We had a blast today it was so much fun. We drop Elena off and head home. I take my things upstairs and then go out to check the mail. I have been checking it every day awaiting my acceptance letters.
So far, I have been accepted to Duke and Yale. I am awaiting Princeton it’s my dream school. I received two letters today one from Brown and the other is from Princeton. Starting to freak out a little, I open the one from Brown right away. I scan the first few lines and it reads, ‘we are sorry to inform you’…and I am so disappointed. I walk back into the house and hand my mom the letters. She pulls me to her and says, “It’s ok baby, it’s just one of them. You already got into two others.”
Nodding my head, “I guess you’re right.” She looks at it again and then puts it back into the envelope and then she notices the one from Princeton.
Knowing this is my dream school, “Do you want to open it now?”
“Not really, can you do it for me Mom?” She tears into the envelope and she reads the first few words and then closes the envelope and walks off uttering, “Well if they think my baby isn’t good enough they are very wrong.”
I stand there frozen, my eyes begging, and mom looks at me, “Baby I am so sorry you got in.” She holds me tight and the tears just fall.
I sputter, “Why don’t they want me?”
My mom pulls me back to look into my eyes and she says, “Baby did you hear what I said?”
I answer hysterically, “Yes, you said I didn’t get in.”
She just grins and says, “No, I said you did get in.”
Looking at her as if she is crazy I yell, “Are you kidding me?”
“No look!” I take the papers from her and look them over and sure enough, it says, ‘We are happy to inform you’. I don’t bother to read the rest. I start to jump up and down in excitement and then it hits me, my mom tricked me.
I scowl at her, “That was so not nice.”
She just laughs, “I know, I’m sorry; let me make it up to you. I will go call Jake and let him know the good news; our baby is going to Princeton. He has to come home early and we will go out to dinner to celebrate, your choice.”
I answer, “That sounds great mom. I want Roadhouse, and I’m going to go call Elena.”
I run up to my room and grab my cell from the desk. Holding down speed dial one, I wait impatiently for her to answer. I don’t let her say anything as I hear it connect and I yell into the phone, “I got into Princeton!”
I hear her squeal on the other end of the line and I can tell she is jumping for joy just as I am. She screeches, “I am so happy for you, we have to celebrate.”
I tell her to hold on a minute and yell down to mom, “Can Elena come with us to dinner to celebrate?”
She calls out, “Yes, tell her to be ready by six.”
“Mom says you can come to dinner with us tonight to celebrate, just be ready by six.”
Excitedly she responds, “Ok I will be ready, see you then.” We hang up the phone and I just sit on the edge of my bed unbelieving that I really got in. I am going away to school, away from Damon to have a fresh start. I am so ready for this.
We pick up Elena and then meet dad at the steak house. As soon as I see dad walking up to the door I jump out and yell, “I got in Daddy. Can you believe it? I got in!”
He squeezes me tight to his chest and whispers, “Yes baby, I am so proud of you.”
I beam up at him and say, “Thank you Daddy.”
Seated at the table I can’t help but be a little sad, that I am leaving this behind very soon. Graduation is a little over a month away. I am going to miss my parents and my best friend. I try to put positive thoughts in my head and enjoy my time with them. I have had all this time to prepare for this and it’s what I wanted. It is just a little hard now that I know it is going to happen. Dinner is great as always. I had the Sirloin steak with a baked potato and a side salad and more rolls than my stomach can handle. We had a great time and I am so thrilled that I got to celebrate with the most important people in my life.
Chapter 7
It seems like we were just at prom, time goes by so fast when everything in your life just kind of flows. It has been so much fun spending time with everyone I love and making memories.
Elena and I had a blast at prom, everyone raved about our dresses and Elena was allowed to wear her FM pumps. Her mom surprised her, by saying you are almost an adult so I think you can make your own choices. We were shocked by that. Elena got into Harvard law and she is super excited. We both are sad it is all coming to an end.
As we get ready for graduation up in my room, we both are wearing white dresses with white pumps. I wear my hair down with long curls. Elena has hers half up and then long curls. We are doing our makeup when I begin to cry.
Sobbing, “I say this is it, it is really here. I am leaving in a few days, to move away to Princeton and you are going away to Harvard.”
Elena beings to cry; she sputters, “It will be ok; we can call and exchange emails. We have been friends forever and nothing will ever change that, no matter how far apart we are or how long we go without speaking, you are in my heart, I love you girl.”
Smiling a little, I say, “I love you too.”
We fix our makeup and head down the stairs, our parents are waiting at the end of the stairs. They begin to take pictures as we make our way down. Smiling I say, “We better get used to it. They are going to take pictures of us all day.”
Elena laughs and comes back with, “You know it girl.” We pose for their pictures. I stand there with a smile plastered to my face and I have a million thoughts running through my head. I am so ready for this, but then I am so scared. This is the first time I will be on my own. I will be all alone in a new city. I’m going to miss my parents and my best friend, this is home.
