Crossing the line

20: old feelings

JAKE- Ava's high school Graduation

The sun was relentless, beating down on the packed stadium as rows of students in bright blue caps and gowns fidgeted in their seats, waiting for their names to be called. I stood in the back with Liam and the rest of Ava's family, watching the ceremony from a distance. Graduation speeches were being made, and the principal was talking about new beginnings, but my mind wasn't on the words.

It was on Ava.

She sat near the front, her face half-hidden by the cap, but I could still spot her easily. Even in a sea of hundreds of students, she stood out. There was something about her-something that always drew my attention, whether I wanted it to or not. But today wasn't about that. Today was about her, and all I could do was push those thoughts back, like I'd gotten used to doing.

Liam elbowed me lightly, a proud grin on his face. "Can you believe she's actually graduating? Feels like just yesterday she was still running around annoying the hell out of us."

I chuckled, keeping my expression light. "Yeah, she's come a long way."

Liam had no idea. No one did. I'd gotten good at hiding it. After that summer, after I realized how deep my feelings for her ran, I'd forced myself to step back. It had been hard-especially with Ryan in the picture for a while-but I did what I had to do. I couldn't mess things up with Liam or with Ava, so I buried it. Kept it locked down. I was just Jake, the best friend. Nothing more.

The crowd clapped and cheered as the first round of names was called, students walking across the stage to grab their diplomas. I clapped along with everyone else, but my eyes were on Ava the whole time, waiting for her name to be called.

Liam's mom was snapping photos, already emotional. "She's worked so hard for this. I can't wait to see her walk across that stage."

I nodded, smiling at the way her family looked at her, full of pride and joy. I felt it too. Ava had worked hard-juggling her grades, sports, and everything in between. She'd grown up so much, and in all the time I'd spent with her and Liam, I'd watched her transform from the girl who tagged along with us to someone completely her own.

And I was proud of her. More than I could ever let on.

Finally, after what felt like forever, the principal called her name.

"Ava Taylor!"

Liam let out a loud whoop, and his family clapped and cheered as Ava stood up from her seat and made her way to the stage. I clapped too, my heart doing that stupid thing it always did when I saw her. She looked amazing, even in that ridiculous cap and gown. The blue really brought out her eyes, and when she smiled, it was like the whole stadium lit up.

She walked across the stage with confidence, shaking hands with the principal and grabbing her diploma. I caught a glimpse of her face as she turned toward the crowd, and for a brief second, I let myself get lost in the moment. This was her day. She'd done it. And I was just grateful to be here, watching her achieve something she'd worked so hard for.

She raised her diploma in the air, her smile wide and bright as she glanced toward our section of the bleachers. Her family erupted into cheers again, and she waved, her eyes scanning the crowd.

For a moment, her gaze flickered to mine, just for a second. I smiled, giving her a small wave, keeping it casual. And then she was gone, disappearing back into the line of students as the ceremony continued.

"Man, I can't believe she's actually done," Liam said, shaking his head. "Feels weird, right?"

"Yeah," I agreed, swallowing the knot that had formed in my throat. "It does."

The rest of the ceremony passed in a blur of names and applause. I clapped when I was supposed to, smiled when I needed to, but my mind was elsewhere. Watching Ava walk across that stage felt like the end of something, but it also felt like the beginning. She was leaving high school, heading off to start a new chapter of her life, and that meant things were going to change. She'd be going to college soon, meeting new people, experiencing new things. And I wasn't sure where that left me.

But I couldn't dwell on it. Not today. Today was about her, and I wasn't going to let my own feelings get in the way of that.

When the ceremony finally ended, we made our way down to the field to find her. The crowd was a chaotic mix of families and graduates hugging, laughing, and taking pictures. Liam was scanning the crowd, looking for Ava, while I hung back with his parents, doing my best to blend in.

"There she is!" Liam called out, waving.

I looked up just in time to see Ava making her way toward us, her cap in one hand, diploma in the other. Her face was flushed with excitement, her smile wide as she practically ran over to Liam, who scooped her up in a bear hug.

"I can't believe you did it!" Liam laughed, spinning her around.

"Believe it," Ava said, laughing as she tried to wiggle free from his grip. "Put me down, idiot!"

Liam set her down, and the rest of her family rushed in to hug her, showering her with praise and congratulations. I stayed on the outskirts, watching with a mix of pride and something else-something heavier that I couldn't quite shake.

She was radiant, the kind of happy that was infectious, and I found myself smiling despite the ache in my chest.

Then, finally, she turned to me.

"Jake!" she said, her eyes lighting up as she walked over to me.

I grinned, trying to keep things light. "Look at you, all grown up."

She laughed, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. You're stuck with me as an adult now."

I shrugged, trying to sound casual. "Could be worse."

She smiled up at me, and for a second, everything else faded away. It was just the two of us, standing there in the middle of the chaos, and I felt that familiar pull-like I always did when I was around her. But before I could say anything else, Liam grabbed her again, pulling her into another hug.

"Alright, graduation girl," he said. "We're taking you out to celebrate. Let's go."

Ava laughed, letting herself be dragged along, and I followed behind, the weight of my unspoken feelings heavy in my chest. I'd gotten good at hiding it, at playing the part of the supportive friend. But as I watched her walk ahead, surrounded by her family, I couldn't help but wonder how much longer I could keep it up.

Because hiding my feelings for Ava was getting harder every day. And now that she was moving on, moving forward, I wasn't sure where that left me.