The Inbetween Cult

chapter twenty-five - epilogue

Casey

Last day.

Last day.

Last day.

Last day.

That's all I've been thinking since my alarm went off this morning. 

It's only a half day - thank God - but I still don't understand why I'm being forced to go. The only reason Jovie is going is so she can have everyone sign her yearbook. I could care less who signed mine. I'm not sure why the boys are going either. Their graduation ceremony is in a week instead of before school ends like every other school in the God damn universe since our school board likes to be total jackasses and make our seniors suffer.

I know I'm going to be bawling my eyes out when I see Khakis speak in front of everyone as valedictorian, and when I see Haze walk across that stage, leaving Ponder Hill for good. I can't think about him leaving without crying. I'm just glad he's going to be here for the summer so I can see him for a few more months before he goes.

He decided on Auden and Dom living with us, and those two are so psyched for it. As are my brothers. It's going to be definitely interesting.

Dad has also moved in permanently, and I'm happy about it. So is Mom. I just hope they learn their volume after I kept banging on the wall the first night Dad came home for them to shut up.

Worse night of my life, tell ya that right now.

Can't even look them in the eye anymore without gagging.

"Ready, baby?" Mom asks, gently knocking on my door.

I look at her after I pull on my red cardigan over my black crop top and ripped jean shorts. "Ready as I'll ever be."

She smiles and kisses my nose. "You're so beautiful, baby. Strut your beautiful self out that door and work today, show those bull shit teachers who's boss."

I laugh. "Ma, don't try and get in with the teenagers, it ain't workin'."

She frowns and I hug her.

"I'll see you in a few hours." I chuckle.

She smiles and kisses my forehead. "See you soon, baby."

I run downstairs, hug the boys and Dad goodbye who wish me luck, and I run out the door, Khakis, Hair, Haze, Noah, and Jovie singing at the top of their lungs to get me to hurry up. I jump into the truck and we floor it to school.

"LAST DAY, BITCHES!" Hair screams happily.

We all whoop and I kiss Haze hello as he's driving.

"BITCH, DON'T KILL US!" Noah shrieks.

I laugh.

When we pull up into the school, everyone is jumping on each other and running around happily, hugging and kissing and talking and laughing. We run inside as the bell rings for first hour, and Noah, Khakis and I take off, saying goodbye to everyone.

******

We only have first, second, and third period, which is boring for me, we do nothing, but in third hour, everyone in class is having a staring contest with the clock as it chimes closer to ten-fifteen - closing time.

"Are you ready, bitch?" Jovie whispers to me.

I grin at her and we hold hands. "Let's do this."

The bell screams at us to get the hell out, and we shout happily, everyone dashing out of the classroom, the halls filled with freshmen up to seniors. As Jovie and I are laughing and talking, I see Mr. Hans putting something up outside of his classroom, so Jovie and I decide to check out what it is.