Chapter Twenty

“And now, the graduating class of 2012!” the headmaster, Ms. Keenan boomed from the podium to all the seated students, her hand in mid-air, gesturing to the graduates.

            Yasmine gripped the cloth of her black graduation gown. This is it. I’m going to graduate, she thought. Sweat trickled down the nape of her neck, and her palms were getting sticky. I can do this. I can do this. She stood up from her seat like every other person, and followed the person next to her. They walked out of the rows of chairs, and onto the platform stage that was a couple feet away from her.

            “And here is the graduating class of 2012!” Ms. Keenan repeated. “Let’s start with Kyle Adams!” The headmaster started calling out names in alphabetical order, a diploma in hand every time someone went up. Ms. Keenan would shake hands with them, give them the diploma, take a couple of pictures, and then the next person would go. What did Yasmine have to worry about?

            That’s right, she confronted herself as she waited for her name to be called. Nothing to lose… Wait… What if I fall? She shook her head, trying to get that thought out of her mind. She would not fall; she absolutely couldn’t. Yasmine wiped her sweaty palms on her gown, and ran her hands through her hair to make sure she wouldn’t look like a complete and utter mess when she would go up and graduate.

            She bit the inside of her cheek nervously, and skimmed the crowd with her eyes. A couple hundred graduates dressed in black were seated in the first forty-to-fifty rows while parents and guardians were seated behind them—waiting for their child or friend to go up.

            Yasmine’s dad had promised he’d be there when they had called each other a couple days ago. She had told him that after graduation she’d move in with Hailey—who finally got smart enough to rent an apartment—and stay there until Hailey ever kicked her out.

            Searching for her father, she finally spotted him in the crowd sitting next to a elderly woman, and a fancy woman with pearls. Just as Yasmine found her father—her father found her. He waved while smiling and she waved back. She got a little more confident, but she was still nervous. Her dad mouthed the words, “You’ll be fine.” Yasmine took in a deep breath and got ready. She could do this.

            “Yasmine Hamilton!” boomed Ms. Keenan from the microphone. Yasmine didn’t even notice she had been called until a classmate standing by her nudged her with her elbow. She stumbled up the stairs and on to the stage. Immediately, bright flashes of cameras blocked her vision, and she tried her best to smile—thought she probably turned out looking like the Grinch. “Good job,” Ms. Keenan complimented, handing over the diploma and turning her head to the cameras and smiling.

            Yasmine nodded, took the diploma and scurried of the stage and to the other staircase where people who had gotten their diplomas stood. She beamed at the diploma in her hands. College was finally over! No more homework, lousy teachers, or late night cram sessions! She fist pumped in the air and screamed, “Yes!”

            Ms. Keenan stopped and stared at Yasmine—and so did the entire crowd. Color rose to Yasmine’s cheeks and she smiled apologetically. Some giggles and laughs sounded from the crowd, even Ms. Keenan. Yasmine looked like her face was on her fire. Talk about embarrassing, she thought, her cheeks still pink.

            After, Ms. Keenan went back to calling all the names. Yasmine watched her classmates’ graduate one by one. She watched Hailey take her diploma in triumph, a grin on her face. Then she watched James, then Aaron, and Lily. Within ten minutes, everyone—mostly everyone—had diplomas in hands, and the graduation music blared over the speakers. They all stepped off the stage and ran to their parents, or whoever they had.

            “Congratulations, kiddo!” Yasmine’s father said as soon as she had reached him. “You too, Hailey.”

            “Thanks, Mr. Hamilton,” Hailey responded, grinning from Yasmine’s side. “Oh! There’s my mom.” Hailey looked somewhere off in the distance. “Talk to you later!”

            Yasmine nodded and turned back towards her dad. “Thanks for coming, dad.” She smiled happily. “It means a lot.”

            Mr. Hamilton ruffled her hair. “No problem, kiddo. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” His eyes looked around and landed on Aaron. “Wow, Aaron has sure grown up since I last saw him. I still hate that boy.”

            Yasmine followed her father’s gaze. Aaron was talking to some friends, Lily clinging onto his arms. She was wearing a dazzling ring on her left hand—obviously showing off her ring. “Yeah, that’s Aaron,” she said, jealousy tinted in her voice. “And that’s Lily,” she turned back to her father, “your other daughter.”

            “T-that’s her?” Her father gasped. He looked like he wanted to walk over to Lily and hug her, and spill out everything saying he was her father.

            “Do you want to talk to her, dad?”

            He turned back to Yasmine. “Honey, I love you. Just because she exists doesn’t mean my love for you is reduced. I love you both.”

            “I know dad,” she said honestly. She hugged her father tightly. “Do you ever plan on telling her?”

            Before he could reply, James came out of nowhere and slung his arm around Yasmine’s shoulder, a bouquet of flowers in his other hands. “For you,” he said, handing the flowers over. “Congrats.”

            “Thanks,” Yasmine smiled, taking the flowers. “You too.” She turned to her father. “James, this is my father. You’ve already met though.”

