Graduation Day, 2008
Standing up, I looked in the mirror. I looked so exhausted. Since what happened yesterday kept running through my head, I hadn't gotten any sleep. I knew I would see him again today. My graduating class was walking across the stage today to receive our diplomas. My mother and a bunch of family members were going to be there, so I had to keep my cool.
Makena, you look absolutely stunning! Trinity practically yells as she walks into my room. She stares at my dress for a long time, admiring it. It was a short white spaghetti strap dress trimmed in black. I paired it with black heels, a black pearl necklace, and a matching bracelet. Last night, as I was tossing and turning, I realized something. He needed to be shown what he couldn't have with a kick in the pants. Since the robe would cover me most of the time until I revealed the dress, I wanted him to drool if he really liked me."I can't believe we're graduating today!"
A chuckle escapes my lips as I smile at her. I reply, "I know what you mean. It all went by so fast!".
Trinity is here because her parents couldn't get her to the ceremony early because they were both working. My mom agreed to take her there, and they would take her home afterwards. Today she looked pretty as well. Dressed in deep purple and wearing purple heels, she looked stunning. She has always loved purple." I will miss you, girl!" she says softly as she pulls me in for a hug, promising to stay in touch even if we part ways.
"You know I will, I promise!" I whispered to her as she let me go. For a moment, we smiled at each other. Even though our relationship had suffered, we still cared for each other.
Suddenly, my mother yelled, "Girls, we need to get moving or we'll be late!".As we walked into the room, she smiled at both of us. In her eyes, I could see how proud she was of me. Then she wrapped us both in a tight hug, sniffling a bit. All of us climbed into the car and left the house.
Once we arrived at the event center, I watched her try to find a parking spot. As we walked towards the building, I noticed Jesse's car on the outskirts and immediately felt butterflies in my stomach. His presence was already apparent. My preparations for seeing him once more have begun. There was a connection between us...After hearing Jake tell me about him, I couldn't stop thinking about it all, about him.
As I practice during school, I find my place in line and wait for the event to begin. As I glanced around, I noticed Jesse and his group approaching the line. When I locked eyes with him, my stomach dropped, and I quickly turned my attention to the girl standing in front of me. As I watched Jesse stop at his place as Ruben continued to make his way toward me, I tried not to notice the constant glances they were making at me.
Instead of focusing on him, I started talking to the girl behind me in line. Despite knowing who she was, we had never really talked before, since we were in different circles of friends. As he stops next to me, he says, "Hey Makena.".
Turning around, I glance at him. With a smile, I say, "Hey!".
"I guess I'm in front of you?" he smiles.
It makes sense since E comes before I..." I laugh nervously as he raises his eyebrows at me.
We were escorted into a large circular room. My silent hope was that I wouldn't have to sit next to him the entire time. As we slowed down, I noticed he had taken the second-last seat. After taking my seat at the end of the row, the girl behind me started down the row behind us. The only thing I could do was ignore him.
I saw him glance at me. "PSST..." he said. It was an attempt to get my attention.
Looking back at him, I smile."Did you just say something to me?" I whisper back, trying to maintain my focus.
'I just wanted to apologize properly. He could have handled everything better than he did, and some of the things he did were wrong. I apologize for that,' he says, and I turn my attention to him.
My smile spreads wide as I say, "You know what? It's all good!".
In shock, he asked, "Really?".
"Yes, I try not to dwell on the past, since it is in the past and no one can control what their friends do," I tell him as I return my attention to the principal. I hope he will get the hint that I really didn't want to just talk here.
He cleared his throat, before asking "So what are you doing next in your life?" I wasn't sure if he was fishing for information for his friend or if he was genuinely interested.
"Well, honestly, I'm not sure." I am actually considering applying to the local college here because my mom really needs my help with my little sister."I'm thinking about taking a gap year and getting a job. " Around the same time, I noticed Jesse sitting nearby and kept looking at us. He seemed angry with us. Then I saw Ruben stick his tongue out and smirk at him. "What's your plan?" I asked, trying to ignore Jesse's constant glare.
Softly, he said, "I'm joining.".
"What do you mean?"
