“Ugh,” I groaned from my spot on the living room floor, a makeup mirror sitting between my thighs that I was using to try and braid part of my hair, “Pai! I can’t figure this out!”

“Well, I need you to,” Kieran called back from my parents' room, “We have to get to school in thirty minutes. It’s graduation day!”

“Yeah, yeah.”

After my junior year ended on a heartbreaking note due to Caleb and me finally sharing the fact that those years of teasing and being mean to each other had slowly caused us to fall in love, I finally started my last year of high school. It was a bittersweet time, missing the poems he had written for me every day. I kept every one I had in a copy of my favorite book, Pride and Prejudice. Harlow and I were finally graduating high school today and had made decisions on what to do going forward, but I was still unsure of mine, not wanting to leave the Atlanta area if Caleb ever came back. I had enrolled at the University of Georgia in Athens to become a social worker, wanting to help children in foster care after Caleb had shared with me that he was one of them. Harlow was staying in Sandy Springs for now, planning to attend a technical school to become a paramedic. The reason I picked the University of Georgia was mostly due to the fact that my sister Frankie was in her second year there as a journalism major, and I thought it would be nice to stay close to her. Fern was officially a hairstylist, working with Kieran everyday to finish her true training, and had a really nice boyfriend now named Carlos that we had met a few times.

“Pai!” I whined again, and Kieran finally came out, sitting behind me and French braiding a long piece of white ribbon into the left side of my hair in no time flat, the rest hanging loose around my upper back, “See, was that so hard?”

“No, but you’ll have to learn eventually.”

“I bet I won’t!”

“Get dressed,” Kieran laughed, and I scrambled up to get my outfit on for graduation this afternoon, happy to have my own room for the first time in my life now that Fern had moved out.

My parents were talking to Harlow as I dressed myself and I caught the tail end of the conversation, Frankie apparently calling us her babies.

“We’re a year apart. We’re not her babies,” I yelled, coming into the room in the outfit I spent a better part of a month putting together with Ren.

I had bought a pair of tan linen pants, the legs incredibly wide and almost looking like a skirt when I stood still. Ren helped me to pair this with a long-sleeved, white, Victorian-style shirt, the chest having ruffles across it and the neck high, buttoning just under my chin. I then tied a bow of black ribbon around my neck, the bottom pieces hanging down just a bit. Ren had bought me a new pair of black penny loafers as a graduation gift, and the outfit was complete.

“Most people wear suits or dresses to graduation, ya know?” Harlow teased.

“If I don’t move, I’m wearing a skirt,” I laughed, “At least I’m dressed better than you. Royal blue shirt?”

“School colors. Football team all dressed up together,” Harlow shrugged.

“Ah, got it. Okay, we gotta go. Dad, Pai, be there at noon! You’ll find seats better that way,” Grabbing the keys to the silver Prius my parents had bought me for my 18th birthday, I raced out of the house, Harlow following the keys to his truck.

We headed to school, parking in our assigned spots, and went inside to our homerooms. We weren’t going to have any classes today, but we still needed to be on time in order to gather on the field in time at noon.

There was a large lunch for every senior, catered by a few different restaurants, and I ate with Harlow and Gracie, the two of them still together two years later. I had brought the last note that Caleb had written me in my pocket, holding it gently as I ate my food, looking around the room.

“I can’t believe we graduate today,” Gracie squealed.

“Right? It’s been a long year,” Harlow sighed, looking up at the ceiling as he rested his arm on the back of her chair, “Then you leave for Florida.”

“We’ll make it work, don’t worry,” She giggled, kissing his cheek.

“Yeah. I know.”

There was an announcement a bit later that all seniors were needed to the field, and as we walked into the stadium, we stopped to check in and get our graduation caps and gowns. I was then told to go to a separate table and given three cords, one for being cheer captain the last two years, one for being the baseball captain, and finally a third for graduating salutatorian, the second highest of any senior behind a girl named Nina. I found my seat, settled directly in the middle of the field, Harlow four people down from me. I looked around for a while, finding our family and waving, grateful to see not only our parents and grandparents, but Fern, and the very people we called aunts and uncles: Halley, Jo, Tanner, Nick, and Mario. Halley was our actual aunt; she was Kieran’s younger sister, and Jo was her wife, making them true family. But Tanner, Nick, and Mario had been around our entire lives, calling us their family, and it meant the world to me.

After nearly an hour and a half, the L section was called to the stage, and I went up second, taking a shaky breath and waiting. I wasn’t a fan of having too much attention on me, knowing I was going to be sitting on stage for the rest of graduation, but it was worth it, as I had worked incredibly hard to get here.

