Prom Ever After
Page 25
Prom was a blast. Michael was the perfect date, and when he brought me home from an after-party at two the next morning, I was so glad that I hadn’t skipped the whole prom experience as I had originally planned.
It’s funny how life works. Just a few short weeks before, I couldn’t wait to get out of high school and start my life. Now that I’d become friends with some really awesome people, I wished we had more time to spend together.
* * *
Finals week came right after prom, and graduation was the following week after that. I was named valedictorian of the graduating class, which was the ultimate consolation prize for me.
My speech as valedictorian was about resilience and inner toughness. The last paragraph was:
“As we stand here today on the cusp of adulthood, and at the threshold of our respective dates with destiny, my wish is that we all take with us the simple truth that we are all more alike than we are unalike. And whatever differences we may have are not so big that we can’t see one another through the eyes of compassion, and not call one another any name but ‘friend.’ So friends, I give you all my heartfelt congratulations and wish you well as we leave Brookfield High, and venture out into this thing called life...and I challenge you all to go out and WIN!”
I ended the speech by reciting the poem “If—” by Rudyard Kipling. By the time I finished, all of my “friends” were on their feet, whooping it up as though we were at a pep rally instead of a graduation ceremony.
I took my seat on the dais along with the other distinguished guests of honor and looked out at my classmates. I hadn’t grown up with any of these kids, but in that moment, I felt as if we all had known each other all of our lives.
AUBREY GARRETT
I couldn’t help but be proud of Deanna in that moment. Her speech was inspiring and had me looking forward to what lay ahead of me, which was college.
I’m not an academic prodigy like Deanna, I admit that wholeheartedly, but contrary to popular belief, my mother didn’t raise a dummy. Historically, my grades fluctuated between a B and C average, yet they were still good enough to get me into Rutgers University in New Jersey. Since fashion was in my blood, I planned to follow in Mom’s footsteps and become the head buyer for a major department store such as Saks or Macy’s.
I didn’t get in Rutgers on a full scholarship or anything grand like that, but my parents were just so happy that I’d gotten accepted at a decent school that they didn’t mind paying for my college education out of their own pockets. At least that’s what they said at the time. Of course as the new and improved Aubrey Garrett, I’ll get a job or two to help out with the cost.
I’d heard through the grapevine that Deanna had been accepted to Princeton, which is also in New Jersey, and just 20 miles from the campus I’ll be attending. Who knows, maybe one of these days we’ll run into each other at some bookstore or coffee shop off campus, and laugh about the time we ran against each other for prom queen. I’d like that. And I’d like it even more if we kept in touch and finally became the great friends I know we are capable of being.
* * *
When it comes to finishing high school, you get to take a few things with you, such as your yearbook, class ring, commencement cap and gown, and things like that, but most important of all are your memories.
Senior year will always have a special place in my heart, because I ended up growing in leaps and bounds at a point where I thought I already knew everything. The life lessons came fast and furious, but at the end of it all, I had a better understanding of what truly matters in life, and what never did.
* * * * *
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ISBN-13: 9781460331231
PROM EVER AFTER
Copyright © 2014 by Harlequin Books S.A.
The publisher acknowledges the copyright holders of the individual works as follows:
HAUTE DATE
Copyright © 2014 by Dona Sarkar
SAVE THE LAST DANCE
Copyright © 2014 by Barbara Caridad Pollak
PROM AND CIRCUMSTANCE
Copyright © 2014 by Deidre Berry
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