The next day goes by extremely fast, and tonight is graduation. I text Aiden to see if I can see him before, but he never responds. I don't think anything about it because we both have family coming in.
Mom and Ron make it in before I wake up, and I can hear Conner snoring as I walk past his room to greet them in the kitchen.
"Good morning." I say, and approach Ron first giving him a hug.
"Morning Mora, and congratulations." he replies.
"Thanks Ron." I answer as I walk to mom to hug her next.
"What's on the agenda?" mom asks me while taking a sip of coffee. She crimps her nose at the taste. "God Jared, could you make this coffee any stronger?" she says to dad who's reading the news on his computer.
"Sorry." he looks back at her, but she ignores him. It's weird having her and Ron in here with dad. I would have never imagined it.
"Well the seniors practiced yesterday, and they want us there two hours early to do a recap. Until then I guess just get ready." I answer.
"Nana wanted me to tell you that she's been sick all week, and she's just not well enough to fly." she says, and I just shrug my shoulders. I didn't expect her to come. I've only really seen my nana maybe a total of eight or nine times in my life. We're just not as close to mom's family as we are dad's. My mothers side of the family all live in North Carolina.
"Oh it's okay." I respond, and I can tell she's bothered by the fact that I'm not upset over it. "Mom, will you do my hair and makeup again?" I offer to soften her mood.
"You know I will!" she takes another sip regrettably. "I'm making a new pot." She walks around the island and pours out what he already made. He doesn't seem bothered by it, instead guides Ron to the living room, putting on the golf channel.
While she makes a new pot, Conner finally makes it downstairs. His hair is standing up all over the place, and he looks like he didn't get much sleep. I wonder how long Scarlett was here last night.
I give him judging eyes, but he just ignores them. "Hey mom." he says, yawning at the table.
"Hi honey. How was your drive up?" she asks him.
"Good. What about you?"
"It was good. So excited that my babies are all grown up." she starts to get mushy, and Conner and I both sigh loudly.
"Mom." I say.
"What!" she laughs, and I just roll my eyes.
The day flies. My granny arrives while mom is fixing my hair, and she gives me money as soon as she trudges into my bedroom.
"Granny, you don't have to..." I start to say, and she advises me to be quiet and take it. I do as she says.
"Debbie, how are you?" she sits on the edge of my bed where she can see us in the bathroom. She's only seen mom once since the divorce and that was at Conner's graduation. They despise each other.
Mom doesn't look away from the curling iron as she responds. "I'm doing great Lizzy. How have you been?"
"I've been great. Mora honey, I met Lorene. She's so lovely." I can't believe she just said that. I ignore her words, and my mom shoots her a snare. I know she wants to say something, but she decides to be the mature one this time. I look up and smile at her. I'm proud of her.
Granny sits and watches us for a few more minutes before getting up and leaving. My mom breaks her silence. "I'm sorry Mora, but your grandma is a witch." she says and I spit out the water I just took a gulp of. Usually I would tell her not to speak about her like that, but she sort of had it coming.
"Mom!" I snort, and we both start laughing.
"Sis, I have something for you." she voices, and stands up going to her purse, and pulls out a small round box.
"You didn't have to get me anything." I answer, and she ignores me sitting back down on the stool next to me.
"This was given to me on my graduation day by Grandma Lillie. It's been passed down six generations on the Portman side. I want you to pass it down to your children, and for some reason you don't have children, I would like you to pass it onto Conner's oldest." her face is determined.
Steadily I take the box out of her hand and open it up. It's a gold ring, with three egg shaped stones that sit side by side on top. The leg's around the stones are detailed with points curving up to hold them in place, while the opal stones are pearly white, with turquoise streaks shining from the mirror lights next to me. I've never seen anything like it. "Mom, it's beautiful." I admire it on my hand now. "Thank you." I hug her tightly.
"You're welcome honey." she says. "Now, let's finish your hair and makeup." we grin at each other and as she completes my hair, I stare and appreciate my ring.
Scarlett picks me up a couple hours later so we can get to the school for our final rehearsal. The senior teachers are already there, and they line us up alphabetically in a long hallway, and a lot of the kids are sitting down waiting for us to be called into the auditorium to be seated.
Aiden is about sixteen or seventeen spots behind me. I look down at him, but he's staring at his phone. He's acting strange, so I text him.
Is everything ok?
After I push send, I look down at him again waiting for his phone to go off. Once it does, he looks back at me. He looks annoyed.
Yeah. I'm fine.
He looks back at his phone.
Are you sure? We haven't talked all day. Did I do something?
No. Everything is fine. I'll meet up with you after we're done.
I decide to leave it alone. Maybe it's his mom again.