“Aster Valentine Leclair, graduating salutatorian,” Headmaster Hanson smiled, and I crossed the stage, shaking her hand and accepting my diploma. “I am so proud of you,” she whispered.

“Thank you,” I whispered back and took my seat, waiting for Harlow.

“Harlow Rian Leclair!”

He bounced over and shook her hand before running to hug me and leaving the stage.

I scanned the crowd for no other reason than boredom before my gaze fell on something entirely out of place. It was a younger man, leaning against a pillar in the shadows, staring directly at me.

“Caleb,” I whispered, my eyes wide.

As soon as he realized I noticed that he was there, he winked, rolling his shoulders for a moment. I gave him a subtle wave, my face burning as I waited for the graduation to wrap up.

Harlow ran off to find our parents, and I raced to the pillar, pushing through the crowd of people until I finally reached Caleb, my heart racing as I gasped for air.

“Jesus, Little,” Caleb snorted, patting my back roughly, “You didn’t have to run, I wasn’t going anywhere.”

“Why are you here?” I gasped, putting a hand on my chest, “You told me we said our last goodbye.”

“I’ve never been good at that kind of thing,” he shrugged, pulling his ballcap off to run a hand through his now short hair, the waves blowing just a bit before he put it back on, “I knew you were graduating today and managed to get a day of leave to come see it. That’s all.”

“Wh-Where are you stationed?”

“Fort Benning. It only took me two hours to drive down.”

“Oh, is that… permanent?”

“No. I leave for… well, I can’t tell you, but I’ll be overseas for two years. I leave in two days, but I have to report to base by 8 tomorrow morning. I guess this is our final goodbye. For real this time. Being across an entire ocean makes it so I can’t come running back when I miss your smile.”

“Then… spend a bit of time with me tonight. If you don’t have to be back until tomorrow morning. I was invited to a pool party, but I wasn’t planning to go. I’ll just use it as a front to come see you.”

“Well,” he twirled one of my curls before smiling, “Alright. Meet me at the Hilton Garden Inn. I rented a room. No, I don’t plan to do anything. Remember, I don’t like you. It’s just an easy meeting spot. I’ll be waiting out front at seven.”

“I don’t like you either,” I whispered, and he pinched my cheek, tipped his hat, and left the stadium.

I raced to my family, Ren looking around for me before smiling when he realized I was close.

“There you are!”

“Sorry, I got lost in the crowd,” I laughed, my cap a bit crooked.

“You did so good,” He sniffled, kissing my forehead, “We are so proud of both of you.”

“Thank you,” I wiped my eyes, going around the family and giving hugs.

“Harlow!” Gracie yelled, running over and jumping onto him, her arms and legs wrapped fully around his torso.

“Hey, baby,” Harlow laughed, kissing her forehead, “We did it!”

“We did,” She giggled, jumping down, “Hi, Mr. and Mr. Leclair.”

“Hey, sweet pea,” Ren smiled, hugging her, “We’re proud of you, too. Are you ready to head to Florida State in the fall?”

“Mhm. Oh! I’m having a graduation party, did Harlow tell you?”

“He did not.”

“My parents said I can throw one at our house with all of my friends to swim. They’ll be there, just inside. We have a guest and pool house, but they’ll be off limits, scouts' honor. We’re grilling, getting pizza, and all kinds of food. No alcohol, I swear. I invited Harlow and Aster, and they both said they’d be there. I just wanted to ask you.”

“We don’t mind. No curfew, kids, just be safe,” Kieran smiled.

“Hell yes!” Harlow fist pumped as I giggled, “Okay, Gracie, let me go home and get my things, and I’ll come over to help you set up.”

“You’re the best,” she smiled, bright blue eyes glittering in the sunlight, “I’ll see you in a bit. Oh! Aster, don’t forget your swim bottoms.”

“I won’t,” I shook my head, waving as Gracie left, “How do I tell Gracie that I’m a horrible swimmer and will probably drown tonight?”

“Just stay in the shallow end or on the steps,” Harlow shrugged.

“Fine, fine.”

I felt horrible for lying to everyone, but my desire to see Caleb entirely outweighed those feelings. We headed home, and before Harlow left, I went into his room, closing and locking the door behind me.

“I need you to cover for me,” I whispered.

“Oh. For what?” He whispered back, eyes wide.

“I’m not coming to Gracie’s party. I’m going to dress like I am, but… there’s someone I want to go see. It’s my last chance to do it. I’ll be back late, but I need you to lie for me if our parents ask where I was. I get that we’re 18, but you know how they can be. Just tell them I was there and decided to stay later than you if they’re up when you get home.”

“Sure. Be safe, though, okay? You’ve covered for me enough when I would sneak out to see Gracie, I can manage one night.”

