C1

“Isabella Juliette Fox," at the call of the school principal, I stood up like a bundle of nerves and went up to the stage to receive my diploma. I felt so excited and at the same time nostalgic because I was not going back to school. Most of my friends and classmates would be leaving this year for college, the plan was to go with them, but due to certain things I won't be able to make it.

One year. It will be a year full of delays and uncertainty. My parents don't have the college money yet, but they promised they will get it for next year. In the meantime I will also save. Just to help me a little.

“Congratulations," my former teacher says as she hands me my diploma. I smile for the picture as I say goodbye to the teachers. I am so nervous that my hands are sweating. Being in front of a huge crowd makes me phobic and makes my movements clumsy. The heels I wear are high and the robe is a bit big. As I descended step by step to get to my place and make myself small, my foot buckled causing me to almost fall face first to the floor. But someone grabbed my waist and prevented my fall.

It's Noah, my boyfriend.

“Be careful," he smiled.

“Thank you for rescuing me," I finished walking down the steps, pretending not to see the stares of the others, and took Noah by the hand. Noah was tall, blond and quite attractive. We had been sweethearts for two years.

“I told you I'll always be there to keep you from falling," he winked at me, that made him look too sexy. There was the occasional girl who hated me for being Noah Carter's girlfriend, but I didn't care about that.

Noah headed to his place while I sat in mine. Noah had taken the nerve away from me a bit, I controlled the shaking in my hands and went about enjoying the rest of the ceremony. As I watched my friends and classmates pass by to receive their diplomas, I felt nostalgic at the same time. We won't all get together in our free time anymore, we won't go on group trips anymore. We will be separated, I know.

When it's all over I hug my family and the others and then we go home. The only people at home were my father, my mother, Noah and my nine”year”old sister Kara.

“I'm so happy," Dad exclaimed, opening the wine.

“At least we'll have one less thing to worry about with school. “I rolled my eyes because sometimes my parents were a little stingy.

“What about me? “Kara said.

“Of course, that's why I said one less peso," Mom served the food.

“Are you planning to go to college this year, Noah? “my dad asked Noah. I helped Mom put the plates on the table.

“I don't think so, sir, but next year I am. I'm going to Boston.

“Boston, it's a little far," he looked at me sideways. I felt bad that Noah and I wouldn't be at the same college together. I had talked about it before, we would look for a college nearby where we could both go, but Noah's parents want him to go to Boston and my boyfriend couldn't say no. Not even for me. Not even for me.

“That's right, sir, Isa and I have talked about it a lot," Noah took a sip of his wine.

“It's okay," Mom sat down in her seat so I did too, "It's still a year away. Like you, Noah, Isa will be taking a gap year for college. Maybe next year will be a better year. Maybe some plans will change. Where do you want to go, Isa?

“I told you, Mom, California," I sipped my wine.

“If I may, Mr. and Mrs. Fox, after dinner I'd like to take Isa to the movies," he asked their permission.

My parents looked at each other.

“It's okay," my mother replied, "Isa is growing up and knows what she's doing. I just ask them to please take care of themselves.

I looked at my mother in horror.

“Juliette... “my father sentenced her. Apparently it hadn't escaped my mother's attention that Noah and I had already been having sex for a year. It seems that kind of thing is hard to hide.

“Mom, please," I gave her a dirty look. All Noah did was drink wine.

“It's okay, I was just saying. We'd better eat dinner or the food will get cold.

Noah put his hand on my knee, massaging it a little, letting me know everything was okay.

“

After dinner Noah and I headed to the place we always went, up on the mountain, where you could see the whole town from here. We climbed into the hood of his car and lay down to watch the stars. It had been a long, melancholy day. It was unbelievable that I would no longer be getting up early for class, or having lunch with my friends etc. Noah was a year older than me, he was already eighteen and I was seventeen.

“Do you think your mom knows that you and I...? “he started to ask me.

“Of course, she doesn't miss anything," I massaged my scalp.