I wait in the line to walk into the auditorium. I am a ball of nerves. I pray I don’t fall flat on my face. Elena looks back at me and smiles. I grin back and give her thumbs up. We hear the music begin to play and we start to follow the line out. We take our seats and all eyes are on us. We sit there for what seemed like hours while the guest speakers and principal talk. It isn’t until one of our own get up there and talk that we pay attention.
Jessica Michaels is our Valedictorian. She is the head cheerleader and dating the quarterback. I hear her say, “Our lives as we know it are going to change from this day forward, most of us will lose touch with one another, high school will be forgotten. We will move on to bigger and better things. This is the first day of our lives. So feel free to make mistakes and learn from them. No one is perfect; you can strive for perfection, but don’t let it consume you. Cherish your days, for you know not, when they will come to an end. Love like you haven’t loved before and do it with your whole heart, it may get broken a time or two, but eventually it will all be worth it, love will find you when it’s time. Enjoy our youth for we will never be this young again. Congratulations Class of 2013.”
Tears stream down my face as her words wash over me. She is right, this is a new beginning and I have to do it all with an open heart. Everyone applauds her speech. They begin to call our names. I watch as Elena walks with her line to the stage, I wait for them to call Elena Matthews, I yell out to her, “Congrats Elena, I love you!”
She looks to me and shoots me thumbs up. I smile back, God I am going to miss that girl. I stand with my line and walk towards the stage. I am so nervous; as I stand there, that all too familiar cold chill runs down my back. I shiver a little. Someone is watching me; chuckling a little, I think everyone is watching me. I hear my name and start to walk across the stage and I notice I am trembling. I shake the principles hand and grab my diploma. I hear Elena yell, “Woo-hoo, we did it.” Smiling big, I give her a little wave.
As she walks across the stage, I am so proud of whom she has become. It seems like yesterday that she was just a little girl chasing butterflies and now, she is a woman who has the whole world ahead of her. It is funny how you can spend
all this time watching someone grow into a woman and yet continue to view them as a child. Something changed for me today, for the first time ever I see her as a woman.
When everyone has walked, they have us move our tassels and then they announce the class of 2013. Chaos breaks out around us as everyone throws their caps in the air and yells out. As the graduation song plays, we make our way out of the auditorium. Our parents meet us by a palm tree. We take a bunch of photos of us and with our family and more with our friends, some with us crying and others with us goofing off.
I am frozen in place when I see Damon making his way towards me. “Hey Arissa, I just wanted you to know that I am proud of you and I am sorry for how things ended. I hope that you can forgive me.”
Remembering the words from Jessica’s speech I say, “You are forgiven Damon, but I still want nothing to do with you.”
He nods and responds, “I deserve that.”
“Goodbye Damon!”
He utters, “Good bye Arissa and good luck.”
I turn away from him and get back to celebrating.
All the parents put together a party for the graduating class. They rented a multi-function room at the Hilton and there was candy, sodas and a DJ. It has twinkly lights all over the ceiling above the dance floor. Cameras on all the tables, almost like a wedding. Elena and I are taking pictures when we hear, “It’s a Party in the USA,” By Miley Cyrus. I know the song is so old, but when you are celebrating, it is a perfect song to dance to.
We look at each other and I grab her hand and drag her onto the dance floor. We shake our butts and sing into our hands like they are microphones, ‘I got my hands up their playing my song…’ I point to my shoes and sing, ‘stilettos’ we are so crazy. Waving my hands in the air, we continue to dance and sing. When that song ends, ‘Umbrella,’ by Rihanna starts to play. We sing along just like we did with Miley. Tears start to fall as we realize this is the last time we get to party together. We snap a few teary eyed pictures. In need of a drink, “Let’s go get a drink.” She nods in agreement.
While enjoying my Dr Pepper, we chat about college and things we are going to do or must do. We promise again to send pictures and emails all the time. With our fluids replenished, we hit the dance floor. They must have played every good dance song there is. We danced for hours and we refused to stop until they shut everything down around one a.m. Our parents bought us a hotel room so we wouldn’t have to be out driving so late.
“This room is massive,” I call out to Elena as I make my way into the room. It has white linen and a big screen TV.
Elena walks around and then asks, “Where the hell is the bathroom? I really have to pee.”
I laugh at her and say try that door pointing to the one to her left. She yells, “Yep that’s it and holy hell you should see the tub!”
I come running in behind her and screech, “I got first dibs.” She laughs and says, “Can I pee first?” Chuckling I answer, “Yes.”
I enjoy my long hot bath that relaxes my tired legs. I danced so much, but it was worth it. We made so many memories that I will cherish forever. We both crawl into the queen size bed and fall asleep almost immediately.
I dream that night of him like always, he is lying on a bed just like this one. I snuggle into his side and he brushes my hair from my face and then pulls my chin to him planting his soft luscious lips to mine. I open my mouth and begin to tease his tongue with mine. I hear him moan and it excites me. I reach my arm around him and pull him into me. He deepens our kiss and it is me that lets a moan escape.
