by T. K. Rapp
“No, I was going to wait.” I smile an uneasy grin.
“What is it?” Braxton asks.
“It’s a letter from Baylor,” Mom says with controlled excitement. “She’s scared to open it.”
“Open it, Lai,” Haden nods and smiles, encouraging me because he knows what this could mean for us.
I exhale loudly and take the envelope from Mom, and rip the opening back before pausing. Everyone looks at me and waits until Joey nudges my arm, prompting me to pull the piece of paper out.
Dear Laila,
Congratulations! On behalf…
“I got in,” I scream and jump up and down. “Mom, I got in!”
“I’m so proud of you,” she says with tears in her eyes and a smile on her face. She wraps me into her arms and hugs me, followed by my dad, who hugs both of us.
Dad’s eyes are glassy, but he clears his throat and manages to hide the emotion. One by one, everyone hugs and congratulates me—everyone but Haden. He’s still sitting in his chair with his arms crossed over his chest and a smug grin on his face. He finally stands up, walks over to me, and pulls me into a big hug.
“Congratulations.” He smiles before he kisses my cheek. “I knew you’d get in.”
“Thanks,” I sigh, looking at the letter and reading the first word over again. “Now if we can just get your letter in.”
“Actually,” Joey punches him in the arm as he walks past, “someone already did.”
Haden’s eyes widen with shock and the two exchange a look that piques my interest.
“Are you serious? And you haven’t said anything?”
“Maybe I didn’t get in,” he reasons.
“Yeah, he did.” Joey nods his head.
“What?” I gape, not even trying to hide my shock. “Haden! When did you find out? Where did you get in?”
“I found out a couple of days ago,” he admits while everyone watches us.
“So?” I ask.
“So, what?” He smiles, knowing that he’s getting me worked up.
“Haden Searle, you better tell us where you got in,” I demand. There were only a few places that he applied to, but I was never sure which was his first choice.
“TCU,” he finally confesses. “I got into their Studio Art program.”
“Do you know what this means?” I ask purely out of shock.
“That we’ll be going to school less than two hours away from each other?” he says as if it’s a question.
“No, it means that you and Braxton are going to school together,” I tell him and watch his ego deflate a little before I finish. “And yes, we’re only two hours away. Wow,” I breathe out and look around at everyone wearing smiles of their own. “This is it, isn’t it? Prom is over. All we have are finals and graduation.”
“Don’t get all mopey now,” Cole pleads. He walks over and wraps an arm around me and squeezes tight. “You just found out that you got into your dream school. Can you be happy for at least another ten minutes? And don’t mention finals again. Got it?”
“So I know where Scot already goes and where Laila, Haden, and Braxton got in,” Dad says with a smile. “What about the rest of you?”
“I guess now’s as good a time as any.” Cole places his hands on the counter. “I had a hard time deciding, but I talked it over with my parents and they’re not exactly thrilled.”
“Are you going to Texas?” Joey asks in shock. The Camerons’ are not Longhorns fans.
Ree looks at me and I can tell she’s trying not to show her emotions, which makes me uneasy. I study everyone present, trying to see who may know what’s going on, but we all have the same confused looks on our faces.
“Nah, they’d disown me if I did that,” he laughs. “I’m actually going to The Citadel.”
“You’re doing what?” I ask. “You’ve never mentioned this before.”
“It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while, and after talking with Mom and Dad, I think it’s the best place for me.”
“But you’re not joining the military after—are you?” Bailey asks.
“That’s the plan,” he grins.
I wrap my arms around him and hold him tight, because for the first time I feel like I’m going to lose him. He hugs me back, but I look up and smile as best as I can through the tears clouding my eyes.
“When did you grow up?”
“I know. It’s Joey’s fault. He’s been on my case about choosing a school.” He nods at Joey. “Besides, you haven’t heard where he’s going, have you?”
“Thanks for that, man. Appreciate it,” Joey coughs. “I got my letter a couple of days ago, too. I got into Columbia.”
“Congratulations,” Mom says with excitement. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Thanks. Unfortunately, Bailey and I will be on opposite sides of the country.”
She raises her hand and offers a timid smile. “UCLA.”
“What about you, Ree?” I ask.
“Vanderbilt.” She smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes.
“Ree, that’s so amazing.” I hug her and she returns the embrace with a small one of her own. “You don’t want to go, do you?”
She looks around, clearly uncomfortable with all eyes on her, but she answers anyway. “When my mom took off, it left just me and Dad. We had never had much of a relationship before, but her leaving forced us to try. If there was something good that came from her leaving, that was it—and now, just when things are good with us, I have to go?”
“So what are you gonna do?” Cole asks as he stands next to her.
“I didn’t say anything to Dad, but I was looking at some colleges closer to home and I think I want to stick around.”
“Will he be okay with that?” I ask.
“I hope so, because I already turned it down and I’m on a waiting list for Rice. I might have to do a junior college for a year, but I have the grades to get in.”
“Sounds like you have it all figured out,” I answer.
