Castle On The Hill

Chapter Twenty-Two

This is surreal. I, Tara Kellie, get to walk across a stage and get my high school diploma. I can't believe I accomplished this with everything I've been through in my life.

It's been three weeks since the fight and Francesca and I still haven't made up. It sort of sucks, but I'm not going to let it ruin today for me.

"Girl. I can't believe you won't wear a dress!" Mams Tina cried from my doorway.

I smiled. "I don't own any."

"Girl! Put on a pair of shorts and wear one of Katie's dresses."

"I could do that."

Mama Tins clapped her hands and my smile grew. I found a pair of spandex shorts, shut the door and changed from my dress pants. Once the shorts were on, J opened the door again. Mama Tina grabbed my hand, dragged me to Katie's door and started pounding on it.

"It's open!" Katie yelled. Mama Tina opened the door and we went into Katie's room. She was sitting up in bed texting someone. "What's up?"

"Tara needs a dress for graduation." Mama Tina commanded.

"Do you have anything with skulls?" I asked nervously.

Katie laughed. "No."

"Damn."

Katie got off her bed and went for her closet. After a few minutes, she came out with a burgundy dress that ends above the knee.

"How about this one?" She asked.

"I still don't like the idea of wearing a dress, but I'll make an exception."

Katie smiled abd gave me the dress. I looked it over and nodded before going to my room to change into it. I used to wear dresses but there was an older boy at one of the homes who always crawled on the floor trying to look up dresses. I stomped on his face the final time and got removed from the home. The boy was the biological son of the foster family, so they couldn't kick him out. That creep is probably in jail by now.

Once the dress was on, I left my room. Abbie had joined Katie and Mama Tina in the hallway and they were all smiling.

"This feels weird." I admitted.

"You'll get used to it. It's just for the ceremony." Mama Tina replied.

"I can't believe I'm graduating on time with as much as I moved." I admitted.

"You've accomplished a lot the past nine months and I'm proud I could give you a safe place and you could stay at one school most of your senior year."

I smiled, ran to Mama Tina and gave her a hug. We shall see if she still feels that way when I turn eighteen next month. We let go of each other and Mama Tina did my hair and make up. The bruises from the fight with Francesca have healed, but the internal fear is still there when she said I'm nothing but a free check.

"You look sad." Mama Tina thought out loud while she was doing my hair.

"I can't let the fight with Francesca go." I admitted.

"I did notice she's been hanging out with Cate more." Katie pointed out.

"I spend all my time with Shane." I shrugged. "But she thinks I'm jealous or something, but I'm not. It was a misunderstanding."

""What's bothering you the most?"

"The comment she made about you."

Mama Tina looked at me in concern. "I told you that you're safe. She only said that to upset you. Let's get you to that school to geaduate!"