Graduation

Graduation has arrived, not to mention it was three days until you turn 18, three days until you could escape Sam. You're walking through the school hallways with Tara.

"Are you excited?" She smiles.

"For?" You ask.

"Your birthday." Tara gives you an excited look.

"Yes, I'd prefer a party but I'm not like the cool kids, so me, you and Sam having dinner is fine." You respond.

"What's wrong?" Tara asks.

"Nothing, I'm fine." You sigh.

"Liv, I know you, something is bugging you." Tara looks sympathetic at you.

"I just wish Nate and I weren't enemies and that Sam would be okay with him, he freaked out when we had dinner." You explain sadly.

"He's just looking out for you." Tara explains.

"Are you seriously defending him?" You stare at your best friend in shock.

"No, I'm just not taking sides." Tara remarks.

"What happened to my side, like you said at dinner." You remind her.

"I was mad at Sam. I thought he'd snap out of it." She remarks.

"Whatever, T. I'll see you later." You remark sadly.

"See you later." Tara replies looking guilty.

You head off walking, you don't really focus on where you're going you just walk, you end up on the football pitch.

"GET OFF THE FIELD!" The coach screams at you.

"Sorry coach." You call back, nervously.

You scurry to the bleachers. You watch the football team, Nate notices you and gives you a nod. 'why do we have to fight?' Nate jogs over to you as soon as practice ended.

"Hey, sup?" Nate gives you a smile and a little nod.

"I just needed to think." You reply.

"I know your birthday is coming up." Nate replies shyly.

"You remembered?" You gasp."

"Well, if I didn't I'd forget my own birthday, I'm having a party, maybe I'll see you there?" Nate laughs.

"Probably not, thanks to Sam, I gotta go, see you later." You reply sadly.

"Oh, yeah, sure, see you later Yates." Nate replies.

You hurry off. As you're walking through the corridor you crash into what feels like a brick wall.

"Watch where you're going." The boy spits.

"Zack" You gasp.

"Olivia!" He stands in shock.

"Sorry, I have to go." You reply hastily.

"Wait, can we talk, please?" Sam gives you a pleading look.

"Okay, we should probably talk." You smile.

"Yeah, I want to say I'm sorry." Zack looks at you embarrassed.

"It's cool." You remark, you're too tired for drama.

"Good because I thought you were pissed at me." Zack remarks.

"Eh, I still am but I want to be civil, so we can be friends." You smile again. Without another word you walk off down the corridor.

You continue walking, today has been pretty eventful. You head to the graduation ceremony. Once the ceremony is over you begin to head home but you're stopped in your tracks.

"Happy graduation, Taylor is having a party." Tara hops on the spot.

"Okay, since when did you like Taylor?" You give her a confused look.

"Erm, I don't but Sam is going and he extended the invite." Her expression unsure.

"Thanks but I think I'll pass, I have stuff I need to do." You wave off the idea of Taylors party.

"Come, it will be fun." Tara insists.

"Fine, for five minutes." You roll your eyes, Tara shrieks with excitement.

You head back to your house quickly to find something to wear.

"We have to find something killer for you to wear." Tara exclaims.

"Why it's just Taylors party." You remark.

"Exactly, we have to make a good impression." Tara smiles.

"Back to what I was saying, why? It's Taylor, I don't care what she thinks." You smirk.

"Well, Zack will be there." Tara smiles.

"Okay, I still don't want to go." You reply.

"Nate was invited." She smiles again.

"So was half the school, you're really annoying." You laugh.

"Fine." Tara laughs.

You and Tara sing and giggle while getting changed. You spot Nate out of your window, looking up at you, he smirks. 'He heard me singing crap.' Then you spot a girl behind him. 'of course Taylor is with him.' You step back quickly, turning to Tara.

"Let's go, time for the party." You smile.

You head out and climb into the car with Sam and Tara, you head to the graduation party.

"This is just a rager." You laugh as you enter the beautiful mansion.

"So, come on, Zack is playing never have I ever." Tara gestures to Zack and a group of people seated in a circle. You sit next to Zack and Nate, right in between them.

Zack kicks off the game, spinning the bottle, it lands on Taylor, he hesitates and then heads to kiss her.

"Unlucky man." Nate laughs.

Sam appears next to Tara.

"Don't tell me you're joining us" You remark.

"Yeah and?" Sam replies.

You ignore Sam and place yourself back between Zack and Nate.

"I'm gonna need a drink." You blurt out.

After an hour of playing, you're fairly drunk. You head to the kitchen and overhear Nate and Zack talking.

"Someone has to take her home." Nate mutters.

"I'll do it." Zack giddy volunteers.

"Isn't she still pissed at you?" Nate remarks.

"I dunno, but I'll risk it to make sure she's safe." Zack smiles.

"Sure, just let me know she got home okay, otherwise I'll be up all night worrying." Nate asks him.

Zack walks out the kitchen and spots you. "Let's get you home." Zack laughs.

