Lyrical Silences -- The missing story of Haille Logan.
Author -- Melissa Laybhen
Email – septemberxbaby@tainted-passions.net
Website -- http://midnightwhispers.tainted-passions.net
Disclaimer: This story was created by me. I am NOT the wonderfully amazing Goddess V.C. Andrews who
first brought these characters to life, nor am I Andrew Neiderman who continued to make them live.
I am merely a fan who loves VCA.
---------------------------
Chapter 3: My Graduation
We drove to my high school in complete silence. Mother was still angry at Daddy, and convinced that
I would make a huge spectacle of myself and the whole family. Daddy was still furious with Mother's
actions towards me. I was just plain afraid and nervous. And my brothers were just dumbfounded.
I was never so happy to see my school. As soon as we pulled into the driveway I leapt from the car
and said I'd meet them later.
As I was walking to the graduation platform I heard a voice behind me, calling my name.
"Haille!! Wait up!"
I turned to see Thelma Patterson and Kenneth trying to catch up to me. I stopped and when they
reached me, we took off together like the "Three Musketeers" we were always said to act like.
"Haille are you going to the party after the graduation?" asked Thelma eagerly.
"Sure am. How about you two?"
"I am definitely," Thelma said nodding enthusiastically. "I was asked to go by Jeff Morrisson!"
she squealed.
"Wow! Congratulations. I know that you have liked him forever."
Honestly I was a bit surprised. Jeff Morrisson was Teddy Jackson's best friend. Teddy was the big
man on campus, senior class president, and my secret crush.
"I'm not going to go," said Kenneth. But then I didn't expect that he would actually want to go.
"Did Teddy ask you to the party?" Thelma asked.
"Nope. But then I didn't expect that he would." I replied, a little disappointed.
"Well you know. It could happen when you least expect it Haille," said a deep male voice. A male
voice that I knew too well.
I turned and there standing before me was Teddy Jackson looking even more handsome than usual in a
navy blue day suit. I blushed immediately and looked at the ground. I couldn't believe that he had
heard what he had said.
"So Haille. Are you available to go to the party? I'd love to take you," he said smiling broadly.
"Of course I am!"
"Okay I'll pick you up at six. Does that sound okay?"
"Perfect."
Teddy turned and walked away to join his friends as I stared at him in complete wonder.
"Haille, I can't believe that you're acting so babyish over someone like Teddy Jackson," said
Kenneth.
"Ken, when you fall in love, you'll understand." I said smiling.
"I already understand," said Kenneth looking at me adoringly, but I was so excited over the fact
that Teddy had asked me to go to the dance, that I didn't hear him.
Thelma and I continued walking to the classroom where we were all supposed to meet before
commencement began, giggling and talking about what I would wear that night.
"Everyone, take your robes and line up!"
Mr. Nyditch, the principal of our high school stood at the front of the classroom and tried to make
us quiet down. He looked very flushed and very eager to see us gone already.
"Please everyone! Quiet down. Commencement is about to begin and I need to speak with you all for a
few seconds."
After a few minutes during which Mr. Nyditch blew his whistle five times, we eventually were quiet,
and listened to his speech.
"Today is the last day that you will all be in this school together as students," Mr. Nyditch began.
"Thank God!" shouted someone in the back. The whole class began to laugh hysterically as Mr. Nyditch
glared towards the back of the room. When we finally quieted again, he finished.
"As I was saying, as today is the last day you'll be here as students, I would like for all of you
to remember the last four years. Think about when you first came here as freshman and how nervous
you all were. You've gotten to know each other for the past four years. Think about the friendships
that you have forged during that time. About all the ups and downs. About how many you almost didn't
make it to graduation."
At that one, Mr. Nyditch looked directly at me and I began to fidget with my dress straps. After a
moment he mercifully began again.
"These people in this classroom have been your friends. And you may never see them again today.
Spend these last few minutes reminiscing. Believe me, you'll wish you had years from now." He
stopped talking and looked thoughtfully at the ground as if remembering an old friend.
"Okay now that I've bored you to death, please put on your robes. We'll be walking to our seats in
a single file line very soon."
Everyone began a last minute ritual of checking their hair and makeup. The guys all made sure that
their ties were straight and that their zippers were zipped. When we heard the first few strains of
"Pomp and Circumstance," we all lined up and began to walk to our seats.
Everyone stood in front of their seats until the band finished and then we all sat down together.
Mr. Nyditch stood at the podium looking over all of us, and began to speak of how proud he was of
all of us, how amazed he was that every senior in our school was graduating today and no one would
be held back.
We sat through a few more minutes of his speech. Then Trish Gardner, our class valedictorian got up
and spoke of friendships, new and old and how she would miss everyone. She actually began to start
crying and had to finish the speech in large, gulps of air.
