Page 74 of The Afterthought

Wrenly: They left right after I did. Not sure when they will be back.

Wrenly: Where are you sitting? I'm here.

Me: Third row. I saved you a seat. Hurry up. It's about to start.

I slam my phone down onto my lap. Anger and hurt battle one another inside me. He promised that he'd be here for this. All he had to do was call or text to tell me that he couldn't make it. I don't understand. After everything we've been through, I thought it was going to be different this time. I thought I meant more to him than anything else. He is still putting the Crimson Rose first.

I'm right back in the same headspace I was in seven years ago. I was ready to take on the world with him, but he let me down. Here we are, my sister getting ready to graduate and another broken promise. Will I always come second? I can't do this feeling. This town. Him. I can't do it.

I shake the feelings away for now and focus on making sure Chloe has the best possible day. Today is about her, I remind myself. She's leaving tomorrow. Maybe I should, too. I promised her I wouldn't leave forever, but I don't need to be if she's not here. I’ll just come back when she does. I'm not going to let him treat me like I’m not good enough for a simple phone call.

Wrenly finally fills the seat next to me a few minutes after the ceremony starts. She's wearing the most obnoxious pink dress. I swear she and Chloe are so alike sometimes.

My attention goes back to the group of people sitting in front of the stage. Chloe turns to look at me, giving me a quick smile and wave before turning her attention back to the principal. He is currently giving a speech about reaching greatness.

The ceremony is pretty quick. Once we make it through the last of the speeches, names start being called. One by one, each of them walks across the stage to get their diplomas. I pull my phone out to start recording when they get close to the "M's.”

"Chloe Marshall." I hear called out, and I jump up and yell for her. "GO CHLOE!!" I watch as she makes her way across the stage to shake the hand of the principal and then turn to pose for a picture. When she gets back to her seat, her eyes find me again. She holds up the diploma, and I can't help the way pride fills me. I had no clue that a few months ago, I'd be back here, in this town, with a sister graduating high school. I’m so thankful we have each other now.

The whole ceremony finishes after maybe twenty minutes, and I find myself bouncing my foot to try and rid myself of the anxiety building up in me. I pull the bloodstone heart from my pocket and fiddle with it for a few moments before slipping it back into my pocket. How could I ever let myself trust him again? I should have seen this coming from a mile away.

I take a few pictures with Chloe, smiling and celebrating her for a bit before it all becomes too much. I've got to get out of here.

"Where's Greyson?" Wrenly finally asks.

"That's the question of the day, isn't it?" I mutter under my breath.

My sister is smiling around her friends and holding hands with Matt. She looks so happy, and I don't want to bring her down with my issues. I need to make a silent exit. I turn to face Wrenly.

"I have to go meet up with him, actually," I lie.

She eyes me carefully before deciding that I'm telling the truth. "Okay. You're leaving now?"

"Yeah. I'm going to tell Chloe goodbye."

"I'll see you tomorrow. We can go get lunch since she's leaving town. I'm sure you'll need a drink or something."

"Yeah, that sounds good." I hate having to lie to my best friend, but she would try to stop me.

I interrupt Chloe and her friends, saying hi to each one before leaning in and asking her if I can talk to her for a moment in private. She hugs someone that I've never seen, and we step away from the crowd.

"Chloe, I'm so proud of you. You're such an amazing young woman."

A grin crosses her face. "You could have said this in front of everyone." She giggles but composes herself. "Thank you. That really means a lot. It's been a good day despite everything."

"I’m not sure if I'm supposed to say this, but I love you so much. I’m so lucky to call you my sister." I pull her in for another hug when I see the tears begin to well up in her eyes.

"I love you too, Ava. Thank you for always showing up for me, even if it's only been a few months. It means more than you know," she says as I pull back and give her a nod.

"I have to go, and I might not be back before you two leave tomorrow." She looks over me with concern. I try my best to keep it together. She doesn't need her day ruined with my shit.

"Is everything okay?" She raises a brow.

"Everything's fine. There is just something I need to do."

"Okay." She leans in for a hug and hesitates a moment too long. She knows something else is going on, and it breaks my heart. I can't tell her what's going through my mind right now.

"If I don't see you before you leave, call me when you get to your first location tomorrow."

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