Finding Truth

Chapter 3

Graduation day. Never thought this day would come so fast. I lay awake in bed looking at my ceiling just taking it all in. Remembering grades got posted last night I reached for my phone to check them out and see a text from Aden. Assuming it's probably just memes and he's going to act like nothing happened I ignore it and login to my school account. Crossing my fingers I open the last and final report card. "ALL A'S" I yell in excitement. My mom must have been in the hallway because she walked in and told me congrats. Settling back down, regaining my composure I turn my attention to the text I got from Aden. Imagine my surprise when I open it and see a fat paragraph.

"Hey Sammy, I know you probably won't see this until the morning but I just wanted to get this off my chest. Me and Julia aren't dating. Not even close. She wanted to see the docks and reached out to me because she knows I work there. I didn't know she was going to post that picture. Let alone with that caption. Julia told me she wanted to take a picture with me for her scrapbook. Guess I should've known that was fake. When you woke up last night I was on the phone with her trying to get her to delete it. I do care about you and I meant what I said last night. When you hurt I hurt. I would never do something to hurt you intentionally. I should've told you as soon as I saw the picture but I didn't think you had seen it. I really am sorry and I hope you still want me coming over today. Happy 18th Birthday Samantha."

When I finish reading I realize I have tears running down my face. I shouldn't be this emotional. Why am I this emotional? I keep asking myself knowing damn well I don't have a logical answer. Wiping the tears away I get up and head to my bathroom to get ready for graduation which starts at noon. Meaning I have three hours to get ready. I'm not even going to bother with breakfast or lunch today knowing there's about to be a massive birthday dinner. Looking in the mirror I noticed how puffy my eyes have gotten from crying so I started the longest skin routine I've ever done and thankfully I showered yesterday so I'll have enough time. Today is not the day for puffy eyes. These graduation pictures are going to last a lifetime and beyond.

Finally done with my hair and makeup I check the time to see it's eleven o'clock. One hour before graduation and fifteen minutes before I have to leave to get set up with my class. After putting on my dress I decide to go with some white converse to counteract the fanciness of the dress. Otherwise it wouldn't be me. With the matching mask and my phone in hand I go downstairs to grab my keys and head out. My parents will meet me there and have no reason to be early. I'll shoot them a text in the car letting them know I'm on my way. Stepping outside is like the biggest breath of fresh air I've ever had. The sun is warm and not covered by the clouds, the birds are chirping and I can feel the positive energy soaking into me from the rays of sunshine. It's like something out of a movie. Driving up to the school I can't help but think it's such a perfect day for graduation, almost forgetting it's my birthday too. Like come on what are the odds of graduation falling on June fourteenth. It's almost always later in the month, but I guess with online school everything got a little sped up. The school was trying to play catch up so much from missing a week of school at the start of this year due to the pandemic that we got ahead.

Arriving at the school I pull into student parking for the last time. I can see some of my classmates already in line to get their grad caps and gowns and figure I should make my way over before the line is out of control. Almost forgetting my mask I grab it out of my cup holder and put it on. Halfway to the front of the school I see Julia talking gossiping with some of her friends while pointing at me. Normally I wouldn't care but after reading the text I got from Aden this morning emotions started radiating from my core. With that being said I decided it'd be a brilliant plan to go wipe that snide little grin right off her face. I put on my best acting, smile and wave. Playing out the scene from Madagascar in my head. Once I reached her little click everyone went silent. Not surprising since they all think I've been dating Aden for the past two years and most likely saw Julias post. Since I can over I figure I should be the first to talk.