You Got E-mail (Watty Awards 2011)

Ch. 4 Graduation Day

FINALLY FINISHED THE CHAPTER!!!!

ENJOY

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LANDON'S POV

The high school auditorium was packed with family and friends. I had already talked to my parents about the trip to the cabin and my plan to get Alyssa to forgive me. They were all for it which was what I was expecting. I planned on asking Alyssa's parents if I could ride with Alyssa while they shared a car with my parents. That way I could have a few hours with her.

When I went backstage, everyone already had on their caps and gowns. I searched the crowd for Alyssa and found her against a wall looking a bit nervous. She was probably nervous about falling down when it was her turn to get her diploma.

I went through the side doors that lead to a hallway where everyone had left their stuff. I found a empty area and dumped my stuff. I quickly put the gown on and grabbed the cap from my backpack. When I went back to join everyone backstage, the principal was giving a speech about how proud he was that we made it to this day.

"In ten minutes, we'll start the ceremony so everyone get in you chairs before we open the curtain," the principal said, before leaving us to fix the aisle of chairs. We were a small graduating class so we were able to sit on stage.

Sadly I was a few rows behind Alyssa so I couldn't try to talk to her while the ceremony was happening. I actually hate having Moore as my last name now.

"Landon."

I turned around in my chair to see Landon three chairs away from me. He waved at me and I waved back, a bit confused about what he wants.

"What?"

"Did you talk to Alyssa yet?"

He waits until now to ask that question? I nodded my head yes and returned to stare straight ahead.

"What the heck did you say to her? She's been acting weird ever since she got here."

The three people that were sitting between us turned to me like they wanted to know the answer to that question. I glared at them and they went back to their cell phones and book.

"I may have made her cry but I didn't mean to!"

"Okay people, quiet down. We're about to open the curtains," a teacher said, as she glared at me.

Everyone became quiet but I knew that they were communicating through text message. This thing was known to be long and boring so we were encouraged to do something to entertain us as long as we didn't disturb the ceremony.

I felt my cell phone vibrate in my hand. I knew it was going to be John yelling at me for making Alyssa cry but he didn't know what went down in that kitchen this morning. I opened the text message from John, ready to read his harsh words.

You freaking idiot! What the hell did you do to make her cry?!

Okay that wasn't so bad. Usually it was worst than that. I turned to my left and saw John glaring at me. Damn it. I hate it when he's pissed at me. He makes it his mission to drive me crazy with constantly telling how much of a screw up I am.

The curtain was finally going up, revealing us in our caps and gowns. Everyone cheered and clapped after the principal introduced us as the 2010 graduating class of Milby High School. I went back to my phone and replied back.

I just apologized but she wouldn't hear any of it so I told her that would take blame for everything bad that's happened in her life. Well it was more like yelling at her.

I sent the long text message to him. I looked up and noticed that the first row was being called to get their diplomas. I tried to move my head to see if I could see Alyssa sitting in her row but there were too many people separating me from her so I couldn't even see.

My phone vibrated again. I sighed. We couldn't keep going back and forth if he was just going to lecture me about what I did wrong. I opened the text message to read it. It wasn't from John. I didn't even recognize the number.

Stay away from my dear Alyssa or you're dead in a heartbeat.

I stared at the small screen, reading the text message a few more times. I glared at the message. Only a hand full of people has my number. How the hell did this joker get it?

I dialed the number to see if the person answered. I doubt they would but it didn't hurt to try. All I got was the voice mail. I decided to leave a voice mail and see what would happen next.

"Listen here you creepy bastard. You need to stay away from her. When I get my hands on you, you'll wish you were never born. Got that?!"

I got a few stares from my fellow classmates as I looked up and around. There was nothing out of the ordinary but I did feel someone watching me then the feeling was gone. I'm wondering if this had anything to do with the car I saw parked outside of the Cunningham house. Does Alyssa have a stalker? I wonder if she knows and just hasn't said anything, thinking it was nothing.

I didn't get anymore text messages after that. Two hours later everyone had their diploma. All there was left was a speech from our class president. After she said congratulated us for graduating, the audience clapped and cheered once again. Everyone on the stage headed for the side doors, where we kept our stuff.

*_*

After making sure I had everything, I walked out of the auditorium to meet up with my parents and the Cunningham's. Every now and then I would look around at the people leaving. One of them had to be the stalker. I have to find them before they do anything to Alyssa.

"Son I'm so proud of you. Ready for the trip to the cabin?" my dad said, as soon as I joined the group.

"Yeah sure dad. I was wondering if you guys can share a car with Mr and Mrs. Cunningham while I share a car with Alyssa," I said, hoping that they would agree. After getting that text message, I should probably see if Alyssa knows about her stalker.

All four parents agreed it was a wonderful idea. I grinned but Alyssa just glared at the ground. Hopefully I don't regret coming up with the idea. We had to go back to the Cunningham's to grab their stuff before we headed for the cabin.

My parents didn't exactly know where the cabin was located so it was a good thing that the Cunningham's were in the car with them. As I followed our parents on to the freeway, i glanced at Alyssa. Things didn't turn out great for her. She didn't meet Tia until freshmen year so she spent the rest of junior high alone. My number one goal was to get her to accept my apology even if she tries to avoid me the entire summer. My second goal is to figure out who her stalker is and why they chose now to bother us.

"Want to listen to some music?"

No answer. Well this isn't working out well.

"Want to play a game?"

She turned her head to glare at me.

"What makes you think I want to speak to you?"

That's a good question.

"To make the ride more enjoyable. Come on Aly, you're leaving at the end of summer so why can't we just forgive and forget?"

She didn't say another word after that. The silence was killing me. I really wanted to know if she knew about her stalker. I couldn't just blurt out that her stalker text message me and threatened to kill me if I didn't stay away from her. This was going to be a long car ride.