Labeled Love (39 page)

“What does Jace say?”

“Not much. And, that’s because I don’t like to talk about it. I guess we’re even that way.”

“What do you mean?”

“Jace doesn’t like to talk about his family life, and I don’t like to talk about college.”

“Well, I think that conversation will have to come up pretty quickly with graduation in a couple of days,” she says. I nod my head in agreement. She’s right. I’m going to have to figure things out.

When Jules leaves, I lie in bed staring at my picture wall. Every one of my favorite memories involves Jace. I can’t go away to college. All the years we saw each other once a week was torture. Now we are finally able to be together, and I won’t lose that. My eyes begin to close when my phones rings. Reaching over, I answer it. “Hello?”

“Hey baby, you sound tired,” Jace says. I close my eyes, taking in his sexy voice.

“I’m tired. We had a long day preparing for graduation.”

“My girl is going to be a high school graduate. You don’t sound very excited.”

“How can you tell?” I say sleepily.

“I know every tone in your voice, Shay. Something is wrong. What is it?”

“I’m just tired.”

“Baby, tell me.”

I inhale deeply. “What are we going to do? I’ve been accepted to NYU.” In a low whisper with fresh tears falling, I add, “I don’t want to leave.”

“You’re going to college, Shay. You’ve worked too hard not to.”

“What about us?” I ask him.

“I will figure us out. There is always going to be an us, so don’t ever worry about that, pretty girl. I promise you, wherever you go, I will find a way to be there. I’m going to make things happen. You’re my girl, Shay. We won’t ever be apart.”

I’m a nervous wreck, because as much as I know his words are sincere, I just don’t know how we would do it, but I say, “Okay.”

“You don’t sound convinced. Trust me, baby. You have my heart, so it’s got to be near you to beat and keep me going.” I smile into the phone. “I just called to tell you I love you. I know you’re going to be busy tomorrow. I will see you when you walk across that stage. Goodnight,” he says lovingly.

“I love you, Jace.” We end the call, leaving me torn. Jace would never admit his struggles growing up to me. He’s too proud. I just don’t know how he would be able to come to New York.

IT SEEMS LIKE
we have been sitting here for hours. The sun is just setting, making the unbearable glare of the sun easier to bear. Finally, they call my row, and both Jules and I stand up and start making our way toward the stage. When my name is called, I hear Beau. I know it’s him. He has a really loud whistle. Walking up, I receive my diploma, shake hands, and then exit the stage. By the time I sit back down, I hear Jules’ name. I cheer and clap, even though they tell us not to. Once the rest of the names are announced, the principal does a quick closing speech, and then mayhem happens as everyone hoots and hollers. 

Looking through the crowd, I see my parents, and then Beau with Tristan and Tatum. I still don’t see Jace. My eyes search every possible inch I can see over the thick crowd of students and their families. Jules grabs me, puts her cell phone into our face, and says, “Say we out!” We both say, “We out!” at the same time at the top of our lungs and then do our best pouty face. She must snap twenty pictures.

Balloons are everywhere, and music is blaring as I continue my search for the one person I want. Beau grabs me first. “Proud of you, girl.”

“Thanks, I know it wasn’t easy for you to get here,” I say, kissing his cheek.

“I wouldn’t miss it. They only had to shut down the set for one day. I fly back out tomorrow.” 

Jules walks up to us with her parents. She looks at Beau and then quickly turns her head. He grabs her and kisses her on the top of her head. “Great job, Jules. Nice speech.”

She looks up into his eyes, and something changes briefly. For the first time, she just says, “Thank you.” Usually, she has some sarcastic comeback for him, but not today. She must be feeling nostalgic.

Tristan and Tatum come up to me, looking bored out of their minds. “Congratulations, Shay,” they say in unison.

Tristan then turns to our parents, who have waited patiently to congratulate me, and says, “Can we go eat now?” 

Mom looks at Tristan. “After we take pictures. My God, Tristan, you just ate before we left.”

“I’m hungry again. I’m a growing boy, Mom,” he replies, but she shrugs him off. 

Both my mom and dad hug me at the same time. “We’re so proud of you, Shay.” 

“Thank you,” I say. Then in a whispered tone, I ask, “Is he here?” They both look at me. “He was here before we got here. He just said he was going to step back to give us a family moment,” Mom answers as Dad’s eyes dart to the side bleachers that were pulled out to accommodate all the families. Following his eyes, I see Jace standing there holding a large bouquet of pink flowers.

Everything falls away.

I run to him. Right before I reach him, he sets the flowers down. Over the years, he knows the drill by now. I jump up and throw myself into his arms, straddling him. “Can you believe it?” He twirls me in a circle. I throw my head back, letting the light breeze dance around me. He laughs as I close my arms tighter around him. “I’m done. I graduated high school.” 

 He slows down, but still holds me up with my Converse tangling. “You’re all done, baby. I’m so proud of you. Wow, all those honors next to your name.” He gives me the sweetest kiss and sets me down. Leaning down, he picks up the flowers. “Congratulations, pretty girl.”

“Thank you,” I say as he hands them to me.

My family walks up. “Shay, let me get a few pictures of you and Jace,” Mom suggests. I turn to set my flowers down, but she stops me. “Wait, honey. Let’s get a couple with those beautiful flowers Jace got you.” Jace puts his arm around my waist. I nuzzle into his side, and she takes a few pictures. “Okay, Tatum. Take the flowers.” Reaching over, Tate takes my flowers and smells them. “Just a few more.” This time, Jace puts his arm over my shoulder and looks down at me with the most adorable smile. “Don’t move, Jace. Stay just like that.” I bite my bottom lip as she snaps away. “A couple more,” she says, moving her angle. I look up at him and stare into his eyes. I can’t believe I am officially done with high school, but I don’t want to think about that right now. Instead, I take in Jace’s beautiful face and the way he is looking at me.

