Adolescence

Chapter 5

After Collins' wild night out she decided she was never drinking again. Her head felt as if it may explode and her stomach wasn't any better. Jack stayed with her though. He stayed with her until he knew she was 100% better. He comforted her when she decided to tell him what brought on the episode in the first place. He was there for her.

Over the next few months, as things with her dad got worse, she and Jack only grew closer. Their love for each other was undeniable and everyone could see it. Collins only had a few more days left of classes before graduation and she couldn't be more excited to have at least one chapter of her life finalized. Mitch was still working with Harry and while Collins wasn't too excited about it she tried her best to be supportive. He promised that he wouldn't say anything to Harry about knowing her or the fact they knew each other and for that she was appreciative. They were preparing for a Jamaica trip, and she said to admit she was a little annoyed that Harry would be taking her person for two months, but she didn't claim. At Least he would be there for her graduation.

The thing she was most excited about though was that her dad would be there for graduation. She started going home more, each day was harder than the one before, but she refused to lose any more time with him. Her mom still wasn't around much, but Cole seemed to appreciate it. Her dad promised her he would make it to her graduation and there was no doubt in her mind that he wouldn't. They had finally found a good place in their relationship, and everything was how it used to be again. She was able to tell him all about Jack and how happy she is with him, and he would joke around just like old times. Everything seemed so good. Everything was working out. Until it wasn't anymore.

Graduation Day. The day every kid waits for since they start kindergarten, and Collins' was today. The small college's auditorium was filled with students, friends, and family. A sea of blue caps sat on the auditorium floor. Collins looked around the room trying to spot her own support group. She saw Mitch and Ellie and Jack sitting together near the back of the crowd. They were alone, they were the only ones who showed. Collins tried to not let anger or emotions get the best of her as she heard her name called and knew she had to put on a fake smile to get her diploma. A small cheer came from her small group of friends but from no one else.

The ceremony just seemed to get longer and longer as Collins sat there, her thoughts racing through her head. Her dad didn't show, her brother didn't show, her mom didn't show. No one came to her college graduation. When the dean finally announced the end of the ceremony Collins got up and rushed to the exit of the auditorium. Her friends beat her to the door and started to say congratulations. Collins looked around the room and noticed everyone else getting hugs from their parents. They all had huge groups of people showing their love for them. Collins didn't have that. She tried to not let her sadness show as she said thank you to her friends. The only problem was it wasn't her sadness that was showing.

Ellie's face was scrunched up, something she only does when she's trying to hide something. Jack showed little emotion, but the tears were obvious behind his eyes. Mitch wore an everlasting frown and looked as if he was struggling to speak. Collins took in all these features and knew instantly something wasn't right. Her eyebrows scrunched together in confusion and her lip quivered as she tried to hold everything in. She didn't want to ask in fear that her assumptions would be right. If she asked then her biggest fear would come true. For her, right now it was better to live in the unknown.

"Collins-" Jack started as he reached out to put an arm on her shoulder and bent down to be eye level with her. Collins gasped for as much breath as she could get in that moment.

"Don't," She told him, tears almost spilling out at this point, "Don't tell me."

The group of three looked at each other and Mitch gave Jack a small nod as if to tell him to keep going.

"Collins, your dad. He didn't..." Jack froze as he tried to think of how to continue, "He didn't make it through the night, baby." And then the wall Collins had tried to hold up for the past few months shattered.

"I told you not to tell me. Now it's true. I told you not to fucking tell me," Collins exclaimed to Jack. Her legs gave out underneath her as she fell into his arms. Her breath quickened and she could no longer keep it together anymore. The auditorium filled with her sobs and the groups that were once hugging and congratulating was turned around trying to see what was going on. Mitch grabbed the girl, who was now a puddle on the floor, and held her in his arms as he led her towards the exit. He whispered comforting words in her ear as if that would fix the situation.

He was the one who got the call. Cole called Mitch this morning, right before walking into the graduation ceremony. Cole could barely form a complete sentence, but Mitch had automatically known what the call was about. He had to tell Jack and Ellie. The hardest part was hiding it from Collins. Everyone had known but her. She was the only person who hadn't known that her father had passed away.

Collins began to choke on her sobs. She was so angry. She believed no one had shown up to her graduation. She had been filled with so much anger she didn't even stop to think that the worst had happened. She knew now that she would do anything to have that anger back rather than what she was feeling right now. Everything hurt, but she couldn't feel anything at all. The man who was supposed to walk her down the aisle at her wedding. The man who was supposed to be there to hold her when she got hurt. The man who was supposed to grandfather her kids was gone and there was no way to get him back. And most of all Collins felt guilt. She felt guilty for not spending more time with him. She felt guilty for being selfish and focusing on her needs before his own. Now he was gone. Her time with him was over, and there was nothing she could do to change that.