away; b.e.[rewritting]

Chapter 83

"This is it. Today is the day," I say to myself in the mirror. I turn around.

"How do I look?"

"Ahhhh, I can't believe you're graduating," Lauren said.

I laugh. 

She jumps onto my bed. "I remember when I graduated high school."

"Ok grandma, now help me fix my gown," I say. Lauren gasps and throws a water bottle at me.

"Dude, what is it with you and throwing water bottles at me?" I ask.

Lauren shrugs and we laugh.

There was a knock at the door.

"I got it," Lauren said. She bounced off the bed and ran to the door, opening it.

"Oh hey Jackie," I hear Lauren say.

The door closes and they walk back this way.

"Hey," I hear. I turn towards my bedroom door and see Jackie standing there.

"Hey," I smile. Jackie walks towards me and starts fixing my gown.

"Shouldn't you be getting ready at Riley's?" I ask.

"Yeah but I wanted to see you," she said. She goes to kiss me but I dodge it since I didn't tell Lauren yet.

"You didn't tell her yet?" Jackie whispers.

"I didn't tell anyone. I don't want to," I say.

"Maybe just tell her and your family. You can trust them, right?"

I nod. Jackie kisses my cheek and takes my hand in hers.

"Hey Laur," I say.

"Yeah?" She looks up from her phone.

"Jackie and I have something to tell you."

Lauren motions for us to continue and Jackie speaks up.

"Emilie and I are together. Well not together-together, but we're together."

"NO FUCKING WAY. I KNEW IT," Lauren shouts and we all start laughing. "Since when though?"

"Last week, Miss Stone, over here took me down to the pier and confessed how she felt. And here we are," Jackie explains.

"That's amazing. Well you have my blessing," Lauren says and returns her gaze to her phone.

I pick up a water bottle and throw it at Lauren.

"Dude!"

"How do I look?" I ask.

"Perfect," Lauren and Jackie say in unison.

We all laugh and Jackie comes over to me and kisses me.

"I'm going to go get ready. I'll see you later," she says. I kiss her one more time and she leaves.

"I can't believe you thought you were that slick by not telling me. A WHOLE WEEK, emilie," Lauren laughs.

"Dude, shut up. Let's go," I sarcastically roll my eyes.

~

I find my seat which is right behind Riley's and Jackie's. Of course, it's 6 feet apart on all sides but it's right in front of me.

Our principal and assistant principal come out and start saying their speeches. Then Mr. Baker starts saying his speech. Now, they start calling people up.

"Olivia Baker," the assistant principal says. Everyone claps.

Olivia goes up, takes her diploma, and cause of covid, she can't shake their hands. She readjusted her mask, thanked the assistant principal and principal.