Corri's High School Graduation 

"Hey."

I was startled by the sound of Colt's voice and his hand on my hip. I nearly banged my head on the inside of the dryer as he stood behind me. "Shit," I gasped as I lifted my head and turned to face him. "You scared me."

I shivered when I felt Colt's eyes skim over my body. I had come out to the garage to finish ironing my dress when I decided to put a load of laundry into the dryer from the washer. I was only wearing a pair of short shorts and a tank top, foregoing a bra since I didn't plan on being out here this long. I caught the way he was focusing on my breasts and how his breathing sped up. "Did you need something?" Please say me.

Colt's tongue popped out and swept over his lower lip slowly. When his eyes drifted to my chest again and I caught him staring, he glanced at the ground. "Umm…nothing. Just looking for a shirt."

He reached past me to the clothes rack above the dryer and yanked a shirt from the hanger. I breathed in the scent of him all fresh and clean from the shower with his hair still damp and unstyled. My heart sunk when I realized he was slipping his button down work shirt from the junkyard up over his white wife beater. "You have to go to work?" I sighed.

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I really wanted to be at your graduation but I couldn't get the day off."

Disappointment flooded my chest and I moved away from him, reaching for the dress I had just ironed. Colt grabbed my wrist when I strode toward the house. "Don't get mad, okay? I'll try to make it back for your party later."

I nodded but kept my eyes to the ground. He slid two fingers under my chin and lifted my gaze until it met his. "I really am sorry." His green eyes twinkled when he bent his head and pressed his forehead to mine. 

"I just wanted you there," I pouted. 

"I know," Colt nodded. I gasped when he gathered me into his arms and lifted me off my feet.

"Colt!" I squealed as he spun me. 

He reluctantly released me, pressing a quick kiss to my cheek. "I just wanted to see you smile." His thumb dragged over my bottom lip and he stared. My stomach twisted with anxiety because all I wanted was to lean up on my tiptoes and grab that elusive kiss I'd been waiting for for the past three years.

"I gotta go, Butterfly," Colt grinned, suddenly looking like he needed to keep his distance. 

Was this as difficult for him as it was for me? On some level I hoped so.

As I showered and began to get ready for the ceremony, my mind churned with thoughts of Colt. We had gotten along so well and I often got the feeling he was holding back from me. He was always quick to remind me of my age and still being "just a high schooler." But now I wouldn't be. Now I was just three short months away from being a college student. 

And if me being in high school was the only thing holding us back...what now?

My excitement grew as blow dried my hair and applied a little heavier makeup than usual. I kept plotting in my head about Colt and as I stepped into my dress and slipped on my heels, I resolved to finally make my move.

At some point today, I would confront Colt and lay it all out for him. We belonged together. There was no one else that either one of us was happy dating and we always had the best time together. Although I had told him so many times and in so many ways over the years, now he had to know that he was the one I wanted. We could sit down with Charlie and explain that even though we had fought this connection, we could no longer deny it. 

We were perfect for each other. And then I would kiss him. I dreamt of it for so long. I had to make him see that him and I together was the only thing that truly made sense. 

I stood in line with the rest of my classmates and waited at the edge of the stage for my name to be called. I glanced out into the audience and saw my father beaming with pride. But no Colt.

"Corrigan Annemary Armstrong…"

I strode across the stage with nervous butterflies and smiled when I heard the faint cheers from my dad, Big Mike and a few of my friends. I reached for my diploma and shook the principal's hand before floating down the small set of steps that led me off the stage and down to the grass. I was being so careful not to trip on my gown that I barely noticed who was waiting for off to the side. 

"Congratulations, Butterfly."

My head jerked up quickly at the sound of his voice. He tugged my arm and guided me to step out of the line heading back to our row of chairs set up neatly on the football field. "I can't believe you made it," I sighed happily when Colt pulled me close. 

"I just couldn't let you down," he murmured, staring down at my mouth the way he had this morning. I wanted so badly to kiss him and confess my feelings as I had planned, but not here, not in front of everyone. 

I threw my arms around his shoulders and let his big biceps fold me into a squeezing hug. "I'm so proud of you!" he gushed.

As surprised as I was that Colt was really here, I realized that it shouldn't have been a surprise at all. Colt was always here for me, wherever and whenever I needed him. 

When he released me from his embrace, I blurted, "You don't have to go, do you? Back to work, I mean."

He brushed the hair from my face as it blew from the Springtime breeze. "No," he chuckled. "I'm all yours."

"Meet me in the parking lot and drive me home?"

Colt nodded easily and squeezed my hand before I dashed off to join my classmates. I squeezed my way through and made it just in time for us to be asked to rise.

"I now present...the graduating class of 2014!"

Whoops and hollers rang out as we tossed our caps and hugged our friends. I glanced to where I had last seen Colt and I felt my heart bursting with love. "I'm all yours," he had said. It sounded perfect to me. And if I had it my way, he'd be mine forever. 

