Who We Were (16 page)

Twenty Four

I followed the processional line of Ridgeline students all the way to the football field where our loved ones awaited our graduation. I found my seat and felt the heat prickle up my back. There were a lot of students, and it would take a while to get to my name. I tried to get comfortable in the plastic chair and look for my parents and Nolan in the crowd. No luck. There were too many people.

“Sara Aires.” The first name was called, and I slumped into my seat. This would drag on forever. I faded into my own thoughts, dreaming about the party at Nolan’s that his parents were throwing for our graduation. Nash, Amelie, Nolan and I had all graduated, and they felt it was a great idea to throw a big bash. Hey, who was I to complain? I loved parties. Their parties, maybe not so much, but they promised to keep it low key.

“Liliana Chavez,” the announcer said. I looked up and saw Lily walk up the side steps while people in the crowd cheered for her. She looked good. She looked happy.

She took her diploma and smiled then walked off the stage. I watched her go and felt the familiar sadness in my chest. I fought it off and tried to pay attention to the other students.

“Sadie Peters.” Finally! I stood on wobbly legs and walked the steps. This was it. I was done with high school. Had I done all that I wanted too during these four years? No. If I really thought about it, I could have joined more clubs or played a sport. I could have been a better person. I could have been more social instead of quietly judging everyone from my corner. But it was too late now. I wouldn’t spend my life with regret. I would only spend it looking forward to what lay ahead of me.

I took the diploma and shook the principal’s hand. I heard everyone cheering for me. Nolan’s
voice stood out; I could recognize it anywhere. I looked up at the crowd and waved. I saw him then, waving like a nerd―I loved his enthusiasm. I laughed and walked off the stage and found my seat once again. A few names later we moved our tassels and all at once cheered because we were finally graduates. Girls I didn’t know hugged me and cried. I hugged them back and felt the tears stinging my eyes. We were all so damn proud that we didn’t care who we were holding onto, just as long as we had someone to hold.

I walked out of the crowd with one thought in my mind,
Find Nolan
. As I edged my way through the sobbing and cheering students, I came face to face with Lily. We both stopped and stared at each other. Finally she stepped forward and threw her arms around me. I did the same. We stood like that, crying for what seemed like forever.

“I’m so sorry,” she cried. “For everything I’ve done and said. I was such an idiot.”

“Me too. I’m sorry.”

It was a moment of clarity for the both of us. We both made mistakes, she didn’t act alone, and it took all of this time for us to both see that and to apologize.

I pulled back and wiped my tear-stained face. Lily looked healthy and happy, Oliver free, I assumed―I had seen him at prom with another girl. She was better off without him. She looked like the old Lily, but different somehow.

“Sadie, I was such an idiot.
I should have never let a guy get in between our friendship. I have been so lonely this year. And when you came to the hospital, I took it all out on you, and I shouldn’t have done that. I didn’t mean what I said,” she admitted.

“You don’t have to explain.”

She held up her hand to stop me. “Yes, I do. When I saw you at the dress shop, I was trying to say all of this then, but … I got nervous. I was scared that you didn’t want me in your life. And then Kyleigh told me that you could never have too many friends.” That was Kyleigh, always the optimist. “She was right. One can never have too many people around them.”

I thought back on that day, and I didn’t even give Lily a chance to say anything to me. I was so rude to her and jumped to conclusions. I didn’t even let her talk.

“She is right. She usually is; it’s so annoying,” I joked. We both laughed. That moment hung in the air forever, just two friends reuniting after a really bad year. We never stopped being friends, not fully. We had just gotten off track for a while.

“Listen, there is a party tonight at Nolan’s house. I want you to come,” I told her.

“Will Oliver be there?” she asked hesitantly. I could see the fear in her eyes. I wanted to ask so badly what he did to her, but I would let her do that on her own. She would have to tell me when she was ready.

“No. He isn’t invited.”

“Then I’d love to come.” She beamed.

Epilogue

Summer

We drove to the lake, taking the scenic route. It was the absolute best way to get anywhere in
Laurel Lakes. The view alone made up for the extra traveling time. Lily was driving, I was sitting shotgun, and Kyleigh was in the back. Just three girls ready to celebrate the last summer together. We didn’t talk about the fact that in three short months we would all be going in separate directions. There was no need to discuss that now. This summer was for fun, not thinking about the things that got us down.

“Did we forget the music?” Lily asked, suddenly panicked.

“Nope.” Kyleigh held up her iPod and Lily sighed. God forbid we didn’t have music. I just laughed and held my hand out of the window, letting the rushing air make waves over it.

We pulled into the lot and found our spot right up front. I grabbed the snacks, Lily the chairs, and Kyleigh had the music and magazines.

The boys waited for us patiently. Nash was already in the water splashing Amelie playfully. They had made it through the year, and I was happy they had. They were dysfunctional, but perfect for each other. Kyleigh ran up to Joel, who had fit in fast with our crowd. He was laid back and easy going just like Kyleigh. It was hard not to love them both.

Lily found a spot in the sand and plopped our chairs down. She sat and started rubbing on the sunblock. I helped her get it on her back.

“Thanks,” she said turning around. “Where’s Nolan?” I wondered that myself, but I didn’t say anything. I looked around and didn’t see him. I shrugged and said, “He’ll show. I’m not worried about it.”

“But what if I was in a horrible car crash? You wouldn’t be worried?” He asked sarcastically, sneaking up behind me. I let out a squeal as he grabbed my waist.

“I guess I would have been a little worried,” I teased.

He kissed my nose. “Come for a walk with me?”

I nodded and handed Lily the lotion. “Find me a good skipping stone?” she asked.

“Only the best for you, Lil.”

I grabbed Nolan’s outstretched hand and walked the length of the lake with him. Finally we came to a little grassy patch of land. I looked back at our friends, and they looked so far. Pretty soon they would be far away.

“Hey, none of that,” Nolan warned.
Damn him and his always knowing what I was thinking
. “Only happy thoughts, remember?” He sat on the grass and pulled me down into his arms. “Now, happy thoughts will commence.”

He kissed me with those perfect lips, and I fell into him just like I had the first time we kissed. Always falling, falling, falling in love with Nolan.

He pulled back and rested his head on my shoulder. We watched the water make small white caps. And together we looked at our friends as they played in the water. “They’ll be all right, right?” I asked hesitantly.

He nodded. “Yes. They’ll be fine. We’ll come back every summer and make this a tradition. We’ll do it until we’re old and grey.”

“Always this lake. Always these same people,” I added.

“Always you with me and me with you,” he whispered into my ear. “Promise?”

“Forever promise,” I said, taking his pinky finger in mine.

Nolan and I were not the same people we were when the summer began. We had gone through too much to be just Nolan and Sadie. We had survived so much. Looking back at it, we could have very easily missed each other like two planes passing in the night sky. We could have also broken apart during the scary times. But being in love meant sticking it out and being strong no matter what occurred. Who we were had changed immensely in the course of one year. We would never be the same, and I was glad for it because now we were one.

The End

About the Author

Christy Sloat is a SoCal born girl who resides in New Jersey currently with her husband, two daughters and Sophie her Chihuahua. Christy has embraced the love of reading and writing since her youth and was inspired by her grandmother's loving support. Christy passes that love of reading, writing, and creativity to her daughters, family, and friends. When you do not find Christy within the pages of a book you can find her being mommy, wife, crafter, and dear friend. She loves adventurous journeys with her friends and
can be known to get lost inside a bookstore. Be sure to venture into her Past Lives Series, The Visitor's Series, and watch for many more exciting things to come.

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