After about an hour of waiting they finally ask us to all stand, and walk us out. The seats are filled with families, and friends. Once we all make it out the stadium of people cheer for all of us.
Usually we do it outside, but it's been raining all week, so they had to move it inside. Aiden is two rows behind me now, and I can't see him directly from the angle he's at, but I see Scarlett clear as day. She's sitting on the other half of the middle walkway. She's smiling broadly at me, and clapping her hands together in excitement. I grin back, and turn back around the face the stage.
After the valedictorian speech, they start calling us up one by one. I'm the first one called out from our group of friends. When I start walking up the steps I can hear my friends below hollering, and my family are screaming up high from the stadium. That's when I spot them. They are all standing cheering me on.
I realized then how blessed I am, and how much my family really loves me. They put all their differences aside to be here for me today, and I'll never forget it.
After it's over everyone runs down to greet all of us with hugs, flowers, and gifts. I lose Aiden shortly as my family rushes in with hugs. "Sis, I'm so proud of you!" Dad greets me first, and I can tell he's been crying a little.
"Oh dad, are you okay?" I ask, and he just nods hugging me again.
As we're all standing there, Aiden walks up with his mom and dad. "Hey Mor." he gives me what feels like a distant hug, and whispers in my ear. "Dad wants to get a picture of us."
"Oh okay." I smile at him. He looks absolutely gorgeous. His gown is open like mine now, and we match in solid black. This is one of the first times I feel like we actually fit together. "Hi Mr. Bryant." he comes up first greeting me.
"Congratulations Mora." he yells over the voices of all the people.
"Thank you!" I say back, and Aiden's mother comes up to my other side giving me a small hug. She looks at me in a concerning way, and doesn't speak. "Hello." is all I say as I hug her back.
I notice then that Mr. Bryant is talking to my dad, while my mom watches Aiden, his mother, and myself. She sees the tension I'm feeling right now.
"Let's get photos!" Mr. Bryant is back a moment later, and mom pulls out her camera, and they start taking pictures of Aiden and I. After a while they are all focused on each other so I turn around to face Aiden.
"Seriously what's going on with you today?" I ask. The eyes that looked angry before now look sad.
"It's nothing Mora." he tries to clarify, but I'm not buying it.
"Are you going to be at Zach's tonight?" I change the subject.
"Yeah." he pulls his cap off, brushing away his hat hair with his fingers.
"Okay. Good. I told the girls I would ride with them, so I'll see you there I guess." I smile at him trying to lighten the mood, but it doesn't work.
"Okay. I'll see you then." he says, and kisses my right cheekbone softly before telling my parents bye, and leaving.
I ride with my mom and Ron to the restaurant after. "Is Aiden okay?" mom asks me from the front seat.
"You felt it too?"
"Yes. He seemed sad." she says, and now I'm stressing out.
"I don't know. He says he's fine, but I can tell he's not. He's going to be at the graduation party tonight though, so I'll have to get it out of him then." I admit, and she nods turning back around in her seat.
We meet my dad, Lorene, and Conner at the steak house downtown. It's not until after we're all seated and ordering our drinks that I spot Ross walking in.
He strolls up, and Conner greets him first. "Hey brother!" he says and pulls him into a hug. I assume they haven't seen each other since that night in Corpus Christi.
"Hey man. I saw you guys walk in here so I just wanted to swing in and say congrats to Mor." he smiles at me, and Conner widens his eyes and sits down.
"Thank you." I push out my chair to give him a small hug.
"No problem. Hey, we need to all hangout this summer before you guys head back to school next season." he offers, and Conner and I nod, and agree.
"Sounds good." I say, and Conner shoots his chin up at him while sitting in place.
"Text me tomorrow, and we'll go fishing." he offers to Ross, and I can tell that pleases him to know that there are no hard feelings between any of us.
"Hell yeah. Sounds like a plan." he says waving at all of us as he walks away. "Well, congrats again. Talk to you guys later."
Conner shoves a roll in his mouth and say's "Well that wasn't too painful." and I roll my eyes, as my dad smacks his arm.
"Don't talk with your mouth full." and we all laugh. I'm afraid Conner will never fully grow up.
When we get home, I start to change for Zach's party. I wear a boho blue colored dress, and brown sandals. I leave my hair curled from earlier, but wipe off the lipstick mom had put on me.
I push my head into Conner's room as he's playing video games. "Hey do you want to come with us?" I invite him, and he pauses the game and looks up at me.
"No, I better not." he says, and I push the door all the way open going inside to sit next to him.
"So, what happened with you two?" I ask him.
"Nothing. I gave her the bracelet, and she left." he answers, and I don't believe him. I give him my motherly judging eyes that he hates so much.
