Red Chevrolet

Wednesday

It was graduation. We had rehearsed for an unnecessary amount of time and were finally able to graduate and move on in our lives.

Because my name was Benedict Pepperwit, I would not be able to walk until the end of the alphabet. It sucked. Throughout my years of school, I was always the last one to do anything because of my last name. So I patiently waited as the names before mine were called.

The girl Hazel had mentioned yesterday, Maggie Danzer, had been called way earlier than mine was to be called. Maggie wasn't what Hazel made her out to be. Maggie was the closest thing I had to a sister. We were both the only kids in our families. So back in seventh grade we decided we were brother and sister. Basically we just had a strange way of expressing our friendship.

The alphabet continued on to L, M, and N's. I was so close!

"Jason Kade Oswald."

"Greyson Kim Oswald."

They were identical twins. Jason and Greyson. Jason was on the lacrosse team and Greyson was on swim team. Both were popular in our grade and were hosting our senior party tonight. I wasn't planning on going but then Maggie asked me during rehearsal and I instinctively said yes. Idiot.

"Benedict Lucas John Pepperwhit."

Curse my parents for giving me the longest name out of the eighty-four other students graduating.

I stood as the crowd applauded and made my way across stage.

Shake hands. Get diploma. Smile for the camera. Exit stage.

Exactly as it was rehearsed for those four thousand long and dreadful hours.

Once I left the stage I made my way back to my seat. The best thing about having a last name that starts with P is that you know the ending is close.

___

"Hazel Maeve Reddish."

My eyes darted up at the sound of Hazel's name. She wasn't a senior, was she? I could've sworn she was a junior! She had to be! There was no way she was graduating. Hazel was too young. Right?

Oh shut up you dope! She's probably seventeen or eighteen!

Hazel's gray eyes locked onto mine as she began exiting the stage and she smiled a halfhearted smile. I didn't return it. I just looked away like I had never met her before. Because until yesterday, I really hadn't.

___

The Oswald's party wasn't as great as everyone said it'd be. That's probably just because I've been to all of their parties and they're all the same. Wow. For four years I've attended their parties, no matter how lame I thought they were.

They had a hot tub, no pool. They had a nice sized backyard and a bonfire. Typical. They also had grilled burgers and hot dogs for everyone. Or rather their dad grilled them before leaving to the bar with his fiancé and "accidentally" forgetting to lock the door to the basement where all the alcohol is kept.

So there were drunks in the hot tub, drunks dangerously close to the grill, and drunks even more dangerously close to the six foot bonfire.

Loud music was playing, drowning out the sound of voices. Anyone who was trying to make conversation was wasting their time. You couldn't hear now and ten bucks says that you will have your ears ringing until tomorrow morning.

I was pretty popular. At least, I played hockey, I was smart, I had hosted a few of my own parties before and I dated Hannah Jenks. Hannah was on the girls swim team, she was hot and popular and ruthless. I'm not sure how we managed to start dating but I do know it happened after the first party I hosted. We only dated for two months before I decided I couldn't be with someone who wants to only drink and have sex. Two things I'm not a very big fan of. Anyway, after I broke up with her I heard a rumor that it was a good thing I had because all she wanted was my parents' money. Which was probably true.

Ten bucks says that if I confronted her now in her drunken state she'd confess.

I was tired. I had a plastic water bottle in one hand and a bowl of pretzels in the other. I was leaning against a tree, a few feet from the bonfire. All I wanted was to get out of here. I knew I was going to stay in this town for a while because that's what I chose to do. And I would rather be the only one left from my class in town than to end up going to college where all of them went. Then I'm stuck with them. Again.

You could get out Ben. I thought to myself. You could leave this town, drive to Idaho. Take the hockey tryout and be with Hazel. Go to school there and become something great. Something your parents always hoped you'd be.

I shook my head. Snap out of it. I couldn't go. I had never driven to another state before. It was always my parents. They were always there when I traveled anywhere. We stuck together. We looked out for one another.

It'll be a great experience. You don't even have to pay for anything! Ten bucks says that Hazel has it all planned out. That's because she does. I had just met her yesterday and she had it all planned. And if I didn't show up to take her away tomorrow then she was probably going to get on a bus and go to Idaho.

So Benedict John Lucas Pepperwhit, what'll it be? A road trip to Idaho or a boring start to your summer filled with work and wasting time?