“Better, don't you think? So we can be more confident that they know.

“Why do you say that? “I looked at him with a frown.

“Well, this way we'll start a life together. Isa, I want to be with you always. I've fallen in love with you so much that I can't imagine a life without you. In fact, if I could change everything I would go with you to California.

“But you wouldn't be able to face your parents," I denied. I hated a man who didn't make his own decisions, who wasn't brave and stood up to certain things. I didn't like that about Noah, that he would do whatever his parents wanted, especially his mother.

“I'm sorry.

“Let's not talk about that, yes," I got back up and climbed on top of him, "Let's do something more fun," I smiled mischievously.

Noah smiled too. I could see the curiosity in his eyes.

“I like that idea.

And so, on top of his car we made love.

A year later...

“Isa! An order is coming out “ the shout of my adored boss brings me out of my thoughts. I curse under my breath and reach over to take the dish I was asked for at table four.

“I heard," I said as I arrived.

“What are you thinking about? “he reproached me.

I didn't answer him, I just took the tray and brought it to the customers.

“Enjoy.

My shift was about to end, so I took off my apron and left it on the bar.

“It's time to go," I said to my boss, who was giving me a dirty look.

“As you wish," he took some money from the cash register and gave it to me, "See you tomorrow.

“Thank you, Jeymi," I took the money and counted it. Forty dollars, that was all I earned for the week. I had been saving for almost a year. I would have to count how much I made. I grabbed my things and headed home.

It was graduations again, I remember a year ago I was at that same place.

When I get home I go straight up to my room and grab my piggy bank. I prayed that there would be enough money to leave. I took the hammer and broke it, there were several bills, but most of them were twenties. After half an hour of counting I was surprised because there was more than I had planned, four thousand five hundred dollars and twenty cents. This would help me pay for enrollment and a few months of classes. Rent! I hadn't thought of that. I bit my nail a little hesitantly as I racked my brain in thought.

At that, my computer beeps announcing an incoming mail. I had applied to several California colleges for scholarships or half scholarships, something to help me make my expenses less. I opened the computer and opened the mail. It was from Stanford University in California.

Dear Miss Isabella Juliette, we are happy to inform you that you have been admitted to Stanford University in California with a half scholarship of fifty percent. We look forward to seeing you in a few weeks at our facilities.

Best regards,

Stanford University.

I stood there in awe of what I was reading. I couldn't hold my excitement in my chest. At that, I stood up and screamed with excitement. So much so that my parents came into my room with a frightened look on their faces.

“What happened? Why are you screaming?

“I'm going to college! “I exclaimed.

“Ah... that's good for you," Mom scratched the back of her neck a little nervously. That made me hesitate a little.

“What's wrong? You were supposed to be happy for me.

“And we are, it's just.... “She looked at Dad.

“We can't cover for him, Isa.

I felt like I'd been thrown a bucket of cold water. All my emotions shattered.

“What? But you guys told me that this year....

“I know what we said, unfortunately the situation is not the same.

I looked down.

“They gave me a half scholarship at the university," I told them, even though I know it wouldn't do any good.

“That's unbelievable. The only option would be for you to find a job over there," Mom commented.

“You saved up for a few months' tuition and now with the half scholarship the enrollment will be less. In that time I don't think you won't get something. What do you say? “Dad insisted, "Do you risk it?

I looked at them. It was obvious that I would have to fend for myself from now on and if I didn't get out of here today I would never do it. So I plucked up my courage and said to them:

“I'll risk it.

“That's my daughter," my father congratulated me.

“I have to pack, I'm leaving this weekend.

“So soon? What about Noah?

“I guess he must be getting news from the university, too. He'll be leaving too. I'll talk to him now.

“I'm going to miss you so much “Mom came over to hug me “it's hard to be away from a child.

“There's Kara left, Mom, and she'll be a teenager fast.

“I know.

I hugged Dad as I thought about having to look for a job in California where I don't know anyone and where I don't really know how things worked. I was just hoping to find something quick and steady.