Then Mr. Nyditch stood again.
"I am very pleased to present our class singer. This is a very talented young woman. Her voice is a
wonderful present and I'll bet that her parents are very proud of her.
"Haille Logan, please come up here."
I stood up and heard a gasp coming from behind me. Without turning I knew that it was Olivia. I
could tell she was convinced that I would shame her in front of all the affluent members of Cape Cod.
I took the microphone from Mr. Nyditch and turned to the audience.
"I thought about what song I would sing for days and days. But I finally decided that 'In My Life'
by The Beatles was perfect."
I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and began.
"There are places I'll remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better…"
As I was singing I found myself doing exactly what Mr. Nyditch had said to do. I thought back. To
all the events of the last four years. Everything came flooding back to me in a kaleidoscope of
colors and memories.
I finished my song and opened my eyes. For a moment there was nothing. Then suddenly everyone began
to clap and yell. Daddy was loudest of all followed by Chester. However there was one person who
didn't move.
Mother sat in her seat, the only one still seated, still as a statue, glaring at me.
I handed the microphone back to Mr. Nyditch who hugged me, and walked back to my seat. Thelma hugged
me too and Kenneth congratulated me. But all I wanted to do was cry. Everyone loved my song.
Everyone but Mother. She thought I was making a spectacle of myself.
And she probably hated me even more for it.
Mr. Nyditch began to pass out the diplomas.
Our class had 21 people in it. As a Logan, I was one of the last called. When I was called, I
stood, smiled and accepted my diploma elegantly, the way a Logan would. I stood with my class amazed
by the fact that within 12 hours I would probably never see most of these people again.
When Mr. Nyditch introduced our class, I took off my cap and threw it in the air along with everyone
else. We broke out screaming and I ran around kissing and hugging all of my friends.
Teddy kissed me quickly on the cheek and whispered to me.
"Your voice is like an angel's. You are wonderful. I'll see you at six."
I blushed and walked down the stairs and up to my family.
Daddy picked me up and swung me around.
"My little girl! She did it!"
When he set me down again, he leaned over and kissed me quickly on the cheek. Then he handed me a
large bouquet of peach roses, my favorite. He smiled warmly at me and told me again how proud of me
he was.
It was then I looked at Olivia.
She wasn't even smiling. She was fuming.
And I didn't even know what I had done.
But I knew that I would pay for it eventually.
Author -- Melissa Laybhen
Email – septemberxbaby@tainted-passions.net
Website -- http://midnightwhispers.tainted-passions.net
Disclaimer: This story was created by me. I am NOT the wonderfully amazing Goddess V.C. Andrews who
first brought these characters to life, nor am I Andrew Neiderman who continued to make them live.
I am merely a fan who loves VCA.
---------------------------
Chapter 3: My Graduation
We drove to my high school in complete silence. Mother was still angry at Daddy, and convinced that
I would make a huge spectacle of myself and the whole family. Daddy was still furious with Mother's
actions towards me. I was just plain afraid and nervous. And my brothers were just dumbfounded.
I was never so happy to see my school. As soon as we pulled into the driveway I leapt from the car
and said I'd meet them later.
As I was walking to the graduation platform I heard a voice behind me, calling my name.
"Haille!! Wait up!"
I turned to see Thelma Patterson and Kenneth trying to catch up to me. I stopped and when they
reached me, we took off together like the "Three Musketeers" we were always said to act like.
"Haille are you going to the party after the graduation?" asked Thelma eagerly.
"Sure am. How about you two?"
"I am definitely," Thelma said nodding enthusiastically. "I was asked to go by Jeff Morrisson!"
she squealed.
"Wow! Congratulations. I know that you have liked him forever."
Honestly I was a bit surprised. Jeff Morrisson was Teddy Jackson's best friend. Teddy was the big
man on campus, senior class president, and my secret crush.
"I'm not going to go," said Kenneth. But then I didn't expect that he would actually want to go.
"Did Teddy ask you to the party?" Thelma asked.
"Nope. But then I didn't expect that he would." I replied, a little disappointed.
"Well you know. It could happen when you least expect it Haille," said a deep male voice. A male
voice that I knew too well.
I turned and there standing before me was Teddy Jackson looking even more handsome than usual in a
navy blue day suit. I blushed immediately and looked at the ground. I couldn't believe that he had
heard what he had said.
"So Haille. Are you available to go to the party? I'd love to take you," he said smiling broadly.
"Of course I am!"
"Okay I'll pick you up at six. Does that sound okay?"
"Perfect."
Teddy turned and walked away to join his friends as I stared at him in complete wonder.
"Haille, I can't believe that you're acting so babyish over someone like Teddy Jackson," said
Kenneth.
