The commercial break ends and Ellen’s music comes on again. The audience applauds. “Welcome back, everyone! I’m here with best-selling author Sammie Winters and her four best friends Hannah, Emily, Mackenzie, and Susan who she wrote about in her very first published work Lemons: The Pivotal Year. I’ve been asking the girls questions about what has happened to them since the book ended in May 2016.” Ellen turns back to the girls.

“I left off with Susan Carter so let’s get going! The last we hear from you is that you’re doing that internship of sorts with the Synthesis Dance company in New York during your last year at AMDA. How did that end up working out for you?” Susan says “It worked out very well for me. I was able to handle my classes and my internship, and choreographing a dance for them on my own. They loved my dance I came up with and they said I was a really hard worker, and by the end of the year they had asked me to officially join the company as a dancer and choreographer.”

The audience applauds again. “That’s great, congratulations. The next thing I wanted to touch on is that you are very connected to Zayn, Mackenzie, and their band aren’t you?” The audience ooohs knowingly. Susan looks down and blushes. “Maybe I am…” The girls all ooooh along with the audience this time, again knowingly. “Maybe? Because word around the world is that you are dating the band’s drummer, the Ashton Irwin!”

The audience erupts and the screens once again show backstage and we see Ashton trying to hide from the camera because he’s smiling and turning really red. “Yes, I am dating Ashton. We’re very happy.” Susan says. “How did you two end up meeting?” Ellen asks. “Em and Kenz had asked me to come out and see their show three years ago because they missed me and knew I had time off. I agreed and when I was in the audience watching their show he immediately caught my eye.” The audience says “Aw” and she continues.

“After the show the girls got me backstage and introduced me to everyone. According to Ashton, he felt a connection with me ‘from the moment our hands touched when we shook hands.’ We’ve been together ever since.” The audience says “Aw” even louder now. “Well isn’t that the cutest thing you ever heard!” Ellen says as Ashton shows up on the screens again smiling and blushing like crazy.

“So, were you worried at first that because Ashton is busy a lot of the time with the band and lives in LA that you would never see him and it would be like dating Liam all over again?” Ellen questions. “I did have my doubts at first, but Ash reassured me that he would make it work much better than Liam did. Plus, he’s actually from New York. He moved to LA to try and follow his dream of being a drummer. So when he would come home to see his family, he and I would see each other too.” Susan clarifies.

“Okay, sounds like a great deal. You two seem very happily in love like these four.” Ellen says gesturing to Emily and Mackenzie while the screens show Ashton, Zayn, and Niall all together having a bro hug. “Yes, and apparently the boys are happily in love with each other as well.” Mackenzie jokes. The audience laughs loudly. “Getting back to Liam, have you talked to him at all since you broke up? Have you forgiven him?” Ellen asks.

“It took me a long time to let him in again but a year ago he reached out to me and since I had moved on a long time ago I decided to answer him. He basically apologized a bunch and asked if I had forgiven him. I told him I did and that I had actually moved on. Apparently he has also moved on; he’s dating his friend Danielle who you might remember from the early chapters of the book that I also bonded with in Paris. It made me wonder if part of the reason he broke up with me was also that he was interested in her.” she finishes.

“Yeah, that sure wouldn’t surprise any of us.” Sammie speaks up. The girls nod in agreement. “So you’re living in New York. Do you have a place that’s close to Hannah and Harry?” Ellen asks. “Yes actually. They have a house together and I live in the apartment building a few blocks down so it’s really easy for us to see each other.” Susan says. “How convenient! It makes me think of something from the book that Hannah mentioned in the last chapter.” Ellen turns to Hannah.

“You said that the original plan was to live with Emily after college but then she went to LA, so you were gonna get a place with Susan instead. Now, you’re living Harry instead who is now your fiancé!” Ellen says to Hannah. “I know, it really emphasizes one of the points Sammie’s book makes. A lot can change within a short amount of time. You can’t always prepare for it but it happens anyway and you have to do with it what you can.” Hannah says.

“Well said. All right let’s get back to our author over here. There have been loads of questions pouring in about you and Louis or as your readers like to refer to you two as, “Loummie.” How your story ended in the book was very touching and it seems like you two are very close.” Sammie smiles.

“Yes, Louis and I are like siblings to each other. He’s been there for me when no one else was. I still stayed at his apartment during the summers and holiday breaks when I was in college and he continued to pursue an acting career in the city. We resumed living together after I graduated, but it wasn’t in Chicago.” Sammie adds at the end. “Yes, you two are living in New York now?” Ellen asks.

“Yes, we moved there after my graduation a year ago. A publisher in New York wanted Lemons published and wanted to work with me in person on getting it proofread and perfected, and Louis had been offered a leading role on Broadway so we took that as a sign that we needed to move.” Sammie says. “Lovely, lovely. Now Louis is also in the audience with us today, stand up and say hi!” Ellen says talking to Louis in the audience.

He stands up and the crowd cheers. He waves at everyone and a crew member comes to him with a microphone. “I’ll have you answer this question. All of Sammie’s readers want to know: are you sure that you and Sammie don’t have feelings for each other?” Ellen asks slowly. Louis laughs and says “We are positive. We know people think otherwise and we know people ship us as “Loummie” but trust us, there’s nothing there except a brother/sister bond.” he says before sitting down.

“Okay I guess we have to take your word for it. So Sammie, are you working on any other books at the moment?” “Actually, I have a job as a journalist for the New York Times. I don’t know if I’ll ever write another book…” The audience gasps and she says, “But maybe one day I’ll change my mind!”

