Best Friend's Sister (Book 1)

30

  "Seth Carter," our principal, Ms. Hill, called. Seth walked up and shook her hand, smiled for the camera, and stepped down. I turned to look at Zerena as she got ready to go up and smiled. I looked to the sides at the stands and found Ms. Carter holding a camera up and had tears streaming her face. Next to her was my mom with the same expression on her face.

  I motioned at Zerena to look at our moms and when she saw her mothers face, hers brightened. "Zerena Carter," Ms. Hill called.

  Zerena repeated her brother's steps in walking up, shaking hands with the principal, smiling for the camera, and walking off.

  As I waited for my name to be called up I thought about how my life is gonna change after today. Zerena, Seth, and I had the summer but then we separate. Seth is going to an arts school in Michigan to study computers and the technology or something of them. I don't know all the terms but he said he'll like it. As long as he's happy.

  My row stood up and started for the stage. I waited for my name to be called and as I stepped up to the podium I thought about how empowering I felt. I was officially done with high school and at this very moment, I only felt happiness. I was happy that I was going to finally live my own life without my mom micromanaging it, I was happy that I wouldn't have to hear my parents fight all the time-even when I visit home-I was happy that I get to go to my dream college, I was happy that my girlfriend gets to go with me, and last but not least I was happy for the way my life had turned out.

  I had worked hard to gain this ad now that I finally had, I didn't quite know what to do. But I'll figure that out later.

~~~

  After the ceremony and everyone throwing up their caps in celebration we could go and find our friends and family. I walked over to the Carter siblings and kissed Zerena. When Seth complained I pulled him in for a hug.

  Our moms found us in the crowd and walked over, ducking under swinging arms and walking around people as everyone else said hi to their friends and family. Gavin was practically on their heels as he walked with them.

  "Hey guys," Sara (Ms. Carter) said and  hugged us all. My mom repeated her actions before they grabbed our hand and started fast walking back to the parking lot. We said bye to our friends as we passed them and continued to ask our moms where they were taking us.

  As we came to the outer edge of the people and the football field our mothers started to breathe better.

  They looked at one another and stopped, "sorry, we couldn't breathewithin all those people with their perfumes and colognes," my mom said. Gavin scoffed but didn't say anything.

  "Zerena!" Zerena's best friend, Amy, called as she rushed through the crowd.

"Amy!"Zerena started running towards her. They hugged and started whispering amongst themselves. They kept looking back at us and towards the crowd.

"Would you two just go already! We'll wait!" Sara grinned at them.

"Thanks mom! Let's go! Before he leaves!" Zerena grabbed her friend's hand and was off before I could say anything about who 'he' was.

I turned to Seth who had sat down on the ground and followed suit. "Who's he?" He asked.

"I honestly have no idea," I answered.

"Then why aren't we following them?"

"Because sometimes the girls need their own time," Sara said.

Seth and I looked at her, then back at each other before jumping up and going after the girls. Sara just rolled her eyes.

"Tell them we're leaving soon!" My mom shouted.

"Kay!" I shouted back.

We found the girls talking with Jake and Phillip from the football team. I walked up and wrapped my arms around Zerena. She leaned back on me for support without questioning why we were here or anything. In other words, she knew we'd show up at some point or another.

  Phillip's parents came by and he said bye to everyone before leaving. Jake and Amy continued with their conversation.

  I whispered in Zerena's ear, "what are we doing here?"

  "Just wait," she whispered back.

  "So...um...er... What are you...er... Where are you going for college?" Amy finally got out. Her cheeks were slowly turning pink and then it clicked. She liked Jake. A lot.

  "I'm... uh... I'm going to the state college," Jake looked down at his feet as his cheeks also tinged pink.

  "I see," I whispered to Zerena and smirked.

  "Oh really?" Amy smiled at him, gaining some confidence, "so am I."

  "Wow that's cool," Jake blushed harder.

  "Oh my god! Can you two just freaking kiss and date already!!" Zerena yelled, "this is so sad and agonizing to watch!"

  I tried not to laugh but failed horridly. Jake and Amy's cheeks both turned bright shades of pink and red. Jake looked at Amy, said, "fuck it," and kissed her.

  Zerena and I chuckled as we walked away. "That was quite the show, Miss Carter," I praised.

  "Why thank you," she curtseyed.

  I chuckled at my girlfriend and kept walking.

  "So when are we leaving?" I asked.

  "Same day as Seth. So probably about a week, week and a half before school starts," she says.

  "You excited?"

  A grin broke out on her face, "hell ya I am! How could I not be?! I'm about to go to my dream college! And I get to have my boyfriend around all the time because he's going to the same college! This is gonna be great!"

  I grinned at her, "I'm glad you're happy. I'm also glad that I get to go to my dream college with my girl." She blushed at my words and bent down to kiss her.

  "Say goodbye to high school, cuz baby, we're going to college!" I grinned. She jumped up and yelled in excitement.