High School Graduation Night

Bryce
“We’re finally free,” I say, laying back on the bed of my truck. Jen is next to me, lying on the sleeping bags I laid out for us.

She laughs. “Not me. In a few months I’ll be back to studying. Doing homework. It’ll be like high school but more work. And I’ll be working two jobs, maybe three.”

I turn on my side, facing her. “Let me help you. I don’t have a lot of money saved but I have a little and I’ll make more this summer.”

“Bryce, no.” She turns to face me and my eyes get caught on her beautiful face, her delicate features highlighted by the bright moon just above us. “You’re not giving me money.”

“I don’t want you working so much. College is tough, and then you’re going to work two jobs? It’s too much.”

“I can handle it. I promise.” She runs her hand along the side of my face. “I won’t disappoint you.”

“You’d never disappoint me.” I take her hand from my cheek and kiss her palm. “I’m so damn proud of you.”

“I’m only going to college because of you. Because you helped me. Supported me. Believed in me.”

“I’ll always do those things. You’re my best friend. You always will be.”

She looks down. “Please say we won’t grow apart when I start college.”

“Why would we grow apart?”

“Because we won’t see each other every day. You’ll be busy with work and I’ll be busy with school and—”

“Doesn’t matter.” I slip my hand under her chin and lift it slightly. “Jen, look at me.”

Her eyes go to mine. “Yeah?”

“I don’t care how busy we are or what’s going on in our lives. I’ll always be here for you. I’ll always care about you. And I’ll find a way to see you, no matter what. You’re more important to me than anything else.”

A tear slips down her cheek. “I’m going to miss you.”

I wipe the tear away with my thumb. “I’m right here. Always. And when you start college in the fall, I’m just a phone call away. Anytime you need me, day or night, just call and I’ll be there.”

She nods, another tear escaping.

I hate seeing her cry, but I understand why she’s doing it. She’s sad that high school is ending. I’m sad too. It’s been an emotional day for everyone. Saying goodbye to friends. Goodbye to your old life.

Tomorrow is a new beginning. A new life. The start of adulthood. I’ll be working construction full-time for my dad and Jen will be working at a restaurant, saving money for college. We’ll both still be in Chicago, but with our different work schedules, I won’t see her as much as I did when we were in school together.

Jen and I have seen each other every day since the day we met back in first grade, so this is going to be a huge change. A change neither of us wants. But that’s life. Change happens whether you like it or not.

“I’m not ready for this,” she says, wiping her eyes. “I’ve been excited about graduation for months, but now it’s here and I’m not ready for it to be done.”

“I’m not either but it’s time.” I brush the back of my hand over her cheek. “You’re gonna do great, Jen. You’re gonna kick ass at college, graduate, get a great job.”

“And what about you?” she asks softly. “Is construction what you really want to do? Will you be happy?”

“I’m working for my dad, helping out the family business, so yeah.”

Honestly, I’m not sure if I’ll be happy or not. I worked construction all through high school so I know what I’m doing and it’s okay work, but doing it full-time? I don’t know if I’ll like it. My older brothers seem to, so maybe I will too. It’s not like I have any other options. I’m not smart like Jen. I’ve always struggled in school, so construction is really the only thing I can do.

“I just want you to be happy.” She softly smiles and my eyes go to her lips. The lips I’ve wanted to kiss for years now. Since junior high, when I stopped seeing Jen as just my friend and started seeing her as a girl. A girl I’d want to kiss.

I’m not sure when Jen saw me as more than just a friend but I know she does. I feel the attraction between us and I have for years. But we’ve never acted on our feelings, not willing to put our friendship at risk. So for the past four years, I’ve had to watch her date other guys, wishing it were me.

“I’m happy right now,” I tell her. “With you. Looking up at the stars.”

She gazes up at the dark night sky while I gaze at the girl who owns my heart. The girl I would do anything for. The girl I love.

How can I ever let her go? I know it’s at least four years away before she even considers leaving Chicago, but if and when she does, what’ll I do? How will I go on without her?

“They’re beautiful,” she says, taking her eyes off the stars and putting them back on me. “Don’t you think?”

“I think you’re beautiful,” I say, unable to hold back my thoughts.

“Bryce,” she says, a shy smile creeping up her cheeks.

“You are. You’ve always been beautiful to me.” I don’t know why I’m telling her this. Why I’m being so honest. Maybe because I feel like this is the end for us. A goodbye to our childhood. From here on out, our friendship will never be the same. We tell each other it will, but we both know it won’t. She’ll meet someone at college. A guy who takes up all her time. Maybe even a guy she’ll fall in love with. And I’ll be left behind. Our friendship will eventually fall apart and the girl I love will be gone forever.

She looks into my eyes as my hand rests on the side of her face. And then, for a reason I can’t explain, I slowly lean toward her and press my lips to hers. They’re soft and warm, just like I imagined, but what I’m feeling inside is not. I thought it might feel strange to kiss her. Or awkward. In fact, I was hoping it would so I could prove to myself once and for all that Jen and I should be more nothing than friends. But instead, it feels right. Like she’s the girl I’m meant to kiss for the rest of my life.

It confirms what I’ve known all along. That Jen and I belong together.