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Chapter 51

          
After spending the rest of the night on the phone with Alyssa, I fall asleep only to be woken up by Alyssa busting into my room. "It's graduation day!" She screams as she turns on the light and I moan in disagreement. "Come on and get up! We need to start getting you ready!" I sit up to see Alyssa holding a dress bag in her hand and her make-up bag. I fall back into my pillow. "No you don't!" She dropped the bags onto the bed and pulled at my arm until I sat up again.

"Ok ok ok!" I say as I stand up from the bed. The next three hours are spent with Alyssa putting makeup on my face and styling my hair. With only an hour until graduation, Alyssa opens the dress bag to reveal a white short sundress that has a diamond shaped cut out that reveals most of the back. I put on the dress and slide into some black heels. I look into the mirror for the first time since Alyssa got here. My hair was down with my long blonde hair curled perfectly. I turn to see the sleek smooth material tight against chest and flare out right above my hips. The large split in the back of the dress reveals my entirely new tanned back. I loved how I looked, but only wished that I could wear this somewhere more pleasant than the place I had been avoiding all weekend.

After ten minutes of pictures from my mom, I get into my dad's car and drive to the school. I step out and stand there to take a deep breath before continuing on to the backdoor of the auditorium. I swing the door open to see part of the senior class standing on stage waiting for Principal Kelly to give them further instructions. With the squeak of the door, all the eyes land on me. I smile and walk on to stage to follow directions. Bradley makes it his goal to make me feel comfortable.

As the group continues to talk, the backdoor opens to reveal Logan walking in. His black suit is perfectly shaped to his body. I want to look away, but how can you look away from the thing you crave most in the world? He makes eye contact with me and doesn't lose it until Bradley steps in front of him to give him a hug! With our broken eye contact I lower my eyes to the floor and quietly laugh at myself. After Bradley lets go Logan walks straight over to where I am standing.

"Hi." He starts as he looks down at me. "I've been trying to call you."

"I know. I'm sorry. I just needed to deal with everything on my own this time." I smile up at him.

"Listen Theresa, I know..." He is cut off mid-sentence by Principal Kelly who instructs the students to a nearby classroom where the caps and gowns were being held. Everyone started to walk towards the classroom, but Logan and I were locked in place. He remained silent as if trying to figure out what he was going to say until Bradley jumped in and stole Logan's attention.

I was worried about seeing Anna, but it is twenty minutes before the ceremony starts and she is the only senior not here. Ten minutes before the ceremony starts and Anna walked in quietly trying to not draw attention to herself. I was not mad at her, I was mad at what she was capable of doing.

            Principal Kelly walked up onto the stage as the parents and friends rushed to their seats. "Good afternoon parents, friends, and relatives. We are happy you joined us for this exciting and eventful night. As our graduates come into the room, please be as loud as you can and join me in celebrating their academic success at St. John's."

            The music began to play which indicated we needed to start walking down the aisle. Two seniors walk in first and then it was my turn. I walked down the aisle as my mother takes pictures of everything she can. I walk up the side steps and find my chair on the stage. I was sitting down as Logan started his ascent toward the stage. He kept a mutual expression the entire time. Logan showing emotion besides anger in public was very rare. The last person to walk onto the stage was Anna. Her smile was big, but was covering a larger feeling of sadness. An hour later and we moved our tassels over our caps and waited as our principal introduced the graduated class. Everyone in the audience rose and applauded as we walked back down the aisle. As soon as the music ended, the audience started to crowd the graduates asking for pictures and for hugs. After about twenty minutes of constant congratulations, James and Bradley's moms wanted to get a picture of the four of us.

            Bradley, James, and I walked back up onto the stage and looked over the crowd for Logan. Bradley grew impatient and screamed Logan's name as loud as he could. I laugh as the entire auditorium looks up at us. Logan walks up onto the stage and stands in a row as our parents take pictures and the accidental videos on their smart phones. "Logan, Smile!" Bradley demanded causing us all to laugh. After spending an hour at the school, the crowds began to leave. I kissed my mom's cheek as they said goodbye. "You're going to come and get food with us right Theres-Theres?" Bradley asked as we walked out the backdoor.

            "Where are you guys off to?" I asked hesitantly.

            "We are going to go to the Green Turtle."

            "Sure!" I take my gown off and throw it in the back seat of my dad's car. I leave the cap on to be the perfect accessory.

            "You can just ride with us. I can bring you back to your car later." Logan insisted. I nod and lock my dad's car.