The day of the finals started with my alarm going off an hour later than usual. I frantically rush out of bed and throw on the nearest outfit I could find; a pair of shorts, a basic gray t-shirt, and a head band to keep my hair out of my eyes.

"Ashley, are you still in bed? You're going to be late for school. Again!" I heard Mom yell from outside my door,

Crap, I wanted a shower...

"I'm leaving now, mom! Just... had a... late start," I replied, running around my shambled room looking for my notes and books.

"TJ's here for you sweetheart. I guess he assumed you'd be running late today."

I perked up. Nothing brightens my day more than my best friend and boyfriend.

I hoped out my bedroom door while putting on my boots and see TJ standing by the stairs, talking with my mom about something. He must have heard me approach because he looked right up at me and smiled.

"Rise and shine princess." He winked.

I felt like shit. I probably smelt like shit and yet, he still smiles at me like I'm number one. This boy changed me. He stole my anger and replaced it with affection. Not many people can do that. As far as I know, he's the only one who can do that to me.

"Lets go," I mumbled, taking his hand and dragging him out the door. "I can't believe I'm gonna be late for school..."

"We'll be fine hun,"

I checked my watch. I had twenty minutes to be at my first final. I really wanted to shower this morning, but oh well. I climbed into TJ's truck and popped in our CD containing ACDC, Metallica and Zeppelin. Nothing like classic rock to get me in the mood of finals. TJ rolls down the windows and pulls out of the drive way. The whole way to school, no words were said, only the sounds of James Hetfield.

We pulled into the school parking lot. TJ turned the engine off and turned to face me.

"Can you believe we made it this far?" He asked, grabbing my hand.

I gave him a weak smile. I had a bad feeling about anything that happens from this moment on. Something was nagging at the back of my head. Nothing will ever be the same after today. We will find out if we graduate. We will all move on to college and work. No one will ever have time for me except TJ. But isn't that all that matters? Being with the one that I love? Isn't that what anyone needs?

I push the feeling to the back of my head and make a mental note to push it out forever. All I need is TJ.

We stepped out of the truck and headed for the school. None of our friends were waiting for us like usual. They all must be taking their tests already. I sighed, gripping TJ's hand harder.

"You'll be okay Sugar," He reassured me. I smiled at the nick-name. He started calling me that a week after we started dating; always told me I tougher than the taste of sugar.

"I know..." I mumbled. We made it to the front doors and kissed good-bye until lunch.

Sprinting to my class, I made it with four minutes to spare, using that time to get my notes out. Luckily this was final where I was allowed to use old homework on the test. Easy as pie. I smiled to myself.

"Alright class, you know the rules. No talking until the first break that will be in twenty minutes. During the break, you may have a light snack to fuel your brains back up again. After that, it'll be another forty minutes of test taking. Once the bell rings, that's it. There are no retakes, there is no extra credit. This is your chance Seniors. Make me proud." Mrs. Hannegan told us, passing out the test.

Okay, no pressure.

I felt dead.

Literally dead.

"Is...is my brain oozing from my ears?" Vince's mumbled with his face resting on the lunch table.

We all looked beat and over whelmed. We're nearly done with this and yet if feels like we just started. Tomorrow we find out if we graduate or not and I feel like my nerves are shooting out my eyes. Gretchen was the only one not freaking out. Her straight brown hair was resting with ease on her shoulders and had freshly done highlights making it feel more like summer than it really was. She was typing viciously on her phone about something or other.

Classes were over for the most part, so we were just spending the last few periods we had with each other in the lunchroom, deflating our brains.

"I can't tell you guys how happy I am that we're done with this." TJ said, looking up from his hands. I was resting my head on his shoulders when the thought came back up. How have they not realized that we will never be the same? Maybe they think we'll just stay in contact for the rest of our lives.

I had a sudden mental image of us all in our nineties sitting in a retirement home grumbling about the old days, or what left we could remember of them. I chuckled on the inside at the thought.

No, that's an impossible outcome. Maybe they just don't care... Oh god... What if they don't care about our friendship? TJ and I will grow old together... alone. Gretchen will become a computer engineer. Vince will be an MBA player and retire to a mansion in Beverly Hills. Mikey will go on to Broadway and retire to a lovely cabin in Canada with his wife and cat and write a biography on his life. Gus will join the army like his father always wanted for him and we will never hear of him again. They all have their dreams and aspirations and will forget all about me and TJ.

My head went into a spiral and I started to feel sick and dizzy.

"Spin, are you okay?" I heard Gretchen's voice but instead of sitting in front of me, she was upside down. Oh god, I'm putting myself into a spell...