CHAPTER TEN

We tried out dresses upon dresses. Steph was able to find a beautiful dress with a high slit on the side.

" What about this one?" I looked at Stephanie's hands. In one there was a beautiful red gown with a slit at the side, in the other was a short off-shoulder blue gown.

" I will go with the blue gown. Blue was my mom's favorite." Stephanie smiled at me, giving the red gown back to the attendant.

I pulled out my card to pay, but Stephanie beat me to it. " Steph, no. You have done so much for me and I can pay for my dress".

" I know you can, so just take it as a graduation gift." I looked at her disapprovingly. She rolled her eyes and threw a kiss in my direction. After that, she paid, and we headed to the food court for lunch.

After getting our food and picking a table, I noticed three guys sitting a few tables down from us. They looked huge and scary. One was on the phone, looking at us as he talked to whomever was on the other side of the phone. My eyes gazed over the three of them and stopped at the wrist of one of them, who had a similar tattoo to one I had seen before, of a skull with a V in the middle . Isn't that it?

My face is drained of color. They were Sin's men.

" Mani, are you okay?, What are you looking at? " I zoned back in and quickly looked at Stephanie, stopping her from looking back.

I stuttered out nervously, "n..no, it's nothing."

" Are you sure you look kind of pale?" she asked again, accessing my face. I put on a fake smile, hoping she would fall for it.

" I'm okay, just tired," I let out, still with a smile on my face.

Steph let out with a pout on her face, "I wish I was graduating with you. It sucks that I still have one more year."

"Oh boo boo, I'm sure you will be okay," I said, laughing at her dramatic behavior.

" Why did I have to a year off?" she whined.

"If I remembered correctly, you wanted to see the world."

"Ugh..., why..." She groaned dramatically.

I laughed out loud at " ask yourself." I'm really going to miss her a lot, but this was the only way to keep them safe.

♡♡♡♡

Finally, it is the day of my graduation and I would be lying if I said I wasn't freaking the hell out. The hall was filled with people, and I couldn't think straight. There were like five people in front of me when I wanted there to be like a hundred. I definitely did not want to fall on my way up the stage. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm myself.

"Normani Parker".

I heard my name and I took off walking towards the stage. I smiled, looking down at Steph screaming. Everyone was clapping their hands. I was so grateful for it.

I shook hands with the president of the school before grabbing my diploma. He congratulated me, and I thanked him. I looked at the camera and smiled before walking off the stage. That wasn't so bad at all.

After the calling of names and throwing of caps, we were finally able to mingle with families.

I hugged my aunt Sera tight and she laughed, rocking me from side to side. When we exited the hall, she was waiting for me along with Stephanie's parents with a big bouquet of flowers, bringing tears to my eyes.

"Congratulations." She handed me the flower.

"Thanks, Aunt Sera."

" You look stunning," Amelia, Stephanie's mom, complimented.

"Thanks Aunt Amelia, you look beautiful like you haven't aged a day." I walked towards her, giving her a bone-crushing hug before letting go of her.

" Congratulations kiddo, your parents will be so proud." Carson, Stephanie's dad spoke, hugging me in the process. He placed a light kiss on the top of my head.

"Move, move. It's my turn," Stephanie whined, dragging me out of her dad's hold.

" There are enough hugs to go round, Steph," I cooed playfully.

" I don't care," she grumbled childishly, hugging me as tight as she could.

" Stephanie Maria King, let the poor girl breathe," Amelia scolded, making aunt Sera and uncle Carson laugh.

We all let out a laugh, enjoying the moment.

"You act like you didn't see me before the ceremony. We drove together, Steph. Remember. "

" I know, I'm just so happy and proud of you. Bestie. I'm really going to miss you when you leave. " Steph said, grabbing my hand and giving it a light squeeze. " Come on, let's take some pictures."

We all gathered around, taking various kinds of pictures, making silly faces, and I felt really happy.