Small Town Girl

Chapter 3

"I can't believe that this day has finally came!" I squeal while running up to hug Tanner D.

"I can't either. Now we have to go our separate ways though." He says with a hint of sadness in his voice while hugging me back.

"We'll get through this I'm going to NCTA and you are going to Peru State. We will be about 4 1/2 hours away from each other. We will find a way to make this work." I reasure him smiling.

"I know." He says smiling down at me and giving me a quick kiss before Keziah, Jasmine, and Tanner walk up.

"Oh you two are so cute." Keziah says seeing us hugging.

"We can be cute!" Jasmine exclaims reaching for Tanner frantically, "See we can be cute!" She says hugging him.

"Oh, Jaz." Keziah says laughing.

We all go into the Vocal room to get our robes on. There is a lot of nervous and excited chatter all around the room. Soon it will be time to walk.

Walking to the front of the gym to Pomp and Circumstance is one of the best feelings. I've always hated playing it but walking to it as a senior it's just amazing.

To start off a girl in our class, Maggie, reads her Valedictorian speech and then Cooper reads his Salutatorian speech. Then the choir sings and then they go through all of the scholorships and there are some people with a long list and some with only a few. Finally we walk to get our diplomas. After walking out of the gym, we all stand outside so everyone can shake our hands and congradulate us.

Later at my grandparents Tanner D and Keziah helped pitch in on setting up all of the food.  We had came out before graduation to set up tables in the yard. It was a long afternoon with people coming and going. Finally by 6 though everyone had left and we started cleaning up.

"Hey, do you two want to go to the movies tonight" Tanner D asks as we finish cleaning up.

I look at mom with puppy dog eyes. "I guess you can go," She says sighing, "Since you don't have school anymore." I run and hug her excitedly.

"Thank you! So how about you Keziah, can you come with us?" I ask turning to her.

"I can't, I promised my mom I would be home early tonight." She replies giving Tanner D a look. "But you two can still go." She says with a smile looking at me this time.

"Are you sure?" I ask her confused why she looked at Tanner D and on what she is thinking.

"Yep I'm sure." She says before getting in her car to drive home.

Tanner D and I go to the movies in town and when it was over we got into his truck and he started driving me home because my mom had my car.

After going a few miles on the gravel road he pulls off onto a field road and turns his lights off. He reached behind his seat and grabs pillows and a blanket.

"You had this all planned didn't you? I ask smiling.

"Maybe I did and maybe I didn't." He says giving me a sly smile.

He put the blanket and the in the bed of the truck and I laid in his arms we looked at the stars in the sky.

"So did you decide on what your profession is going to be? I ask snuggling against his chest.

"I think I'm going to become an Art Teacher. Then we don't have to live in a big city." He replied while stroking my hair.

"I would love that. I don't hate big cities but I love living in the country because you get to star gaze with the people you love." I say closing my eyes.

We continue talking about our future and how we can make our relationship work in college for about another half an hour. Then we both get back into his pickup and he finishes taking me home.

I walk into my room and get into my pajamas with my head in the clouds. I lay on my bed thinking about Tanner D's and my future more before I finally fall asleep with a big smile on my face.