tidal wave

? chapter two ?

"Classic Beck," Laurel said smiling. Bre smiled knowing there's one thing that will always bring her family together which is Susannah.

"Who's driving?" Bre asked.

"Me and Belly," Laurel said.

"So I take it I'm going with Belly," Bre said awkwardly.

"Yep," Laurel said marching past her.

"She'll be fine soon"Belly whispered as she walked past following Laurel out of the house.

Belly, Bre, Steven and Finn ended up in one car and then Laurel and John in the other. Laurel and John had gotten on better in the last couple of months then maybe they had the last year of their marriage.

Bre didn't say anything on the journey to the High school, it was weird being in her home town. Seeing the difference between leaving in January and returning in June. She had spent barely any time there, more either in Boston, or at Brown. Two places she knew she wouldn't be visiting for a while.

"Did you know Steven is the Valedictorian?" Finn asked pointing at Steven walking onto the stage.

"I had no idea," Bre said guiltily. She had withdrawn from talking to Belly and Steven since the funeral.

"They say... that everything happens for a reason. Now, who 'they' are, exactly, is unclear. Maybe a theologian coined it. Or, I don't know, whoever configured the simulation we're living in. Maybe it was Rihanna. No, no, Rihanna can do no wrong. It was not her. But we've heard it time and time again. It's supposed to convince us, you know, that everything had to happen exactly so, to teach us something about ourselves, for us to grow and meet our destiny. I think that's BS. I'm sorry, Mom, sorry. You know, breakups don't always lead to breakthroughs. Sometimes a girl dumps you after an awesome summer, and it sucks." Steven's speech was everything Bre thought it could be. It hurt Bre knowing Jeremiah and Conrad couldn't make it for this.

"And you learn nothing from it, but you eventually force yourself to move on anyway. But then the unthinkable happens, and you realize it's pointless to think of life that way." Steven's speech almost felt like him talking to Bre, everything he wanted to say but never did. Bre looked across at Laurel and for the first time since she'd been back, she smiled at Bre.

"Because everything just happens. You know, good things, bad things, all in ways that you'd never expect. All in ways that are so completely out of your control that they could just drive you insane. There are times when it feels like the world is happening to you, but remember that you are also happening to the world. So don't wait. Make what you want to happen. Because tomorrow isn't promised, so you better make fucking sure that you are living today." As Steven finished his speech the crowd erupted into applause, Bre was proud. Proud of him and how far he had come.

Bre, Belly, Finn and Taylor were all stood outside talking.

"Please come tonight?" Taylor said trying to get Bre to come to a High School party.

"Nope I'm too old, plus I have a paper that's due next week" Bre said smiling.

"Can you come over in a bit to help me pick my outfit?" Belly asked. Belly had struggled leaving the house since Susannah died as well as Jeremiah icing her out.

"Sure" Taylor smiled.

"Well it was nice seeing you Finn, and see you girls later" Taylor said winking.

Bre looked around at her High School knowing a year ago so much was different.

"Congrats man," Finn said patting Steven's back as he stood with the group.

"Congratulations brother, your speech was amazing" Bre said smiling.

"Thank you guys," Steven said smiling.

"I got you a present" Bre said pulling out the plane tickets she'd bought for them both.

"Plane tickets?" Steven asked confused.

"It's so we can visit each other next year at college. We haven't seen anything of each other this year" Bre said, she felt guilty. Everyone lost Susannah but her acting like it was just her wasn't fair.

Steven smiled not knowing what to say.

"Let's go to the restaurant," Belly said walking off.

"I'm gonna go for a walk, I'll meet you guys back at the house," Bre said smiling. She wanted to walk around listening to music to distract herself not sit at a table getting digs from Laurel.

"You sure?" Finn asked, he didn't want to go without her as they weren't his family.

"Yeah seriously, they probably like you more than me right now anyway" Bre said hugging him before walking in the direction of their house.

She turned around to see her family and Finn laughing as they walked to the car. And a part of her hurt even more knowing she was the one pushing people away.