I feel his hand run down my sensitive side and I wiggle a little to escape the assault. I being to run my finger down his spine and he shudders and I know I have paid him back. I push him to his back and start to roll on top of him when I hear, “Ow, Arissa you’re hurting me.”
Waking up I realize I almost crushed Elena. “I am so sorry, I was dreaming.”
She looks at me and says, “Some dream, you damn near smothered me.” I apologized again and we go back to sleep.
We wake up a little after ten and get dressed. Elena drives me home and she comes in to get her things from yesterday. When we get into the door my parents greet us, “Hey girls, did you have fun?”
We reply, “Yes, Thank you!” Elena beings to climb the stairs when she overhears my parents say, “We have a surprise for you.”
I beam and say, “What is it?” Elena rushes back down the stairs excited to see what it is.
Dad answers, “Well, since you got a full ride to Princeton and you got a car for Christmas, your mother and I have decided to gift you with an apartment.”
I am stunned and then sputter, “Are you serious?”
“Yes honey, we bought it just after you got accepted. It is ready for you to move in.”
Excitedly I hug them both and say, “Thank you!” Elena hugs me as we jump up and down in excitement.
She squeals, “I am so happy for you.” I tell her thank you.
I have had plans to leave right after graduation and rent a place. I am going to get a job and get settled in before college starts. This means that most of it is taken care of for me. I can move in, look for a job and not have to worry so much. I thank my parents about a million times before I go to bed that night.
Chapter 8
“It’s time to go,” dad gestures, pointing towards the front door.
“I know dad, it’s just every time I think that I have everything, I remember something else I want to bring with me.”
He acknowledges, “What you don’t have, you can buy when we get there sweetie.”
Agreeing, “I know, but then I would have two.”
Dad laughs at me, “We need to get on the road soon. It’s going to take us a few days to get there.”
“Ok Dad, just let me do one last check, and then I will be down.”
Standing in the doorway, I can’t believe I am leaving the only place I have ever called home. This room holds so many memories. A little tear escapes my eye as I shut the door on my old life and being to open the door to a new one.
“Ok, I’m ready,” I holler. I make my way down the stairs and see mom there crying. I walk straight into her arms. “I love you Mommy, I am going to miss you.”
Clenching me to her, she sobs, “I am going to miss you too and I love you so much, call me when you get there.”
Wiping the tears from my eyes, “I will, I promise.”
I am not looking forward to the drive, but with all the stuff that I am taking, I can’t fly. Dad rented a small U-Haul truck and we are driving up together. Mom wasn’t able to get her vacation time approved, so mom and dad are going to fly up in a few weeks to check out the place, once I get settled.
The drive is long and my dad is so funny. He is driving and making up his own words to songs and making fun of people in the cars around us. There are these two dogs in the back window of this little car in front of us. Dad being the clown that he is begins to speak for the dogs.
“Hey bud, do you smell that?” as the dog starts to sniff the other dogs butt.
He teases, “Yep I smell it alright, it’s your butt and it reeks!”
I burst into laughter. He goes on for about ten minutes giving a running dialogue of the two dogs. By time, the car pulls off I can’t take it anymore my sides hurt and I can hardly breathe. He is always the life of the party. I love him so much.
Two days later, we arrive and my apartment is enormous, it’s like a house. I don’t think my parents spared any expense. It has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a huge kitchen with all state of the art appliances and a massive living room. It also has a loft that looks down on the living room. This place is so exquisite.
I wrap my arms around my dad to show him my appreciation, “This is too much Dad, but don’t get me wrong I love it.”
He smiles, “Nothing is too much for my little girl. You can get a roommate once you find someone trustworthy, since you will be here a few years.”
I smile, “T
his is going to be amazing.” Feeling as if I am free from everything that has happened over the last year. I am so thrilled, for this fresh start; it’s going to be incredible.
I help dad unload my car from the dolly from behind the U-Haul truck. Therefore, we can get my things inside. I didn’t bring much just some photos, my clothes, personal supplies and my laptop. I pretty much have to buy everything else. This little pile of stuff looks pathetic in this big apartment. As I take in my new surroundings, I can’t help but ponder the fact that this is it. This is all I have brought with me to start my new life. I am slightly home sick from this realization.
Dad comes up next to me and puts his arm around my neck, “Hey kiddo, how about we go get you some furniture.”
I beam, “This place needs it, I have nothing!”
The furniture store isn’t that far away, it has a ton of makeshift rooms all set up and already decorated. I walk excitedly through them pointing out things I like to dad. “I love the wood color of this one.” He nods in agreement.
Walking onto the next, I fall in love with the king sized four-poster bed. It has impenetrable lofty posts and no canopy and I like that. “Dad I want this one, I wonder if they have it in the cherry wood.”
Dad walks off to get the sales clerk and I walk around the setup and peek into the dresser and lie on the bed. It’s absolutely gorgeous and the mattress is so plush.
The sales clerk comes up and says, “I have a picture of one I can show you, but I don’t have any assembled.”
Agreeing, I follow him to see the picture. He types something into the computer and then turns the screen to me. This one shows an armoire in the photo. “Can I get it with the armoire too?”
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