Page 93 of We Thought We Were Invincible
She shook her head as if to clear it.
“I leave for boot-camp the day after graduation.”
Her lip quivered. “Okay.” Louder this time. “Okay.” She walked down the steps before turning back to me. “I'm happy for you, Jamie. You may not believe it, but if this is truly what you want, then I want it for you. I just… I don't think I can be with you every day knowing I have to say goodbye in a couple weeks. I think it's best if we prepare for our separate futures now.”
My throat clogged with tears as her words sunk in. “Callie, come on. We still have time.”Not enough.I'd do anything to keep her in my life, but the impossibility of the situation washed over me, choking me with despair.
I looked into her glassy eyes, seeing she'd made up her mind.
“That's just it, Jamie. Nothing lasts forever. There's never enough time. And sometimes you have to let go.” She turned and ran down the rest of the driveway, jumping into Colby's car and speeding off, leaving me standing alone on the porch as the sun sank down around me.
“Ahhhh.” Slamming my fist into the wall by the door, it connected to the concrete in a burst of pain that seared up my arm. I punched the house again, leaving a smear of blood from my knuckles in my wake.
Hand throbbing, I curled it in close to my chest and slumped down onto the swinging bench. Back and forth I swung like a pendulum that never stopped. Predictable. A ride you could never escape. Sticking my foot out, I planted it on the floor to stop the movement as tears ran down my face. No shame. I was getting off this ride.
Now the only question stood - would it mean anything without Callie? If I made something of a life that didn't have her in it…
We could, Cal. We could last forever.
But she was right. We were out of time.
37
Callie
“Oh, honey.” Morgan wrapped her arm around me.
I sat on the end of her bed, unable to join in the excitement of graduation. I was heartbroken because of Jamie and nervous because of my dad. This wasn't how I was supposed to feel days before such a big event.
I cried on Morgan's shoulder for what must have been the hundredth time over the past couple weeks.
“I never thought I'd be one to cry over high school being finished.” I laughed, wiping at my eyes.
Morgan snorted. “You were such a loser before you knew me.”
“Hey.” I pinched her side, eliciting a yelp that turned into a giggle.
“Just trying to make you laugh, sweetheart.” Patting the top of my head, she stood and walked into her closet, still searching for the perfect graduation outfit.
“Morgan, you do know we'll have gowns covering our clothes.” I leveled her with a look. “No one will know what we're wearing.”
“ButI'llknow.” She gave me her best duh stare and spun around so her back was to me. “Mom and dad have bought me so many things for my trip that I didn't want to ask them for something for graduation.”
There was a softness in her voice that was always reserved for her family; a sadness. And then it was gone in the most Morgan-like fashion. She was back to her old self, only a slight dimming of her eyes betraying her loss.
It was familiar because we all had it, a taint to our emotions. Hesitation to our joy. Guilt to our sadness. Regret to our nostalgia.
“Honestly, Cal,” Morgan said, spinning around with a printed black dress in her grasp. “This has been the worst year of my life. But it's also been the best. Being friends with you guys has…” Clearing her throat, she held up the dress. “How about this one?”
“Really? Black?”
She looked at it as if seeing the color for the first time. Shaking her head in surprise, she put it back. “Habit.” I don't know if she meant that to be heard, so I didn't respond.
The next dress she chose was an off the shoulder powder blue semi. I smiled. “Perfect. Very you.” It'd look great with her crystal blue eyes and blond hair.
“Now you.” She grinned, pointed one long, manicured finger my way.
“Nuh uh.” My braid slapped against my shoulder as I swung my head from side to side.
