We pinky promised.
When I turned off her light and started walking out, I heard one last thing that warmed my heart. “Dad, I love you.”
I leaned against the doorframe, smiling. “Love you, too Iz.
Miranda was on the couch, waiting for a blow by blow of how it had went. I told her about our pinky promise and what Iz had said to me. She was so happy to hear it, after so much drama that kept us apart. She stood up and took my hand. “I know what you need, Mr. Mitchell.”
“Oh really? I raised my brow and seemed interested. “What are you offering?”
“How about we get naked and get a nice hot bath, that may or may not lead to something more in the bed tonight.”
I couldn’t help myself. “Anal sex?”
She hit me up side the head. “Seriously?” Then she laughed. “I always know things are good with you when you start talkin’ about bangin’ me in the butt. Some things will never change.”
I followed after her. “Baby, it’s all in fun.”
She turned and took off her top as we entered into the bathroom. “You let me do it to you first, and then I’ll let you do it to me.”
I shook my head, after considering it for less than two seconds. “Okay, missionary it is.”
Epilogue
Isabella
6 1/2 years later
I looked around at the crowd of people, letting my eyes coast the audience until I found them. Getting tickets for everyone would have been hard, had I not been the valedictorian of my graduating class.
There they were, sitting right in the middle, where I should have known they’d be. My mother looked so proud and having all of my aunts and uncles there was pretty amazing too. I gave them a quick wave before adjusting the microphone.
My hands were shaking as I finally spotted the one person who could calm my heart and make everything disappear. Just before taking the stage, he’d pulled me to the side and told me to picture everyone in the audience, except for him, naked. It was hard to look out and not laugh, because obviously it was all I could think about.
“Thank you all for coming today. I feel truly blessed to be here, speaking on behalf of this year’s graduating class. I’ve been advised by my peers to keep this short and sweet, so here it goes.” I cleared my throat and then continued.
“As a child, I always enjoyed school and making new friends. I strived to do my best to make my family and myself proud. For most of my life, I’ve considered myself pretty adventurous. Without faith and family, most of us wouldn’t be here today. After twelve years, maybe more for others, we’ve finally come to the end where some of us will go onto college and some find jobs immediately. From what I’ve been told, when we leave this celebration today, we’re officially adults. I don’t know about all of you, but I’ve been assuming I was an adult since I was a little girl. Just ask my family, who had to deal with me.”
The crowd began to laugh and I paused, looking over at my dad, who was standing to the side giving me a thumbs up. I smiled and turned my attention back to the crowd.
“I’ve been thinking about what to say today, contemplating the funny over the serious. The last thing I want to do is stand here and bore you all to death, before you get to experience what’s out there waiting for each and every one of you. I suppose I’m expected to offer advice, but your paths are up to each of you to decide.”
I looked over at my dad, who put down the camera and wondered what I was stalling for. I folded the piece of paper and decided to wing it.
“Before I came out here today to give this speech, my dad pulled me to the side and told me to picture all of you naked, so excuse me for the moment of silence.”
More people began to laugh and my dad winked.
“Look, whether you leave here today and get knocked up, or knock someone up, whether you go to college, or rob a liquor store, it’s your decisions that will guide you to who you become. Make the right choices the first time and if you don’t, learn from your mistakes. Follow your heart and be true to yourself. You’ve already accomplished something great by receiving your diploma today. Keep up the good work and good luck.”
Before I could even finish, the crowd of students began flipping their caps into the air, celebrating that high school was officially over.
I left the stage heading over to the person closest to me. My dad put his camera in his pocket and pulled me into his arms. “That wasn’t the speech you’ve been practicing for the past month.”
I laughed. “I decided to just wing that shit.”
He laughed with me. “You did great, Iz.” My dad reached inside of my gown and pulled the chain that was hanging around my neck. He looked so taken back by what he saw. “I didn’t know you still had this.”