she was, and how she would miss her. Then she joined us under the tree.

11 minutes.

"I promise, I'll say hi to all of your parents in Heaven," Shailene held up her hand, and crossed her heart.

"And I'll find out what happened to your parents, Vanny, and I'll let you know," Shailene looked at me.

"Vanny?" I asked. Not even Lin had ever called me that before. Everyone just called me my whole first name.

"Sorry, I won't call you that again," Shailene apologized.

I shook my head.

"No, no, I like it. I like it," I assured her.

"Cool. Cool," she replied.

6 minutes.

"Well, this is it," Shailene looked up to the sky.

"When you feel lonely, look at that star right there, that really super bright one-" Shailene pointed to a star right above her head, "and say hey. Trust me, we can have a full out conversation if you need one," Shailene whispered.

3 minutes.

"I think that's Jupiter," Rachael laughed.

"Fine, have it your way. Look at Jupiter and say hey," Shailene corrected herself.

"I will," I promised.

"Me too," Steven said.

"Me three," Noah agreed.

"Me four," Rachael nodded her head.

"Then it's settled," Shailene said. She smiled in satisfaction.

1 minute.

"I love you guys," Shailene decided.

There was a chorus of, "I love you too," back to Shailene.

47 seconds.

We all just stared at Shailene's Star- which we later named what we had thought was Jupiter- and Shailene was breathing in and out deeply.

10 seconds.

"Well.....see you guys later," Shailene said.We all huddled around her in one big hug. She kept looking up at her star, and in an instant, she collapsed to the ground.

At first, we weren't sure if it was a coma, or if she was dead, but Noah didn't feel a pulse.

Me and Rachael whispered a favor to Ms. Turner. She nodded, and a week later, the funeral was right there, next to the maple tree.

We set up a memorial for Shailene, a little bed of flowers next to her grave, and on the trunk of the tree, we nailed in a plaque:

Shailene's Maple Tree

And we also put up a few benches in the backyard for sitting and talking with Shailene, or at least, to her star.

Needless to say, I grew up in that yard.

Even when I didn't need to talk, I just went out and sat on the bench closest to Shailene's grave, smiling up at the sky.

(Author's Note: Sad chapter, but happy at the same time. This chapter is dedicated to my great grandmom, who had cancer.

R.I.P, Great Grandmom

I cried three times writing this chapter, just so you know how sad it was for me.

Shailene is in a better place<3

I think Savannah and the others will have a hard time moving on :3

I'm sorry the beginning of this book had nothing to do with Team-Crafted OR Savannah, but now we're getting to that. And now you know where Savannah got her nickname.

R.I.P. All who died to cancer. You'll be missed.

Sorry if you're mad Shailene died like this, or just died at all. This might make more sense in a little.

Onto the real story, this was kind of a side story at the beginning :P

Baiii all my little lions!

Join da pride today!)