“Thanks.”

Harlow left, and I went to my room, packing a change of clothes into my satchel before throwing on a terry cloth button-up Ren had bought me for the beach and incredibly short black swim trunks. I put my hair into a high bun and grabbed my sunglasses, heading out to the living room to say goodbye.

“Those are not the trunks I bought you,” Kieran scowled.

“I’m 18, let me be,” I sighed, popping gum into my mouth, “They make my legs look nice and you can’t see anything.”

“Is that like a two-inch inseam?”

“Three,” I shrugged, grabbing a water bottle from the fridge, “Come on, Pai. You know I’m the least likely to get into anything out of all of us. I just want to look cute and hang out with my friends. The entire cheer squad is going to be there.”

“Well…”

“Let it go,” Ren whispered, and Kieran looked over at him, “They’re going to be fine.”

“Alright, alright. Just be safe and quiet when you come in tonight.”

“I will be. Love you!” I smiled, heading out the door.

I had some time before I agreed to meet Caleb and headed into Atlanta, stopping to get food and change my swim trunks and shirt for jeans and a flowy, ivory tank top with my boots. Seven p.m. rolled around, and as I pulled up outside, I found him waiting.

“You came,” he laughed, a bit surprised, “I thought you might change your mind.”

“Never,” Shaking my head, I walked closer, locking my car as I did, “Um… So, what’s the plan?”

“I have no idea. Did you eat?”

“I did.”

“Hm,” he held his hand out, and I took it, letting him pull me inside the hotel.

“Wait, how did you rent a room?”

“You only need to be 18,” Caleb shrugged, leading me to the elevator.

We reached his hotel room a few moments later, and I sat on the end of the bed, fidgeting. He joined me, nervously patting his thighs, and without looking, I reached over to take his hand, lacing our fingers together.

“Come with me,” Caleb whispered, and I finally looked over in surprise, “Pack up your stuff and come with me.”

“I can’t…”

“I’m leaving for Korea. I won’t be back for… 15 years at a minimum. This is my life plan, Aster. I want to stay in the Army until I retire. I want you to come with me, and we can get married… adopt a kid or two. Please…”

“I… No. I’m sorry,” I sniffled, and Caleb slowly nodded, “You know I love you, but this is… It’s not something I can do. I love my family too much to do that. I hope that you find everything you’re looking for. But I… Caleb, I think this is our final goodbye. You taught me a lot about patience and what love can be like. But we just… we’re on two different paths and that’s totally fine.”

“Why? Why can’t you just… be impulsive?”

“Because I know myself well enough that if I did this, I wouldn’t be happy after a while. I’d have you. But…”

“I’m not enough for you?” He whispered, meeting my gaze, “You’re enough for me.”

“That’s not what I mean. I don’t want to be separated from my parents, my brother, or any of my family. This isn’t something I can do, Caleb. I’m sorry. I know it probably hurts, and I will always have love for you, but… We’ll both meet someone new, someone we haven’t been wrapped around forever. We’re a bit co-dependent on each other. I had a lot of guys ask me out this year, and I said no because I was… I was hoping maybe you’d come back. We could try long-distance. I can come visit a lot.”

“It wouldn’t be the same,” he sighed, pressing a kiss to my forehead, “Do you feel ready to say our final goodbye?”

“I think I do. I think it’ll be for the best for both of us.”

“Me too. I see what you mean, finally,” he whispered, gently pinching my chin, “Can I at least give you a kiss? A final goodbye. A good memory of your first kiss.”

“I would love that.”

Caleb smiled, and I closed my eyes, laying my hand on his forearm as he slowly pressed his lips to mine. A soft sigh came from my throat, and Caleb smiled again, pulling back and resting his forehead on mine.

“First kiss for both of us,” he laughed, making me giggle, “Thank you for being honest and sparing both of our feelings. I hope you meet someone who takes such good care of you and loves you for who you are.”

“I want the same for you. Okay? Someone who understands the pain you went through and makes it softer.”

“I won’t be coming back to Georgia.”

“I know, and I won’t be leaving.”

“Take care of yourself, okay? I won’t be here to bully you into eating.”

“I’ll do my best.”

We held each other for a little while longer, Caleb gently rubbing my back before I decided it was time to leave. I was grateful I had stood my ground about staying here, knowing that if I ran away to be with him, I would eventually be miserable and miss my family.

“Goodbye,” Caleb whispered as we stood next to my car, and I stood on my toes to kiss his cheek.

“Bye. Try not to die in the army.”

“I’ll do my best. I’ll keep track of you online so I know you’re happy.”

“I’ll do the same.”