Flickering Shadows

Graduation (Chapter 21)

GRADUATION

JUNE 5TH, TODAY I was graduating high school.  It was exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time, mostly the latter though.  I spent almost all of the past three days writing my speech.  I actually tried.  I would recite it in front of my peers, teachers, and their families, as well as my own family.

           Amanda did my hair again, this time in elegant curls.  At noon I threw my gaudy blue and yellow graduation robes over my arm and headed out.  Dylan and Amanda had permission to go with my family and watch. 

           In the car, it was awkward. My grandma scolded me for having pre-marital sex, and also for the location.  "Really, Lucille, on a roof? That is so...public."

           "It was at one in the morning Grandma.  No one was around." I retorted.

           "That you know of.  All I'm saying is that you two got off much too easy.  I would have extended your stay." Grandma babbled on and on, until we finally reached the high school.

           The stares I got from my past friends were those of horror. People whispered as I passed, "What's she doing here?" and parents demanded to speak to whoever was allowing this.  Clearly, I was unwanted here.

           Grandma escorted me to where I needed to be, she didn't want me being assaulted by parents.  I stood in line with the 'A's'. Then, an unrecognizable girl came up to me. "Hey." She said, crossing her arms and snapping her gum

           Who was this?  I looked her over again and again and then it hit me. "Lindsay?"

           "Yeah." She grunted.

           I couldn't believe this was my old best friend.  Lindsay, the one I knew, never wore make-up and made it a point to never wear anything too low cut or above the knee.  The Lindsay I knew had beautiful, long, blonde hair.

           The Lindsay that stood before me didn't have her robes on yet.  She had on shorts that you could easily see on a prostitute and a tube top that left nothing to be desired.  Her hair was dyed black to her shoulder, and cut into choppy layers with heavy side bangs. She must've used an entire eyeliner stick to do her makeup.  She was the very definition of trailer trash. "Hi." I said in disbelief.

           You smoke?" Lindsay asked suddenly.

           "Um..." I didn't know what to say.

           "I got plain ol' cigarettes, and some pot." I didn't reply, but my nose wrinkled in disgust.  "Do you prefer something stronger?  I do, too.  I got some meth and coke back at my place.  Casey scored it for me-remember him? Yeah, we're dating now.  Want to come over later?"

           Lindsay never did lose her tendency to babble.  She pulled a cigarette out of her top and lit up.  "No, thanks. And I think it's illegal to smoke in here."

           "It's also illegal to smoke at seventeen.  Who gives a shit though? I'm already breaking a ton of laws." She blew a smoke ring in my face.  I realized that I didn't know this girl at all.  This person was taken over by sex and drugs, and morphed into someone I never knew.  "So, when did you become pretty? I'd have thought hell froze over before that happened."

           "Probably about the same time you became so trampy." I couldn't stop the words from coming out of my mouth.  It would have been better just to walk away and not retort, but I had to open my big mouth.