Bailey and Mom are reduced to ‘how sweet’ comments and drag Ree into hugs she doesn’t seem to be interested in. Cole walks over to hug her and whispers something in her ear that makes her laugh before he gives her a sweet kiss.
Mom starts cooking and everyone does something to help out.
Thirty minutes later, biscuits, eggs, waffles, bacon, fresh fruit, sausages, and some sort of casserole are waiting in dishes to be eaten. Everyone grabs a plate and fills them up before finding any spot to sit down and eat. There are at least three different conversations taking place and I look at Mom and Dad, who are standing near the living room entrance with wistful looks. Mom winks at me and drags Dad out of the room, leaving me to resume my own conversation.
“Damn, Lai,” Braxton announces as he gets up to fill his plate again. “This is some after-prom breakfast.”
Haden leans over and whispers in my ear, “You disappointed we missed it?”
I look at everyone sitting here, completely oblivious to what happened last night, and shake my head. “I loved last night. I got to dance with you, hang with our friends, and now this—I think things worked out the way they were meant,” I laugh.
“Road trip,” Joey says through a mouthful of food. “When are we going?”
“First week in August,” I answer. “Who’s in?”
“I’m going with my dad to see my aunt, but maybe we can hang when I get back,” Ree says.
“I’m out,” Bailey says and I’m surprised because she really wanted to go. “I think this is one for the five of you. Besides, I’ll be packing.”
Joey leans over and tells her something, but she shakes her head in disagreement with a sweet smile on her face. She looks over and mouths “good luck” to me.
All I can do is laugh, because we’re going to need it.
Chapter 29 ~ Finding Honors
“Hey, I’m going to the quarry,” I tell my parents, who are watching a movie with Luka.
“Don’t be too long,” Dad warn
s. “Big day tomorrow.”
I nod my head and disappear through the front door, and make the short walk to my favorite spot. It’s not quite dark out yet, but I have my flashlight with me in case I need it. The air is warm and sticky, but thankfully it’s not too unbearable. I just really need some alone time to get my head sorted out.
Today has been a hectic day, with rehearsal, senior breakfast, and pretending that I’m going to miss my classmates. Tomorrow we graduate, and after that everything changes. Joey will be moving to New York and Cole will be in South Carolina—our crew is breaking up and there’s nothing I can do to stop it from happening.
I make my way through the clearing but stop abruptly when I spot Joey sitting on the rocks alone. I clear my throat before calling out his name to get his attention, and he waves me over with a smile.
“I don’t want to interrupt,” I say, as I get closer.
“You’re fine,” he answers. “I was going over my speech.”
“Oh! Can I hear it?” I sit next to him and try to peek over his shoulder.
“Nope, you’ll hear it with everyone else,” he says, moving the paper from my view.
“But I’m your best friend,” I remind him.
“Yeah, but I’m still not going to show you. Haden meeting you out here?” he asks, looking around.
“No, I needed to get away for a while,” I admit.
“You okay?”
I look out into the distance and focus on a tree that looks like a mere speck of something. Finally I lean my head on his shoulder and exhale loudly.
“Remind me again why all of this change is necessary,” I say to him.
He puts an arm around me and laughs. “I’ve never seen you like this. Didn’t we knock all the whiny girl things out of you by now? You’re supposed to be chill and cool with change. Damn, I failed you,” he deadpans.
I nudge my elbow into his ribs and he feigns discomfort.
“Okay, fine,” he drags. “I hate to tell you, kid, but we’re growing up. And you’re going to have to face the world, with or without us. But I know you, you’re going to own it.”
“I’m glad you’re so sure of it, because right now, for the first time in a really long time, I’m terrified. Terrified of failure, or maybe success. It’s safe knowing I have Mom and Dad there to catch me if I fall or to know that I have you guys in my corner if I need it. But I’m not going to have anyone there when I get out to the real world.”
“We might not be right there, but you know we always have your back—but I don’t think you’re going to need it.”
“See, that’s why you’re my favorite,” I smile.
“Told you,” he says out loud when he hears someone walking toward us. “I’m her favorite.”
“She told me the same thing yesterday,” Braxton says as he joins us on the rocks.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
“I called your house when you didn’t answer your cell, and your mom said you were out here.”
She’s going to kill me for leaving my phone.
“You ready for tomorrow?” he asks Joey, who simply gives him a single nod. “Good deal.”
“What about you? You ready?” I ask him.
“All I have to do is show up and look like this.” He raises his arms up to show himself off. “That one has to talk in front of hundreds of people.”
“That’s true,” I agree and look as I turn to look at Joey. “All those people staring at you, hoping you say something funny and inspirational. Are you sure you don’t want to read your speech to us to make sure it’s good enough?”
“You suck,” he says, standing up and dusting off his shorts with a smirk.
“Do I? Because, as your best friend, I think it’s my duty to look after you and make sure that you don’t make a fool of yourself. I really think you need to let us hear it,” I tease and try to reach for the paper.
“She’s right. What if it’s really bad?” Braxton joins in.
“Then I’ll tell everyone y’all switched my epic speech with a piece of garbage that you wrote yourselves. Sabotage,” he declares, and I narrow my eyes at him.
