Elizabeth Jensen sat outside the clinic with her HIV test results in her hand. She stared down at it and nervously moved her legs as she waited. She heard the door next to her open, and she jumped up. She looked up at Zach and raised her eyebrows. "Negative." Zach Dempsey spoke, and Elizabeth let out a sigh. "But, we slept together before you and Justin got back together after he was homeless, so I was going to come up negative."

"We don't know that's when he got it, though." Elizabeth spoke, looking back down at her paper. "I was just really hoping that you weren't going to be positive."

"You?"

Elizabeth's eyes snapped up at her best friend. "What?"

"What are your results?"

The girl let out a deep breath, chuckling slightly. "Oh. Negative."

"See." Zach sent Elizabeth a smile, wrapping his arms around her. "You had nothing to be worried about."

"I mean, he didn't like not using a condom." Zach pulled away from the hug and furrowed his eyebrows. "Sorry, that's kind of weird that I just told you that."

Zach let out a breathy laugh. "I already knew that about him, but it was weird hearing it from you."

*

It was Graduation Day for the seniors at Liberty High School. They all sat out on the football field in front of a large stage where Principal Bolan and the speakers sat, with the bleachers filled with loving friends and family. "Graduation is that special time, not only to celebrate but to acknowledge the hard work and the countless sacrifices it took to transform dreams into reality." Elizabeth listened to the principal speak as she sat next to Isabel Henry. "And let's not forget the fortitude to carry on in the face of adversity. This graduation class has shown a special kind of fortitude. I admire you all." Isabel placed her hand on Elizabeth's knee, squeezing it gently. "You've been tested well beyond the classroom, and you have endured. Now, you may not believe me. Your class president and class speaker, in particular, may not believe me." Bolan let out a chuckle as he glanced back at Jessica Davis and Clay Jensen sitting behind him. "But all we have ever wished for, myself, the educators here today, all of your parents, all we have truly wished for is to see that you are all happy and healthy and safe. This class, in particular, has made that hellishly hard." Everyone in the audience laughed. "But I have faith in you. All of you. And I hope that we have taught you well. I know you have taught me." Bolan glanced down at his piece of paper before looking back at the students. "I am grateful, and I am proud of you all." The students all cheered as the principal was replaced by Jessica.

"Look, here's the thing." Jessica began her speech. "There should be more of us here." Elizabeth looked down at her lap, nodding. Isabel took the girl's hand. "And lately, I have been thinking about why they're not here." The girl let out a sigh before continuing. "I have a history of causing trouble with my speeches. Principal Bolan actually had to approve my speech just so I wouldn't make trouble." Jessica chuckled. "But that was a month ago. And my life has changed since then. But don't worry, I'm not causing any trouble today. Because I just want you to hear me. Some of you circulated a petition this year, demanding I be removed from office. Saying that I was a one-issue president, and I made my point, and I should just shut up. Well, no girls signed that petition." The audience laughed. "So news, boys, our point is far from made. And we're not shutting up." Everyone in the audience applauded and cheered for Jessica. "But you are right about one thing. I am a one-issue president. I am a one-issue person. I spent the last couple of years angry. Hurt. Scared. But I'm not going to do that anymore. I am going to focus on my one issue." She shrugged before making eye contact with her girlfriend in the audience. "Which is love." Isabel smiled as some students began laughing. "Oh, what? Does talking about love make you embarrassed? Is it girly? What? Because it is the thing. It is the only thing." She let out a sigh. "It is easy to hate. It is easy to fear. It's goddamn hard to love. But it is not optional. It's essential. It's life or death. I challenge you. Love each other. Do it. Do it better. Now and every day. I love you all." She shrugged. "Oh, and fuck the patriarchy." The students in the audience cheered as she left the podium.

