Our cry for help seems to have done the trick with our parents because by the time Monday morning rolls around, my mom is on the phone setting up an appointment for couples counselling. The two of them finally ready to put the work into saving their marriage. The problem with my parents is that they're both extremely stubborn. Both of them went off the paths their families set up for them, and a small part of me knows that's the reason they're scared to admit they need help.

They're scared of admitting they're failing, because for so long they had to prove they made the right decision. It started in their career paths, but along the way it turned into a problem in relationships too. My mom having been in a terrible relationship before she met my dad, and my dad lacked commitment before her.

But they're finally giving themselves a real shot.

"I still can't believe Greyson's a song writer," Isaac shakes his head as he climbs out of my car. "I wonder how his meeting went with William. Do you think he's back yet?"

"I think so," I say as I point to his car. "His car's here at least."

"You were really amazing on Friday, Vee," he smiles softly. "I had no idea you had a voice like that."

"Thanks," I nudge him. "I think it's just because the song was so personal to all of us. Grey didn't even know he was writing a song until I started singing the words."

"You may quite the duo," he chuckles. "You still think you don't want to be a musician?"

"Absolutely not," I shake my head. "I felt like vomiting after performing on Friday. Never again will I put myself through that."

Before he has a chance to tease me about my stage fright, Riker comes tumbling out of his car with a big rectangular package in his hand. He doesn't have to say anything because his face says it all, his excitement written all over him.

"It's here! It's here!" He says as he runs over to us, holding up the package.

"What is?" I ask, but my eyes go to the printed label on the corner of the manila envelope. "Your Stanford acceptance!"

He nods, "Big is good, right?"

"It's a safe bet," Isaac laughs. "Well, go on. Open it."

Riker nods, setting his phone and keys down on the steps of our house before tearing into the package and pulling out a sheet. "Dear Riker Alexander," he reads before falling silent and reading over. "I'm in! I got in! Holy shit. I'm going to Stanford University."

"Riker! That's amazing," I grin at him and wrap my arms around him, squeezing him tightly when he lifts me up in a tight embrace. "I'm so proud of you."

"I can hardly believe it," he exhales and sets me down.

Isaac moves forward to hug him. "I'm proud of you, man. I guess now's a good time to let you know I got my acceptance to Rhode Island's School of Design last week."

"No way!" Riker says. "We're doing this."

"I guess so," he nods before looking at me. "What are you going to do without us around, Vee?"

I shrug, "I'll miss you but I mean, I could use a break."

"Funny," Riker nudges me. "You love us too much to be annoyed with us."

"You keep thinking that," I stick my tongue out. "Besides, I'll have the girls around still. And Felix."

"Felix isn't going to university?" Isaac's asks and then it dawns on me that we never really talked about what his plan is for after school.

"No, he is."

I think.

I don't get a chance to overthink it because I'm being pulled into the house before I can question it. It hadn't even crossed my mind to think about it, like I completely forgot he's graduating this year and moving on with his life. Moving on from his time here with me, and the thought suddenly changes everything.

"Guess who's becoming a doctor?" Riker shouts as we get into the house, heading for the kitchen where we spot Greyson with my mom and dad.

"You got in?" My mom steps away from the counter and runs over, wrapping her arms tightly around him. "I'm so proud of you, Riker. You've worked so hard for this."

"Good job, Rik," My dad grins, giving him a hug once my mom let's go of him.

"Thanks guys," he grins. "Ike got into Rhode Island School of Design too."

"Isaac! Why didn't you tell us?" She questions with wide eyes. "My babies are leaving the nest. All I've got left is my baby girl and she'll be off running the world soon too."

"You okay, little bird?" My dad asks. "You're looking a little down."

"Huh?" I shake my thoughts away to look at him before quickly clearing my throat and nodding my head. "Yeah, no, I'm fine. Greyson, how was your meeting?"

"Good," Greyson nods. "Uh, William's going to get me in on some writer sessions with dad and then we're going to go from there but it looks like I'll be finding a place in Los Angeles pretty quickly."

"That's great," I smile.

"Wonderful," my mom nods in agreement. "We need to celebrate."

"Double Scoop?" My dad suggests going back to our roots and everyone nods their heads, but I'm too in my head to follow suit. I don't know what I was thinking, not wondering or at the very least asking about his plans. He talked about the scouts, but nothing went further than that and now I'm left worrying about our future.

"I will never turn down ice cream," Riker grins. "This is the best day of my life."

"Better than when Lena agreed to be your girlfriend?" I question.

"Better," he nods.

"Better than winning the science fair five years in a row?" Isaac offers.

"Of course."

"Alright, how about when you got your driver's license?" Greyson asks.

"This is better," he shakes his head. "This is my future. My future in medicine, and my brothers and sister, let me tell you. You'll be calling me Doctor Riker Alexander in a short eight years."

"I will never call you Doctor Riker Alexander," Greyson laughs at him and wraps his arm around his shoulder. "Doctor Smart-ass, maybe."

"Funny," Riker laughs.

"Hey, what about Lena?" Isaac asks. "Has she heard back yet?"

"Not sure," Riker says. "I'm going to call her on the way."

"She for sure got in," Greyson assures him. "You're about to be a power couple. The badass lawyer and the smarty pants doctor."

"Alright, my loves," my mom steps into the foyer with her car keys. "Let's go and celebrate my amazing kid's successes."

My dad laughs as he comes up with us and the six of us step out of the house, heading for the SUV and we all shuffle in. Riker and me in the back with Greyson and Isaac up front. Somehow things feel like they're back on track, normal and so far from it. My thoughts sending me down a slippery slope that I can't catch any traction on. I'm slipping and slipping fast.

"Hey," Riker nudges me, talking quietly over the chatter and background noise of music. "You doing okay? You're acting odd."

"I'm just thinking," I smile gently. "You know me, overthinking my life as usual."

"What are you overthinking about?" He asks.

I shake my head and let my lips curl back up weakly. "It's not important. Today's about you and your next journey. Not me and my overworking brain."

"Vee."

"I'm okay."

"Okay," he holds his hand out for me and when I rest my hand in his, he gives it a tight squeeze. "If you change your mind, I'm here to listen."

"Thank you, Riker," I swallow. "I'm going to miss you."

"I'll just be a phone call away," he assures me.

Isaac hums as he turns in his seat. "Me too."

I nod.

"Me three," Greyson grins.

We fall into laughter and for a few minutes, my thoughts are distracted by it and packing up the big bowls of ice cream with candy when we reach Double Scoop. That's until they start talking again about the future. Greyson's, Riker's, Isaac's. All over the world, changing their paths and it has me thinking about my future. About Felix's. About our future.

"You know, as much as Stevie's going to miss the two of you. I honestly think she's going to miss Felix more," Greyson jokes and my eyes widen, as I zone back in.

"What?" I ask.

"Yeah, with him off at Berkeley next year."

"Berkeley?" I mumble.

Everything feels like it's imploding around me, and I'm thinking the worst before he can even finish and I'm overthinking. Every word, every syllable, every pause. It's sending me on a downward spiral, my mind running in every other direction without going the one way that I know is the right way.

"Yeah, didn't he tell you?" He asks. "He got a full ride to UC Berkeley next year."

I swallow. "How far away is that?"

"Like six hours."

And there it is.

The bomb I didn't want to face, but it changes things. It changes everything because just as I think my life is about to be sane again, another turn comes in. Another thing to knock me down or send me into panic mode. Another thing I have to think about because Felix is leaving, and for whatever reason, he didn't feel the need to tell me.

"Six hours," I repeat and look around at my family. "That's...um, a lot."

"Vee, I'm sorry," Greyson reaches for my hand. "I thought you knew."

"Um, it's fine," I shake my head and swallow my biggest fear.

Despite having my friends, things are going to be different and my fear of being a lonely is being fulfilled because even with Robyn and Isla here. A part of me is still going to be gone. My heart scattered in pieces, all over California and across the country. Everything I thought I could prevent just became out of my control.

a/n;

This chapter hurts my heart and there are only four more chapters until the end of this book which hurts even more.