DEAR JOURNAL,

IT IS CRAZY to think that a month has gone by since the football state championship game. So much has happened since then. Silver Spring High celebrated the win by hanging a banner with the Dolphins named as the 2017 NYPHSAA Champions. They kept the banner on the school board for two weeks before relocating it to the gymnasium. I loved the way Harry's face would light up whenever we passed by the banner in the hallway. His lips would curl into a small smile, and a look of pride settled onto his features.

At first, I assumed he was smiling because of the fact that the Dolphins had finally become the state champions. However, Harry later confessed to me over one of our lunch dates that the true reason why he smiles everytime we pass the banner is because he is reminded of his declaration of love for me. I was speechless when I first heard the news but felt myself fall even harder for him.

For the first time in what seems like forever, things are finally starting to feel normal between me and Harry again. I know he must have thought that declaring his love for me and kissing me in front of the entire school would magically solve all of our problems, but I made him work hard for my forgiveness. As much as I love him, there's only so much pain I'm willing to go through for one person. I told him if he ever broke my heart again, we'd be through. Harry was always patient with me though–never forceful–and was willing to put in effort to make things right between us.

Things at school are not as bad as they were when they first started. The murmurs in the hall have calmed down, and Harry walks me to practically all of my classes. About a week after the game, Alice, Catie, and Matthew were called into the principal's office and were told they could not go to Prom because of their actions and were given a week of lunch detention. I was satisfied that the school reprimanded them for their actions, but if it were up to me, I would have given them community service instead of taking away their right to go to prom. I found that punishment to be a little harsh, but Harry told me that's only because I have a heart.

Anyway—let me get to the exciting part about what's happened in my life in just the last month. After school ended today, Harry and I went to the library where I still volunteer to study for our Advanced Placement test. I only had AP U.S. History to worry about while Harry was planning to take both AP English Literature and Composition and AP Physics C. I told him he was crazy for wanting to take AP Physics C, but he felt confident that he could self-study for the exam between now and May.

We agreed to take 10 minute study breaks every time an hour passed so that we wouldn't get burnt out. However, like the observant girl I am, I noticed when we were about to begin our second hour of studying, Harry was taking a break that was longer than 10 minutes. At first I thought one or two extra minutes was no big deal but when 10 minutes turned into 20 minutes I felt compelled to text him. He replied telling me to come to the computer lab for a second. I had no idea that I would learn that Harry had spent that entire 20 minutes making me a "Will you go with me to Prom?" poster by meeting him in the computer lab.

Tears had sprung to my eyes when he presented the poster to me on one knee. I thought Harry was just not going to ask me to prom. Since we reconciled, I was slowly building up the courage to ask him myself if that came to it, but I'm glad it didn't have to. I said YES of course, and we shared a kiss that felt too perfect to be real. This all happened only a few hours ago, so I'm still feeling the jitters that come with being asked to a dance by someone you care about.

Now, I feel like I have so much to do between now and prom. I still have to find the perfect dress, get my hair and makeup done, and figure out carpooling with Harry. These are good problems to have though and, as much fun as it would have been to go to prom with Malaysia and Ethan, I'm glad I have my own date. Speaking of Malaysia, I still have to tell her the news. I'll probably do that as soon as I finish with this journal entry.

I know I never write in this journal but for some reason the moment just seemed so fitting. I'm not ready to tell my father yet because his relationship with Mr. Twist is still strained, and I needed to just let out my thoughts on the page. Until the next time I write in you...

Sincerely,
Florence

Author's Note:

Hello everyone. I hope you've been having a lovely holiday season. To my readers who celebrate Christmas, Merry Christmas 🎄🎁. I cannot believe I'm done with my first semester of college. There have been a lot of ups and downs, but I honestly think going to school in California was a great decision for me. I wish I could have updated this book throughout the semester but I honestly experienced a lot of things in regards to my mental health that made the transition to college difficult.

I'm going to do my best to write out the last 4 chapters of this book and post them throughout the week. I really want to have this finished by New Years since I posted the first chapter of this book January 1, 2017. Thank you to all of you who continued to read this book despite my lack of updates.

Question for my readers: What is your attitude going into 2018?

I'm reflecting on my mistakes and going in with more self-awareness and self-care on mind.

—
Kaylandia