As It Was (COMPLETED) (wattys2023)

One Step Closer

No amount of mental preparation could prepare me for today.

The one-year anniversary to the shooting had been three days ago, our last day of school.

I hadn't been able to force myself out of bed, let alone go to school. The entire morning, I paced the entirety of Garrett's room, anticipating the same call my parents-and dozens of others had received last year. The call never came. He walked through the front door of his house at a quarter to one. He'd taken one look at me and sighed, seeing the anxiety and fear plain as day on my face. I'd nearly knocked him over with how quickly and suddenly I crossed the room to hug him.

As I sat on the wall outside sporting Oasis Academy's black and blue graduation gown, I kept my eyes trained on the full parking lot. Most of the kids were already filing into the building, but my anxiety prevented me from doing it-even with guards posted at every entrance and exit. Angie and Javi had gotten here twenty minutes ago, greeted me, then headed into the building with their families. Unfortunately, Felicity had been held back at work and was on her way to pick up AJ, and since Garrett had forgotten he'd had his gown dry cleaned, he was with her.

Which left me alone out on the brick wall for the last time. Tomorrow I would be free. I wouldn't ever have to step foot on a school campus again if I didn't have the desire to. My acceptance into RISD had me reconsidering, though I'd never tell anyone outside of Garrett that. There were so many pros to accepting the scholarship and moving across the country, but with those pros came all the cons. Many of which included carrying my trauma with me states away.

"Evie." A familiar baritone sounded somewhere above me. I had thought I'd imagined it until I lifted my head to find my father standing in a suit and tie beside Grandma Ann along the curb.

I jumped off the wall, shaking my head in disbelief. "You said you wouldn't be able to make it!"

"We thought it'd be an amazing surprise." Grandma Ann and wrapped me in her warm embrace moments later, burying her fingers in my hair. "I'm so proud of you Everly Hope. So so proud of you."

I squeezed her shoulders, nuzzling my face against her neck before I took a step to the right and hugged my father. Unlike his frail mother, his hug was bone crushing, life suctioning-but absolutely what I'd needed these last couple months. He kissed the top of my head and whispered, "You didn't think I'd miss this, did you? You did this, Evie. You went back to school. You graduated!"

I wiped the tears from my cheeks. "I miss you."

"Oh, Everly." he said, his voice catching just the slightest. He cleared his throat and brushed my hair out of my eyes, thumb lingering to caress my cheek. "I miss you too, baby girl. More than you could even imagine. But we have an entire summer before you take off to Rhode Island and you better believe I'm spending every second I can with you."

*

I'd say crossing the stage and accepting my diploma was the easiest part of the day. The moment I made my way to sit back down, I spotted my mother on the other side of Grandma Ann. She'd been late as I'd been looking to that section every five minutes. Hilary had arrived ten minutes til the ceremony, Drew about five, and Brady's parents a couple minutes. But Mom? She'd had to have sat down as I was crossing the stage and shaking Principal Adkins hand. By the time we were released back out to our family, I was engulfed in hugs from all around, some from people I didn't even know.

Drew lingered back behind my parents, and I knew, without a doubt, I'd have to step aside once I was done with my family to speak to him.

"Thank you, Everly." Mrs. Bowers said as she approached, pulling me into a one-armed hug. "For inviting us and honoring our baby boy in any way you can."