Linger

O N E H U N D R E D + S I X

Madison: graduation isn't going to be the same without you :(

"What if we just wore our prom dresses?

"For graduation?"

"Yeah, no one would notice right? We're gonna be wearing those . . . What are they called?"

"Robes? Capes?"  

My phone buzzed again and I glanced at my screen lighting up. 

Ty: Just pretend I'm there.

Ty: But don't try to talk to me. 

Ty: I might not respond.

I stifled a laugh at my best friend's text.

Chelsea's head perked up. "Who's got you smiling?"

"Does he start with a 'Mr.' and ending with a 'Hayden'?" Alice smiled at me.

"Tyler," I told them with another small laugh as I sat up on Chelsea's bed and placed my phone down. "We need to figure out a way to get him and Ben to graduation." 

"We already tried." Chelsea turned back to her closet. "You saw how set Blakely is on his decision. He's not gonna change it." 

"But it's not fair," I huffed, running my hand through my hair. "This is our senior graduation. We only graduate from high school once. Ben and Tyler should get to be there and enjoy that." 

"Mads, they already told us they'll be fine," Alice assured me softly. 

Chelsea nodded in agreement. "This is your high school graduation too. You deserve to enjoy it." 

"How can I when Tyler isn't even going to be there?" I looked up at my friends. "Especially when I know it's because of me." 

"No." Chelsea held a stern finger up at me. "You are not blaming yourself for this again." 

Guilt weighed heavily on my heart and I reached for my phone in search for a distraction. 

"Mads, come on," Alice said. "We're graduating from high school tomorrow! We've been looking forward for this day for years!" 

"Yeah, and now your boyfriend can't even be at the ceremony." I tossed my hand in the air. "Aren't you going to miss him?"

"Yeah, but . . . I have you guys." She looked at us with a bright smile.

She did have a point. We had each other. 

But it was becoming nearly impossible to ignore the growing tug on my heart as I glanced at my glowing phone screen. 

Ty: My black eye can't scare anyone if I'm invisible anyway.

My chest caved in.

I sighed as I looked up at my friends. "What color are our gowns?"

"Gowns!!" Alice exclaimed, turning to Chelsea. "That's what they're called! Gowns!"

"I should've known that," Chelsea mumbled, shaking her head. "My brain is so fried from finals I can't even think anymore." 

"I think I might actually wear my prom dress," Alice said, tying her long brown hair into a high ponytail. "We only graduate once so might as well go all out, right?" She smiled at us.

Chelsea nodded eagerly. "When else can we wear our prom dress anyway? And now you can actually wear yours, Maddie!" She turned to me.

I chewed on my lip as I tapped my fingers against my phone. "I don't have one."