Jessica was replaced by Clay, who was the class speaker. "It comes down to one questioned. Will you survive high school? Will I survive?" Clay began his speech. "Because I know too many people who didn't." Clay passed for a second, glancing down at the paper in front of him. "In the past two years, three people who I loved have died. And too- too other people-" Clay began to wipe tears from his eyes, "who I thought I hated, also died. But I learned that hate is too simple. Jessica's right. Hate is easy. Love and understanding are harder. But they are how we take care of each other, how we survive." The boy sniffled, making eye contact with his twin sister in the audience. She sent him a thumbs up. "My dad loves to tell me stories about when he was in high school. The stories usually involve chess club and obscure bands with funny haircuts, because the eighties were a strange, strange time." The audience laughed. "But he always gets one thing right. He knows high school can hurt. That it can be painful. That there are days when that's all it is. And he once told me that he's living proof you can survive. That you can get through it. He's living proof, and so am I." He glanced down at all of the seniors sitting in front of him. "And so are all of you. And the thing is, for me... for us... this class, this- this generation... high school actually is life or death." Elizabeth sighed leaning her head against her friends shoulder. "We show up every day not knowing if this is the day we die. If this is the day someone shows up with a gun and tries to kill us all. We practice what we'll do if that happens. Life or death." Clay let out a sigh. "I suffer from anxiety, and uh- depression. But mostly anxiety. I sometimes think all of us kids do, in some way. And how could we not, with the world the way it is? We hear a lot of promises that things will get better. And- and, look, maybe they will, maybe they won't. And what I think I've learned, what I want tot say to you, is whatever happens, keep moving. Get through it. Choose to live." He made eye contact with her sister, and she nodded slowly. "Because even on the worst day, there are people who love you. There is new music waiting for you to hear, some- something you haven't seen before that will blow your mind in the best way." The girl smiled softly as she listened to her brother speak. "Even on the worst day, life is a pretty spectacular thing." Elizabeth felt a tear run down her cheek, but she quickly wiped it away. "Thank you. Good luck." The audience applauded Clay.

*

When the ceremony had finished, all of the graduated seniors stood in the high school's gym, speaking to their family and friends. Ani Achola stood with Jessica, Isabel, and Elizabeth as they spoke to Estella De La Cruz. "Mrs. Walker had some money she wanted to give away, so she's endowing HO." Ani explained to the girl.

"So, although we losers are going to soon be forgotten..." Isabel chuckled, glancing over at Elizabeth.

Elizabeth smiled as she watched Ani reach into her bag and take out the megaphone. "HO will live on in even more glory. The cause will live on in you." Elizabeth tapped Estella's nose.

Jessica took the megaphone from Ani. "The torch is passed. Use it well."

Estella's eyes widened as Jessica handed her the megaphone. "You guys want me to take over HO?" She watched as all four of the seniors nodded, and a smile appeared on her face. "Tyler will be so proud! Can I tell him?"

"Of course." Elizabeth nodded as she watched Estella run over to her new boyfriend. She looked at the girls standing next to her. "She did try to figure out all of our biggest secrets, but I like her."

"She's a sweetheart." Isabel nodded, wrapping her arm around Jessica and pulling her girlfriend closer towards her.

Elizabeth looked down at the ground. She was glad that her friends were happy, but it made her sad. She lost the only person she ever wanted to be happy with. "I'll see you all later?" The three girls nodded, watching Elizabeth leave them. The girl ran up to the table where her brother and parents stood up and engulfed Clay in a hug from behind him. "Congrats, dude!" Elizabeth giggled as she pressed a kiss against her brother's cheek.

"Ew." Clay groaned, wiping his cheek. Elizabeth frowned, jokingly, pulling away from the hug. Clay chuckled, hugging his sister again. "I'm fucking joking, 'Liza. You know I love you."

"You have to love me. I'm your sister."

"Congratulations."

The two Jensen siblings looked to see Dean Foundry approaching them. "Oh, thanks, Dean Foundry." Clay smiled, looking down at his sister.

Foundry shook Clay's hand and patted his back. "Really, your speech was wonderful." Clay looked over at his parents, bashfully. "Honestly, it was inspiring even for an old guy like me."

"Thank you." Clay nodded.

"Yeah." Foundry let out a chuckle. "No, it was really moving. It was a good reminder to always look on bright side of things."