I reach up and kiss him. I can’t help it. At the same time, I hear the camera snapping. “Okay, Melody. That’s enough,” Dad says.

“Wait! We need a family picture.”

Jace looks at Mom, telling her, “I’ll take it, Mrs. Stark.”

She gives him a soft smile. “No, Jace, you need to be in the picture, too.” Everyone gathers close, and I focus on Jace. He swallows hard, looking out of sorts. Mom calls over Cole, of all people. “Cole, honey, will you take a picture of all of us?” Cole looks at everyone, but then stops. He looks straight at Jace with a very mischievous smirk.

“Sure, Mrs. S.”

A bad feeling Cole is up to something washes over me. Jace holds me firmly; I know Cole unsettles him. He snaps one picture, hands the camera back to my mom, and starts to walk off quickly. “Wait!” I yell. “Stay together, everyone. I think I blinked.”

My mom says, “It’s fine, Shay.”

“No, I totally blinked.” I’m adamant. Walking away, Cole looks over his shoulder with a sneer. I turn to Jules who just walked up to us. Rushing out of the group, I ask her, “Jules, take a picture of us, please.” I hurry back before my family gets impatient.

She takes the camera. “Say cheese, everyone.” We all say, “Cheese,” and she takes several pictures. She scrolls through them as Tristan starts complaining again to my parents. “Aw, Shay, these are so cute.”

Mom grabs the camera. “Let me see.” I stand there as she scrolls through the pictures. Jace is holding my hand while he talks to Beau and Dad. When Mom gets to the first picture Cole took, she exclaims, “He didn’t even get us all in the picture. Jace is totally cut out. Thank God you took some more for us, Jules. Cole is a terrible photographer.”

Jules glances at me, and I roll my eyes. Looking back at my boy, he looks so handsome in his jeans and the dress shirt I bought him. He’s wearing his Converse just like me. My boy dressed up.

My mom hands me the camera as Tatum and Tristan bug her. Jules leans into me. “Cole’s such a jerk. He totally cut him out of the picture.”

“I know. Thank you for taking these.”

“You’re welcome. Your boy looks sexy.”

“He always looks sexy,” I say.

“Well, yeah, he does… but you know how I like a well-dressed guy.”

“I know. I saw you melt over Beau.”

Her mouth flies open. “I most certainly did not ‘melt over Beau.’”

“Yes, you did, Jules.”

“You are sadly mistaken. I’m surprised he didn’t bring Mila.”

“Why would he bring her?”

“Aren’t they ‘dating’?” She air quotes the last word.

“Jules, you should know not to believe everything you read.”

 “Whatever,” she says, waving me off. 

My parents interrupt us. “The twins need to eat, or they’re going to die,” Mom says.

“We’ll meet you there,” I tell them. I look over at Jace. He nods his head with the cutest smile. Beau is talking his ear off. I love that my brother likes him.

My family leaves, and Jules takes off with her hers. Jace grabs my hand, kissing it. “I want to take you somewhere first.” 

I give him a curious look. “Okay.”

He leads me to his bike. I grab my helmet as he asks, “Are you good in that dress, baby?”

“Yes.”

“By the way, you look really pretty,” he says, causing me to blush. It never gets old hearing him say that.

I get on the bike after him. He makes his way out of the crowded streets. Wrapping my arms around him, I press my chest fully against him. With each turn, I feel his muscles under his shirt. I feel so safe with him.

Life is a funny journey, isn’t it? Who would have thought I would have found the love of my life at twelve years old?

Stopping at a red light, he takes my hands and puts them on his lap. As he softly caresses the tops, I want to cry. I’m so emotional. I don’t know if it’s the fact that I just graduated or the fact that this boy is still in my life after all this time. I remember when I drove away that first time, thinking if I would ever see him again. I lean forward.” I love you so much, Jace.”

He squeezes my hands. The light turns green, and the direction he turns tells me right where we’re going. He pulls into the center, parks the bike, and gets off. I stay on the bike and look at him. “What are we doing here?”

He swallows hard and tightens his jaw. “This is where we started,” he says quietly. “I just wanted to come to the place I first saw you.” I start to cry. “Don’t cry, baby. This is a good thing. I just want you to know…” he trails off, shaking his head. “I just want to give you your graduation present here. I’m sorry it’s not in a box.”

“That doesn’t matter to me, Jace.”

“I know it doesn’t.” He reaches into his pocket and brings out a petite charm. “I’m glad you have your bracelet on.”

“I don’t take it off, unless I’m showering or at the beach.”

He walks up to the bike and straddles it, pulling me into him. “Give me your wrist, baby.” I hold up my wrist. Opening his hand, he lays the charm in my other hand. “This is an infinity charm.” I look down at the little gold charm. As I lift my eyes to his, a tear falls down my cheek. “I want you to know I’ve loved you ever since that first day. No matter what we go through, good times or pure crises…” I lower my head and smile. Lifting my chin, he continues. “No matter what, I will love you forever, Shay. You are the most important person in my life, and you always will be.”

“More than anything,” I say.

“More than anything,” he repeats as he puts the charm on my bracelet. “Don’t ever forget that. I will always fight for us. I will climb mountains for you, baby.” I grab his strong jaw. “Give me your lips.”

I don’t know about everyone else on graduation night. All I can say is my love story is better than anything anyone could ever dream of. I’m sitting on my boyfriend’s motorcycle as he kisses me slowly and speaks words of forever. That’s dreamy.