Insider (Outsider Series)

by Micalea Smeltzer

  My blush from earlier flamed once again.

  “It’s cute,” he kissed my cheek.

  I shook my head and switched back to the earlier topic. “I just can’t believe that you’re valedictorian.”

  “You best believe it, babe,” he stood and picked up his backpack, slinging it over his shoulder. “And I’m going to write the most epic graduation speech ever. It will be remembered for generations to come.”

  * * *

  The day before graduation we were given a whole block to sign yearbooks in the cafeteria.

  Caeden and I were coming up from the math hall and as we were crossing in front of a section of tables a girl let out a squeal. I turned to look, thinking something bad had happened, but instead she was halfway on the table, feet dangling, and staring at Caeden.

  “Who’s that sexy beast?” she cried.

  Caeden laughed. His blue eyes shining with humor.

  Shane came up behind us and clapped Caeden on the back. “Looks to me like you have a secret admirer.” He shrugged. “Or I guess in this case, not so secret.”

  “Nah,” Caeden shook his head. “That’s just Shelby. She’s crazy.”

  Shane nodded to a table. “She-wolf, come over here so you can sign the teams yearbooks. You too Caeden.”

  We followed him and a stack of yearbooks immediately bombarded me.

  “Whoa, guys, slow it down,” I took a pen that Riley offered me.

  I handed him my yearbook. “Just pass it to the next person when you’re done,” I motioned to the eagerly waiting guys. The other guys had finally accepted me once they realized they needed me and I was just all around full of awesomeness. I still hung out more with Tyler, Riley, Cam, Kyle, Evan, Shane, and Brody. I had a feeling I’d be friends with those seven guys for years to come.

  For the seven, as I liked to call them, I signed:

  Lots of Love, Sophie

  And for the others I signed with a heart and then my name.

  Every time I finished a yearbook I handed it to Caeden for him to sign it. He wrote:

  Hugs, Caeden

  After signing the stack of my teammates yearbooks, Caeden and I headed to our usual table to eat lunch and exchanged yearbooks with our pack members.

  I had packed my lunch, so I pulled out a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, while Caeden bought pizza.

  “Give me your yearbook,” Bryce said, and snatched it from the table in front of me.

  I looked over at Charlotte. “I’m afraid,” I said as Bryce scribbled furiously.

  “You should be,” she handed me her yearbook, “sign mine and see what he wrote.”

  I opened the front cover and quickly found, scribbled in orange highlighter, Charlotte, I wish I were your underwear. Why? So, I’d never have to leave your cute bum. Love, Bryce.

  I snorted. “Wow, Bryce.”

  “It’s better than H.A.G.S.” He shrugged.

  I quickly signed Charlotte’s yearbook and then Chris’, Bentley’s, and Logan’s. Bryce passed my yearbook to Charlotte and she passed it to the others. I was a little scared to know what Bryce had written, especially when he kept smirking at me.

  Caeden was happily chomping on his pizza and signing the pack’s yearbooks. A couple of girls, one of which was the crazy eyed, hyper spastic, Shelby, approached Caeden to sign their yearbooks. “Sure,” he shrugged, shoving a chunk of pizza crust in his mouth. They squealed and fangirled like their favorite singer or actor was signing an autograph for them.

  I shook my head and took my yearbook back from Logan. I hesitantly opened it. Chris, Charlotte, Bentley, and Logan all signed their names with a quick message but Bryce? Oh, Bryce.

  Sweet Sophie,

  I like you. A lot. But you and me? It’s just never going to work. You deserve someone better than me. I hope you understand and we can still be friends.

  P.S. I have a thing for strawberries now. Not cookies.

  -Bryce

  I looked up at Bryce and he laughed. He flicked a piece of Charlotte’s hair and said, “I just luuuuurve strawberries.”

  * * *

  Caeden scribbled furiously on a piece of paper. I was afraid if he stabbed it any harder it would break in half. He’d gotten his haircut so he didn’t have to flick any strands out of his eye every few seconds.

  Graduation was tomorrow morning and his speech just had to be perfect.

  I laid on the bed, stroking Archie’s soft head, and trying to keep my mouth shut so I didn’t end up getting yelled at.

  After a few more minutes of silence I couldn’t take it any longer. “I thought you had to turn your speech into Mr. Hines yesterday for approval?” I propped my head up on my hand.

  “I did,” he bit his tongue.

  “So shouldn’t you, I don’t know, leave it alone?”

  He tossed the pencil at the wall and shoved the chair back from my desk. “It has to be perfect, Sophie.”

  I looked at the clock. “It’s almost midnight Caeden and graduation is at nine in the morning. You need to sleep.”

  “I just don’t want to sound like an idiot up there.”

  I climbed off the bed and went over to him, rubbing his shoulders. “You’re obviously not an idiot or you wouldn’t be valedictorian.” My hair fell forward, tickling his face.

