~04-High School's A Wrap~

Today, we graduate high school.

And I'm not going-well, I don't want to go but I don't think Beth is having that.

She's currently ransacking my cupboard for something suitable for me to wear.

"Beth, just drop it, I'm not going" I groan for the nth time

"Alright, give me one good reason for that silly decision" she turned to me for the first time since she started her mission.

"Silly?" I laugh

"Yes, silly" she laughs along.

"I don't want to be there, in front of a crowd collecting a diploma..I'm not even going to college for the love of God, isn't that a good enough reason¿"

"I know you're not going to college but..." She sighs in exasperation "...would you at least go to the graduation ceremony... for me?"

She looks at me with a such pleading eyes and I can't say no 

"Okay, okay, if you find something good enough for me to wear, I'll go with you" I give in

"Trust me, I'll find something" she assures, proudly

"I know" I say simply and turn to leave.

"Where are you going?" She asks

"Gym" I reply without turning to face her

"Why? You said you'll go" She whines childishly.

"And I will, there's still time for a little exercise though, right?" I turn to reason with her

"Hardly" she narrows her eyes

"It starts by Two pm, Bethany" I groan "it's still early"

"Okay, fine, but just for thirty minutes" 

"An hour" I bargain

She shakes her head "Forty-five minutes"

"Fifty-five" I bid

"Fifty minutes" she crosses her arms over her chest "final offer"

"Okay, fine fifty minutes but I get five extra minutes of shower before dressing up, deal¿"

"Really, Danny?" She shoots me a look

"Yes" I shrug

"Okay, whatever. Get to it, your time starts now" she shoos me away

"Alright, I'm going"

~∆~

By the time I came back, Beth had picked out about 5 different outfits for me to choose from.

They were all gowns, so I wasn't exactly pleased but I had to wear one so I chose a short, turquoise blue one that was flared all the way from the chest so I didn't feel restricted in it.

Beth went all out on the make up, making my face feel plastic, like a barbie doll.

She wanted me to wear heels but I'm definitely not having that, the great amount of discomfort that comes with those things is just unbearable...I pull on some comfy sneakers.

We're making our way out of the room when...

"Oh, wait.." Beth gasps in a way that takes me to panic mode instantly.

She rushes back to the dressing table and picks up something small.

"Just one stubborn tendril" she whispers as she puts one more hair pin on my hair "there...much better"

Trust my best friend to make a big deal about something as dumb as that.

"Oh, Bethany" I sigh

She smiles sheepishly as we exit the bedroom.

Mom and Clara (Mrs Shay) are both standing at the end of the stairs, watching us with such pride and joy as we descend.

Mom's eyes look watery and I think she's going to cry as she says "You look so beautiful"

"Don't flatter me mom, Beth's made sure I look as identical to barbie as possible though, I'm sure even Disney will be amazed" I quickly direct the attention away from me 'cos if there's one thing I'm bad at, it's accepting a compliment.

"I noticed" she chuckles and I'm relieved when she turns to Beth "Thank you, Bethany for making her change her mind about going"

"You're welcome, Mrs Sanchez." She beams.

Beth is all smiles today, if I didn't know better, I'd think it's her wedding instead of an ordinary graduation ceremony.

"We need to talk, though" Mom turns back to me and I groan internally

"About?" I ask, staring into her eyes for some sort of hint of what it might be about.

"College" she narrows her eyes at me.

"There's nothing to talk about, I'm not going" I say simply and say a silent prayer for her to give this up now but the heavens seem deaf to my pleas.

"There's a lot to talk about" she says slowly, cautiously "but first, it's time to celebrate"

"We're guessing you too will go ahead?" Clara says in a question-like way

Both Beth and I nod in response.

"We'll see you both there" says mom "Drive safe and be good"

"As always mom" I chirp

I give mom a warm hug then give Clara one as well and Beth does the same.

"Bye, Love you both" I call from the doorway as I and Beth head out.

"Love you too" I hear them say in unison.

~∆~

When we arrive at the school premises, there are so many seniors, all dolled up and prissy looking.

So many girls letting out excited shrieks and cameras flashing everywhere.

I'm reminded how much I hate crowded places and how I'd rather be huddled up in one corner of my room reading a book and munching in some potato chips.

We go get our graduation gowns and caps from some secluded part of the school- somewhere I'd rather be right now.

An announcement is made for us to make our way to the hall as slow music starts to play.

I scan around the lot where I am for Beth but she's nowhere to be found.

She left to take some pictures with a few friends earlier and now I can't find her.

Damn it, Beth

She gets me to come here then leaves me all by myself.

I stand there, watching as students, most of whom are now graced with their graduation gowns, which is an admirable, elegant mixture of dark green and harsh.

After scanning around a few more times, I decide to follow the crowd and head to the hall in hopes of seeing her on my way there.

Beth shows up sometime during the pomp and circumstance graduation walk and I could not be more grateful.

I groan silently.

This is going to be one boring, long a*s ceremony.

Out of sheer joblessness and boredom, I check if I can see mom and Clara anywhere.

I can't help but be glad that I rejected the Valedictorian speech.

Being the best student and all, it was meant to be me up there, facing this crowd and saying God knows what but I'm so sure I wouldn't have done it as well as Molly is doing it.

Molly's always hoped to be there and  hence, always saw me as competition but then what could she do? She's got 24 hours in a day and spends 8 of that sleeping.

I've got my full 24 hours each day with nothing much to do-besides box and study- so there wasn't really any competition because I would always win, but she didn't seem to ever get that.

I'm just happy she's up there now, looking really proud and beautiful.

She flashes me a grateful smile which I return.

~∆~

After what feels like a decade but is really just about 2 hours, my name is called and I go up the stage for my diploma, making sure to give a fake smile for the camera.

Beth gets her diploma soon after but we still have to wait until everyone got theirs.

Mom and Clara congratulate us with eyes watery with joy as they tell us how proud they are of us.

People are slipping out of the hall real fast and I couldn't be more relieved, the crowd was suffocating.

Of course, I'm not going to follow the crowd to the marquee for refreshments so I tell them that and we all decide to go out to celebrate.

I'm just glad 'cos it's another opportunity to make Clara happy, though, she looks like she's overflowing with joy already.

This right here..is my family.

And I'd rather not have them any other way.

The very best family for a Jinxed girl.