"Ken, when you fall in love, you'll understand." I said smiling.
"I already understand," said Kenneth looking at me adoringly, but I was so excited over the fact
that Teddy had asked me to go to the dance, that I didn't hear him.
Thelma and I continued walking to the classroom where we were all supposed to meet before
commencement began, giggling and talking about what I would wear that night.
"Everyone, take your robes and line up!"
Mr. Nyditch, the principal of our high school stood at the front of the classroom and tried to make
us quiet down. He looked very flushed and very eager to see us gone already.
"Please everyone! Quiet down. Commencement is about to begin and I need to speak with you all for a
few seconds."
After a few minutes during which Mr. Nyditch blew his whistle five times, we eventually were quiet,
and listened to his speech.
"Today is the last day that you will all be in this school together as students," Mr. Nyditch began.
"Thank God!" shouted someone in the back. The whole class began to laugh hysterically as Mr. Nyditch
glared towards the back of the room. When we finally quieted again, he finished.
"As I was saying, as today is the last day you'll be here as students, I would like for all of you
to remember the last four years. Think about when you first came here as freshman and how nervous
you all were. You've gotten to know each other for the past four years. Think about the friendships
that you have forged during that time. About all the ups and downs. About how many you almost didn't
make it to graduation."
At that one, Mr. Nyditch looked directly at me and I began to fidget with my dress straps. After a
moment he mercifully began again.
"These people in this classroom have been your friends. And you may never see them again today.
Spend these last few minutes reminiscing. Believe me, you'll wish you had years from now." He
stopped talking and looked thoughtfully at the ground as if remembering an old friend.
"Okay now that I've bored you to death, please put on your robes. We'll be walking to our seats in
a single file line very soon."
Everyone began a last minute ritual of checking their hair and makeup. The guys all made sure that
their ties were straight and that their zippers were zipped. When we heard the first few strains of
"Pomp and Circumstance," we all lined up and began to walk to our seats.
Everyone stood in front of their seats until the band finished and then we all sat down together.
Mr. Nyditch stood at the podium looking over all of us, and began to speak of how proud he was of
all of us, how amazed he was that every senior in our school was graduating today and no one would
be held back.
We sat through a few more minutes of his speech. Then Trish Gardner, our class valedictorian got up
and spoke of friendships, new and old and how she would miss everyone. She actually began to start
crying and had to finish the speech in large, gulps of air.
Then Mr. Nyditch stood again.
"I am very pleased to present our class singer. This is a very talented young woman. Her voice is a
wonderful present and I'll bet that her parents are very proud of her.
"Haille Logan, please come up here."
I stood up and heard a gasp coming from behind me. Without turning I knew that it was Olivia. I
could tell she was convinced that I would shame her in front of all the affluent members of Cape Cod.
I took the microphone from Mr. Nyditch and turned to the audience.
"I thought about what song I would sing for days and days. But I finally decided that 'In My Life'
by The Beatles was perfect."
I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and began.
"There are places I'll remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better…"
As I was singing I found myself doing exactly what Mr. Nyditch had said to do. I thought back. To
all the events of the last four years. Everything came flooding back to me in a kaleidoscope of
colors and memories.
I finished my song and opened my eyes. For a moment there was nothing. Then suddenly everyone began
to clap and yell. Daddy was loudest of all followed by Chester. However there was one person who
didn't move.
Mother sat in her seat, the only one still seated, still as a statue, glaring at me.
I handed the microphone back to Mr. Nyditch who hugged me, and walked back to my seat. Thelma hugged
me too and Kenneth congratulated me. But all I wanted to do was cry. Everyone loved my song.
Everyone but Mother. She thought I was making a spectacle of myself.
And she probably hated me even more for it.
Mr. Nyditch began to pass out the diplomas.
Our class had 21 people in it. As a Logan, I was one of the last called. When I was called, I
stood, smiled and accepted my diploma elegantly, the way a Logan would. I stood with my class amazed
by the fact that within 12 hours I would probably never see most of these people again.
When Mr. Nyditch introduced our class, I took off my cap and threw it in the air along with everyone
else. We broke out screaming and I ran around kissing and hugging all of my friends.
Teddy kissed me quickly on the cheek and whispered to me.
"Your voice is like an angel's. You are wonderful. I'll see you at six."
I blushed and walked down the stairs and up to my family.
Daddy picked me up and swung me around.
"My little girl! She did it!"
When he set me down again, he leaned over and kissed me quickly on the cheek. Then he handed me a
large bouquet of peach roses, my favorite. He smiled warmly at me and told me again how proud of me
he was.
It was then I looked at Olivia.
She wasn't even smiling. She was fuming.
And I didn't even know what I had done.
But I knew that I would pay for it eventually.