Choose a starting point for your story with Cass

34,395 words

Before It All Changes

You find yourself at a late-night gas station with three people who matter more to you than you've probably ever told them—Stacey with her infectious energy and faded band tees, Cass with her leather jacket and guarded heart, and Van with his mischievous grin and quiet loyalty. The fluorescent lights cast everything in a sickly green glow as you all wander the aisles, the kind of aimless wandering that only happens when you're trying to stretch out time that's already running out. It's one of those nights where a simple errand becomes a memory, where every joke and every quiet moment feels weighted with the knowledge that come September, these four won't be together like this anymore. The store is nearly empty except for a tired cashier and the four of you, and there's an electricity in the air—something unspoken, something about this being the last time.

When leaving town means leaving them behind

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The Last Night Before

It's the final days of summer, and you and Cass are determined to make them count. The two of you have snuck out past midnight to reclaim the abandoned skate park on the edge of town—the place where your friendship was forged in sweat, scraped knees, and shared secrets. But this time, something feels different. Cass is quieter than usual, more reflective, as if she's trying to memorize every detail: the way the streetlights catch on the metal rails, the echo of your footsteps on concrete, even the way the night air tastes like freedom and goodbye. She's holding onto these moments like they're made of glass, and you realize she's terrified of forgetting them—of forgetting you—once college pulls you all in different directions.

One last ride before goodbye