"Seriously Mora. I gave it to her, and we talked a little about everything that happened with Josh, and she asked me about Lucy. She apologized, and I forgave her for all that happened, and we hugged and she left." he answers, and resumes the game. He's ending our conversation.
"Okay, well if you decide to come out, you know where we're at." I leave, and go downstairs saying bye to Lorene and dad before driving to Scarlett's.
We pick up Zoe last, and as soon as she walks out of her house, we can tell she's been drinking.
"Zoe, are you okay to go out?" Scarlett says through her car door window.
"Yeah. I'm great!" she dances her way to the backseat. Emily shakes her head at her.
"I think I'm going to break up with Zach tonight." she spits out as we're driving to his house.
"What!" We all screech at her in the same moment.
"Why?" Emily asks.
"Because we're going to different schools, and let's be honest. He's not my soulmate, so no point in dragging it out."
"What was even the point of dating him then?" I snap at her annoyed.
"Because it was fun." she admits. Her nonchalant attitude bothers me.
"You know you can be a bitch sometimes." I glare back at her.
Scarlett gasp. "Mora."
"Seriously though. Drag someone's feelings through the mud because you were having fun. You're a bitch." I throw my body back around.
"I know." Zoe say's unapologetically. I roll my eyes, and cross my arms.
The rest of the way there we're all unresponsive and quiet.
As soon as we're in Zach's driveway, before a full stop I open the door and jump out. I can't be around her anymore. There's already a bunch of people here, and I see Josh's car, so I go around back and search for Aiden.
I see him sitting at the patio table drinking a beer with a few guys from the baseball and football team. I give him a short wave as he spots me. He pushes out his chair to greet me. His hug is short. "Hey." he says then sticks his hands in his pockets.
"Hi." I respond.
"What's wrong?" he asks me, as we walk down the hill to the fire pit.
"Zoe is a bitch." I repeat my words, and he lightly laughs. "I told you that a long time ago."
"I know." I say, and we both sit down next to the fire. "Aiden what's going on with you?" I get straight to the point.
"Let's talk later." he pushes it aside.
"No! Let's talk now." I demand, and his mouth drops open a little.
"Mora, you can't just say and do what you want all the time without consequences." Now my mouth is open.
"What are you talking about?"
"Why didn't you tell me you talked to my mom?" my stomach drops.
"I..." I'm frozen without words.
"Why would you think it was okay to do that?" he asks eyeing me intently. I have to be careful with my words.
"I went over there the day after you told me. I wasn't thinking." I say slowly. "As soon as I saw her I regretted going there." I admit, and suddenly Scarlett and Josh rush in holding onto each other.
"Let's play beer pong!" Josh says, and Aiden quickly gets annoyed by their presence.
"Maybe later." he responds, then grabs my hand pulling me up so we can go someplace more private. "Aiden, I'm really sorry for going to her like that." I say behind him as he unlocks his jeep with his keys. He gets in his side, and I know to follow his lead. Once we're both in his jeep I continue. "Please don't be mad at me."
"Mora, you're not my mother. You can't intervene with my family matters like that." he sighs rubbing the nape of his neck.
"I know." I drag out my response.
"I guess you don't know because you did it anyway."
I quickly respond "I was depressed that you were staying, and I thought I might be able to sway her someway."
"It's not up to her Mora, it's up to me!" he snaps at me, and I'm taken back by his response.
"Aiden, I..." he cuts me off.
"She can tell me her minds changed, and she's better but I know she's not. Nothing you said or what she says would make me change my choice. You should've respected that." he clenches his palms to his steering wheel.
"I didn't want to lose you." I start to cry, but he doesn't seem to care.
"Damn it Mora. I was clear with you when I said you wouldn't lose me. It pisses me off that you went behind my back and did that. It really makes me mad." he keeps repeating.
"Well, I don't agree with what she did Aiden. She's ruining a good thing for you." I snap back, and regret it immediately because my response infuriates him.
He slams his steering wheel, making me jump back. "It's not for you to agree or disagree with Mora! What do I have to do for you to understand that!" he starts to cry now, and I feel bad.
"Aiden, I'm..." I pause momentarily. "I'm sorry."
I go to slide closer to him, but he pulls away putting his hands up. "No Mora."
"Aiden, I'm sorry." I start to sob. I've never seen him like this, and I don't know how to react.
"I love you Mora, but what you did disgust me." his words cut deep.
"Why because I cared that you were giving up a good opportunity, and relationship." I defend myself now, upset that he's treating me this way. "I can't believe you're so disgusted with me for wanting you. Because at the end of the day Aiden, all of this was because I love you, and I need you." I wipe my face clean with my fingers. "I didn't do it the right way, but you know what, at least I tried!" I jump out after my final word, slamming the door behind me. He doesn't hesitate to follow me I know because his door slams too.