“I could write a speech. I could write the hell out of a speech, but you’ll never get to hear it,” I mope jokingly and grab Joey’s wrist to look at his watch and note the time.
“Yeah, I told your mom I’d send you home,” Braxton says, looking at his own phone screen.
“Let’s go,” I agree and wait for Joey to join us, but he stays behind.
“I’ll call you later. I’m going to stay here a little longer.” He winks and waves us off.
* * *
“Do you have your valedictory speech with you?” I ask Joey, who looks the picture of calm. He lifts his hand up and flashes the piece of paper that I tried to take last night, and then slips it back in his pocket. When Braxton and I left him last night, I had a feeling he wanted to run through his speech some more.
I could have easily hidden to listen to it, but I figured I’d be a huge jerk if I did that.
“Don’t put me to sleep,” Cole jokes, and Braxton points at Joey to remind him of his own comments last night.
“Ree, text him every few minutes to make sure he’s awake. I wouldn’t want him to miss out on my epic speech,” he says, to which Ree salutes in response.
“How much longer do we have to stand out here?” Bailey asks. “It’s crazy-hot.”
“Graduates, please find your place in line. Commencement will begin in two minutes,” the principal announces over the megaphone, as if answering the question just for her.
I hurry to pull out my phone so I can get one last picture of everyone. They smile as we squeeze together for a selfie and I check the shot to make sure it looks good. Bailey steps aside and grabs the phone from me to take a shot of me with just the guys and hands it back.
When I look at the picture, it’s hard to fight the smile on my face.
This might be my favorite picture ever.
I’m standing between Joey and Braxton with my arms wrapped around their necks. Cole is standing next to Joey lifting his leg in the air with a stupid smile on his face and Haden is next to Brax giving bunny ears.
This is my barmy.
I hug each of my friends and run off to find my place in line, but not before hearing Kasey Daniels decide to get one last jab in at my expense. Of course, because what is the end of high school without your tormentor making her presence known?
“Excuse me?” I ask, giving her a chance to repeat her idiocy.
“Just another perk of graduation: not seeing you anymore.”
“I couldn’t agree more, Kase. See, the thing is, most of us have grown up and moved on. But you’re the same pathetic, sad, mean person you have always been. I hope that someday you do grow up, and hopefully your kids will never experience the hell you have inflicted on everyone else. Good luck out there.”
I offer my most genuine smile and leave her standing with her jaw open. From this point on, high school and jerks like her are behind me.
I’m moving on and letting go.
The line begins to move and I find my spot, following the classmate in front of me to our seats on the floor of the arena. The place is packed with parents, siblings, other relatives, and friends—and it’s still hot as if the air isn’t circulating. Great! I hear my family scream my name, and wave in their direction as I take my place next to two students I’ve never spent any time getting to know.
When everyone has taken their places and the music is done, the principal stands at the podium to say a few words before introducing Joey. There is light applause as he takes his place and puts his glasses on so he can read.
He looks calm, but the way he clears his throat and fumbles with the paper tells another story. He takes a deep breath, looks out at the crowd with his trademark smile, and lets out a nervous laugh.
“My fellow classmates,
“For four years, we have been waiting for this day. Freshman year, we r
ealized that our time at South River was limited so we worked hard, although I’m sure some of us played harder. We grabbed high school by the horns and made it our—well... you know what we made it.
In four years, we tried different sports, studied foreign languages, and attempted classes that were beyond our comprehension. But through it all we learned—about life and ourselves. Mr. Tredway once told us, ‘if you learn one thing, just one, from every teacher you have, you are an educated person,’ and I believe that to be true.
“Our teachers have provided life lessons that will carry us through the rest of our lives. Some of us will take their words and apply them in our lives, while others will decide to learn for themselves with firsthand experience. These teachers have spent four years preparing us for the real world and sharing their experiences with us.
“Ms. Brightman made sure we understood how to write an essay that would catch the reader’s attention. I think it’s safe to say that anyone who was in her class used those skills when writing your college entrance essay.
“And Mr. Gibson made himself available every morning to students struggling with calculus. He never complained and always had a smile on his face, even when working with the most difficult student. His goal was to make sure we had the tools necessary for college.
“And there was Mrs. Simmons, who throughout her battle with cancer showed us how to live life and do it with integrity. I, for one, am fortunate to have been in her class, and I will miss her greatly, as I’m sure everyone else will as well.
“The faculty and staff have been our biggest cheerleaders and I think I speak for all of us when I say to them—thank you. Thank you for believing in us and pushing us to be our best.
“Now I have something to say to you, my classmates. I’m going to make this short and sweet because I think we can all agree that I don’t have a wealth of experience to draw from because my life experience isn’t vast. Yet.
“Whether it’s college, joining the military, taking time off to travel the world, or maybe entering the real world now—we are ready. We are moving on; this is what we have prepared for in our education.
“We have made friendships we will have for a long time, while other friendships have come to an end. Hearts have been broken, only to be patched up when someone new comes along. We made mistakes—lots of them. But we learned. We fought. We laughed. We partied. We did everything we should do in high school. We lived.
