Hidden

twenty one

G R A D U A T I O N

"Alex Marie Montgomery."

I walked up onto the stage, shaking the hands of my professors and reaching out for my diploma.

Finally.

I'm done with hell.

High School.

My heels clicked on the floor when I walked off the stage and the applause was loud.

I quickly took my seat and waited for the rest of the names to be called. I sat next to Ashley and we both watched everyone else receive their diplomas.

Once the last name was called, everyone had thrown their caps into the air.

And now begins reality.

* * *

"My baby girl is all grown up." My mom wipes the tears on her cheeks.

"Mama, you're going to have another in six months and I'll always be your baby girl." I giggled and felt her baby bump.

And now I have just realized how dramatic my family is.

Well for my mom I just think it's the hormones.

Once we had gotten back to the house, pretty much my entire family was there. My aunts and uncles had shown up and my younger and older cousins had shown up, it was so exciting.

After helping my dad bring out the food, he sent me to say hi to everyone. I received quite a few gifts from the family, but I was most excited to see my aunt Lauren. She's my dad's youngest sister. She recently got married and you could consider her 'hip' and young.

"Aunt Lauren! I haven't seen you in so long, I've missed you so much!" I immediately pulled her into a hug and squeezed her tightly.

"Hi love! I've missed you too. You're an adult now, this is crazy! I feel like an old lady now." She pouted.

I giggle and roll my eyes.

"Well missy, what's going on? Boyfriend?" She nudged me and winked.

"Well, there is a guy I'm seeing, his name is Par- I mean Myles." I tried to play that cool, but Lauren gave me one of those 'wtf did you just say' looks.

"What were you going to say?"

"Nothing."

"Alexandra Marie Montgomery, answer me right now or else I'll tell everyone a really embarrassing story about you."

"You have no stories!" I stated.

"Remember when you walked right into sliding doors and fell straight back onto the floor, or when you wanted to marry Elmo or wh-" I quickly covered her mouth.

"Okay, okay! I get it, you have many, many embarrassing stories."

"Now tell me!" She whisper-yelled.

"He's just some guy, no one special." It actually pained me to say that and I think she noticed.

"Liar! Wow, you would lie to your own aunt." She fake cried.

"Okay, I liked him a lot but that's over. I can't rely on anyone but myself for happiness and I'm okay with that, I don't need him or anyone to make me happy." I smiled at myself.

I don't need Parker, he should be in control of my happiness. I need to make myself happy and maybe LA will be a good thing but I think Ashley and Myles should stay. I need to get away from New York. Just for a little while, until college starts.