"Mora believe me when I say that I would have done anything for you, but no one will ever be worth more than my family." Now I hear his hands hit his hood. "You crossed the line!" he cries out, and I turn around screaming with my arms.
"Screw you!" I point at him, then I turn around to walk away when I see Scarlett, and Josh watching us. I shove my way through them back to the party, and Scarlett follows me.
"Mora. Hold up." she screeches from behind. I quickly stop so I can catch my breath before breaking into tears again. She grabs a hold of me, and hugs me tightly. "It's okay." She cries with me, but I can't stop. I feel like I'm hyperventilating.
"He's such an asshole." I continue to sob in her arms.
"What happened?"
"I... I went to his mom about school." I admit, and she let's go keeping her arm wrapped around my shoulder.
"Oh. I see." she squeezes me. "Do you want to go home?" she asks.
"Yes." I cry.
"Okay, let me go tell Emily and Zoe they need to get another ride. Stay here." she says, and I stay in place on the side of the house by a big rose garden.
"Mora, are you okay?" I hear Josh coming around the corner. I don't answer him. "I'm sorry." he says and gives me a light embrace. "Sometimes Aiden can't control his emotions." he defends him.
"That's no excuse." I break, and he shakes his head.
"No it's not. He's just having a rough time with his mom, and you gave him an excuse to place his blame somewhere else besides her."
"Is he still here?" I wipe my nose with the neckline of my dress.
"No, he stormed out after you walked away."
"Do you think we can get past this?" I ask.
"I don't know Mora. It's possible. I've never seen him in love like he is with you so it's very possible that you could, but I've also never known him to be so forgiving." He's honest with his answer, and it breaks my heart.
"I didn't want to lose him Josh." I cry in his shoulder now, and hear Scarlett behind us.
"I know Mora. I know..." he says letting go of me so Scarlett and I can leave. "Call me tomorrow." he tells Scarlett, kissing her on the forehead, and she just nods her head grabbing my hand so we can leave.
The night was a haze. I wake up late the next day with a pounding headache, and swollen face. Aiden, and I have been in arguments before but nothing like that. Conner knocks on my door. "Can I come in?" he asks, but doesn't wait on my answer. "Scarlett told me what happened. Are you okay?" he comes to sit down on the bed.
"Your idea backfired." I point blame at him, but not seriously. He gives out a tiny giggle.
"I guess so. I'm sorry Mor." he answers, and looks down at my phone. "It looks like he texted you."
I gasp. "Really?" I sit up and wipe the sleep from my eyes before taking my phone from him.
Can you meet me at the lake?
He's not asking for me to ride with him. That's not good.
Yes. When?
In 20?
K.
"He wants to meet up." I tell Conner, and get up going to the bathroom.
"Cool. Let me know if you need anything." he says, and leaves the room.
He's already out there waiting on me as I arrive. He keeps his eyes on the water as I approach him sitting a couple feet away from him.
"I'm sorry for acting like that last night. It was uncalled for." he apologizes. I look over at him, but he's still not making eye contact with me.
"Not as sorry as I am. I never had the right to do what I did." I wrap my arms around my knees.
"Mora, I wish you could have understood how much I love you." his breath is low, and I can almost hear his heartbeat. I get closer to him and grab his hand.
"I do understand." I say with earnesty.
"You deserve better than me." he says and drops his head to look down at the ground.
"No Aiden. I deserve everything, and that's you." I know where this is headed, and I'm terrified. "Aiden, it's all just a huge misunderstanding. We can get past this."
"Mora, you are going four hours away. I was hopeful, but the more I think about it the more I think we're better off breaking up." my breathing stops.
"No that's not better." I start to lose the grip on my emotions.
"You deserve someone constant, and who's going to be there. I have too much baggage Mora. It's not fair for you."
"Aiden, you lost your brother. If it's not fair for anyone it's you." I whisper. I feel sorry for him, and me. None of this seems just. "You can't just end this after one bump in the road."
"I'm sorry, I'm just not ready for the long distance relationship like I thought I was." he whispers.
"Well, what about summer?" I start to cry, and he looks up at me. His eyes filled with pain.
"It will just make it harder." he strokes my face like he always does. I push it away.
"Don't do that!" I cry harder.
"I'm sorry Mora. I just think it's for the best." he stands up, and starts to walk away. I grab my knees again and start to sob when I hear his voice again.
I look up, but his body faces away from me as he speaks.
"I'm sorry Mora. I'm really sorry." I can hear his voice start to break as he begins to walk away again.
As soon as I know he's not coming back for me, I lay down on the blanket he put out for us, and start to weep while my heart breaks in two.
Part One Completed.
If you want more of Mora's story, stay close by. About Mora - College Bound is finished, and coming soon!