A Twist Of Fate (PREVIOUSLY A Purple Garden)

NEW Chapter 38

*Eight Years Ago*

The reflection staring back at Lucas looked at him like a stranger. His mother had carefully picked out the light blue button-down shirt he was wearing and if he was being honest, he liked the way it contrasted the color in his complexion. He knew the salmon pink tie still sitting in the plastic Target bag in the floor would really pull the look together. He paired the looked with his cleanest jeans. 

"Are you almost ready, dear?" He heard his mother call out from the living room. 

Glancing at the clock on the wall above the mirror, he quickly did the math off the top of his head. Roughly five more hours and all of this would be over. It was a given that his mom was notably more excited about this day than he was. He glanced at his bed and at the unzipped grey graduation gown and cap that lay there where he had carelessly tossed them earlier.

"Yeah, mom," he called back. "I'll be out shortly."

Sliding his phone out of his pocket, he unlocked the screen and stared at it for a moment before deciding to check his Facebook app. Was there anything on there he thought he wanted to see? Not really. At this point, it was just a habit more than anything. Ignoring his newsfeed entirely, he clicked the search bar and tapped his most recent search Sydney Dean. He scrolled through her newer posts. None of which she had even posted. She was the type of person who got tagged a lot. 

The top post was originally posted by her mom. 

Rebecca Wright-Dean: My sweet baby girl! It feels like overnight you went from being in diapers to applying to colleges. As heavy as it is on your momma's heart, I am so proud of you, Sydney. I love you, sweetheart. <3 Congrats, grad! Class of 2014!

With the post her mother had shared were two pictures. The first was of Sydney as a toddler in a pink frilly dress and a golden tiara. Her expression beamed with childhood wonder and her eyes were bright with excitement. The second picture was obviously one of her senior pictures taken that Spring. Her cheeks were warm with a soft blush, her teeth perfectly white as she flashed them in a candid laugh, and her hair framed beautifully around her face. As Lucas observed every detail of that picture, his favorite feature were her eyes and the brightness they still held despite the years that had passed since the first picture was taken.

She was why he was dreading this night and why he was dragging his feet to get ready. After this final tonight together as a graduating class, he would likely never see her again. 

A heavy knock on his door pulled his attention from his phone. "I know. I'm sorry, mom. Just a few more minutes and I'll be ready-"

"Its just me, buddy," Gavin said as he opened his bedroom door. "I was wondering if you'd wanna get dinner with my family after the graduation tonight?"

"Oh," Lucas mumbled. "You could have just texted me that, Gav."

Gavin gave him a small smile. "I've texted you like ten times in the last three days and you never replied. I figured I'd have better luck getting a response if I just stopped by instead."

Lucas heaved a deep sigh. "I know. I'm sorry, Gav. It's not you, I just-"

"Haven't felt like talking? I know," Gavin said before closing the door behind him. "That's also why I wanted to stop by. You don't have to talk if you don't want to but I figured even in silence, you still needed a friend."

He couldn't help but smile appreciatively at his friend. "Thank you."

"Are you wearing that?" Gavin asked, gesturing to Lucas's attire.

"Yeah, why? Do I look bad?"

Gavin shook his head. "No, just unfinished.

"I have a tie over there to go with it," Lucas added as he nodded his head toward the Target bag in the floor. "I just haven't found the energy to get that far yet."