Then it was. I stood up and walked up onto the stage to collect my diploma. It was such a bittersweet moment; every emotion was hurling through me, from happiness and relief right down to anger and sadness. This was a milestone in my life that my family should have been here to see, and I was angry that had been taken from me.
I imagined them, standing underneath the huge oak tree over by the gardens. Mom would be smiling and clapping like crazy while dad struggled to figure out how to operate the video camera. Jordan would be rolling his eyes and trying to help Dad, while trying to hide the fact that he was proud of his big sister.
I reached the podium where Layna stood, holding my diploma. I could see the tears in her eyes and I knew she was thinking the same thing: my family should be here. I wiped my eyes and smiled at her, unable to hold back the tears.
“They would be so proud of you. Just as Dan and I are,” she whispered in my ear. She kissed my cheek and hugged me as the small crowd clapped. “Now go over to the fire drill area.”
What the hell? I opened my mouth to question. She shook her head and grinned.
“No questions, Wrenn. For once in your life, just do as you’re told.”
I nodded and made my way off stage as the graduates began to gather with their families.
I looked out over the empty gardens, puzzled at what I was supposed to be seeing. I passed the seating area, and the path that headed to the student parking lot, still unsure of what the hell I was looking for. Had they gotten me a new car?
“Hello, you.”
I turned around, my eyes widening in shock. Dalton.
What the hell was he doing here? He stood there watching, amused by my reaction. His mouth turned upwards into a smile as I ran forward and into his arms. God I had missed him. Our lips melted together, his hand cradling the base of my neck, leaving my skin tingling and my mouth wanting more.
“I couldn’t miss seeing you graduate,” he murmured softly, kissing my nose, then my eyes, then my forehead. “I called Layna and we agreed I would stand over here, away from...well, everyone.”
I wrapped my arms around his waist, my head resting against his chest, so glad he was there.
I glanced back over at the crowd around the podium, which was beginning to dissipate. I wouldn’t be going to the dance that night. I wanted to spend every moment with him.
“Come over to the house,” I said, pulling him in that direction.
He raised his eyebrow at me as if to say ‘now?’ I giggled and blushed as I nodded my head furiously.
He shook his head and laughed. “See, you can’t keep away from me, Wrenn. You can barely last a day without me around.” It was true. The few days had been hell without him. If that hadn’t already made my decision up for me, then seeing him here today sure as hell had.
As we walked away, I spotted Paige staring at us from the other end of the gardens. I slowed to a stop, my heart beating furiously.
“Can you give me a moment?” I said to Dalton. I needed to do this. I needed closure.
“Sure,” Dalton replied, taken aback. He glanced around and spotted Paige, his body tensing. “What are you doing?” he asked uncertainly, his hand gripping my arm.
“Something I should have done a long time ago,” I murmured. As he let me go, I walked over to her. She eyed me coolly, her lip turned up as I approached her. If she felt bad or embarrassed about what she had done, she didn’t show it.
“I want to ask you something,” I said, looking her in the eye. All the hell she had put me though and it came down to this: me finally confronting her.
“What?” she sneered in disgust. Her chin rose, like even talking to me was below her. She flicked her blonde hair over her shoulder and waited.
“I want to know what your problem is. Why do you hate me so much? What did I ever do to you?”
Paige laughed and shook her head. “See, you never did get it. You come in here, the little niece of the headmistress, acting like you’re so much better than everyone else with your perfect little life.” She pursed her lips, her eyes narrowing in on me. “I don’t need a reason to hate you, Wrenn. I just do.”
I began to laugh. She stared at me like I was crazy. Maybe I was. For so long I had let her get under my skin, and now I couldn’t give less of a shit about her. The response she had just given me confirmed what I already knew: she was a selfish little brat.
“Do you know why I came here?” I asked her. I didn’t wait for an answer. “Because my entire family died in a car accident. I lost my mother, my father, and my brother, Paige. Do you think I asked for this? Do you think I wanted to invade your little world?” I asked, spreading my hands. “My perfect little life ended a long time ago.”
Her mouth fell open as her blue eyes filled with shame. She actually looked sorry. I almost laughed. The bitch actually had the balls to feel sorry for me.
God, that made me want to slap her.
“My God, Wrenn, I didn’t know—”
“Of course you didn’t, Paige,” I cut in. “You never gave me a chance. All you did was make my life hell, and the lives of others. Do you think any of this matters? In ten years, where will you be? Still judging people on the very little you know about them?”