Author's Note: Hey everybody! Anyway I just wanted to let you know that I'm already working on the third story of the Next Generation series: Adults? And I'm super excited to get it out there for you guys to read! So read on and let me know how you're liking the story! Thanks –A
Miranda and Emma continued there celebration of life with their families exchanging gifts and swapping stories from there past completely oblivious to the fact that only a few houses away Jess was gulping down a bottle of vodka in hopes that the memories of her recent conversation with Liam would fade into darkness.
"I'm dying" "I have one to two weeks to live" "The chemo didn't work" "I have no other options" His voice played on a loop in her head the contents of the conversation sending a violent shiver down her spine as she slide down the wall dropping harshly onto the floor
"Jess?" Noah said cautiously lightly knocking on his sister's door before grabbing the knob only to find that it was locked "Jessie?" He asked again knocking harder this time desperate to attract her attention
"Go away" She whined shaking the bottle in her hand hearing the familiar swoosh of the clear liquid instantly missing the burning sensation that it gave her when it dripped down her throat
"Jess!" He repeated shaking the door knob forcing his body against the blockade attempting to break the door from its hinges afraid of what his sister was doing behind the closed door "What the hell is going on?"
"Nothing" She slurred struggling to get to her feet tripping over several times as she made her way to the door swinging it opened causing Noah to tumble inside an angry expression etched on his face an expression that looked as if it had no intention of disappearing anytime soon. "What's up baby bro?" She asked hiding the bottle behind her back trying to look inconspicuous unfortunately failing miserably
"What are you doing? Jess you're a mother! You can't be getting drunk in middle of the day" He berated snatching the glass bottle from his sister forcing the top back onto it before throwing it out into the hallway just hoping he didn't hit his mother or her special guest. Emily had been staying with them for months now, as far as he was concerned Emily and Paige had separated and Ally had allowed Emily to move in although she called it 'helping out a friend.' Amy was a completely different story though, she was never the same since her parents split she was quieter than usual, often keeping to herself never branching out and staring a conversation no desire to make friends she was simply there. The only time he heard her speak was when he caught her running into Miranda at the Brew today the two girls leaving together only a few minutes later, he felt bad for her he understood what she was going through both of them having lost a parent due to a messy divorce, both of them forced to watch their families fall apart. "What the hell happened to you today?"
"Liam's dying" She stated simply her face showing no change in expression as if the statement hadn't affected her, as if it were a daily declaration as if she wasn't talking about losing the holder of her heart
"What!"
"He's dying" She said again this time slower leaning down on her bed her head knocking forcefully against the headboard no doubtabley causing her a massive headache one that with the mixture of her hangover was going to hurt like a bitch tomorrow morning "He's going to die"
"Jess did he tell you this?" Noah questioned plopping himself beside his older sister staring deeply into her ocean blue eyes searching for the truth
"Yup" He noticed her overproduce the 'p' licking her lips as she played with her messy hair her actions obviously affected by the immense amount of alcohol in her system
"Are you okay?"
"Do I look okay?" She snapped gesturing to her disheveled appearance, her red puffy eyes making it obvious that she had been crying thick black mascara stains extending down her cheeks, her hair was draped down her back loose strands sticking out from every possible direction. She definitely didn't look okay in fact she looked the complete opposite of okay she look just like she sounded, defeated, heartbroken, and most of all drunk. "He's….he's…dying" She stuttered tears once again streaming down her face
"Jessie" He said calmly wrapping his arm around her shoulder pulling her into his chest muffling the sounds of her cries "Everything is going to be just fine, you just have to make the most out of the time you have" He suggested freeing her face of tears tucking her hair behind her ears making her face visible to his view "Sis do you understand?" He felt the slight movement of her head indicating that she was nodding silently telling him that she understood what he was saying "Do you want me to call Tori?" He asked knowing just how well Tori seemed to comfort Jess, the two girls proving to be almost inseparable after all the drama of their high school career the tragedies and misfortunes pushing them closer and closer together.
"Please" She begged her voice cracking as she pleaded with him her eyes locked on his hands as she waited for him to dial the familiar number "I need her"
"Tori" Noah spoke quietly getting to his feet pacing nervously across the bedroom whispering into the phone just loud enough that Tori understood him but still low enough that Jess couldn't hear him "Get your ass over here" He demanded hanging up the phone spinning on his heels so he was facing his sister again seeing that she was once crying again this time uncontrollably her tears flowing faster, her eyes growing more bloodshot by the minute making her appear as if she was under the influence of not only alcohol but drugs.
