Tag You're Mine
Page 23
“You’re gonna do great, Presley. Give yourself a break and relax. Just remember, if you get nervous, look at me. I’ll help you.”
She gives a weary smile before her door is ripped open by Liv and she’s pulled out.
“Where have you been? We need to rehearse once more. I don’t know why I’m so nervous.”
Presley kisses my cheek and is then whisked away to a separate holding room.
*****
All the teachers are bustling around, getting everybody lined up alphabetically. I’m at the beginning of the line since I’m a D, and Robert is in the back since he’s a W. My heart begins to race; a lump settles in my throat. This is it, the last time the five of us will be in the same place at once, the final moments of our childhood quickly ticking to an end, once we step out the front doors we will be seen as adults, and we will be expected to act as such.
The graduation march plays over the loudspeakers, and I take one final look at Robert before I walk through the curtain. I make my way up on the stage and take my place next to the vice principal and the salutatorian. I skim the audience looking for my mom and Diane and see a figure I haven’t seen in almost eleven months.
The lump in my throat tightens as the first few tears roll down my cheeks; somehow, some way, my daddy is standing beside my mom, the biggest, proudest smile illuminating his face. I give a small wave before looking out to Robert, who mouths, “I love you,” and I signal him back.
Principal Stewart addresses the crowd and gives a short speech on the hard work that our graduating class is to be proud of. He notates the awards and recognitions of our senior class and the salutatorian gives his farewell speech; focusing on the important role the faculty and staff had in preparing us for the next step in our lives. Liv follows his speech with her UIL performance piece that tied in perfectly as a dedication to our teachers. As I look around the room, I notice that several of the teachers as well as parents seem to be touched by her performance.
Next, Vice Principal Herder gets up to give her farewell speech. Her voice lacks inflection and passion, and I end up counting the number of students nodding off just to keep my focus. Pretending to listen to her might have actually been the hardest thing I had ever done in my entire high school career. As she finishes her speech, I perform my UIL piece, barely making it through without choking up with tears.
I try to keep my focus on Robert, but it only makes the pain that I feel, worse. It’s a song about learning who you are, facing adversities, and growing into a stronger and more determined person because of it. It had become my anthem for this year, giving me power when I felt the weakest.
Finally, it’s time to walk the stage and receive our diplomas. Principal Stewart hands me mine, and I stand along with the other faculty congratulating the other students as they receive their diplomas.
Robert is the last to graduate, and as he makes his way to me, he stops, kisses me on my cheek and whispers, “Tag, you’re mine,” in my ear before making his way off stage. He is all smiles as he makes his way back to his seat; my heart beats rapidly in my chest.
Does he remember? Is that what he’s trying to let me know?
Coach makes my introduction and it’s finally time to deliver my speech.
“Thank you, Principal Stewart, esteemed faculty, parents, and my fellow students. How do you define high school? Each of you I asked gave me a different definition of what those two little words meant. For some of you it’s drama and fights, laughter and tears, rushing to grow-up and then wishing time would slow down. For others, it’s growing up and meeting new people. It’s getting stronger, becoming independent, and realizing you have the whole world at your feet. For some, it’s first loves, and big heartaches, it’s finding a best friend, and surrounding yourself with a tribe. It’s knowing who has your back, and who would rather watch you fail than succeed.
“Seven hundred and twenty days. That’s all the time we’re given to prove to ourselves, our parents, and our teachers, we are ready to take the next step in life on our own. In life we do so many things. Some we wish we had never done, and some we can't wait to do again, but they make us who we are, and at the end of the day, they shape every detail about us. If we were to reverse any of them, we wouldn’t be the people we are today.
“Those of you that know me best, know that I am an Alex Gilmore fan, and I believe she said it best, “There is a universal truth we all have to face whether we want to or not. Everything eventually ends. As much as I’ve looked forward to this day, I’ve always disliked endings. The last day of summer, the final chapter of a great book, parting ways with a close friend. But endings are inevitable. Leaves fall, we close the book, we say goodbye. And today, is one of those days for us.
“Today, we say goodbye to the end of everything comfortable, we’re moving on. But just because we’re leaving and that hurts, some people are so much a part of us, they’ll be with us no matter what. They are our North Star, our solid ground, and the small clear voices in our hearts that will always be around.
“I was once told that age doesn’t make you an adult, it’s the choices you make, and the lessons you learn along the way that make you one. So, my fellow students, I invite you to turn your tassels with me. Welcome to the first day of the rest of your life. Congratulations. We did it!”
And with that, graduation is over. We’re no longer high school students, but young adults getting ready to venture out, alone, into the world.
Liv and Trey are going road-tripping this summer to decide what college they want to finally commit to.
Marcus has decided to enlist in the marines and leaves next month for boot camp.
Robert will soon be leaving to join the Rangers’ minor league team, and for me, the future is so unclear.
As I head out the double doors of the school one last time, I look back fondly at the outdated brown brick building with fire engine red trim. It was here I built friendships I know will last a lifetime, where I found the love of my life again only to lose him and find him once again, but also the place where I discovered I’m stronger than I ever thought I was.
“Hey! Presley!” Robert calls out to me as he jogs over from the field house.
“What you said in there.”
“You mean the whole Tag, you’re mine?”
“Yea, that.” His smile stretches wide across his face. “Please tell me that means something to you.”
“Princess, it means more than you know.” I jump into his arms, tears pouring down my cheeks as I burry my face in his neck. “I remember Presley. I remember so much of our past. A few moments are still hazy, but I’ll get there. Just give me a little bit longer and I’ll get there.” I cry harder as he sets me down, wiping the tears streaming down my cheeks, legs splayed as he looks me eye to eye. “What are you doing a week from today?”
I stop crying and dry my tears. “I don’t think anything. Why?”
“I need to be in Arizona in nine days. I want you to move with me Presley. We made all these plans and I want to start making them come true. Come with me Presley, I don’t want to do this without you.”
Want More of These Characters?
Robert and Presley’s story is far from over. The Tag series currently has an additional three books making their way to Amazon.
Please follow along on Instagram for release dates; @Author_Catherine.Charles
or on Facebook, Catherine Charles-Author
About the Author
Catherine Charles currently resides in a small town in Texas with her husband, two children, and two goldendoodles. She was born an army brat, spending her childhood moving every two years. Born in Germany, she spent the first half of her life roaming across Europe and surrounding countries before moving stateside.
Though her travels have taken her all over the world, a cattle farm in small-town Nebraska is where she calls home. Big cities are nice for the wine-loving foodie, but at the end of the day, nothing beats a small-town bar.
Strong
women are her forte, damsels in distress don’t stand a chance in her books, and the men that fall for these fiercely independent women will only bring out their best. Her works will give you butterflies, but will also have you yelling in anger. No emotion goes untouched, and tissue warnings are a given. Sit back and lose yourself in one of her books; you never know where her characters will take you, and usually, neither does she.
You can follow Catherine on Instagram @Author_Catherine.Charles or on Facebook, Catherine Charles-Author for all the latest sneak peeks on her upcoming pieces.