Chapter 5: Head of the Class

Shayla

Shayla stood in front of the full-length mirror that adorned her bedroom door and zipped up her gown and straightened her cap.

It was graduation day. This was the day she had waited on since she could remember and it was finally here.

Her heart winced slightly as she thought of how proud her mother would be seeing her walk across the stage to get her diploma. But she would have neither of her parents there. Only Natalie, Matt and Hadley.

Even her grandfather had passed on last year. His health had drastically declined since losing Kinley.

But she was grateful for the support and love she received from those in her life. She didn't know where she would be without it.

"You look great. You ready to do this?" asked Evan as he stood in her doorway sporting his own cap and gown.

"I was born ready."

She slid her arm into his and walked out to the living room where Natalie and Matt were waiting like paparazzi to take millions of pictures of the two of them.

Evan and Shayla had gotten super close over the past couple of years. After Shayla had put her feelings aside and Evan had realized she just needed time, their friendship blossomed. He was her best friend and she couldn't imagine graduating alongside anyone else.

They all piled into Natalie's large SUV and headed to the high school. It was a glorious spring day. It wasn't too cold or too warm and not a rain cloud in sight.

They pulled into the already busting parking lot. They found a spot not too far out and walked to the football field.

Natalie pulled Shayla in for a hug and tried to fight back her proud tears.

"You are such an amazing woman. I am so proud of you. Your mom would be too. She's watching you today."

"Thanks, Aunt Natalie. I know she is. I feel her," said Shayla.

It was true. Shayla felt warmth around her today. She knew it was her mom holding her. It put her at ease for the upcoming event.

"Ready to head in, Shayla?" asked Evan.

"You betcha!"

They left Natalie, Matt, and Hadley to go find their seats while they headed up front to theirs. Once it got close to time, a hush came over the crowd.

They started announcing students as they got in line and one by one went across the stage, got their diploma and shook the Principal Stewart's hand.

It was getting close to Shaya's turn. They had announced all the students with names starting with D and now they were on to the E names.

She was standing at the edge of the stage. She was next. Her heart raced with excitement.

"Shayla Ellis."

She stepped up and made her way to Mr. Stewart. She took the diploma and shook his hand. She then turned to the crowd. She saw the sun setting behind them. She wasn't sad. It didn't hurt as much. In fact, it made her feel closer to her mom.

Shayla's eyes ran across the crowd. She found her family cheering and waving. She waved back. Then she saw him.

Her dad.

He was several rows behind the rest of her family. They acted like they had no idea he was there. She felt faint. All the blood seemed to rush to her feet and she could barely keep her balance. Everything became blurry.

Evan pushed his way through the line to get to her. He caught her just as she started to fall.

"My--my--dad."

Those were the only words she could get out of her mouth. She looked up into Evan's green eyes and she had never been more thankful to be lost in them.

For a second, she was madly in love with this man for being there. She wished like crazy that she could convince herself that he would always stay. But she couldn't.

Evan pulled her to her feet. Mr. Stewart made sure she was all right before he let her walk off the stage. Natalie and the rest of the family were waiting at the bottom of the stairs.

"Are you okay? What happened?" asked Matt as he held his hand out for her to hold onto.

"I think so. I don't know what happened. I think all the excitement went to my head."

She knew she couldn't tell anyone that she thought she saw her father. They'd think she was nuts. She thought she was nuts. She hadn't heard from or seen him in over two years now.

Hadley wrapped his arms around her legs.

"I love you, Sissy. You scared me."

"I didn't mean to, little man," said Shayla as she pulled her brother close.

"Well, as long as you are okay, we are going back to our seats," said Natalie.

The family went and sat down next to Evan's mom as they waited on his turn to get his diploma. Shayla sat back in her seat but kept peering over her shoulder.

Had she imagined it? Had she wanted him there so badly that she conjured a vison of her father at her graduation?

Even if he had shown what would she even say to him?

She had two years of unanswered questions for him.

She watched her best friend, her secret love, walk across the stage to get his diploma. She couldn't have been prouder. He came to this town, new, and flourished. She watched as everyone clapped and hollered his name. All the while, she couldn't stop staring at his beautiful smile. The happiness radiated from it. She wished so badly right then that she could get past her issues. But thinking she saw her father earlier ignited the problem all over again.

Maybe she was letting the most perfect love of her life slip away, but there was nothing she could do to stop it.