He helps you to his truck and drives you back home. You arrive at your house, you sit in Zack's car for a moment.

"You best get inside, I'll let Sam know you're home, have a good birthday tomorrow." Zack smiles.

"how'd you know it's my birthday tomorrow?" You ask, confused.

"Sam told me." Zack chuckles.

"Oh, thanks." You climb out of Zack's truck and head to bed.

The next morning you're woken up by Tara, excitedly pounding on your door.

"Happy birthday! WAKEY WAKEY!" Tara hammers on your door.

"Ugh, what time is it?" You call out, felling rough after last night.

"11am, we have a birthday breakfast to go to." her tone still humming with excitement.

"It's gonna be more of a birthday brunch by the time I'm ready." You laugh.

"Fine, just hurry." Tara rushes you.

"Is my mystery date going to be there?" You ask.

"Yes!" Tara giggles.

You head to pick out some clothes, you spot Nate leaving his house. 'Maybe I should go say happy birthday to him, maybe he will be my mystery date.' You spend the next hour getting ready. You head off to the diner with Tara.

"Is Sam not coming?" You ask.

"He's meeting us there." Tara pulls you out of your house.

You arrive at the diner, you edge into a booth with Tara.

"So, can I have a clue as to who my mystery date is?" You laugh.

"Erm...no." Tar laughs.

"No fair." You pout.

You spot two trucks pull up outside of the diner. 'Sam and Nate?' Sam walks in, Nate following behind.

"Hey sis, your date will be in shortly." Sam smiles.

"Cool, I assumed it was Nate." You look sad about the fact it isn't him.

"No, he was just here coincidentally." Sam frowns.

"Can he join us? it's his birthday too?" You ask, pleading with Sam.

"Sure, whatever." Sam huffs a little.

"Nate! Join us" You call Nate over.

"Oh, erm if you're sure." He glances at Sam.

"Yeah, come over." You wave to Nate.

As Nate approaches your table, so does Zack.

"Hey have you ordered yet?" Zack asks.

"Nah man sit down." Sam gestures to a seat.

Zack notices Nate is waiting to sit down too.

"Whose sitting where?" Zack asks you.

"Nate can sit with me, if you want to pull up a chair Zack." You smile at him.

Nate scooches in next to you and Sam grabs a spare chair from a nearby table, you all order.

"I hope you're not sticking around all day." Sam snaps.

"SAM!" You frown at him.

"What, we planned for four and now Nate's here." Sam huffed.

"Nate's my friend and it's his birthday too." Nate smiles at you while Sam mutters under his breath.

"You should join us Nate." Tara blurts out, you glance over to her, she smiles at you.

"I don't want to intrude but you're all welcome to come to my party later." Nate smiles.

"We will be there." Tara smiles at him while Sam frowns at Tara.

"Thanks for brunch, I should be going." Nate hugs you and heads out.

"See you later." You call out.

"Sure, I'll text you." He smiles as he leaves the diner, you wave at him.

Tara beams at you, you turn to Zack.

"Just because you're here and we talked don't think I forgive you yet." You snap.

"I don't expect you to." Zack replies.

You all head out of the diner, your birthday goes smoothly, you head home for Nate's birthday. You enter Nate's there's half the school at the party, you take a seat on the sofa. Nate heads towards you.

"Thanks for coming." Nate smiles at you.

"Oh, thanks for inviting me." You grin.

"No Sam or Zack?" Nate looks past you to double check they aren't there.

"Nope, neither of them are my keepers." You laugh.

"Cool, can I get you a drink?" Nate smiles at you.

"Sure." Nate walks off towards the kitchen, Tara slides onto the sofa beside you.

"You look very happy." She giggles.

"T! When did you get here?" You gasp.

"A few minutes ago." She giggles again.

"Where's Sam?" You ask.

"We are on a break." Tara explains calmly.

"Why?" You look shocked.

"I was tired of him acting like a child and I wanted to be there for you as a friend, plus I'm going to a different college than you so I wanted to make the most of our time together." She explains.

"We have the summer together." You reassure her.

"About that, my parents are moving me closer to my college, I leave tomorrow." She tells you sadly.

"I can't get through summer without you." You almost cry.

"I'll still come for thanksgiving." Tara tries to reassure you.

"Sure." You feel deflated.

"Anyway, let's make the most of tonight, spin the bottle?" She beams.

"Fine." You laugh.

Tara grabs an empty bottle, Nate comes back in.

"A drink for my..." Nate stops as he sees Tara.

"Your what?" Tara gasps.

"Olivia, she wanted a drink." Nate blushes.

"Sure, join us we are playing spin the bottle." Tara explains to Nate.

"No Sam?" Nate asks.

"They are on a break." You explain.

You play spin the bottle, it lands on Nate, you kiss his cheek and dip away.

"I should go, it's late." You blush.

"I'll take you home." Tara smiles.

Tara walks you next door, before hugging you and leaving, she promised to keep in touch with you.