Elena
“So, you’re a high school graduate now,” Viper teases as he sips on his morning coffee.
With a spoonful of corn flakes, I mutter, “I haven’t gotten my diploma yet.”
He just smiles as a response since it will only be mere hours until I hold that diploma in my hand.
It’s still surreal after all the events that have happened in such a short time that I am finally graduating high school.
No more drama. I’ll be able to leave this small town full of gossip behind me and attend a college in a bigger town where no one knows who I am. I can start from scratch all over again.
The university is only about four hours away, I’d like to try and come back on some weekends to visit with Viper…
He’d be the only one. Ovid is going off to some college in South Carolina and who knows what Declan will be involved in, what with his father and everything he plans to do.
I suppose there is Rose. I could visit her while I’m here from time to time to see how she is doing.
Then there is Paul and the rest of the Devil’s Henchmen, all of whom seem to be a full-fledged club again – under Jace.
Jace. I haven’t seen him since I broke down in his arms on Mike’s front porch…
While slurping the rest of the milk in my bowl, Oreo watches carefully in case I spill. Deciding to be nice to the pup, I leave just a little bit of milk in the bowl and set it on the floor for him. After the command of “Okay,” he speeds over to lick the contents.
When Oreo is done, I retrieve the bowl to rinse it out in the sink. The feeling of being watched grabs my attention once more. It seems to be a regular occurrence. I know the Devil’s Henchmen keeps an eye on me, but this feeling is different, almost as if I have some kind of a cosmic pull to whoever is lurking in the shadows, spying on me.
With tense eyes, I search the perimeter of the yard and field from here to the church through the window over the sink.
There’s nothing out of the ordinary. As I turn around to face the blond man at the table, still nursing his coffee while reading the newspaper, I blurt, “I think I’m being watched.”
He freezes with the mug at his lips while his baby blues drag from the newspaper to my posture. “How so?” After a slow sip, he places the mug back on the table with a light thunk.
My nose scrunches as I think of the words to describe it. “I don’t feel violated or threatened, just… watched. Like someone is spying on me, almost.”
“Where do you feel it?”
“All around here.” I don’t mention prom night. “At school sometimes, but mostly here.”
“Do you feel it in your room?” The question is odd, especially with the low growl of his voice. Then I think that it’s a valid question coming from a father figure having a young daughter.
Narrowing my eyes at him, I slowly answer him. “No.” That’s the only spot that I don’t feel it. Well, the bathroom, too, but there are no windows in there…
Visually, I see his relief. “Well, maybe it’s not a person. Perhaps there is simply a being watching over you from beyond the grave.” He suggests it nonchalantly as if this sort of feeling is normal.
“Like a guardian angel?” Or a ghost?
Mike’s ghost.
His lips purse in thought. “Perhaps.”
Leaning against the counter for a moment, I wonder if ghosts are something that could be real… Viper doesn’t seem to have any more suggestions for the subject as he lifts his newspaper back up.
I’m losing my mind. Perhaps it’s all just in my head.
Mentally, I shake my thoughts away to freshen up in my room before we need to leave for the graduation ceremony. On the bed, from this morning, I placed a white sundress with purple flowers and my navy-blue graduation gown.
I always thought that Rachel and I would venture through our graduation day together. I should call her tonight. Her graduation day isn’t until next Friday.
After getting dressed, I grab my cap with the orange tassel, my white heels, and the charm bracelet from Mike, then make my way back downstairs.
I find comfort in wearing the charm bracelet, it’s like he’s here with me. I also wear the t-shirts of his that I might have stolen from him every night when I sleep.
By the time I reach the last step, I hear Viper yell, “Elena, time to go!”
“Coming!” I shout back as I clasp my bracelet into place. Man, I miss him.
My dad, too.
Straightening my shoulders, determined not to cry today, I walk through the kitchen, then Oreo’s head perks up from hearing my heels click on the wood floor. As I squat before him, I rub his ears and tell him what a good boy he is, then head out the door. Upon closing it, I notice a small white box with a navy-blue ribbon tied in a perfect bow resting next to the welcome mat.
I bend over to pick up the small box as the engine of Viper’s pickup truck roars to life. With the box in hand, I notice an ‘E’ written next to the bow. Taking that means it’s for me, I unwrap the ribbon then separate the boxes. Inside, on a small white cushion is a tiny charm. It’s a chrome graduation cap with ‘20’ engraved on the back for the year of my class.
My heart thumps in my chest so loudly that I can’t hear my own thoughts. Who gave this to me?
Then I see a small note folded and tucked in the crevice of the box and the cushion. Upon removing it, I unfold the white paper to find words typed out: Congratulations, best wishes XO.
