As Time Proceeds (boyxboy) Complete

Chapter 1 One Year Later: Graduation Night

    The air was a bit warm for late May as I sat clothed in the tacky blue graduation outfit. I felt uncomfortable and all around ready to go home. It felt like this moment was one of the longest in my life, and the day crept by accompanied by speeches that were far too long made by people I couldn’t stand.

    “Congratulations, graduating class of two thousand ten!” The valedictorian, a blonde girl I never spoke to, began. “We did it!” As if on cue, we all stood up, tossing our caps into the air as cheers erupted from the graduates and the people seated in the bleachers around us.

    Today should have been an exciting day, but all I wanted to do was cry.

    I glanced around and faked smiles as the few friends I had cheered within the sea of graduates. The caps cascaded around us like rain. I managed a cry out loud; I shouted because I managed to make it through an entire year without him.

    The worst year of my life.

     I should have forgotten about him by now. I mean, a year passed without a single phone call. He didn’t even write me.

    Family members and friends started to saturate the football field. I let out a sigh as I pulled my hat from my head. Beginning to walk away, I saw my mother and older sister running toward me. Smiles made their faces seem almost golden in the heavily lit field.

    “You did it!” My mother squealed while throwing her arms around me and almost taking me to the ground. Though I loved this woman with all my heart, sometimes she could be completely oblivious to anyone around her. Specifically, she was completely unaware how hurt I was. She didn’t know how alone I felt.

    My older sister stood behind my mother and gave me a small smile. She was statuesque, had long flowing blonde hair that shone a few shades lighter than my own. My sister was utterly beautiful.

    Stepping forward, she wrapped her long delicate fingers over my own and stood with me silently. She didn’t have to say anything because unlike my mother, Laura knew exactly how I felt.

    I faked another smile before lifting my eyes to the crowd of people all around us. I couldn’t fight the urge to look around, so I gave in and allowed my eyes to desperately search for him. Deep down, I knew that it was futile. Kendall was out living his live. Why in the world would he be here?

    I couldn’t help but hold my breath and send a silent prayer to a deity that I didn’t believe in. “Please,” I begged mentally. “Just let him be here.”

    I spent this whole year forcing myself to block him out of my mind, but he always crept into my dreams. Though, even if I could have blocked him from my dreams, I wouldn’t have. At least in my dreams he never left me.

    As I stood thinking about him, I slowly began to realize that he wasn’t here. I felt so empty. Alone.

    Closing my eyes, I reached for the bell I wore around my neck under my gown. Feeling the cold metal against my fingers, I gave up on looking for him. With one last rub, I opened my eyes and felt tears pool in my eyes. My gut clinched and a chill shot up my spine.

    When I turned back to my family, my sister had a concerned look plastered on her face. Giving my hand a squeezed, she smiled once more. “Forget about him,” she whispered so my mother wouldn’t here. Then again, she could have shouted it because my mother had wondered off to congratulate every person she saw. “Let me take you out and have some fun. You could really use it.” She hugged me and kissed me lightly on the cheek.

    I smiled back at her the best I could. “I have a headache, Lauren,” I lied.

    “You sure?” She asked. “This is your last night before you have to enter the real world, and trust me when I say that the real world is a real bitch.”

    We laughed together lightly as hugged my sister. “It’s ok. I’m just tired and want to go home.”

    Nodding silently, she hooked her arm through mine and led me to find our mother.

    Tears threatened to fall once more as we finally began home, but I blinked them away and blew out a long breath. I welcomed the real world. Anything would be better than dwelling in the past, dwelling on him.