Star In The Shadow // CTH [Editing process]

XXVIII

I take my toga, and put it over my body, that's under my purple dress. The long lacy sleeves of the dress and the silky material makes me feel more nervous than I already am.

Today I enter a new world. I finish my life as child, teenager, and begin my life as an adult. Everything I know and call life will change. I'll create a new one. Making new choices and new memories. But I'll try to make the best of it. Doing what I love and with people I love.

I go down the staircase to be greeted by my mother almost in tears, my father taking pictures, and my brother smirking, with one of his thumbs up.

"Lets go! We don't want to be late!" Says my mom rushing us all out.

I'm proud of the relationship between my parents and I. If you would've told me three months ago that we would be this close, I would've laughed at your face.

"Martha! I'm so glad you could come..." Mom says as she hugs Martha when she comes to us.

Her husband, Rodrigo, and her son, Esteban, came with her too.

"We're heading out now..." Says my father.

With that, we all get into our cars, and we make our way to the school. The ride is silent and we get to the school faster than ever. My dad parks the car and we get out of it. We make our way into the school. On our way through the halls, I greet a couple of my classmates and teachers. Since my school is "so special", they decided to do our graduation on the soccer field instead of the gym.

"I'm going to my seat." I say to my family. They all nod and head to their seats on the bleachers.

I go to the seat that has my name, which is easy to find, since we are placed on alphabetical order. This means that I'm a little after the middle. After a while of sitting, looking around, spotting my family, and waving at Jack, who's sitting on one of the first rows since his last name is Anderson, someone taps my shoulder. I turn around to see non other than Madison.

"Before you speak..." She says as looks at the ground. "I want to apologize for being so mean to you... You did nothing to me so that  I could treat you like that. I guess, well... I was jealous of you, because I knew you were better than me." She says looking at me shyly. Everyone's apologizing now.

"I accept your apology. I wanna apologize also. If I ever did anything to make you feel bad... And don't worry you're a great dancer and person." I say as I smile shyly at her.

She smiles back and then we chuckle lightly. I turn around again, as the microphone makes a feedback.

"Good morning graduates, families and school council. We are gathered here today, to celebrate the triumph of these students; who have come a long way to get here. Some have battled more than others. Some have more stories to tell than orders. But you all have something in common. You all studied here, in the Academy of Arts. Where you persuaded your passions and found your talents..." Says the principal through the microphone.

While he gives his speech, I look around the field. I spot my brother on the bleachers, making funny faces at me. I swear he's still a teenager on the inside. I stick my tongue out at him, and divert my attention to the crowd trying to find that person that is so special for me. He's not here. Maybe he's late. But he does leave tomorrow, so he probably didn't want to say goodbye. I keep looking for a blonde boy or a colored hair boy, but they are nowhere to be seen. The principal speaks a little louder, making me snap out of my trance.

"Now we will give the o' so waited diplomas..." He stops, and motions for Mrs.Monett and Mr.Paul (history teacher) to help him.

"First up: Liliana Acosta..." People clap, as he speaks. I remember Liliana, we hang out a couple of times, a really great girl. "Jack Anderson, who got accepted in the Miami International University of Art & Design with a scholarship on fashion designing..." Jack has this 'no freaking way' face as he strolls to the stage. He gets his diploma, and raises his arms in triumph before heading down the stage.