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"WHO WANTS TO PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER?!" alex screams enthusiastically. we all yell in agreement.

"SLEEP IS FOR THE WEAK!" karl shouts while smashing a monster on his head.

we all grab a bunch of mattresses and make a makeshift group of beds on the living room floor.

"HARRY POTTER MARATHON!" george yells while holding up the first cd.

"HARRY POTTER MARATHON!" everyone echoes. wilbur and i run to the kitchen to grab snacks, candy, and make popcorn.

"this is going to be the best last night of our lives," wilbur says.

"of course," i respond. we bring the snacks back and all settle into watching the movie.

after a few movies, it's two in the morning. most of us are awake, but calmed down just a little. we're jumping around less and only screaming at the movie.

except clay. he's in his room, calling people up the buy their plane tickets.

i really hope he doesn't call me up anytime soon-

"valerie," clay calls from his room. "time to purchase your ticket."

spoke too soon.

i sigh as i slowly make my way up the stairs.

i don't want to go back to california.

hell, i can't even call it home anymore.

i approach clay's room and softly knock on the door.

"come in," he says. i turn the doorknob and enter his room. "hi, come over here. we'll decide what flight you're going on. maybe you and alex can go on the same flight if he decides to go to his california home."

"mhm..." i say as tears slowly run down my face. clay turns to me.

"holy- are you okay?" he asks gently while reaching out to rub my arm.

"i don't want to leave," i say. clay's mouth straightens into a line and he nods grimly.

"i know. neither do i, honestly. but we all have to go home at some point."

"california doesn't feel like home anymore."

"brighton does?"

"it's not brighton specifically. you guys are my home." clay laughs.

"tommy is your home," he corrects. i sigh.

"he's a big part of it. but you're part of my home, too. and wilbur. and niki. and everyone else here."

clay rubs his chin. i try to determine what he's thinking by the look on his face, but i can't.

suddenly, his green eyes light up.

"let's talk for a while," he says.

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once clay and i are done, i head back downstairs. i want to spend as little time away from everyone as possible. i look at the tv and see karl starting the goblet of fire.

"george fell asleep?" i ask.

"are you surprised?" toby asks, popping an m&m into his mouth.

"not in the slightest. in fact, i'm surprised he lasted as long as he did."

clay joins us downstairs after he's done buying the tickets. everyone(besides george and niki, who had fallen asleep) stay up the rest of the night, talking, watching harry potter, and laughing.

at around eight in the morning, we all get up to get ready for the flights back home. i decide to post on twitter one last time while everyone is together.

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valerie :) @valeriedavis: the best week of my life. i love you guys so much.

💬🔁❤️

karl :) @KarlJacobs_: shut up you're making me cry

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valerie :) @valeriedavis: bestie i'm sad too

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Quackity @Quackity: ayo me too guys

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Wilbur Soot @WilburSoot: me three

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GeorgeNotFound @GeorgeNotFound: i'm not joining in on this crying chain but i'll miss you guys :[

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valerie :) @valeriedavis: c'mon googie, join our pity party

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Quackity @Quackity: yeah george, i got the perfect picture too

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Karl :) @KarlJacobs_: this too

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Wilbur Soot @WilburSoot: mind if i add to this thread?

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GeorgeNotFound @GeorgeNotFound: woke up, opened this thread, day ruined :/

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Dream @Dream: heart 💔 been broke 📉 so many times ⏰ i don't know 🤔 what to believe 💯 mama 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩 said 🗣 it's my fault 😢 it's my fault 🤦🏻‍♂️i wear my heart ❤️ on my sleeve 💪 i think it's best 👍🏻 I put my heart ❤️ on ice 🧊

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valerie :) @valeriedavis: wtaf we were having a moment and then there's a crying george spam and dream puts a copypasta

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Niki @Nihaachu: val :( i'm gonna miss you so much cooking buddy

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valerie :) @valeriedavis: NIKI STOP I'M IN TEARS :(

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Sapnap @Sapnap: loca :(

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Tubbo @TubboLive: i hate this i don't want to go home now

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valerie :) @valeriedavis: deadass gonna change my twitter name to have a sad face instead of a smiley face.

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TommyInnit @tommyinnit: i love you. visit me soon :(

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valerie is brocken :( @valeriedavis: this tweet right here officer (i love you too)

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Karl :( @KarlJacobs_: yeah me too.

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the rest of the morning is filled with a lot of sorrowful goodbyes. some tears, even. karl and i both break into sobs when he hugs me and says goodbye.

"i don't want to let go," karl says.

"then don't," i reply, squeezing him tight.

"i have to."

"no!"

eventually, we both let go, promising that we'll see each other again soon.

after karl leaves, we say goodbye to george, then nick, then alex, then niki, and finally toby.

i cry after saying goodbye to all of them.

"what is wrong with me?" i ask while wiping my tears. "i'm never this emotional. this is weird."

it's just me, tommy, wilbur, and clay left at the house. clay is going around making sure everything is clean and no one forgot anything, while wilbur is signing papers to end our stay at the house.

"wow," tommy says. "this week has been..."

"eventful?" i ask.

"perfect," he corrects. i smile. "can i see your plane ticket?" i nod as i take the ticket from out of my back pocket. tommy sighs when he sees it.

"this thing is my mortal enemy," he says.

"why?" i ask through a laugh.

"because this motherfucker right here is what's going to send us thousands of miles apart."

"it doesn't have to," clay says while passing through the room.

"pardon?" tommy asks, raising an eyebrow. clay smirks as he continues to move. "valerie what? what did he say?"

i shrug as i tear the plane ticket in half.

"oh my god," tommy says. "why did you-"

"it was a fake," i interrupt. "clay and i didn't buy a plane ticket."

"what?" tommy gasps and smiles.

"i'm not going back to california. i'm staying here."

"how...?" tommy shakes his head and chortles. "i have no words, this better not be a joke."

"i called my parents. they're on board as long as i visit during the holidays and as often as i can. i called my friends and they were excited for me and thought it was a good idea, if this is where i'm happy. i also called my school and they're transferring my work to your college. i just have to sign a few papers and then i'll attend school with you. clay and i looked at a few apartments last night, too. wilbur's going to take me to look at them today, and you too if you're still up for living together. if you want to stay with your parents that's okay, i'll just live in the apartment on my own. but i'm staying in the uk. i'm not going back to america. i'm staying with you."

tommy is silent for a minute, stuck with a huge grin on his face and his hands resting on his neck.

suddenly, he runs up and wraps me and lifts me up in a tight embrace

"you're staying with me," he says happily. "you're not leaving." i smile as i hold on tightly to him.

"i'm not leaving," i repeat.

we fall to the floor with our arms still wrapped around each other. just like when we first met.

when i first saw him in real life.

"i love you, valerie. so much," tommy whispers to me. the butterflies in my stomach make their way to my heart. i feel weightless. i know everything is going to be okay. every challenge that's thrown our way, we'll face it together. every hardship that comes our way, we'll overcome it together.

"i love you too, tommy," i say.

and i meant it.

the end.