Grey

Chapter Twelve

First of the month present..? 

 I was staring at myself in the mirror. “This is it,” I whispered, smoothing my hands down my white lace dress. My blonde hair was waved around my shoulders and I was wearing minimal makeup. Graduation was in two hours but I had to be at the school soon to get into my gown and rehearse before everyone showed up. “I bet you look beautiful,” Grey said into the phone that was placed between my shoulder and my ear.

We had been talking all morning and he'd be showing up to the graduation just before it started. He'd be in the back and then as soon as I walked across the stage, he'd flee before my parents even knew he was there. I blushed and sat on the bed to put on my classy black pumps. “Well, you can tell me later tonight,” I replied.

My mother knocked on my door. “I have to go,” I said quickly and hung up the phone just as she entered my room. She gasped when she saw me. My mom brought a hand to her chest and smiled.

“Violet, you look stunning!” she exclaimed, swiping my bangs from my face. I smiled and stood, smoothing out my dress once again. I was so nervous.

“Thanks, mom. Well, I better get going,” I said and pecked her on the cheek before leaving. She grabbed my arm and pulled me back to face her. Mom looked absolutely exhausted, but she cleaned herself up for me.

She grinned. “I'm proud of you, Vi. I'm sorry all that I've put you through the past couple years. I'm going to be a better mother, I promise.” It brought tears to my eyes.

“It's okay, mom,” I whispered and hugged her. “We'll talk about this after the ceremony.”

Graduation went perfectly. Every ounce of high school was completely worth walking across that stage, grabbing my diploma, and knowing that I was an adult. Almost...I had just another month until I was eighteen. As I walked across the stage I noticed Grey in the back, who waved, and then left as soon as I step foot onto the gym floor. I smiled for the professional photographer and then took my seat. Once it was all over and we threw our hats up into the air and hugged each other as we cried, my mother and father were just dying to pat me on the back. It was the only true happiness they'd felt since ...I don't know when.

“Great job, kid,” my dad commented when he reached me and kissed my forehead. My mom hugged me and then suddenly someone was on my back.

“We did it!” Ivy cheered. I laughed and let her go before I hugged her. “We graduated!”

“We're going to have a barbeque later. Ivy, if your parents aren't busy they should come,” my mom said, hugging her. They started talking about something else, but I was zoned out, staring at my diploma, smiling at how far I'd gotten.

Ivy's family agreed to come to the barbeque. It was the perfect summer night. The sky was a lilac hue behind a cloudless sky and the smell of hot dogs and burgers along with charcoal hung the air as my mom passed around glasses of fresh lemonade. She seemed, for the first time in so long, happy. That smile on her face warmed my heart to no end.

Ivy leaned over so that her lips were inches from my ear. “I saw Grey,” she whispered.

I nodded and smoothed a hand over my dress. “He came but right when I stepped off the stage he was gone. He hasn't left a text or call yet,” I explained.

Suddenly she stiffened as goosebumps stood up on her arms. “Oh my God,” she breathed.

“What?” I asked, looking around frantically.

“Look across the street.”

There was Michael Grey in a dress shirt and pants, his hands stuffed in his pockets, his eyes locked on me. Ivy and I stared, our hands clutched to the lawn chairs we were seated in. It took forever it seemed, for me to stand. With shaky knees I began to cross the lawn as Ivy's eyes stayed clasped to my back.

Michael had moved a little out of sight when my mom asked me where I was going. Before I could even answer, Ivy stepped in. “She just saw a cat get run over. We're going to go check on it,” she said quickly and stood to follow me.

My mom covered her mouth and came towards me. “I'll call animal control or something.”

I shook my head, shooting a look at Ivy. “No, it's fine. I'm just going to go check on it. You all stay here, it's fine,” I repeated, inching closer to the road. “It happened a little down here.”

Just as I turned the corner that faced the neighbors house, I was face to face with Grey who was smirking. He'd never looked so cute, but I was pissed he was so close right now considering what was going on. “Hey, beautiful.” Don't sweet talk me.

I rolled my eyes. “What are you doing here?”

He wrapped his arms around my waist to pull me closer. I kept my arms folded across my chest. “What, I can't come see my girlfriend after I just watched her graduate?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. I slapped his chest and he released me. “Ow,” he whined, rubbing where I hit him. “What was that for?”

I kept my voice low. “My parents are fifty feet away, Michael Grey.” Full name status.

Grey looked over the bushes. “So? I'll leave soon. I just wanted to see you,” he said before dipping his head down to give me a kiss.

I bowed my head when we pulled away. “You could have just seen me tonight,” I reminded him.

He shrugged. “There's a party tonight. You should come.”

I looked back behind me to make sure no one was near. Ivy was about fifteen feet away, crouched behind a bush. “I'll think about it,” I whispered and kissed him again. “I have to go. I told my mom I saw a cat get run over by a car.”

Grey laughed and hugged me real quick. “I'll be calling you,” he whispered in my ear and then began to walk away. With my heart racing, I reunited with Ivy and we walked back to the yard.

“How's the cat?” my mom asked, refilling lemonade glasses.

Ivy and I looked at each other. “Oh, uh, it didn't get hit. Turns out it made it,” I lied, gulping down more of my drink so I didn't have to talk. Ivy did the same.

The rest of the night continued without anything weird going on. Ivy left sometime after nine and just as we were cleaning up, my cell rang. Grey. “Hello?”

“The party is on Jackson Boulevard, you can't miss it. It's going on now. Can you meet me?” he asked. There was chatter in the background.

I looked around. My mom was carrying in plates and silverware as my dad cleaned off the grill. “I should be able to,” I said. “I'll text you in a second.” My dad turned to me just as I set the phone on the table.

“Who was that?” he asked.

“Just a classmate. There's a graduation party. Can I go?”

He and my mother looked at each other. “Why of course!” the said in unison.

I raced upstairs to dress in light wash jeans that were decorated in rips and tears. After throwing on my new 'Forever Young' graphic tee and a pair of all black Vans. I kept my hair and makeup the way it was, shot Grey a text that I'd be there soon, and then headed to the party.

By the time I got there it was packed. I hadn't been to a party since February when Grey and I got into that huge fight and then for one of the first times he stayed. I began looking around for him, squeezing between sweaty, dancing bodies. “Grey?” I shouted over the music. It was hopeless. Just as I began to pull out my phone, two hands wrapped themselves around my waist. When I turned around I was face to face with him.

“Hi,” he said over the noise.

I smiled and took his hand as I lead us out to find somewhere quiet. Tonight, nothing was going to stop us. I was going to be out as long as I wanted, I was going to be by Grey's side no matter what. I wanted one perfect night with him.

And I was going to get it.