1 LEXIE

1 LEXIE

The moment the graduation cap flies from my hands and goes into the sky, I feel relief fill my icy veins.

This is it.

This is the moment that I have been waiting for.

This is fucking it.

I have been waiting for this moment my entire fucking life.

Graduating high school has been the one thing that I have looked forward to.

It's the one thing that has got me through all of the bullshit my life has consisted of.

I have worked for this moment my entire fucking life.

I will finally, finally be free.

“Lexie! Can you believe we did it?” Ana Valencio asks me, smiling widely. Her teeth are crooked, despite having had braces for the entirety of her high school career.

And it's not the braces' fault.

It's hers.

She has a bad habit of not taking the rubber bands out when she knows she isn't supposed to.

She said they interfered with her sex life with her longtime boyfriend, Jackson Louis.

Or, ex-boyfriend now, I believe.

At least, that's what the rumor mill has said.

And the fact that he hasn't looked back at her from his seat a few rows up kind of supports that.

“Yeah, ana. I am so fucking ready to get out of this stupid town.”

She frowns. “I am not! I love Silverkeep! We have so many memories here.” she says, smiling widely once more.

I shrug. “Some people have better memories here than others, I guess. Anyways, you're going to a school in California, right?” 

She nods frantically. “Yes, I am! I am so excited. I'm planning on studying bioengineering. I cannot wait to be on the beach and learn how to surf! What about you? I never found out where you were going!” 

I bite my bottom lip before smiling politely at Ashley, who passes me my graduation cap. “Thanks, Ash.”

She smiles meekly before scampering away, no doubt going to run back to Kathy. 

“Anyways, yeah i'm going to a school in washington. Im thinking of becoming an english major.”

“Washington? Wow. you really do want to get away, girl!” 

She laughs loudly, making several people glance our way. When they see me, practically all of them glare at me.

Thank fucking god that im out of here.

“We should totally hang out during the summer before we leave!” she suggests, oblivious to the stares.

Or maybe she's just used to them.

Ever since the rumor mill came out with rumors about her now maybe ex-boyfriend Jackson hooking up with his best friend's girlfriend, she's gotten more judgemental stares than I have.

I did not think that would ever be possible.

Remembering she had said something about hanging out during summer, I shake my head slightly and throw another polite smile her way. “I would love to, but I'm actually going to be leaving for Washington tonight.” 

Her face falls, and her smile leaves her face right away.

“Aww, no way! You are like the only person who hasn't made me feel like I'm on some kind of display. I know everyone knows about what happened with Jackson, but i hate how everyone is treating me like im the one who fucked shit up, you know? Anyways, i hope you have a safe flight!”

She wraps her arms around me in a tight hug, and suddenly I'm mad at myself for talking about her teeth.

“Thanks, ana. I'm actually driving out there. No one else knows though.”

She pulls away and smiles. “Well, I hope you get there safely all the same. What made you want to leave so soon?”

“The drama. The stares. You know what happened with Daniel a few months ago. Everyone hates me in this town. Besides, I have enough money saved from work. I'm renting out a room from this girl I met when I toured the school. She got me a job at the bookstore her family owns. It's great hours and decent pay. I want to get as much money before school starts.”

“Are you going to be at the dorms when school starts? Besides, didnt you get a scholarship? You have the highest grade point average in the entire school. I'm surprised you weren't valedictorian!” 

I smile meekly. “Yeah, Principal Kennedy didn't think the students would like me as valedictorian. I agreed. And yeah, I did get an amazing scholarship. But I always like to have a backup plan. You never know what can happen.”

I don't tell her how principal Kennedy had called me into the office just two weeks ago and yelled at me for what I had done to daniel. Like I was a criminal. Like I was a monster.

I don't mention how I cried in the girls locker room for twenty minutes straight afterwards.