Tori arrived a few minutes later a layer of fresh sweat dripping off of her brow and onto her face "Where is she?" She breathed harshly holding her side which screamed out in pain the small brunette never being a fan of exercise her brief season of lacrosse kicking her ass the excessive amount of practice drills only increasing her hatred for working out. "Where?" She repeated her eyes connecting with Ally's who stood confused in the doorway unaware of the current situation
"I'm not sure what you're taking about Tori? Are you talking about Jess?" She questioned opening the door further to allow Tori entrance "She's in her room" She explained bouncing Jamie on her hip smiling at the small child, Tori examined the baby noticing the tiny devices behind each of her ears realizing that she was wearing hearing aids surprised that one year olds we even able to have hearing aids, the miracle of modern medicine she shook her head free of her thoughts cursing herself for her short attention span
"Can I see Jess please? It's extremely important!" She groaned faking a smile as she bounced on the balls of her feet waiting for the moment when she could race up the stairs and burst into Jess' room forcing the blonde into a tight hug.
"Is it about Dartmouth? I heard you got chosen for early acceptance that's amazing! Trust me you two are going to have the best time next year, the only thing is I'm not sure how she'll manage college and Jamie but if anyone can do it Jess can we both know that" Ali rambled not picking up on the fact that all Tori wanted was to get out of there before she was old enough to file for retirement which by the speed of this conversation felt like it would happen any moment
"Yea it's about college" She lied hoping it would end the exchange quicker peering up the stairs catching sight of Noah who urged her to duck out of the conversation swinging his hand in front of his face making a 'cut it off' gesture "Anyway, I should go" She grinned side stepping the older women finally free of the consuming conversation rushing up the steps tripping over herself in the process something that Tori had gotten used to. It was almost as if she had forgotten how to form sentences once she stepped into the bedroom, she had spent majority of her time in Jess' house the two girls always locking themselves in her bedroom ranging from watching movies and playing would you rather, but this time this time it was different the bright pink walls which every time without fail made her smile due to her hatred for the color no longer shined, they no longer sparkled or made her grin like a child instead they crippled her, they broke her heart they made her realize just how screwed up their lives were. "Hi J" She greeted the nickname rolling off of her tongue easily "Are you okay?"
"I don't want to talk about it" She declared wiping violently at her sore eyes holding her arms opened for Tori to enter "I don't want to talk, I just want someone to cuddle me"
"Well you've found the right girl" Tori smirked pulling her hair into a tight messy bun forbidding it from falling into her face as she climbed in next to Jess nuzzling herself against her warm body covering the two of them with the soft comforter "Just breath, I'm here for you" She said rubbing the older girl's bicep with her fingertips feeling as Jess hugged their bodies closer together letting out sporadic sniffles as she let her tears fall freely onto Tori's t-shirt "You're getting snot on me" Tori giggled desperate to break the palpable tension which continued to build
"I'm sorry" She apologized bringing her hand to her nose using the back of it to rid her face of the mess before looking back into Tori's eyes "Thanks for being my pillow"
"My pleasure" Tori smiled resting her back against the headboard linking her hand with Jess' giving it a tight squeeze before releasing her "Are you feeling better?"
"A little" She confessed flipping over to her stomach leaning her head on her hands "I still can't wrap my mind around the fact that in a week Liam could be gone, I don't want to even think about it, honestly I don't know what I'll do if I have to say goodbye to him again"
"I know it's not the same thing but when I lost my mom, it hurt! It hurt everyday thinking about never seeing her again, it hurt knowing that our last conversation was her telling me that my taste in music was garbage, it hurt that the day before she died I gave up our mother daughter day out in order to video chat with Miranda. Losing someone hurts that's a given, it's gonna hurt and it'll hurt for a long long time, but all we can do is hope and pray that we'll get through it" She hadn't noticed that her eyes had sprouted with tears even thinking about her mother tortured her. Over the year she had remembered more and more about the accident her frequent trips to her therapist aiding her in recovering most of her repressed memories uncovering deep secrets and moments she long wished to forget. "You just have to believe that you're strong enough to get through this"
"How do you know?" She questioned seriously "How do you know if you're strong enough?" She was on her back once again the blonde proving to be indecisive in which position she preferred every so often returning to the position before
"Like I said you just have to believe that you're strong enough, you just have to have faith. I mean come on Jess if you had enough determination to get into Dartmouth I think you'll be able to weather the storm of Liam's death" Sure, the two examples were completely different but it worked, at least it seemed to work Jess instantly getting to her feet digging around in her desk drawer searching for something hidden underneath the layers of old test papers letting out a groan of frustration when she didn't find what she had hoped to.
"What are you looking for?" Tori asked from her spot on the bed puling her knees into her chest resting her head on her knees watching Jess bite her nails nervously as continued the destruction of her desk
"These" She confessed playing with the necklace around her neck which held the small ring before turning to face Tori looking her dead in the eyes lifting the plane tickets into the air a proud smile on her face "Were going to Vegas"
"Why?" Tori replied utterly confused by what was going on scanning the tickets in order to test their authenticity still not believing what Jess was saying
"Liam and I are getting married!"
Question (answer in reviews): Which friendship is the best? Jori or Memma?
Question (answer in reviews): How do you feel about Jess and Liam getting married? Is it the right thing to do? And most of all are you excited for the Vegas chapter!