Page 43 of Make Me Yours

FOURTEEN

STELLA

Graduation. The culmination of our teenage years, yet simultaneously, the beginning of the end.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

Servite Academy has outdone itself. Although, I’d expect no less. The auditorium is covered in red and black silk drapes, hung delicately across the high ceiling in long ribbons. Glimmering crystal chandeliers adorn the long metal beams, while twinkling lights fall like rain across the stage. Hung above the stage, decorated with large arrangements of white and red roses, is a massive banner, “CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATING CLASS OF 2020”.

Parents, guardians, family members, and faculty fill the theater style seating on the right and left sides, while the center is reserved strictly for the senior class. All one-hundred and two of us.

After almost two hours of tedious speeches full of false well wishes and faithless hopes of a brighter future, I walk toward the large stage of the auditorium, my fingernails digging into my sweaty palms, behind a classmate whose name I can remember. Sebastian walks beside me to my left, watching me like a zombie walking into nothingness as I accept the fact that after tonight, after this much awaited rite of passage, my life will remain exactly as it has for the last four years.

Everyone else will be on the first private jet off to see the world, sit at the head of the family business, or marry into high society. All the while I’ll be locked away in my gilded cage, forced to live a life I never wanted, all to appease him. Like I said, nothing will change.

Sebastian smiles tenderly at me, the same false hopes of a Stephan free future gleaming in his eyes. At least he has something to look forward to. A girlfriend he loves who not only loves him back but is having his child. A family like the one I know he’s secretly always wanted. Raised without the love of a mother, I know Sebastian feels he’s not capable of truly being happy, but I know he deserves it. I know he’s capable. For years he’s tried to protect me from my uncle, but it’s never worked. Instead, it made it worse because Stephan’s goal was to ensure I had no one.

Maybe he’ll be lucky and escape his father’s clutches. After all, it seems like my dear uncle has given up on his prodigal son and moved on to his unwanted ward.

My eyes tell a different story. They hold the truth of my fate. My hopeless dreams are crushed now that I know my future is worse than my past and present. Fate has been cruel, tricking me into believing I had any say in what I wanted my life to be, who I wanted to become, who I wanted to love.

Sebastian's smile quickly shifts once he realizes I’m not meeting him with the same excitement. He’s about to speak when we’re interrupted by our names called out by the Headmistress.

“Sebastian Silver, Stella Silver.”

Cheers erupt from the crowd, but I know they’re meant for him. Nobody out there cares about me walking across the stage and receiving my diploma. I look up into the seats and find him glaring down at me, a bitter scowl painted over his face.

Nothing but disdain as he watches me achieve something for the first time on my own. Beside him, Eliza rolls her eyes, upset that he’s given me so much attention in the past few months.

“Congratulations class of 2020!”

Loud cheers erupt from all around us as red and black confetti shoot up in the air.

The end of an era, the start of something new.

I close my eyes, tuning out the sounds of my classmates and friends, because for me, nothing will change.

???

“We did it! I can’t believe we actually did it!” Scarlett shouts, ecstatic as we step out into the courtyard they’ve set up for celebratory champagne and cocktails. Ace lifts her into his arms, her adorable pregnant belly peeking through the open gown, cradled in the skintight, ribbed dress she’s wearing. Her dark hair blends in with the black cap, curled into loose ribbons falling beautifully down her back. Beside them, Sebastian cradles Jade under his arm. Her pregnant belly is almost twice the size of Scar’s, although their due dates are pretty close.

The ongoing joke is Jade’s carrying a Little Monster, probably already half the size of their gigantic father. Jade’s dress is identical to Scar’s, only in a dark teal instead of red. The three of us are matching, mine slightly less fitted and light pink. There isn’t anything those two don't do together, and I feel honored they bought me this dress to show me the indestructible bond we have.

God, I’m going to miss them, but I’ve made my decision. It wasn’t my first choice, one I’m not happy with, but I’ve found myself with no other options.

After I’m married off to the highest bidder, or whoever my uncle has deemed of benefit, I will no longer see them. It’s too hard to continue to pretend like my life is going to move forward the way theirs is. Jade and Scar are going to be mothers, have their precious little babies, and live happily ever after with their soulmates. Ruby deserves to find that same happiness, with or without Jaxon, and as for Drake, there is no way we’d remain friends without the girl's involvement.

As for Kai, it’s not like he wants me to continue being a part of his life. He’s made it perfectly clear he would rather I disappear from it. Besides, he’s nowhere to be found.

That is the plan. My goal is to convince whoever it is I’m going to marry, to take me as far away from Hillcrest Hills and the reminders of my haunted past.

“Stella.”

The monotonous tone of his voice, deep and penetrating, makes me instantly tremble, in fear of the insult or strike that is sure to accompany it. I thought I had more time.

I wasn’t expecting for him to come find me after the commencement. I actually expected him to leave shortly after the Headmistress gave her closing spiel. I was wrong. He came searching for me, planning on ruining whatever bit of contentment I had left seeing my friends so eager and happy.

“Uncle,” I croak, slowly turning to him, yet refusing to meet his gaze.

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