  “Will you listen to it? Please? One more time?” he asked, giving me those puppy dog eyes that I just couldn’t say no to.

  “Sure,” I fell back on the bed and threw my arm over my eyes. “Go for it.”

  I think he made it through the first paragraph before I fell asleep.

  “Sophie! Sophie!” Caeden ran around Gram’s house, his black gown fanning around him. “Have you seen my speech?”

  “Check your pocket,” I pointed to his khaki pants.

  He shoved his hand in and pulled out a clump of papers.

  “Told ya,” I looked in the hall mirror to straighten my cap.

  “What about my tie?”

  I grabbed it off the side table and held it aloft. “Right here, remember, you asked if I could put it on you.”

  “Oh… right,” he blushed.

  “Come here,” I quirked a finger at him. He obliged. I slung the tie over his neck and made quick work of tying the knot.

  “How’d you do that,” he picked up the silky piece of fabric and stared at it in wonder.

  I shrugged. “My dad taught me.”

  I turned back to the mirror and inspected my hair and makeup. I wasn’t normally concerned with such trivial things but graduation called for it. I made sure each chocolate curl was in its place, and that my makeup hadn’t melted off. I even inspected my red graduation gown for wrinkles.

  “You look perfect Soph,” Caeden kissed the top of my head.

  I sighed.

  “Soph,” he said again, noting my sigh, “I’m really sorry your parents couldn’t come.”

  I turned and let him put his arms around me. “I guess I just always pictured them cheering me on when this day finally came. It’s weird that they’re not here. Plus, I miss them.”

  Caeden kissed my forehead. “I know Sophie. If I could teleport them here, I would.”

  “It’s fine,” I smiled. “Gram is here.”

  “Darn right!” she called, coming out of her bedroom.

  For the first time in all my life, Gram was wearing a skirt.

  Oh God, and a pink cardigan.

  “Don’t you two dare say a thing,” she pointed a finger at us, straightening her skirt with the other hand. “Just bite your tongues.”

  “You look great, Lucinda.”

  “And you’re a liar and should have your mouth washed out with soap,” she tugged on the sleeves of her cardigan.

  “Nice pearls,” I pointed to her neck.

  “Didn’t I tell ya’ll to bite yer tongues,” Gram’s southern drawl became more pronounced when she was irritated.

  Caeden and I worked hard to suppress our snickers.

  Gram grabbed her purse off the side table
and said, “Don’t we need to get going? I thought golden boy here had to be at the school early.”

  “I do,” he said, crinkling the papers in his hand.

  “Let’s get gone then,” Gram motioned us out the door.

  I grabbed my cap off the side table. The silver tassel swayed, flashing the number 2012.

  “Let’s rock this,” I said, sliding into the Jeeps passenger seat.

  Caeden laughed and shook his head.

  Gram opened the backseat door and said, “I don’t know if I can climb in this thing. I need a step ladder.”

  “You’ve gotten in here before,” Caeden pointed out.

  Gram huffed and climbed in with more agility than most twenty year olds had. Crazy lady.

  People were just starting to trickle into the school when we got there. Caeden rushed off to find Mr. Hines to get his last minute changes approved.

  “I’ll see you in a little bit,” he kissed my cheek before darting off.

  That left me with Gram, who kept messing with her skirt.

  “I feel like someone’s going to see my hot pocket if the wind blows this thing up a bit.”

  I snorted. “Gram!”

  “What?”

  “You know what,” I gave her a look.

  She smiled and started to laugh. “Well, it’s true. Do ya think I can tape this thing to my legs?”

  “Um… no,” I said.

  “Why didn’t I just wear jeans?” she said to no one in particular.

  “Because that’s not allowed,” I supplied.

  “I might need to talk to dear old Mr. Hines about that. Surly there should be an exception for a women my age.”

  “You’re not that old.”

  “I’m sixty-two years old Sophie. That’s old.”

  “No it’s not,” I rolled my eyes.

  The school began to fill up with more students.

  “I guess I better go get a seat, Sophie dear,” she kissed me on my cheek and patted my hand. “I’ll be the obnoxious grandma cheering for you.”

  I laughed. Gram was a hoot.

  At eight-thirty Mr. Hines appeared, with a very nervous Caeden at his shoulder, and ushered us into the auditorium. We were seated alphabetically so that when we walked out here and to the football field we wouldn’t be mixed up.

  “Well seniors, that moment has finally come,” he sat down on the stage. “Wow. Can you believe it? Graduation. You’ll be off to college in the fall. You have your whole lives ahead of you but this moment,” he paused, “is the last moment you’ll still be a kid. Once you’re handed that diploma you’ll out in the real world. No cushion. Just free fall. I’m afraid for some of you, I’m not going to lie,” he smiled at a group of trouble makers, “but others, I know you’re going to go out there and do great things. I’m proud of all of you. Each and every one. Some of you I know better than others. In some cases, that’s a good thing, in others, not so much. But just know, that I know, you warriors will make me the proudest principal to ever grace this school.” He turned to some students on his left. “The yearbook department has put together something special. I hope you enjoy it.”