With a proud smile, he says, "Yeah, I joined up and will leave for basic training in two weeks!".In spite of how happy he looked, I couldn't help but remember how much he hated his dad when he was a sophomore. In front of all of us, he swore that he would never join the military.
"Are you serious right now? I thought you said you hated the military?" I asked him.
"Oh, I still do Makena!"
"So then why on earth are you joining up?" I asked him, earning another glare from Jesse.
As I didn't receive a scholarship, I had to find my own way to pay for college. The military assists with paying for education, so I'm joining up," he said."I was planning to join the air force like my father, but I chose a different path."
"Oh, which branch did you join?" I asked.
He smiles at me. "I joined the Army!" he says.
"Wow... where are you reporting for duty?" I asked.
With a smirk directed at Jesse, he whispered, "I'm actually going to Fort Sill, Oklahoma!".After laughing and smiling at Jesse, I turned my attention back to the secretary speaking.
I asked him, "So why are you going there?".Throughout the conversation, I hoped that Jesse would also leave the state and move on.
"That's where they told me to report to. Basic Training is ten weeks long, and then I'm starting MOS training after that. I have another ten weeks for that training." He announces and I widen my eyes. After taking my eyes off his, I turn forward, catching Jesse's gaze and focusing on him. Seeing him smile at me before turning away, I felt my heart drop. Honestly, I just wanted it to be over.
To receive our diplomas, we had to walk up the stage. We were then forced to stand up and leave the auditorium. Again, we had to stand in line. Girls on one side and boys on the other side, at least right now his eyes weren't trained on me.
In fear of tripping and making a fool of myself, I cautiously stepped up the stairs when my name was called. After receiving my diploma, I shook the principal's hand as well as the other staff member's. I started looking for my family as soon as I got back outside. After finding them, we took some pictures, and I noticed Jesse standing in the distance watching me. As much as I could, I ignored him. In the end, I was surrounded by my family and friends. Right now, I am perfectly safe.
Before we could go home, we all had to remove our robes. As soon as I had taken mine off, I walked to the table they had set up to collect them. I waited in yet another long line. My name is suddenly called out by a deep gruff voice and I glance around to identify the source. I see Jesse walking toward me. Turning around, I found that I was next, so I tossed my robe in the bin and crossed my name off the list. As quickly as I could, I ran away in the opposite direction to find my family. As I felt my wrist pull back, I almost fell. After being steadied, I glanced at Jesse's face. With my eyes narrowed, I snapped out at him, "What are you doing?" Jesse grabbed my wrist, preventing me from running away. His expression was stern and his grip on my wrist was firm, making it clear that he had no intention of letting me go. I could tell he was serious and I was suddenly filled with a wave of anxiety.
Smiling, he asks, "I want one last chance here. Will you go out with me?"
"No..." I reply back, biting my lip in response. I shake my head and take a step back, not wanting to give in to the temptation of saying yes.
His eyes flash with anger before he bends and presses his mouth against mine, forcing me to kiss him. I stand there, frozen in shock, unable to move as his lips move against mine. He steps back, a smirk on his face, and I can feel the heat rising in my cheeks as I turn away, humiliated. My body shook as I placed my hands on his chest and pushed him away. "What the fuck are you doing?" I yelled at him. I felt my heart pounding in my chest, the anger and humiliation overwhelming me. I was determined not to let him walk away without answering for his actions.
"I'm kissing you, don't tell me you didn't like it! So Makena join me on a date!" He pleaded with me again.
I looked him in the eyes and said, "No, I'm not joining you on a date. This isn't going to happen again." I turned and walked away, leaving him behind. I quickly made my way to my family.
Seeing everyone head to their cars, my mother and I make our way toward hers. As I see him with Ruben and Curtis standing against his car, I try to ignore the whistles being blown in my direction. Although I wore what I wore to attract his attention, I wasn't sure what to do now that he had kissed me. I flashed him with my middle finger as I jumped into my mother's car. After that, I did not see him again. After he kissed me, I turned him away without a second thought. Nothing pleasant could be said to him.
That weekend, I moved into Suri's mother's house with her. During that gap year, I decided to get a job and help Suri take care of her terminally ill mother. Instead of continuing her education, she took the GED. My college dreams never came true, and I am okay with that.