Elizabeth let out a laugh. "Well, Clay here is an expert on looking on the bright side." She joked.

About ten minutes later, all of the kids in their friend group were leaving their family. "We have to go do- uh- something with our friends." Clay spoke to Matt and Lainie Jensen.

"It's totally legal." Elizabeth nodded her head.

"Of course." Lainie smiled.

Elizabeth looked down at the ground and then back up at her parents. "Thank you, guys, for always believing in me even when I didn't believe in myself."

The girl smiled as her mom pulled her into a hug. "Honey, I will always be here for you no matter what." Lainie spoke before pressing her lips against her daughter's forehead.

Clay tapped Elizabeth's shoulder, telling her to hurry up, and she pulled away from the hug. "I love you, guys." Clay stated to his parents before he and his sister made their way over towards their friends.

*

After most everyone had left the gym, the teenagers of the friend group all sat on the bleachers. "I just want to take pictures that matter to somebody." Tyler Down spoke.

"I'd like to make enough money so that my mum doesn't have to work." Ani chuckled.

"I fully plan on being famous." Ryan Shaver stated from his seat. "Like, not social famous, I mean, so even The New York Times knows who I am."

Zach Dempsey looked over at Elizabeth who was sitting next to him. "I just want to remember this day. Just like this. Right now."

Elizabeth looked down at her hands. "I wish that the last two months of my life never happened, and that Justin was sitting here with all of us." She felt her eyes begin to water. "He deserved to be here."

"You're right." Zach nodded. "He should be here."

Elizabeth looked over at her brother, who stood up from his seat and started walking onto the court. "Clay?" He was stopped when a girl appeared in front of him. "Are you Clay Jensen?" The girl giggled, looking down at the ground. "Oh my god. Sorry, I'm a little nervous." Elizabeth elbowed Zach, wiggling her eyebrows. "You're just like a rock star after the speech." Elizabeth snorted, causing Clay to look back at her and glare. "Uh- but I go to East County, and I'm going to Brown next year, and I heard you are too, so I was wondering if maybe you wanted to get, like, a coffee? Or some other beverage to, like, go over the course catalog and first-year handbook?" The girl sighed. "Or is that too dorky?" Elizabeth furrowed her eyebrows. Was her brother actually being asked on a date by a pretty girl? "Oh," The girl chuckled, "I'm Heidi."

"That's-" Clay nodded. "That would be very cool."

Heidi's eyes widened, the realization that he said yes hitting her. "Oh, phew!" The two giggled.

Elizabeth was very confused. She leaned over to Zach, whispering, "What the fuck is going on? Are we in a parallel universe? A pretty girl is talking to my brother." Zach just shrugged.

"I was worried that would sound completely nerdy." Heidi nodded.

Zach stood up from his seat, helping Elizabeth up as well. "Jensen!" He called out to Clay, but Elizabeth looked at him as well. Zach looked down at Elizabeth and chuckled. "I meant boy Jensen."

Jessica stood up, as well. "Are we going to do this?" She questioned her friend.

"Yeah, uh- Yes." Clay spoke before turning back towards Heidi. "I have to go do a- a thing." She nodded. "Uh- You- you can email me." Heidi took out her phone. "Yeah, it's [email protected]."

Heidi smiled, looking up from her phone. "Nice. Alien Killer Robots." Elizabeth's eyes widened. This girl was a nerd just like her brother.

"Yes!" Clay chuckled.

The two giggled back and forth before Zach rolled his eyes. "Jensen." He groaned, causing Elizabeth to look back up at him. "Oh- I meant your brother again."

"You have to be fucking specific when there are two of us." Elizabeth shook her head at the boy.

*

The teenagers placed the box filled with Hannah Baker's thirteen tapes in a hole they had just dug. Hannah's mother had sent Clay the tapes after the police gave them back to her because she thought Clay would have more use with them. He cam up with an idea of burying them to signify them all moving on with their lives. Clay let out a sigh before he spoke. "This is where I first listened to my tape. And this is where we lay them to rest."