  The lights dimmed and a projector descended. Images of my classmates as babies, kids, and now flashed onto the screen. Occasionally someone would exclaim but mostly there were a lot of, ‘awwws’ and tears. A group shot of Caeden, Logan, and Bentley flashed onto the screen. They were laughing, covered in water, and Bentley was holding the smallest fish known to man. They were all missing teeth and looked about eight years old. I joined in the awws, on that one.

  The video ended and the lights came back on.

  Mr. Hines looked at his watch. “It’s almost time but first we’re going to walk the halls. This will be the last time you’ll ever walk these halls as students. First row,” he pointed. We all stood and waited for the row in front of us to leave the room.

  Mr. Hines led us through the halls, decorated in red and black streamers, posters, confetti, and pictures of our time at the school. Music, something I didn’t recognize, pumped through the speakers.

  From up ahead Mr. Hines called, “You have your teachers and the underclassman to thank for this,” he indicated the halls.

  We roamed through the whole school before stopping in front of the doors that would lead us out the back of the school, to the football field, where graduation was held.

  “Ready?” Mr. Hines asked.

  We nodded as a group, everyone too nervous to speak. I shook my hands in an effort to relieve some of the adrenaline coursing through my veins. Who would’ve ever thought that graduation would be so nerve racking.

  “Let’s go people,” Mr. Hines smiled and led us out the doors.

  We turned left and then right to descend the steps to the field. I was amazed by the size of the crowd gathered. The bleachers were packed and people stood all over the surrounding hills. Cameras flashed. I took a deep breath and concentrated on not tripping. As a shifter, the chances of me falling were slim, but I still had a fear of knocking everyone over and the whole class going down like a line of dominos.

  We reached the last step and walked straight onto the field and our assigned seats.

  I didn’t know any of the people around me but Bentley was in the row behind me so I didn’t feel completely alone.

  Before the speeches started the warrior, our school mascot, rode out onto the field on a horse. He held the spear high before throwing it into the ground where it stuck. With a turn the horse took off back the way it had come, disappearing into the trees. It was the same way the school started home football games but this time it brought tears to my eyes.

  I turned my attention from the field to the stage, where Caeden sat while Mr. Hines addressed the crowd. Caeden’s leg kept bouncing up and down and he clenched his speech in his hands.

  You’re going to rock this. I said to him.

  I could see a little bit of the stress leak out of him. Thanks babe. He grinned.

  “-and now for our valedictorian,” Mr. Hines clapped his hands and then waved Caeden up to the podium.

  Caeden gulped, took a deep breath, and stood. He strode towards the podium and grinned, flashing his famous dimples.

  “Hello class of two-thousand and twelve,” he nodded towards us, “families,” he nodded at the crowd. Clearing his throat he continued, “It seems like just yesterday we were all kids. Little terrors running around, driving our parents and teachers crazy, eating glue, you get the idea,” he winked. “But look where we are today. Graduation. I’ve known most of you since kindergarten. We’ve grown up together, matured… Well, some of us have matured,” he chuckled. “But we’ve all been on this life’s journey together. Reaching for this one goal. This piece of paper, called a diploma, that suddenly says that we are smart enough to go out into the real world. That’s scary. The real world isn’t a nice place. In fact, it’s a lot like high school. People still lie, cheat, and steal. There’s still that awful social pyramid. I think it’s time we kick it down, and say ‘no more!’ I think it’s time we realize that we’re all just the same. Here we are, embarking on this same journey together. The beginning of the rest of our lives. We have some big decisions coming our way, like, where do we go from here? I don’t know,” Caeden shrugged. “I’m just as clueless as most of you. I don’t know what I want to do with my life. I mean, whatever we decide on now, decides the rest of our life. It’s a big decision, where we go from here. There are so many choices presented to us. Which college? Which classes? Bachelor’s or Master’s degree?” Caeden chuckled. “Most days I can’t decide what I want to eat for lunch let alone what I want to do for the rest of my life. Choices, we have so many choices. But enough on that,” he shuffled his papers. “It’s time to say goodbye. Goodbye to high school, goodbye to the teachers, goodbye to you,” he pointed to the Shelby girl, she shrieked in response “goodbye to you guys,” he eyed my soccer teammates, “goodbye to all of you,” Caeden waved his arms to encompass the whole crowd, “and hello to our
futures!”

  Everyone cheered and clapped. I stood and waved. “I love you!” I cupped my hands over my mouth. Caeden waved and winked at me.

  “Thank you all for your time and I wish you the best of luck with realizing your dreams!”

  Since Caeden was valedictorian he was given his diploma first and then the rest of the class was called up in alphabetical order.

  “Amanda Grace Banner.” The girl in front of me strode forward, her blond hair swishing. She shook hands with the principal and the school board officials before being handed her diploma.