The Sweetest Thing (gxg)

Part 20

If you told me when I was a freshman that I would be beyond relieved to graduate high school, I wouldn't have believed you.

But I was so relieved and just ready to get on with my life. There was nothing I wanted more than to just start college, and not feel trapped in high school, like I had for so long.

The ceremony, held in the gymnasium, was long and boring. Vivienne and I had one person between us. And when her name got called out, I couldn't help but to clap and cheer. She flashed me a smile, seeing me clap.

After graduation, my mom and Kenneth took me and my siblings out to dinner. And the next night, my dad and Nicole did the same.

I didn't really know what to do with myself, now that I graduated. I had plans to get a job in college, but not the summer before. Neither did Vivienne.

Weeks after graduation, right before July 4th, Vivienne asked me if I wanted to go to the beach with her. During the winter, Vivienne's parents had gotten a condo in Ventnor Beach.

My dad, Nicole, and Bella were visiting Nicole's parents in Ocean City, Maryland- so even though it was a Friday, I didn't have to tell them where I was going.

"We can watch the fireworks." Vivienne said, "Even though I don't really appreciate fireworks, they scare animals. And there's not too much to celebrate in America, the land of the 'free'." Vivienne rolled her eyes.

"You're not going to wear an American flag bikini?" I asked jokingly.

Vivienne sneered, "No way in hell would you ever catch me in one of those. If you do, you know something is seriously wrong."

The beach was about an hour and a half from where Vivienne and I live, and we were going to possibly spend the night at the beach condo, depending on how tired we were. Vivienne drove us to the beach, and we stopped along the way at Wawa for a sweet snack.

"I think my sweet tooth has increased significantly since meeting you." I said, taking a sip of my vanilla chai.

Vivienne chuckled, "Often a side effect of spending time with me."

The condo down at the beach was very nice. It was in a Spanish style building, and it was on the second floor with a large deck. There was also a pool in the community.

Vivienne was fixing together some water bottles with sliced cucumber and lemon to bring to the beach, when her mother called her.

"Hello?" Vivienne answered.

There was a pause and then Vivienne said, "Yes. We're at the beach house."

Vivienne then rolled her eyes, "Really? You and Aunt Christine are coming here tonight?"

Another pause and then Vivienne said, "No. We weren't going to spend the night. Just here to watch the fireworks. Okay. Bye."

She hung up the phone and then said, "I'm sorry, I would have liked to spend the night here. But my mom is coming down with her younger sister, my Aunt Christine. Who is an even more materialistic version of my mom that also dresses like a 25 year old. She had my cousin Hayden when she was 18, and is now living her young adult years as a 40 year old."

I couldn't help but to laugh at Vivienne's description, "We can definitely try to avoid them, then."

"That's the plan." Vivienne said, "Want to walk around and explore? I've never been to this beach."

Ventnor Beach is right next to Margate Beach, which has a lot of small shops and restaurants. Vivienne and I found a small restaurant that sold seafood, and she got an ahi tuna poke salad, and I got a grilled shrimp salad with mango salsa.