We're Gonna Be Okay (Emily Prentiss)

Chapter Fifteen

TW: None :)

As Alvyia walked through the underpass and into the tunnels under Orchard her mind stood still, on the one hand, she was so incredibly grateful for what Emily had done for her and wanted to express that to her but on the other hand, she was also exhausted from the past few weeks.

Moving felt like a whole new challenge she was under-prepared for, she had almost less than 24 hours until everything changed: her school, her friends, her home. It was a lot to process, she walked through what felt like a fog tracing the familiar path till she reached the Sephora nestled in the heart of the Ion Sanjana stood by the big striped sign with a smile on her face.

"Hey, Ms. Als what's up?" she exclaimed in a cool laid-back voice while simultaneously greeting Alyvia with a hug.

"Hey," Ali said letting out a sigh of relief, being in her friend's embrace felt like a comfort she didn't know just how much she missed. Her heart hurt a little knowing soon Sanjana would not be there to give her hugs when she fell, before she could spiral into any level of emotion Snajana asked

" So what's going on? For real Ali no bullshit." Alyvia locked arms with her friend as they walked past different stores until they reached the Starbucks that sat on the end of the strip of stores on level B1, once they had settled down at a table Alvyia began to fill in Sanjana with not only what's been going on but also what would be happening soon.

"I um when I came back to my dorm, well the damage you saw," Alyvia shuddered "I did something impulsive again- but I'm okay really. I am so sorry that I put you through the emotional turmoil as well, you and the others did nothing it was not your fault, I'm sorry." Sanjana reached out her hand and placed it on top of Alyvia's before speaking

"Ali, we know. The damage the mean kids that school did to you was horrific. Horrific. We were so scared we all loved you- you do know that? We want you to be happy, we want you to be safe. You have never been anything but kind, and funny, Alyvia you mean so much to us we don't know what we- I would have done without you. You impacted me, you affected me in all the most incredible ways. Your smile, you are always there when I need you for boyfriend advice. Oh, Ali, I love you. I love you so much, I am so happy you're alive," She squeezed Alvyia's hand

"No hurt feelings, you have been through so much the past few years and you pushed through, you are one of the strongest people I know, you are so much more than what happened to you. I know whatever happens next you will be okay. You will be okay because you are brave, you are strong, and when you not that's okay too you don't have to be strong all the time."

Alyvia sat still, her emotions still trapped underneath her skin but her thankfulness sat right at the surface. She let out a long sigh looking Sanjana in the eye,

" I love you too. Thank you for sticking around when all this went down, your friendship- you mean a lot to me."

"Speaking of that the others are so sorry they could not make it, they send their love though."

"It's okay." Alyvia tried to play off the pinch hurt she felt continuing to fill in with her friend about what the next steps were, " So then today... I got adopted?!!" she announced still in some shock and disbelief herself.

" Omg omg, Ali!! That's wonderful, I am so happy for you!" Sanjana was smiling from ear to ear,

"But there is the catch-"

"You have to leave tomorrow right?" Alvyia nodded. "We are going to DC, my student pass is non-existent anymore so we have to leave as soon as we can. It's just all so sudden, I am so thankful for Emily. I mean she is amazing and sweet. I trust her it's just there is a lot happening at once and I can't fully trust her right away, you know why. I don't know what to feel it's all really complicated."