            James took out his hand. “It’s nice to see you again, sir.”

            “You too, son,” her father replied, taking James’ hand and shaking it. “You’ve been taking care of my little girl?”

            “With the best quality, of course,” James grinned. He turned his head towards Yasmine. “Are you coming to the graduation after party?”

            “Party?” she asked, dumbfounded. “What party?”

            “This big shot named John is having this killer party over at his house. His parents are out of town on business, so everyone’s going.”

            “Well, you two kids have fun, I have to go run some errands,” Yasmine’s dad interrupted. He was just about to leave but stopped. “And easy on the drinking.”

            Yasmine nodded and gave her father a goodbye hug. “See you soon, dad.” After he left, she turned to James. “So, can you believe it? We’re actually full grown adults now.”

            “I know right,” he agreed. “It feels like just yesterday when I walked on this campus.” He ran his hand through his blond-brownish hair. “But, I’m sure as hell happy to get out of here.”

            “Me too,” she nodded. “Oh, can you help with some moving again?”

            “Again?” James looked confused.

            “Hailey and I are moving into this apartment near the city square. It’s a really neat place with small rent,” Yasmine explained. “The movers have transferred most of our stuff while graduation, but we still have to settle in. Want to help?”   

            “Sure,” he grinned, placing his hand on her waist.

            “Yo, James!” someone called from a group of boys behind them. “Get over here, man!”

            “I got to go,” James said, placing a kiss on her cheek. “Don’t leave without me, alright?”

            Yasmine nodded as he took off. In bitter feeling, she watched Aaron and Lily giggling and laughing at something each other said. They looked so happy. It was kind of hard to believe Lily was actually hideous on the inside and had a two-faced personality. And to believe that was her half-sister and the girl Aaron would spend the rest of his life with.

 “Wow!” Hailey exclaimed, standing in front of the tall bricked building. “Its almost tall as a skyscraper! Come see, Yasmine!”

            Yasmine took a cardboard box from James’ car’s trunk and looked over at Hailey. “Yeah, yeah, I get it. Come help me here!”

            “Oh! Right,” Hailey said, running over and grabbing another cardboard box from the trunk. The movers had moved the big furniture like sofas, beds, and other things the girls couldn’t have carried, but, Hailey and Yasmine still had to bring the small things that they could carry.

            “I’ll get the last box,” James announced, taking the last box from his trunk and slamming the top. He followed the girls into the building and into the white marbled lobby.

            Yasmine walked in and went to the small mailboxes attached to the wall was. Their key to their apartment was supposed to be in the mailbox numbered 1217. What a weird number, she thought as she retrieved the key from the mailbox. She got the key and walked to the elevator where Hailey and James already stood, boxes in their hands.

            “Can this elevator go any slower?!” Hailey yelled. “My hands are aching from this box!”

            James and Yasmine chuckled at her dramatic announcement. Yasmine took a good look around the place again and noticed something. “This place seems awfully familiar…,” she stated.  

            “All apartment buildings look the same,” James countered. The elevator dinged and the doors whipped open. “Looks like the elevator’s here. Let’s go.”

            Yasmine tore her gaze from the lobby which seemed so familiar, as if she’d been here before, but she was certainly sure she hadn’t. “Okay,” she said, stepping in the elevator. “Hailey, what floor are we on?”

            “The twelfth,” she answered, adjusting her hands around the box so they wouldn’t hurt as much. “We have room number seventeen.”

            The elevator dinged again and the doors opened to let them out. The hallway was covered with a beautiful carpet with a vibrant red color. The walls were cream colored and small tables stood holding plants and decorations.

            “You guys totally hit the jackpot,” James said. “Look at this place! Its so sophisticated looking and new.”

            “I guess so,” Hailey grinned, quickening her pace down the hallway. “Hurry up, guys! I want to see our apartment.”

            “Whatever happened to your hands hurting,” Yasmine muttered at Hailey’s sudden change of mood. She walked faster until she got to door seventeen, which was crested on the door in somewhat gold material. “This is it.” She set her box down on the floor and fumbled for the key in her pocket.

            “Cue the dramatic music,” Hailey joked. “This is the start of our free lives. No more classes, parents, teachers; just us.”

            “But we still need to get jobs,” Yasmine reminded her. Hailey groaned. “Okay, but let’s just see where we’re going to live first.” She put the key into the lock of the door and slowly twisted it. Just when she pushed open the door, the door across from them creaked open.

            They all turned around to greet their soon-to-be neighbor. But all that changed when they laid eyes on to see who it was.

            Yasmine’s jaw dropped to the floor. “You’re our neighbor?!”

            “Hey guys. I didn’t know you were moving in.” 

Hello hello! I told you guys I wasn't giving up on this story just because I started a new story. Btw, for all of you unknown people - please read my new story called, "The Summer Storm." I was inspired by the hurricane that tried to kill me the other day. Teehee. (:

Anyways, hope you enjoyed this chapter! And vote if you want to find out who their neighbor is, but some of you may know if you paid close attention to this story. Thanks for supporting me! xoxo.