By the time I had left my friends and found my way to the parking lot, I had found Colt leaning against his truck with his phone in hand. He looked upset and suddenly I wondered if he would have to leave me to go back to work. 

"What's wrong?"

Colt lifted his head and the look of distress disappeared. "Look at you, little miss graduate." It was the first time he had seen me in my dress. His eyes scanned me in approval and I even did a quick spin for him. 

I leaned into him, gripping his hips and tipping my face toward his. The parking lot was clearing out and I prayed for the bravery I needed to get the kiss I had dreamed of. I could see the hesitation in his eyes as he glanced around. "I should thank you properly for showing up today. It meant a lot to me, Colt."

Colt's eyes went wide when I leaned up on my tiptoes and let my own eyes fall shut. Colt bent his head and offered me his cheek instead of his lips. I gazed up at him in confusion. "Colt…" I began.

He leaned away from me and opened his door. "I should get you home. Charlie is already there getting the party ready."

I ignored the sting of rejection as I slid into the driver's side and waited for Colt to join me. We had barely left the school grounds when I said, "We need to talk."

I saw the way his jaw clenched and when he opened his mouth to argue, I squeezed his thigh. "Pull into the park," I nodded. "Give me fifteen minutes to say what I need to say and then you can drive us home."

He hesitated with a furrow of his brow. He obviously didn't want to be alone with me but I couldn't wait another minute to say what I had to say. "Please?"

Colt sighed deeply and nodded, driving around the large park until we reached the duck pond, one of our favorite places to sit and talk while eating sandwiches. When he cut off the engine, I rubbed my hands together and prepared my speech in my head. Once it was out there, I couldn't take it back.

"When you came to live with us, I was a very different girl then than I am now. I  hadn't been very popular and I had kept mostly to myself. I wasn't interested in boys… I barely noticed them actually. But then you showed up with your bruised face and sad eyes. I wanted nothing more than to care for you and comfort you. Your happiness meant a lot to me."

Colt turned his body more toward mine and watched as I took his hand in mine and held it in my lap. "Since you've been with us, I've tried to tell myself that we couldn't be together. I heard what my father told you that night. I know he made you promise to never touch me, but Colt, I'm not the same. I'm not fifteen. I'm not in high school and I'm not a little kid. I know what I want. I only have a few months until college starts and I want to spend this summer with you...as your girlfriend."

Colt blinked at me and I saw the way his throat bobbed when he swallowed. I was struck with fear because the look in his eyes promised that I wouldn't be getting my dream kiss today. He was about to say no.

"Just give me a chance," I pleaded. "I know you're interested. I've seen the way you look at my body." I paused to smooth down my skirt with my free hand and noticed the way eyes followed my movement. "And you were staring at my chest this morning. You saw I wasn't wearing a bra."

His gaze snapped to mine and he looked guilty. "Of course I look at you. Who wouldn't? You're beautiful." He sounded pained. "But that doesn't mean I can have you. It doesn't mean you can be mine. Not now."

"Why not?" I sounded like a petulant child. "There's nothing holding us back. If it's Charlie you're worried about...I'll tell him. I'm over 18. We aren't doing anything wrong."

Colt took in a deep breath and sighed. "You're going to college in a few months and then you'll be gone to Seattle for four years. It would be crazy to start something now." 

"I'll be home for holidays. You can come visit me too."

"Corri…"

"Don't," I whimpered when he reached for my face. "Don't kill my dream."

Colt leaned forward and brushed his lips across my forehead in that way I loved. "We just can't…not right now."

I fell against his shoulder and fought back tears. "Then I won't go away to school. I can stay here and go to community college like you did." The previous weekend, we had all gone to dinner to celebrate him receiving his associates degree. Dad and I made a huge fuss about what an accomplishment it was even though Colt tried to downplay it.

Colt gripped my shoulders and held me away from him so I could see his face. "Absolutely not! No way are you throwing your future away for me. I will be here when you graduate. I will always be here waiting for you, Corri."

I slumped against the back of the seat and looked out over the small pond. Children ran along the edge, tossing bread crumbs into the water and large geese flew overhead. The rest of the world continued while my heart broke into tiny pieces. I laid it all out for him. I laid my heart bare for him and all he could say was not now. I was so tired of waiting. 

"Take me home."

I flinched when Colt reached for my hand. I was no longer interested in drawing out my humiliation. The answer was no. Even though he never denied wanting me, he still said no.

Quietly we drove home and I ran into the house when we pulled into the driveway. I had nearly forgotten about the party when I glanced into the backyard and saw the people, the smoke from the grill, the table of food and the banner that bore my name. Now I had to join the party and pretend like Colt hadn't just shattered my heart. How the hell was I going to pull that off?

"Why didn't you go with your friends?"

