Time had flown by, and before Dalton knew it, graduation was just around the corner. It was a moment that had been building up for years—a final step before they all moved on to the next chapter of their lives. But not everyone was excited.
Vanessa had been nervous about graduation for weeks. The thought of walking across the stage in front of hundreds of people terrified her, and despite Dalton's reassurance, she had almost convinced herself to skip it entirely.
"I don't want to go.." Vanessa had said one night, her voice trembling with anxiety. "It's too much. Everyone's going to be watching."
Dalton had listened patiently, understanding her fear. He knew how shy she was, how much she hated being the center of attention. But he also knew how important this moment was—for both of them.
"Vanessa, you've come so far" Dalton said softly, taking her hand in his. "You can't just not show up. I'll be there with you the whole time. I promise."
Vanessa had hesitated, but after a while, she finally agreed. "Okay... but only because you're going with me."
***
The day of graduation arrived.
Dalton and Vanessa sat together in the crowded auditorium, their caps and gowns neatly pressed, the weight of the moment settling in. Dalton's father had come, sitting a few rows behind them. It wasn't the big, celebratory event that some families had—it was quiet, understated. But it was enough for Dalton. This was a moment he had worked hard for, and having Vanessa there made it feel complete.
But even though they were physically close, Dalton could feel something was off. Throughout the ceremony, Vanessa seemed distant. She didn't reach for his hand, didn't lean into him like she usually did. Her eyes were fixed forward, avoiding him, and Dalton couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed.
When they stood to receive their diplomas, Dalton glanced over at her, hoping for a smile, for some sign that they were still connected. But she remained quiet, her expression neutral. It hurt more than he wanted to admit. The distance between them was real, and Dalton didn't know how to bridge it.
After the ceremony, as families gathered to take photos and celebrate, Dalton felt even more isolated. Vanessa was still distant, keeping to herself, not showing any affection in public. She didn't hold his hand, didn't lean in for a picture, didn't seem to want anyone to know they were together. And as much as Dalton tried to brush it off, it stung.
***
In the weeks that followed, things between them slowly improved.
The tension that had hung over graduation day began to fade, and Dalton and Vanessa grew closer once again. They spent more time together, their connection deepening as they navigated the uncertainty of what came after high school. They shared more of themselves, letting their walls down in ways they hadn't before.
And eventually, they gave each other their firsts.
It wasn't something that happened quickly. It was gradual, a natural progression of their relationship. They had become comfortable with each other, trusting, and even though Dalton still felt traces of the distance from time to time, he convinced himself that things were good—that they were on solid ground.
But the closer they got, the more Dalton began to notice cracks beneath the surface.
Then, one day, everything changed.
Dalton had been borrowing Vanessa's phone to look something up when he accidentally stumbled across an album titled with a simple "<3". At first, he thought it was just one of her photo collections, filled with random selfies or memories they had shared together. But when he opened it, he froze.
There, among the photos, were several pictures of a guy—shirtless.
Dalton's heart sank as he stared at the images, his mind racing. Who was this? Why did Vanessa have these pictures? And why were they in an album marked with a heart?
When Vanessa saw him looking at her phone, her face went pale. She quickly tried to explain, but her words came out rushed, her tone defensive. "It's not what you think. I was just showing them to a friend."
Dalton blinked, the weight of her words sinking in. She was lying.
"Vanessa..." His voice was quiet, almost hollow. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I just... I didn't want you to get mad.." she said quickly, her eyes darting away from his. "It's nothing. I swear."
But the damage was done. Dalton could feel something crack inside him—a deep fissure of trust that had been forming ever since graduation. He had always tried to believe in her, to trust her completely. But now, that trust felt fragile, hanging by a thread.
In the days that followed, Dalton tried to keep going.
He tried to convince himself that it didn't matter, that Vanessa's explanation was enough. She had said it was nothing, that it wasn't what he thought, and he wanted to believe her. But every time he saw her, every time they talked, the image of those photos crept into his mind, reminding him that things weren't as simple as they used to be.
Dalton still loved Vanessa—that much was true. His feelings for her hadn't changed, but something between them had. And no matter how hard he tried to ignore it, the doubt lingered. Could they recover from this? Could he really move past the betrayal, even if she swore it didn't mean anything?
Dalton didn't know if he could.