The Cliffs

thirty two

I straightened my gown for the fourth time, smoothing the pleats out. I grabbed another bobby pin, pushing it through my cap, hoping it would secure it in place. My eyes danced around the room, watching as people shuffled frantically back and forth, muttering about things they forgot or their guests not being able to find the location. I let out a small sigh, moving slowly towards my seat in the middle of the chaos. My thoughts trailed back to Mason, and though I tried to occupy my mind with something else, I couldn't help but miss the way his arms felt around me.

I found myself missing Mason more and more as the days passed by, and I couldn't help but wonder if he felt the same about me. I thought that time would have healed the void at least a little by now, but I found that the gash was getting deeper and deeper every day. I had spent the past month working on myself, and working on being content with myself, but I feared that Mason had grown tired of me, or worse, stopped loving me. I gripped the chair as the thought floated around in my brain, and I cursed myself for letting it get to me like this.

"Hey, Adeline?" A deep voice snapped me into reality, and I glanced up, raising my eyebrows as I made eye contact with the source.

My eyes widened, and I stood up, rubbing my hands against my gown.

"What are you doing here?" I greeted, tilting my head at the boy standing before me.

I studied his face, remembering the smooth curves and the indentations. His easy smile engulfed his face.

"Well, my girlfriend is graduating today as well. I snuck back to congratulate her." He winked, and I laughed slightly.

"Wow, where is she?" I made a point to look around, and he followed my gaze as we searched the room.

"She has a knack for disappearing on me." He laughed, and I chuckled with him.

"How are you, Dylan?" I gave him a small smile, and he returned it with an even broader one.

"I'm doing great, actually. I have to admit, I was kind of struggling after we broke up. I felt like I didn't do anything right." He confessed, and guilt swarmed into my body.

"Dylan, it wasn't really about you. I know everyone hates that excuse, but it was really my fault. I had feelings for someone else and I still pursued you. I shouldn't have. I'm sorry." I frowned, and he waved it off.

"It's fine, really. It sucked at first, but I knew it was coming. You never acted like that with me, and I should've just accepted it the first time you talked to him on the phone in front of me. It was like everything in the universe aligned for you when he called." He told me, rubbing his neck sheepishly.

I shot him a crooked smile, not wanting to admit that it did feel like everything made sense when I was with Mason.

"How is he, by the way?" Dylan asked, and I let out a small breath.

"He's fine." I avoided his gaze, trying to find anything in the room that even hinted at something interesting.

"Is something wrong?" Dylan asked slowly, and I felt a lump form in my throat.

No, this was not going to happen here. This was not going to happen today. I tried to swallow it down, but I suddenly felt sick to my stomach.

"Uh, we-we broke up." I choked out, my face flushing as I said it.

Dylan's eyes widened, and he furrowed his eyebrows.

"Did he do something? Should I beat him up?" Dylan shot, and I forced out a laugh.

"No, it was all my fault, and to be fair, Dyl, you kind of got your ass handed to you last time you picked a fight with him." I chuckled half-heartedly, staring at the ground.