Tony stepped closer towards Clay. "Rest In Peace."

Zach moved up, with a shovel in his hands. "Come on, people." He stepped over the hole, readying his shovel with dirt. "Let's pile on the closure dirt." He tossed the dirt in the hole, beginning to cover the tapes.

All of the kids began to shovel some dirt into the hole until it was all covered. Elizabeth moved back from her hole, leaning her head against Zach. She let out a sigh. "I miss him so much." She stated quietly.

"I know." Zach nodded, running his hands through the girls hair. "I miss him, too."

"He should be here. He would have wanted to do this."

"I'm sorry, Eliza."

Elizabeth shook her head. "But today shouldn't be about sadness." She nodded, beginning to tear up. "Today is a happy day. Today is a day about moving on from the past." She looked down at her hands. "I'm just not sure I want to do that yet."

Zach pulled Elizabeth into his arms. "If Justin were here, he would tell you to stop crying. He would say that you deserve to be happy."

"So did he."

"I know that, and he was happy." Zach chuckled, looking down at the girl. "You made him happy." Elizabeth nodded as she noticed Clay staring down at the town of Evergreen. She made her way over towards her brother, standing next to him. "All the shit that never would have happened." Zach chuckled, moving next to Elizabeth.

Jessica shrugged. "But we never would have been friends." She wrapped her arm around Ani.

"We'll always have that." Tony nodded.

"If anyone ever needs any help, anytime, any place, just send a group text." Tyler spoke to his friends. "Say, 'Gordon Lightfoot'."

"Sure thing, dude." Elizabeth sent Tyler a smile.

Ryan furrowed his eyebrows. "Wait, what? Gordon Lightfoot?"

"It's the strangest fucking codeword." Clay sighed, shaking his head.

*

Elizabeth sat on Justin Foley's bed, looking down at her phone. She pressed his contact and then pressed call. She brought the phone to her ear and waited for his voicemail before she spoke. She had been leaving Justin a voicemail every day since he went into the hospital. She had been hoping when he got out, he would just a bunch to listen to, but then he never left.

The girl let out a sigh as she heard the beep. "Hey." She felt tears run down her cheek. "I've decided that this is the last voicemail I am going to send. And I know I said that yesterday, and the day before that, and the day before that...." the girl let out a soft chuckle, wiping away her tears, "but I really mean it this time." She looked down at her hands and let out a whimper. "Love you so fucking much, Justin, and I am dying here without you. You gave me life. You gave me a purpose. And now all of that is gone." She shook her head, taking in a deep breath. "I know you made me promise that I would get over you, but I have no fucking clue how. I love you more than I ever thought I could love anyone, and now you're gone. And I'm never going to see you again." Elizabeth paused, wiping her tears again. "I try to take every day at a time, and I think it is getting easier, but I don't even know how ti function anymore. For two years, you were there for me, and now you're gone." She looked on the table in between Justin and Clay's bed to see a picture of the two boys. Elizabeth picked up the photo and smiled. "I'm trying to get through this only because I told you I would, but to do that, I can't keep calling you just to hear your answering machine every day. I just can't. So this is my last one." She frowned, letting out a breath she did not even know she had been holding. "I love you, and I always will. Goodbye, baby." She hung up her phone, setting it on the bed.

She sobbed, looking around at how neat Justin's side of the room looked. It had never looked this clean when Justin was living there. She made her way to Justin's drawer, opening it to reveal his varsity jacket. She sighed, taking it out of the drawer, and smelling it. Justin's scent was not strong, but it was still there. The girl threw the jacket on her back and laid her head against Justin's pillow. "I love you." She spoke before closing her eyes.

Rewritten
Word Count - 3249

An: I'm really sad that the story is one chapter from being over. Like that makes me really sad. I have been working on this story and falling in love with Eliza and a Justin for years. I'm really going to miss writing this story. Also, Justin is my favorite fictional character ever, so writing these last few chapters have really been hard.

Please comment what you want to see Eliza up to in the next chapter, and please don't forget to vote!

Have a nice day, lovelies 💕