Chapter 14
It was late August already and Ashley was packing up her things like most everyone else had done before her. Jack was leaving tomorrow and the thought made her heart lurch. They would no longer be a couple anymore, deciding to break it off since they would be not only thousands of miles away, but time zones away as well. That made it seem like 2 totally different worlds that they lived in. She would miss him greatly, more than she even knew, but that was all to come. Right now she had to focused on getting these last few things packed into boxes.
She was almost done when she came to her scrapbook she had made in July for senior year and all her friends. She smiled as she opened it to the picture of the group piled on top of the eggplant purple couch in Starbucks. Wow they were a large group, and with large groups at least 3 people would be laughing, 2 talking, and all except for 4 would be blinking. Not this picture. It was perfect, everyone smiling and looking right at the camera, right through the picture up to Ashley's teary eyes. She flipped the pages. She laughed at the picture of Gabe, Liz and her mock fighting in the parking lot. She'd miss those fights, she really would even though they caused more problems than not.
Then there was the picture of Gabe and Chelsea, Chelsea talking his ear off and he was practically sleeping. She laughed about that. Then she choked back the tears at the site of Anna and her and Steph piled on her bed with flowers they picked in the greenhouse. There were the couple pictures, Jess and Dave who were going to stick it out with a long distance relationship, and Kelli and Trey who had gotten together shortly after prom. They were staying together as well. Then there was Jack and herself. That was such a cute picture of us, she thought and reminded herself she'd have to find the double and put it next to her bed at college even though they weren't staying together. She burst out laughing at the next couple. It was Gabe giving Liz a head lock. They had hated her for putting that picture in with the couples, they vehemently denied that they were ever or would ever be couples. Oh well it was a funny gesture.
A few more pages after that she came upon pressed corsages and the many prom pictures of all their lovely dresses. Gen had snuck in a picture of her, Rachel and Ace on the beach into the middle of prom pictures and she laughed. That was their prom. They all looked so beautiful that night, Ashley sighed. It had also been a rough night but everything worked out in their advantage. Ashley smiled at the pictures from the last day of school and then there was graduation.
Graduation had been a tedious 3 hours of waiting for their diplomas but it had been bittersweet and fun anyway. Despite melting in their heavy gowns and standing for a gazillion photographs from parents and friends, and all the tears shed, they had had their huge group hug which they spilled all their feelings to one another and became closer, if only for a summer. The bright smiles of the graduates under their caps, clutching their diplomas showed the successes they all had. The last picture was of the group throwing their caps into the air. A single tear fell down Ashley's cheek.
Such a great ending to four wonderful years. "Thank you for making it memorable" Ashley said closing the scrapbooks cover over all their memories. They would continue, she thought putting the book in the box and sealing it shut with duct tape. Till next time.
***Authors Note***
Stay tuned for the sequel "Just a Phone Call Away"!! Please review this and tell me what you think