CHAPTER 11-THIS IS NOT MY STRONGEST POINT

The first half of Senior year flew by like a jet. College applications piled up, acceptance and rejection letters did as well. Tests, pep rallies, football games, homecoming, parties; we never stopped going. Nixon and I had grown closer than ever over the summer. We both turned eighteen in the fall, and Brandon turned nineteen. The second half was off to a great start, and drawing ever so close to a close. We had ordered caps and gowns, and it was prom season. Nixon and I were going together, as friends, and I was a nervous wreck. Last year's prom held horrible memories for me, but in the year since it had happened, I had become a much stronger person. Prom night crept up, and before I knew it, I was waiting in my living room for Nixon to arrive. His parents were following him over to take pictures of the two of us together. As they were making over us, the limo arrived, full of all of our friends, and whisked us away to the Nashville Ballroom for prom. We all danced together, as a group, and as couples, until the floor was cleared for the king and queen announcement. I knew my name and Nixon's had both been on the ballot, as well as Brandon's, and quite a few of the preppy, upper class, snob nosed students who we never really spoke to.

Nixon and I were discussing what the preps would do if they won when the annoucement was made.
"First, your prom queen for 2002-2003....drumroll please."
The ballroom was still full of chatter as a recorded drumroll played.

"Lyndsey Carmichael...."
I stood, frozen, like cement had dried around my feet. The entire ballroom grew silent, clearly just as shocked as I was.
"What?" I said.
"Go. That's you! Congratulations, sweetheart." Nixon said, kissing my cheek. I slowly made my way to the center of the ballroom where a tiara was placed on my head and a sash was draped over me. My heart pounded so loud that I couldn't even hear. Everything sounded muffled.

"And your King...."
More chatter and another drumroll.

"Kenneth Nixon...."

Oh my God. Nixon? Really? Me and Nixon, prom queen and king? As voted by the student body? Was this a dream? I pinched myself to make sure. It was definitely NOT a dream. This was completely real. Kelly Clarkson's "A Moment Like This" began to play as we took the floor for our solo dance.
"This is not my strongest point." he said to me, his smile bright, even in the dim light of the chandelier above.

"I know...it's okay..."
"Can you believe we of all people were voted prom queen and king?"
"No. Not at all....but it's okay. I don't mind. I'm glad it was you and not someone else."
"Even Brandon?"
"Even Brandon. I wouldn't have wanted to share this moment with anyone but my best friend."

Nixon pulled me closer and I laid my head on his chest, moving slowly to the tempo of the music as the other couples took the floor with us in our final dance of the night. Clearly, not only I, not only Nixon, but the entire Senior class knew that Nixon and I belonged together. The rest of Senior year flew by just like the rest had, Nixon and I both decided to go to Middle Tennessee State, and graduation day had finally arrived.

"I can't believe this day is finally here." Nixon said as we stood backstage at graduation, waiting to line up and make our entrance.
"I know. I'm glad I wore waterproof mascara. I think I may cry."
"Awww, don't cry."
"I have a feeling I will."
"Tears of joy?"
"Tears of joy, tears of sadness....a little of both."
"Yeah...you wanna go to Brandon's party with me tonight?"
"Of course. One final party before we become college freshmen, huh?"
"Yep...."

The line was called to order and Nixon took his place a few spots behind me. Both of us were graduating with honors, so we got to sit near one another, something that wouldn't have happened if that hadn't been the case. Graduation lasted an hour or so, and I did in fact shed a few tears. Two people tripped and one completely faceplanted, which lightened the mood a bit. I was waiting for either Tim or Brandon to moon the crowd, but they never did. As our alma mater played, we turned our tassels, and threw our caps, a chapter in our lives drew to a close...but a new one was about to begin.

Brandon's house was full of seniors from Gallatin High, smoke, loud music, and alcohol. Nixon and I both did a few shots with our closest friends before heading outside to sit by the pool under the stars, away from the music, for one of our heart to heart conversations.

"Senior year was amazing." Nixon said.
"Yeah, it was." I agreed, taking a drink of my soda, staring at the reflection of the moon off of the pool water.
"I don't know that there's anything I would change."
"Same here. I had a blast. I think ten years from now we may sit around and think man, I partied too much....in the morning we may regret all the liquor we've consumed, but I don't think I'll regret anything else...not saying I don't believe in regrets at all, because I do...but..I don't think we'll regret all the good times."
"Neither do I...I think people who say they have no regrets are full of shit."
I laughed, nodding.
"Oh I completely agree."

"I love you, Lyndsey. I do, you are the best friend I've ever had. I'm glad you moved here. I'm glad we're going to college together..."
"I love you, too Nix." I said, leaning over and kissing his cheek.
"You remember that night you kissed me last year?"
"Yeah?"
"I have a confession."
"What's that?"
"I liked it."
"You told me that."
"No...I really liked it. It wasn't awkward. I lied."
"You did?"
"Yeah. I was scared to tell you the truth. I don't know why I was scared...but I was."
"You wanna know something?"
"Yeah."
"I liked it too."
"You wanna do it again?"
"What?"

"You wanna kiss me again?"
"Do you want me to?"
"I just asked you to, what do you think?"
More people had crowded around the pool and jumped in.
"Come on."
I took Nixon by the hand and lead him up the stairs, into one of the guest bedrooms, and pushed him down on the bed.
I leaned down, kissed his lips softly, and once again those imaginary fireworks exploded. I didn't want to stop kissing him though, and I wasn't entirely sure he was going to let me. We continued kissing, which led to touching, and slowly pieces of clothing came off. I was pinned beneath Nixon as he kissed my neck, in nothing but my underwear and bra, him in nothing but his underwear when he stopped and looked down at me.
"Are you sure this is okay? We won't regret this?"
"Yes...no...."

"Yes you're sure or yes we'll regret it."
"Yes I'm sure." I replied.