kitchen.
* * *
The next two days, I have one final each day. I spend Thursday evening studying and gearing up for my last test of the year. I walk out of my last exam breathing a huge sigh of relief, one year closer to college, and hopefully, at least a partial academic scholarship. When I turn down the hallway that my locker is in, I realize a friend is waiting for me leaning up against my locker.
“You again?” I tease.
“Figured we could celebrate your last day of school.” He throws his dimples my way.
“I have plans with Mel to go to the Commons. We could get a group to go, maybe play some Frolf? If you promise not to purposely throw any Frisbees at me.” I snicker.
“Ha ha, very funny. I’ll text Austin and see if he’s up for it. There was something else I wanted to ask you. It isn’t really that big of a deal, and if you’re busy, it’s totally cool…”
“Charlie!” I interrupt him. “Just ask.” I laugh.
He looks nervous for some reason. “Well, graduation is tomorrow morning. I thought maybe you would want to come? I have an extra ticket.”
“Of course, I’ll come!”
He lets out a deep breath, but I don’t understand why he seems anxious. It’s just graduation.
A huge group of us spends the rest of the day in the sun playing Frolf or Frisbee golf. Austin and Mel spend much of the afternoon shamelessly flirting—typical Melanie.
The next day, I wake up early, shower and go all out with hair and makeup. I’m not really sure why, I mean, it’s just graduation. I slip on my favorite yellow sundress and throw on some jeweled flip-flops since I’m sure it will be killer heat crammed in the football stands with all the families of those graduating. I park Mom’s SUV in the school lot, hop out, and head toward the football field. There are swarms of people all over the parking lot and school grounds. Someone grabs my arm as I’m about to walk through the gate to the stadium. I know who it is before I even look, just by his touch alone.
“You came,” Charlie says sounding almost surprised. He looks so handsome in his dress clothes, cap, and gown.
“I said I would, goof, shouldn’t you be going to line up?”
“Yeah, I’m about to head in. I’ll see you after?”
“Yep, good luck. And whatever you do, don’t trip!” I taunt.
“Thanks, jerk,” he says leaving to join his class.
I walk over to the stands finding Carrie and a few other friends and have a seat with them. The graduation march starts, and of course, a tear comes to my eye. That and ‘Here Comes the Bride’ does it every time. I can’t believe, in one year, it’ll be me trying not to trip down the aisle to receive my diploma. It feels like I just started high school and now it’s almost over.
We sit patiently while multiple speakers come up to the podium. The valedictorian receives a standing ovation for her inspirational speech. I wonder if that will be me next year? The principal reads off the names of those graduating at a snail’s pace, or at least that’s how it feels. It’s a rare ninety-degree day in Maine. I’m so hot and sweaty, I can no longer cross my legs because I put lotion on them this morning, and they are just sliding right off each other. Yeah, gross! Finally, I hear the name I have been waiting for. ‘Charlie Salazar’ is called over the microphone. His family cheers, and something I hadn’t expected, just about every female in the crowd cheers, also. Some foreign feeling creeps into my being. Jealousy? Is this what jealousy feels like? I stifle it and cheer for Charlie. He looks at me as he walks down the platform and winks. I hear audible whimpers around me. Whispers about how hot Charlie is follow, and speculation of whom he was winking at. Seriously? I smile inwardly knowing the smile and wink thrown into the crowd belong to me.
When the ceremony concludes, I remain in the stands for a beat, simply because it’s total chaos with the families trying to
* * *
The next two days, I have one final each day. I spend Thursday evening studying and gearing up for my last test of the year. I walk out of my last exam breathing a huge sigh of relief, one year closer to college, and hopefully, at least a partial academic scholarship. When I turn down the hallway that my locker is in, I realize a friend is waiting for me leaning up against my locker.
“You again?” I tease.
“Figured we could celebrate your last day of school.” He throws his dimples my way.
“I have plans with Mel to go to the Commons. We could get a group to go, maybe play some Frolf? If you promise not to purposely throw any Frisbees at me.” I snicker.
“Ha ha, very funny. I’ll text Austin and see if he’s up for it. There was something else I wanted to ask you. It isn’t really that big of a deal, and if you’re busy, it’s totally cool…”
“Charlie!” I interrupt him. “Just ask.” I laugh.
He looks nervous for some reason. “Well, graduation is tomorrow morning. I thought maybe you would want to come? I have an extra ticket.”
“Of course, I’ll come!”
He lets out a deep breath, but I don’t understand why he seems anxious. It’s just graduation.
A huge group of us spends the rest of the day in the sun playing Frolf or Frisbee golf. Austin and Mel spend much of the afternoon shamelessly flirting—typical Melanie.
The next day, I wake up early, shower and go all out with hair and makeup. I’m not really sure why, I mean, it’s just graduation. I slip on my favorite yellow sundress and throw on some jeweled flip-flops since I’m sure it will be killer heat crammed in the football stands with all the families of those graduating. I park Mom’s SUV in the school lot, hop out, and head toward the football field. There are swarms of people all over the parking lot and school grounds. Someone grabs my arm as I’m about to walk through the gate to the stadium. I know who it is before I even look, just by his touch alone.
“You came,” Charlie says sounding almost surprised. He looks so handsome in his dress clothes, cap, and gown.
“I said I would, goof, shouldn’t you be going to line up?”
“Yeah, I’m about to head in. I’ll see you after?”
“Yep, good luck. And whatever you do, don’t trip!” I taunt.
“Thanks, jerk,” he says leaving to join his class.
I walk over to the stands finding Carrie and a few other friends and have a seat with them. The graduation march starts, and of course, a tear comes to my eye. That and ‘Here Comes the Bride’ does it every time. I can’t believe, in one year, it’ll be me trying not to trip down the aisle to receive my diploma. It feels like I just started high school and now it’s almost over.
We sit patiently while multiple speakers come up to the podium. The valedictorian receives a standing ovation for her inspirational speech. I wonder if that will be me next year? The principal reads off the names of those graduating at a snail’s pace, or at least that’s how it feels. It’s a rare ninety-degree day in Maine. I’m so hot and sweaty, I can no longer cross my legs because I put lotion on them this morning, and they are just sliding right off each other. Yeah, gross! Finally, I hear the name I have been waiting for. ‘Charlie Salazar’ is called over the microphone. His family cheers, and something I hadn’t expected, just about every female in the crowd cheers, also. Some foreign feeling creeps into my being. Jealousy? Is this what jealousy feels like? I stifle it and cheer for Charlie. He looks at me as he walks down the platform and winks. I hear audible whimpers around me. Whispers about how hot Charlie is follow, and speculation of whom he was winking at. Seriously? I smile inwardly knowing the smile and wink thrown into the crowd belong to me.
When the ceremony concludes, I remain in the stands for a beat, simply because it’s total chaos with the families trying to
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