The Paths We Choose

Chatoer 20 (pov lisa)

One more day until I can begin my life. Until I can call a place my own. I had been accepted into Chapman and had my dorm ready for me. But was I ready? Ready to leave Liana, ready to leave him?

I wanted Liana to soar, just like she did the day she learned to swing. She didn't need me that day. I know she'll achieve greatness without me.

Tonight's my last night here in Oregon, a place I had lived my whole life. I drove by my old house and saw my father had sold it. It was now lived in by a new young family. I hope they bring that house to life the way we never could. Those walls have seen tragedy; they now deserve to be healed, just like I.

I have a counselor waiting for me at my new college. I've never been one to ask for help, but my stubborn ways haven't helped me this far. It's time I admit I've been covering up my pain with a sheet instead of uncovering it, leaving it to peek through my life.

I'm afraid. Actually, I'm terrified. People say leaving for college is your first breath of freedom, but in reality, they all have someone waiting at home for them, cheering them on from the sideline. Well, my sideline is empty now. I'm scared.

Walking through the hallways, watching the seniors say their final goodbyes, our school has a tradition. Every year, everyone goes and watches the sunset and wears our school on their shirt, but by the end of the night, when it becomes cooler, everyone wears the hoodie of the college they've decided on. It's like a big announcement party. Me, Liana, Natalie, Adora, and Elias decided to go as one last gathering before we all head off. Liana informed me she'll be attending Oregon State a few months ago, and Elias will be attending Southern California.

I was happy, honestly. My life has never been perfect, but these people made it pretty close. As I drove around with Natalie and Liana, blasting our song, I wanted it to always feel like this. Like I said, it's not perfect, but I'm young; nothing's supposed to be.

We arrived at Liana's house. "Are you guys ready for tonight? We are just watching a sunset; it shouldn't be a crazy rager, thank the lord." "Yes, I am," I said as Natalie nodded. We got ready, putting on makeup, and finally, it was good weather to wear jean shorts, so we wore low-rise shorts and our old cheer hoodies that were dark blue, the colors of Saint Ballen. I thought I hated that school, but I'm sad to see it in my rearview.

The memories of cheer practice our freshman year filled me, we were giggling after I had failed my cartwheel and fell to the ground. God, we sucked, but we played through freshman year and enjoyed it.

Here we are, getting ready for senior sunset, but laughing just like we did that day. I'm not my tragedies. I'm still a kid. A kid with a life ahead of her.

"You guys ready?" Natalie asked. I looked at all of us matching in our outfits. Physically, I was ready, but mentally, I was stuck. "Yes. Let's go," I said.

Our last car ride, we discussed all the guys we dated throughout the years and who had the best homecoming outfits every year. It felt like my chapter with these girls was closing.

We arrived at the sunset, but no one opened their door. We sat there; we all looked at each other as tears filled our eyes. Our moms had been friends, and now, just like their friendship, it was coming to an end.

We entered the crowd of people. I noticed everyone, and every time I saw someone, I was reminded of a memory with them, some bad, some good. I saw my first boyfriend, Allen Chainly, my freshman boyfriend who cheated on me with his teammate, Stuart Gal. I couldn't be too mad at how happy they are now. I got a lot of jokes that year though about how I turned him gay. That was not my best moment.

Just then, I laid my eyes on Elias, hanging out with a mix of football boys and band kids. They would never get along during the year, but everyone gets along now because it's all real. We are adults.

As soon as he saw me, he came up and offered a dance. After we started dancing, everyone did. Everyone danced, choir kids, band kids, athletes, and even nerds, all together.

"I never got the opportunity to dance with you at the last event, and may I tell you, I deeply regretted it. You looked way too good to be dancing with that skinny boy." A laugh left my lips. "Jealousy is a bad trait to possess, Elias," his lips smacked like I had caught him possessing feelings. When a happy song played, my friends joined us in a dance circle as the sun began to set.

"Should we all put our hoodies on?" Liana said while staring at me. "Yes," Natalie answered quickly. We all brought a bag with our hoodie in it to keep a "secret," but I had already known where everyone's was going. As I looked up, I saw Adora in a Rhode Island School of Design hoodie; they had one of the best photography programs, perfect for her, and I saw Elias's Southern California hoodie.

As I dragged my eyes, my mouth dropped when I noticed Liana and Natalie in the same hoodie. It read Chapman University, California. "Our parents met there, Lisa, so I figured it would make sense for us to keep the tradition." Tears left both their eyes.

"Oh my god," tears began to rain from my eyes; my hand covered my mouth. Liana reached her hand out at me and grabbed my hand. "The day we became friends, you watched me for hours as I failed to swing, but when I finally picked it up, the look on both of our faces. It wasn't just my victory; it was ours, and now I want every victory to be ours."

Natalie reached out and grabbed my other hand. "I want to swing together and reach our highest peaks together," she said. We stood there, all holding hands. This was all too much. Just then, I began smiling from ear to ear and reached in and hugged them both. My chapter might be closing, but something tells me my next one will have the same characters.

The party came to an end, and as we made our way to Liana's car, "Go get him, Lisa; tonight's your last night."