Prom night didn't last forever. The last couple of weeks at school flew by after that night. Ashley had an extra ticket for graduation and asked Katie to come. Katie sat in the bleachers beside Ashley's family and watched as her friends crossed the stage to receive their diplomas.
After the ceremony ended, Katie found her friends and took pictures with them in their caps and gowns. Every single person who saw her told Katie that she should've been standing on that stage along with everyone else. Katie just smiled and told everyone that she was just happy she could be there to see and support them all.
After Katie's graduation, her aunt decided to throw her a graduation party. Dana, Ashley, Mason, Jesse, Eddie, and Grace all made the trip to Katie's aunt's house for the party. Martina was now home from school and was more than happy to help plan the party with Katherine.
Lindley and Sierra got introduced to all of Katie's old friends. Lindley and Sierra had already spent quite a bit of time with Ashley so they were hitting it off as usual, and Ashley was taking the job of introducing the two to everyone. Mason and Eddie had found the snacks and spent a significant amount of time testing how far they could throw cheese balls into one another's mouth. Dana had found her way to Katie's Aunt Katherine and was getting along with her swimmingly. Katie wanted to socialize more with her friends, but she had to spend her time mingling with all of the guests at the party, not just the ones she was closest to.
Katie's mother was at the party and pulled Katie aside, asking if she could speak to her. Martina was standing by close enough in case Katie needed any support. "I'm sorry." Katie's eyes widened at her mother's words.
"What?" Katie didn't know if she heard her mother correctly or if she was just dreaming.
"I talked to your Aunt Kat. About everything," Pam began to explain. "I talked to her about so much that I know I annoyed the both of us." Pam paused, and took a deep breath in. "I was surprised Martina had as much to say as she did when I asked about her feelings on..." Pam trailed off.
"On me being gay?" Katie's words caught Pam off guard.
"Both of them mentioned your father, and what he would have said to you. What he would have done." Pam stood straight, composing herself. "Martina and your Aunt Katherine both said that he would have been happy you fell in love. He wouldn't have cared who it was with."
Katie waited for her mom to continue, but Pam didn't speak up. "Is that it?" Katie's words were harsh. "Or was there more?"
"Now that school is over, I just wanted to ask you to come back home. I was wrong for everything I said and did." Pam genuinely did regret sending her daughter away. Pam didn't fully support the idea of either one of her daughters being gay, but she had learned to accept it.
"Okay." Katie crossed her arms over her chest. "But you have to know that I'm not moving in for you. I'm moving back because Marti is back home, Dana and Eddie are across the street, and all of my friends are just down the road. I'm moving in so I can have the best summer possible before I leave for school in the fall. I'm not moving back in because I forgive you." Katie left without saying another word.
Katie took Pam aback, but she didn't have the right to be hurt. Katie started packing the day after her party. She was going to miss her Aunt Katherine, but she was determined to have the best summer possible. And to do that, she had to be back in Ridgeway.
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Katie and Dana's group of friends spent a week at the beach in August. They all wanted one last hurrah together before all going away for college. The group was on the beach. Mason and Ashley were sitting under an umbrella, Zach and Mason sleeping as Ashley read a book next to them. Jesse and Eddie were having a sandcastle-building contest with Marissa and Grace as the judges. Lindley and Sierra were in the water, waving for Dana and Katie to join them.
Katie was standing at the edge of the water shaking her head. "No. Nonono."
"Come on, Katie. Are you really that afraid of water?" Dana teased her.
"Yes. It is cold and I am not about to be taken out by a wave. No way." Katie crossed her arms, standing firmly in place.
"Well," Dana looked Katie up and down quickly. "I hope you'll forgive me for this later." Dana ran up to Katie and picked her up, swinging her over her shoulder. Katie yelped for Dana to put her down, but Dana wouldn't listen. Dana ran into the ocean and dropped Katie once they were safely past the wave-crashing zone.
Katie came up out of the water gasping for air. "Oh you're gonna pay for that." She glared at Dana. Dana tried swimming away, but Katie jumped on top of her and dunked her head under the water.
When Dana resurfaced, she grabbed Katie by the legs and pulled her closer. Katie tried to swim away put gave in. Dana turned Katie to face her. Dana wrapped her arms around Katie's waist, pulling her close. Katie wrapped her legs around Dana's waist, and her arms around Dana's neck.
"You're lucky you're cute." Dana pretended to be irritated.
"It's my best quality." Katie grinned.
Dana grinned back at Katie. The both leaned in, pressing their lips together. They didn't care that there was a faint taste of salt between them.
Later that night, after the sun had set, and everyone had showered, changed, and applied a lot of aloe, the group was in their condo that they rented for the week, playing games and getting ready to watch a movie.
Mason and Ashley were curled up on one of the armchairs, while Grace and Eddie snuggled together on the couch on the opposite end of Lindley and Sierra. Jesse, Marissa, and Zach were all lying on the ground, each with their own pillows and blanket. Dana was sitting on one of the other armchairs, curled up in a blanket. Katie walked into the group, handing bowls of popcorn to everyone.
Katie made her way to Dana, who lifted the blanket so Katie could sit down. Katie sat on Dana's lap and fixed the blanket. She rested the bowl of popcorn on her lap. Katie rested her head on Dana's shoulder and curled up to the girl. Everyone in that room couldn't have been happier than they were in that moment.
☼ ☼ ☼
Katie and Dana never officially got back together. They spent their entire summer together, being happy, but they agreed that it was just for the summer. Both the girls agreed that once they left for school, they would be single and not have to worry about a long distance relationship.
The two girls wanted to make the most of the summer. So they did. They rarely spent time apart from one another. They didn't try to hide their love for one another anymore. Dana and Katie were in love, and they didn't care who knew. They embraced every moment that the summer gave them. Even when Dana would have to work, she would get a free ticket to the concert and Katie would go.
Dana and Katie couldn't have imagined a more perfect summer together. They were together, and they were happy. Both of them thought about the possibility of getting back together permanently, but pushed the thought away as soon as it happened. They knew that come the fall, it was better for both of them to be single.
That didn't make letting go any easier. Dana and Katie spent their last night together on the hood of Dana's car at their spot on the side of the mountain. They stayed up and talked for hours and stared at the stars, and just enjoyed the complete bliss they felt with one another.
Dana and Katie made their last night together the most beautiful they could. When the sun rose, the girls woke up beside one another in a bittersweet moment. Their summer, along with the hours they spent together, was officially ending. Katie was the first one to leave. Martina and Katie packed their car full of Katie's things.
Katie was getting ready to step into her sister's car when Dana called after her. The girls met in the middle of the street, where they had shared their first kiss almost a year before. They stood there in silence, memorizing every detail of each other's face.
Dana lifted her hand, holding a pair of sweatpants. The sweatpants were Dana's, but they were Katie's favorite pair. Katie had worn them more than Dana in the past year. She always tried to steal the sweatpants from Dana, but Dana always ended up stealing them back from Katie.
"You forgot your pants."
Katie felt a grin tug at her lips. She lifted her hand to Dana's cheek, pulling her into a gentle kiss. Katie pulled away reluctantly. She smiled at Dana one more time. "You make me happy, Dana Thomas."
"And you make me crazy, Katie Torres."
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Chapter song: "Clarity" (Cover) by Jessica Sanchez
The next chapter has a five year jump. Prepare yourselves!
Until next time,
Adrienne Civetti (: