A Summer to Remember

 
    CHAPTER 1

    H ow can what was supposed to be one of the best days of my life turn into one of the worst days in just a matter of hours?
    Today was the day I’d been working toward for the last eighteen years…high school graduation. I jumped out of bed with all different emotions running through me. I was excited and happy to move on and become an adult, but I was also a little sad because I would be leaving behind one of the best times of my life.
    I was supposed to meet everyone at Lily’s house before the ceremony so we could take pre-graduation pictures. Lily is one of my best friends and has been since the second grade. We’ve spent almost every weekend together since we met; we share a bond like sisters. We look and act like complete opposites, but I think that’s why we’ve always gotten along so well. I’m average as far as height goes, fair skinned and have light brown hair that reaches the middle of my back. She’s short, tan and has shoulder-length bleached blonde hair. We have so much in common we are even dating twin brothers. She’s dating Steven, the tall, skinny, dark-haired one and I’m dating the tall but muscular, blond-haired one, Jason.
    After I jumped out of the shower, I blow-dried and curled my hair, put on some makeup and pulled on my black and white knee-length dress. I slipped into a pair of black wedges that Lily and I had spent weeks looking for—they matched my cap and gown perfectly. I grabbed the hanger with the neatly pressed gown and headed out the door.
    As I pulled into my usual parking spot outside of Lily’s house, I saw Jason’s cherry red Jeep already in the driveway. I ran up the front walk and in the front door.
    “Sorry I’m late!” I yelled as I walked through the living room to the kitchen.
    “It just wouldn’t be right if you were on time, even on the day like this,” Lily said with a smirk.
    “Hey babe!” I walked over and kissed Jason on the cheek. I couldn’t help but smile as I admired him in his dark wash jeans and green button up shirt. I’d always loved that shirt, it really brought out the color of his eyes.
    “Hey…Can we start the pictures already?” He turned to walk out the door. I grabbed his hand right before he was out of reach.
    “Is something wrong?” I could tell right away something was bothering him.
    “No, I’m fine. You know how much I hate waiting on you.” I do have a habit of being late for…well, everything. No matter how hard I try to break the habit, I can’t seem to kick it.
    “I said I’m sorry,” I pleaded as I grabbed his arm and gave him my best pouty lips and ‘I’m sorry’ eyes.
    “Yeah, you always do. Let’s get this done so we can go.” He pulled his arm away and he and Steven headed out to the backyard where Lily’s parents and my parents were chatting.
    “Um…What was that all about? Are you guys fighting or something?” Lily whispered as we followed them.
    “No. I don’t think so. Last night everything was fine.” I recalled our conversation from last night and tried to think of anything I said or did that might have pissed him off. Nothing came to mind.
    “Hm…Well, maybe he’s just nervous or having a bad day.” Lily gave me a half smile. I could tell even she didn’t believe what she’d just said.
    “Yeah, maybe…” I knew there had to be something else going on. I’d gotten to know Jason pretty well during the last four years, mood swings and all. We’d been together since freshman year. The first two years were pretty rocky, we were off and on, well, a lot. But nothing could keep us apart too long. He wouldn’t be thinking of breaking up with me, would he? The four of us had been planning on getting an apartment just off Brant University’s campus when we start school in the fall. We’d been talking about it since Lily started dating Steven a year ago.
    After we finished taking pictures with our parents, we jumped into Jason’s Jeep and headed to the school to get ready for the ceremony. Lily and Steven sat in back and talked about the upcoming parties tonight and sang along to the songs on the radio. I sat in front with Jason and we didn’t say two words to each other the whole way there. It just felt awkward.
    When we got to the school, Lily and Steven jumped out of the car and made their way through the excited mob of students to the auditorium. Jason started to get out of the car but I grabbed his arm.
    “Wait…what’s going on?” He pulled himself