You Make it Possible-Under Re-Write

11

When she finally saw me her eyes nearly popped out of her head and she squealed and ran out of the line and engulfed me in a huge hug.

"Lilith you look gorgeous!" She exclaims pulling away but holding me in arms distance looking at my dress and make up "and your hair! I've never see it straight!"

"Tell Phoebe she did a great fuckin job" she says giving me a wink.

"Thanks Jess" I say shyly.

"You know you lost your place in line right?" I say nodding my head towards the now growing line.

"It's fine we can stand in it together" she says pulling me towards the end.

I slip on my gown starting to feel a little self conscious from all of the looks I was getting.

"Girl people are checking you out" she says whispering and nodding towards a guy who had just noticed we caught him staring. A blush flushes to his cheeks and he quickly looks away.

"Yeah whatever" I say now zipping up the black gown.

We finally made it to the front of he line and checked in, unfortunately we weren't sitting next to each other for the ceremony, but we had some time to talk before it began.

"So I have some news" I say shyly.

"What?" She says looking at me a little nervous.

"So I met a guy... the day I left"

Her jaw drops and she punches my shoulder.

"Ow what was that for!" I say rubbing my arm.

"You met him the day you left and didn't tell me!" She exclaims.

"It's been going fast" I say shrugging. "I felt like I haven't had a chance to really absorb what we are, I mean he hasn't even asked me to be his girlfriend we've only been on a few dates" I say.

"Will he be here today?" She says wiggling her eyebrows.

"No just at the party tomorrow, you're still coming right? You can just stay at my place" I add.

"Yes I'm coming and bet I'm down for a sleepover, you can dish the dirty details" she says dropping her left eye in a wink.

I roll my eyes and pull out my phone to check the time, and I see a text came in from Kai.

Kai: good luck today gorgeous. I wish I could be there for the ceremony, but I can't wait to see you tomorrow ;)

I blush at the text. Tomorrow, he'll be there tomorrow around my entire family, and Jess.

I got a queasy feeling in my stomach. It felt like a mix of fear and excitement; but they both revolved around Kai.
~
It was 5 minutes till the ceremony started. Families already began to file into the stadium as the rest of us filed in a line in alphabetical order.

It was when I heard Pomp and Circumstance start that the nerves really kicked in.

A lot more of my family drove in this morning to make the ceremony, so I had more eyes than I planned for watching me as I walked with the line to our seats.

I looked around the bleachers looking for my family. Sure enough there they all were taking up almost a whole row, whistling and screaming my name. Phoebe had a sign that read "Go Lilith!" In bright red letters. I heard an airhorn go off and I am 95% sure it was my Tio Juan, he did the same thing at my high school graduation.

Once we all take our seats the song ends and everyone in the stands take their seats.

They do the opening speeches which felt like forever, then the song starts up again as they start calling names and degrees. Jess went up a little before I did, and when they called her name I could hear screams in the crowd. I look over to the yelling and see a large crowd of people much like mine. I cheer for her and clap along not caring about the weird stares I get from the people next to me.

My row is next and the queasiness comes back full throttle.

My line walks towards the stage and the closer I get the more nervous I get.

"Lilith Xiomara Salinas, Bachelor in Fine Arts" from the moment they called my name time slowed down. A wide smile takes over my face and I walk towards the dean who is holding out his hand for me to shake and the other hand holding my rolled up diploma. I could barley hear the loud roaring of my family in the stands because I was so excited.

"Congratulations" he says shaking my hand and handing me my diploma.

I say thank you and quickly make my way to the other exit of the stage. I'm pulled aside for a quick photo with my diploma and then followed my row back to our seats.

I could still hear my family and I looked in their direction with a wide smile and shake my diploma in the air for them to see.

I sat back down and pulled out my phone to send a quick text to Jess

Me: 4 years of stress and anxiety for a rolled up piece of paper and a handshake

Jess: I WAS THINKING THE SAME SHIT

I laugh at her text and slide my phone back in my bra, hopefully not too many people noticed that.

After another 45 minutes the ceremony finally ended. We all lined up to walk out of the stadium to meet our families outside and I caught up with Jess in the bunch.

We walked together looking around for each of our families and luckily they were fairly close to each other.

When I catch sight of my mother with proud tears in her eyes I leave Jess' side quickly walking into my mothers tight embrace. My dad jumps in on the hug and I can hear them both crying.

"If y'all make her cry and ruin her make up I'll end you" Phoebe says poking at my side.

I laugh and step away from my parents and pull Phoebe and my Abuelita into a tight hug.

I hug all my Cousins and Tios and Tias that came. We take lots of photos, and by the time we're done my face feels sore.

I catch up with Jess again to take a picture with her and introduce her to my parents and she introduces me to hers.

Before we part she tells me she's going to eat with her family and then she'll head to my place after.

My family decides the same and all walk to our vehicles then decide on a restaurant before we head out.