“Well we certainly hope so.” Ellen says, “Okay, we don’t have that much time left so I wanna go down the line and ask you all this question: What were the lessons that you took away from your experiences that year? Let’s start with Mackenzie.” She responds, “Just because someone has a certain reputation doesn’t mean that they can’t change. Also, forbidden love sucks. …I love you, Niall!” The screens show Niall laughing and saying “I love you too, Mackers!”

Emily says “Sticks and stones may break your bones, but don’t ever let words hurt you. Also, two heads are better than one.” she says smiling. Zayn comes up on the screen and is smiling too. Hannah says “Never judge a book by its cover; even though someone may have a sketchy outside image, for all you know they could be the most genuine person in the world on the inside. Also, just because something seems impossible, doesn’t mean it isn’t meant to be in the end.” she finishes looking into the audience at Harry. He stands up and shouts, “I love you, Hannah Spencer!” The audience laughs.

Susan says “To go with what Hannah said, don’t judge a book by its cover; even though someone may have a good image doesn’t mean they aren’t capable of being bad on the inside.” Mackenzie adds, “And sometimes you meet someone who’s good on the outside and you help make them better on the inside. And they make you better in return.” Niall comes up again and smiles, giving her a hand heart.

Sammie finishes it off saying “One person helping you at a time when you’re most vulnerable and can help turn your whole life around and change it for the better. Also, just because a boy and a girl are really close, care for each other, love each other, and would do anything for each other, they don’t have to be in a romantic relationship.” Sammie says looking at Louis in the audience. He smiles at her with pride.

“Very well said, ladies.” Ellen says. The audience applauds loudly and longer than usual. “Now everyone, we have come to the final question of the show: Why is the book called Lemons?” Ellen asks. The girls all look at each other. “Do you wanna take this?” Sammie asks Hannah. “Sure, since I’m the one who came up with it.” Hannah says. “Oh, you did? I thought Sammie would have.” Ellen says surprised.

“Well in all fairness, Sammie knew she wanted the subtitle to be The Pivotal Year, because of that being the year all of our lives changed forever. She couldn’t think of a main title, so she asked us to help her.” Hannah says. “Oh okay so how did it happen?” Ellen asks leaning forward again. “I remember it was over Google Hangout and we started throwing out some words. I seem to recall Choices being an option but we weren’t feeling it.” Emily takes over.

“Opportunities was a possibility, I think.” Mackenzie chimes in. “Yeah that was one. There were probably a few more.” Susan adds. “Can I tell it, please?” Hannah says laughing a little. “Sorry..” the three say. Hannah continues, “Then I remember thinking ‘What if we made it something a little more obscure?’…and the life saying ‘When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade’ came into my head—“ “—and out of nowhere she shouted out‘Lemons!!’ and we all looked at her like ‘whaaat?’” Mackenzie says.

Hannah laughs and says “Then I explained, and I still remember it word for word, this: When life gives you lemons you make lemonade. You roll with the punches and take what you’re given, and you make the very best out of it that you can.” Ellen slowly leans back in her chair, the audience is silent. “And I felt that that right there, was what the book was saying overall.” Hannah finishes.

“We were all silent for a minute thinking it over and as strange as it sounded at first, it actually made a lot of sense!” Susan says. “Honestly I thought it was brilliant.” Sammie adds. Ellen and the audience are still silent for a bit before Ellen says “Susan, I’m pretty sure that’s what everyone in our audience just did. And Sammie, it is indeed brilliant. Good work, Hannah.” Hannah smiles and says “Thank you. Sammie’s great book had to have a great title.”

“I would say you were successful. Well I guess that means that all of our questions have been answered about Lemons and we are now out of time. It was great having all of you on the show, ladies. I wish all of you luck in your futures and hopefully we’ll see one or more of you back on the show soon.” Ellen says. “Thank you for having all of us.” Sammie says.

“Any time at all. You’re all lovely. For those of you watching at home, you can pick up a copy of Sammie’s book Lemons: The Pivotal Year at Target, on Amazon, …or at your local bookstore if there’s any of them left.” The audience and the girls laugh. “Thank you for watching, be kind to one another. Bye bye!” Ellen finishes before the audience applauds a final time and the show ends.

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Sammie’s book has a lot to teach us all. She presented us with 5 different relationships. Each one had something different to teach as evidenced by what the girls said they learned from that year. As readers of this book, we can place ourselves in one or more of these girls’ situations. These situations and how they were handled can make us question ourselves.

‘If I was in that situation, how would I have reacted? What would I have done? Would I have handled it better or worse than the character did?’ Life presents us with choices and opportunities. What we do with them can change the entire course of our lives. Also, a lot can happen within a single year. Things can magically come together or completely fall apart in the shortest amount of time and it is when they do that a person’s true character is revealed.

I hope that these girls’ stories and experiences have taught you a little more about life and about yourselves. And remember that whenever life throws something at you, you have the power to choose how it affects your life; whether it be positively or negatively. As Hannah so beautifully said to Ellen moments ago: When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. You roll with the punches and take what you’re given, and you make the very best out of it that you can.

Notes

That's it, everyone! Lemons has come to an end. I hope you all enjoyed it. :) If you liked reading my little story, please share it with all your Directioner friends on every social media platform that you can. I want the lessons told in this story and its overall message to be heard everywhere. If you've read all 53 chapters, please comment telling me so and I will personally send you a thank you message. I love my readers so much and I'm gonna miss updating. :( I guess until next time.....take care, lovelies. <3