An Untold Secret

Chapter 10

   I open my eyes and push the comforter off of me. I rub the sleep out of my eyes and head to the bathroom. Today's the day. The day where I graduate from high school. I've waited years for this day. I wish mom could physically be here with me, but life is life. We don't always get what we want, and the world doesn't stop just because you want too.

   I take a long and hot shower. The warm water cascading down my back helps calm my nerves a bit. I have 2 hours to get ready until I have to meet the rest of the group. We're all getting pictures taken at the park we were at the other day. Rachel and Amelia's mother is a photographer, so she offered to do it for us.

   I step out of the shower and wrap a grey, fuzzy towel around my body. I plug in the blow dryer and dry my hair. I apply my makeup in a light tone. I was pretty tan, so I didn't need to put any dark makeup on. Besides no one likes a cake face. I walk into the closet, pull out my dress, and slip it on. It was short and poofy. The bottom was black and it faded to grey towards the top. It was a halter and absolutely gorgeous. It sadly wasn't mine. The girls let me borrow it for today, and they included some shoes, too.

   I curl my hair into big curls. I hairspray them until I know they won't move for the rest of the day. I slip on some 3-inch black heels. They had straps that crisscrossed over the top of my foot and one around my ankle. I walk over to a floor length mirror mother and I put up when we first moved in. I spin around on the ball of my foot, making the bottom of my dress fly up. I smile, I definitely could get used to this.

   A honk wakes me up from my fantasy. I quickly grab my clutch and my gown. I would not want to forget that. I walk out the door, locking it with the key. I take off my shoes and hold them in my hand as I descend the old, rickety staircase. There was no way I was going to walk down them in heels. That's just asking for some broken bones. I open the back seat to see Amelia and a bunch of stuff in the backseat.

   "You get to sit up front," she blurts out, seeing my confusion. Sit up front? Well, that's a first.

   "Oh, okay," I reply. I shut her door and walk around to the other side. I open the passenger side door and slip in. The air conditioner felt good against my face. It felt like the heat was going to melt my makeup off. That wouldn't be a very pretty sight.

   "You look so pretty in that dress by the way," Rachel points out.

   "Yeah, it definitely fits you right," Lia agrees.

   "Aw thanks, and I really appreciate y'all for letting me borrow it for tonight."

   "No problem," they say in unison. I laugh while the high five and then wiggle their fingers. I guess that's their handshake.

   "The boys are on their way, and so is mom," Lia says looking into her phone. It must be nice, I've never had one before. Mother and I could never afford one.

   "Okay, reply back saying we are too," Rachel says putting the car in drive and back into the road.

   "Done and done," Amelia replies, tucking her phone back into her purse.

   "I have a question," I cut in.

   "Shoot," Rachel says stopping at a red light.

   "Why am I in the front seat? I never ride up here?

   "Oh," Rachel chuckles, stepping on the gas when the light turns green. "There are two reasons actually. First, Amelia wanted to be with her stuff and it definitely couldn't fit up here. Second, since it's graduation day we thought it would be nice to let you actually sit up here. You always sat in the back and we feel like you deserve to ride in the front seat."