"I'm gonna keep goin', no matter where I'm at. Bein' lost without them..." And damn, was that ever weird to say... "That's nothin' to be surprised about, is it? They're my family, too."

He curled his toes a little, inside his shoes. Reminded himself that now was a bad time to make a reach for that bottle of wine he'd brought along.

"It ain't the end of the world. It's just... A startin' point I've never been at before. Things are different. They're gonna be. That don't mean stayin' here ain't worth it. Just means... I dunno. Means I gotta get my shit together, because graduation comes quick."