When we don't know who to turn to, sometimes we turn to the ones we least expect.
Luke Salazar is a senior at Bay High School, and he's been pushed, shoved, and shut out for most of his life. Miles Jefferson has been the ringleader of a lot of that...
AP tests start tomorrow. We were supposed to have had our AP Euro test back in March, but they moved it due to technical difficulties. So now, instead of just three AP tests this week, I have four: AP Euro tomorrow, AP Calculus Tuesday, AP Government Wednesday, and AP Physics Thursday. I felt like I was going to pull my hair out at any moment.
If I wanted to maintain my place as valedictorian, I'd have to ace each of these. Miles and I had studied our asses off for AP Euro, I felt relatively comfortable with Calculus, Government would be a breeze, but I was actually pretty nervous about AP Physics.
Jack jumped on the bed, and I stroked his golden fur as I spiraled deeper into thought. No matter how much I tried to concentrate on my physics study guide, my thoughts kept going back to James.
"Rachel?" my dad was saying.
I looked at him in the mirror behind me as I attempted to clasp the pearls around my neck. I was getting frustrated—my hands were shaking so badly I couldn't seem to use my fine motor skills.
"Let me help you," he said gently, walking to me and fastening the pearls at the back of my neck.
I smiled dully. "Thanks, Daddy."
"No problem, sweetheart." He sighed deeply and straightened his black and grey tie as I smoothed my knee length black dress.
"Daddy, I don't know if I can do this," I sighed, sitting on the edge of my bed.
He sat down, putting his arm around me, and I rested my head on his shoulder. "I know, it's going to be the hardest day of our lives," he whispered. "But we have to stay strong; James would want that."
I nodded. "You're right." We both exhaled at the same time, preparing to face the day – the day we'd say goodbye.
"To close the service, James' sister Rachel will sing 'The Dance,' her brother James' favorite song," Brother Lawson said, waving me to the front of the chapel.
My breath stopped short in my throat as I stood up, making my way to the front like I was in a dream. A horrible, tragic dream.
I couldn't bring myself to smile; I closed my eyes as the music started and I began to sing.
I sang with all the love in my heart, the pain, the grief, the anger. The room had disappeared around me, and I was pouring every bit of emotion from my heart.
When the last notes of the song rang through the speakers, I opened my eyes to see my mother doubled over in tears, my father holding her close to his chest. I stepped blindly to them, not able to see through my tears, dropping to my knees in front of them.
We sobbed...for the loss of our precious James, the unfairness of it all, and for the pure fact that all we had now were memories.
When my phone vibrated, I came back to the present.
I picked it up and smiled when I saw Miles' name flash on the screen.
Hey Rach, I just wanted to tell you sweet dreams...and not to stress about AP Euro—or any of the four tests you have this week. You've got this, baby girl.
Aww, thank you Miles...you're going to do great too, I know it. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?
Can't wait. I love you.
I love you too.
God, I hoped he was right...
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