As I descend the stairs of the porch for the truck idling in the driveway, I open the door then climb in. I hold the charm up for Viper to see. “Is this from you?” I question it, but deep down, I know the answer.
“No, it’s not from me.” He seems grim about it, but maybe it’s because we’re running a little late. While he backs out of the driveway, I clasp it on my bracelet; it has to be from someone I know – someone who knows I have a charm bracelet.
That could be anyone. Declan, Rose, Ovid… any man in the club.
But why be so secretive about it?
*****
Pomp and Circumstance sound from the live band as we walk in a single file line from behind the staging area to the rows of seats in the brightly lit auditorium.
I search the crowd for Viper. Once I see him, I wave. Then I notice the Devil’s Henchmen in all their leather glory hooting and hollering for my attention a few rows back from Viper. Straight away, my face flushes as I see Tick, Paul, Ron, Squirrelly, Brent, and a few others that I’ve seen around but haven’t actually met…and then a face I never thought I’d see again.
Jace.
Knowing who he works for, has my stomach churn as I reach my hard plastic seat. Why is Jace here? I know he’s president of the club, but he didn’t have to be here.
Annoyed, I brush it off, then a sudden cold feeling spikes my nerves. Declan is graduating, meaning Randall is here. Of course, he’d be here. His son is graduating from high school. What kind of father wouldn’t be at his kid’s graduation?
Hopefully, Randall.
Immediately, panic has me searching the crowd for those malicious eyes. But I don’t see him. I do see Declan as he waves at me from a few rows back. Then I see Ovid take her seat with a bright, happy smile.
My panic dies down once I see Viper and my friends from the Devil’s Henchmen once more.
The downfall of having my last name starting with a ‘C’ is the fact that after I receive my diploma, I have to wait for the principal to go through the whole alphabet.
I thank my lucky stars that it’s a relatively small school.
When my row is called, we follow each other in a single file line to the side of the stage. One by one, our names are called out while we walk across the stage to shake the principal’s hand, then receive our diploma.
For an entire few seconds the whole auditorium will be looking at me – I hate being the center of attention and, in this moment, as my name is the next to be called, I hope to God that I won’t trip walking across that stage.
Don’t forget to move your tassel to the other side of your head!
My nails are itching to be picked, but I painted them a white color last night to match my dress; I’d hate to ruin them. So, I settle on picking at the nylon string hanging from my gown sleeve.
“Elena Marie Cochran.” Just like that, my name is spoken into the microphone. As I step up onto the stage, I concentrate on not tripping on my own feet – the lights are bright and hot!
The hooting, hollering, and whistling fills the hall causing heat to swarm my cheeks upon already feeling warm from the stage lights. I am thankful that most of the audience has their attention on the large-sized bodies making noise than on me.
Thanks, guys. My heart swells with the knowledge that these guys managed to ease most of the attention away from me – knowing I hate a bunch of eyes on me.
After taking my diploma and shaking the hand of our principal, she says, “Congratulations, Elena.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Errp.” Continuing my walk down the stage, I take my steps to the seat I once occupied before to wait out the rest of the senior class.
At the end of the valedictorian’s speech, he says, “Congratulations class of two thousand and twenty, we made it!”
The whole class cheers and throws their caps in the air. I follow suit – why not?
My fellow classmates hug each other and take pictures together – that’s when I feel it. That same presence.
Searching the room amongst the chaos and cheers, I see a man in a doorway a few yards away. The black baseball cap is dipped below his eyes, the thin line of his lips are surrounded by a shortly trimmed beard; he’s wearing everything black. Long sleeves and gloves.
He’s so familiar.
I know him.
It’s then that he lifts his face so I can see those green eyes. There is no expression, the man is simply staring.
“Mike?” I question aloud breathlessly, though I know it can’t be true.
“Elena!” A high-pitched voice squeals as arms are thrown around me. The vision of Ovid hugging my frame diverts me from the man of my past. “We did it! Oh my gosh – we need to take a picture.” Ovid whips out her phone to take a selfie of us. I try to smile, but my mind is still reeling from seeing Mike –
No, not Mike. He’s dead. It couldn’t have been him.
Oh, no. I’m hallucinating again.
After the click, I turn my head towards the same door where I saw the man standing a few seconds before the distraction of the bubbly redhead.
No one’s there.
He vanished.
I’m going insane.
***I apologize for only posting one chapter. It's all I can do right now. I've had a sudden death in the family - not COVID related. I am in a writers block at the moment. I'm not sure when my next update will be.
Thank you for reading! I hope the story gives you joy and an escape from reality***
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