Not the Only One (Book 1 in the Four of Us Trilogy)

Sixty-Five - May 14, 2018

Miles

"Did we really just do that?" I asked as I zipped my shorts and straightened my shirt.

She giggled. "Yeah, we did," she said as she pulled my hoodie back over her head and pulled her hair back into its ponytail.

"Let's get back to study hall before Dawson sends out a search party. How long have we been gone?"

Rachel checked her watch. "Shit. 30 minutes. Listen, I'll go back first. I told her I had a stomachache, so I can play that off. Then you can come in right before class ends and say they took longer than you thought on the interview."

I nodded. "Okay. Go," I said, swatting her on the butt as she left the alcove.

I waited about five minutes and then walked back to the library.

I glanced to the right when I came in, and Rachel was in her seat, her head down in her arms on the desk – obviously playing up her "stomachache."

"Sorry, Ms. Dawson. That guy just wouldn't shut up!" I said, sitting down next to Rachel.

"No problem," she called, continuing her shelving and never looking up.

Rachel snorted into her arms. I elbowed her. "Shh."

***

Any productivity I hoped to have today was shot after our rendezvous in the alcove. Between that and the stuff I'd found in my dad's desk, my brain was just not with it. Thank God we only had eleven more days, and my classes were more or less coming to a close.

At the end of the day, our principal came on the intercom a minute or two earlier than usual.

"Good afternoon Bay High – GPAs have been calculated and the salutatorian and valedictorian for the class of 2018 have been determined. I wanted to take a minute to formally announce their names and congratulate them," he said.

I sat up straighter. Damnit, I wish Rachel and I had the same 7th period so I could be here with her for this.

"The salutatorian for the class of 2018 is Mr. Jake Finnegan." The class clapped politely. "And the valedictorian is Ms. Rachel Cross," he finished, and I jumped out of my seat.

"Yes! That's my girl!" I shouted. The rest of the class looked up at me, their hands frozen in applause. "Er, sorry," I said, my face heating up.

The bell rang then and I was the first out the door, running to find Rachel.

She was waiting for me in the commons area, and when she spotted me she ran in my direction. When she reached me, I picked her up and spun her around. "Congratulations baby girl! I knew you'd get it!"

"Thank you!" she exclaimed, putting her hands on my cheeks and kissing me. I sat her back on the floor and suddenly she looked at me in horror.

"What's wrong?!" I asked in alarm.

"I just remembered... I have to make a speech at graduation!" she replied with wide eyes.

"You'll be perfect. You do have a way with words."

"Oh gosh. Okay. I can do this."

"Yes, you can." I kissed her nose. "Now, what are you doing after school?"

"I need to go home and take a shower... but then I could come over to your house... your dad's still gone, right?"

I nodded, winking. "Sure is. Call me when you're on your way."

After I left school, I called Luke.

"Hello?"

"Hey bro. Can you come to my house right now?"