I didn't even look up when I heard his voice in the darkness of the backyard. I had managed to keep a smile plastered to my face for the past few hours, but when my friends were ready to head off to other parties, I declined. I ignored Colt when he began following me as I picked up the trash from my party.

"You should go have fun with your friends. I can clean this up."

I felt his fingers brush mine as he tried to take the garbage can from me. I jerked it away and continued gathering up the paper plates and red cups left on the assorted tables. "I'm sorry, okay?" he pleaded when I still wouldn't speak. "I never wanted to hurt you."

"Just go away. Please?"

My head was still down as I busied myself, nearly completed with cleaning up. Colt gently touched my elbow and sighed, "I have a present for you."

I finally looked at him, noticing the deep v of his furrowed brow. He was hurting too. "Fine," I huffed. "Where is it?"

"In my room," he replied, grinning brightly. His smile always caught me off guard. "Come on."

I allowed him to tug on my hand and pull me up to his room. Once inside, he guided me to sit on the edge of his bed. He brought a small gift bag out from under the bed and presented it to me as he crouched in front of me. "I hope you like it."

I gave him a small smile and tried to push down all my bitter feelings about what had happened at the park. On some level I knew he was right, the timing was off. But when would it ever be right?

I pulled the tissue paper out and reached inside the gift bag until I felt a small, flat square box. Colt nodded when I glanced at him, revealing his excitement as I pried the lid off. I gasped when I found a delicate silver chain bracelet adorned with tiny fluttering, jeweled butterflies. "Oh, Colt."

Colt shifted up onto his knees and lifted the sparkling linked chain and gently clasped it around my wrist. His rough fingers skimmed over my skin as he twirled the jewelry for me to see. "Do you like it?"

"It's beautiful, Colt. Thank you." Without hesitation, I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his with the barest amount of pressure. I pulled away slowly, peering up at him through my lashes. "Sorry," I whispered. "I got carried away."

Colt clenched his jaw and I looked away. My heart was beating out of my chest. I couldn't take another rejection. When Colt let his head fall forward and his lips made contact with my neck, I shuddered. "You make it so hard for me to be good."

I curled my fingers into his hair when he kissed his way across my collarbone. When his hands squeezed my hips, I sucked in a sharp breath. I eased myself onto my back and pulled Colt right along with me. "Don't," I begged when he tried to lift his body off of mine.

"I'll crush you," he reasoned, his voice laced with need.

"No, it feels good," I insisted, winding my hands around to grip his back, holding him to me. His eyes drifted closed when I slid my fingers under the hem of his t-shirt and smoothed them over his bare skin. 

"Fuck," he groaned, relaxing further into my embrace. My eyes snapped open when he cupped my face with both hands. His thumbs brushed my cheeks as his eyes roamed my face. "I need to stop this."

"Or you could just kiss me," I murmured. 

He growled softly, a primal noise that came from deep in his throat. I lifted my hips and caught the surprised look on his face. "Corri…."

I opened my mouth to argue, fully prepared for another one of his lectures, when he slanted his mouth over mine and drank in my gasp. His mouth felt perfect as it connected with mine and when his tongue touched my lips, I moaned quietly. His careful control was slipping away when he heard this. I squirmed under his weight when his hands smoothed down my sides and I felt his grip on my ass.

"Oh fuck," he mumbled, pulling away panting. "It's too much."

I laughed when he rolled off of me, partly delirious from finally having his mouth on mine and partly relieved he hadn't stopped it. I wanted more of him. I rolled onto my side so I could see his face. He stared up at the ceiling with his mouth parted, struggling to take in air. "You're just so damn hard to resist, Butterfly." 

"Good! You should stop resisting me and make out with me some more."

"No chance, you little temptress. Let's go." I groaned when he stood and pulled on my hand. "Come with me so I can finish cleaning the kitchen. Then we can watch a movie."

"Up here?" I beamed hopefully.

"No chance," he retorted. "I can't trust you to behave when we're alone."

I was still grumbling as we held hands and descended the steps. I nearly ran him down when he stopped abruptly at the base of the steps.

"Colt?"

He gripped my hand tightly, tucking me behind him and shielding me from what, I didn't know. "Katrina...I told you we don't have anything else to talk about."

Katrina stepped closer, out of the shadows of the darkened driveway. I peered around Colt just in time to see the way she cradled her belly, slightly swollen and pushing against the fabric of an obviously too small t-shirt. "You have responsibilities, Colt. You can't just keep ignoring me."

Colt glanced down at me when my mouth fell open in shock. She was pregnant. And in that moment, every hope I'd had for our future, disappeared. His face crumpled when I removed my hand from his grasp. "Corri, please…"

I backed away from them slowly, hating him for something that had obviously happened months prior. I didn't care. He was mine. In my heart, I always felt like he was mine. So to know he had been having sex with her along just killed me. 

Obviously she hadn't been that hard to resist...

....

A/N: so there it is! Trust me, there is more to come ❤ thank you for reading!