I finally found a time to write! Really excited to be back! This chapter and maybe the next will be short, but after that they will be longer.

Chapter Fourteen

May twenty eighth has finally arrived. And I have to say it has been the longest wait of my life, but I feel good. I woke up this morning ready to conquer the day. I am providing a lesson in the history class today. Basically I am really excited! Today is going to be a great day!

Though my favorite part of this is that it is Makenna's last day of school. Of course, I'm not asking her out until she has completed her final year officially. That is graduation. She is just getting out of school for the next week and a half.

Oh, man. That's right. She's not officially graduated yet. Dammit!

I figure since I've made it this long, I can make it another week. Just take a deep breath, Caleb, I tell myself. Everything will work out the way it's supposed to. Keep calm and continue on, as they say.

At seven in the morning, I grab a snack for the car and I take my lunch and get ready for school. I am eager to start the morning by teaching a lesson. I am incorporating how the past has found its way into the future. The similarities from the past and now.

The first class goes well. I give a brief lecture and have them take notes. After that they have a few minutes to review their notes before I give them a brief quiz to see if they were paying attention.

While the second class takes their quizzes, I grade first period's. They didn't do too bad. This was more of a test for me to see if I was interesting enough to pay attention to. I don't know if I'm flattered or slightly worried that the girls did better. I just tell myself that they are very intelligent and they paid attention to the content and not me.

As second period ends, everyone turns in their quizzes to the second period box. I'll collect them later and grade them. Right now it's lunch, and I want to eat.

"You're very quick at grading quizzes," Ms. Matthews observes. I smile.

"I actually like grading papers. I think it's fun." Ms. Matthews laughs.

"You are an anomaly, Caleb," she says. "Be careful of your first year. It's not going to be easy."

This is true. I have seen many a documentaries on the subject of first years. I don't imagine my first year to be the best year ever, but I will take the experience so I can grow from it.

Lunch goes on and we get a surprise knock on the door at a quarter to twelve. Ms. Matthews and I look up in unison. I blink a few times to make sure I'm not imagining this.

"Hello Makenna," Ms. Matthews says. "What a nice surprise. And, no, I haven't graded your final yet, but I will get around to it. Maybe Mr. Prior can look over it."

Makenna immediately stops smiling, but she tries to regain it to not make her aunt suspicious of anything. I would never tell Jeanine about what is going on with the two of us. Makenna must think she knows something she shouldn't.

"I'm a very quick grader," I explain. This makes her smile and she shifts her weight. She even gives a small nervous chuckle.

"Oh, that's cool. I wish my teachers were fast graders." She chuckles nervously again, then she turns serious. "I was wondering if you were coming to graduation," she continues. Makenna's gaze is on Jeanine, but her question is directed at me.

"Yes," Jeanine says. "I will be there."

"Great! Thanks. Mom just wanted to know. She needs the final number for the tickets," Makenna says.

I have to admit that was pretty brilliant. I have always admired her brains. Among many other things. Makenna is just a remarkable young lady.

When school ends and after I've walked to my car, I pull out my phone.

If you were asking me, yes, I will come to your graduation.

It takes seconds to receive her response.

I was asking you. I'm glad!

Did you have a good day at school? I would feel weird if I didn't ask. It's her last day.

I had a great day thx

Of course. I am about to send her the text, but then decide to add something else. Hopefully I'm not pushing it too much. I'm going to miss you over the next week.

I'm going to miss you too. I'd visit but I don't want my aunt to be suspicious.

I understand. I'll see you at graduation.

See you.

I lock my phone and toss it into the passenger seat. I drive back to school listening to nothing but my thoughts.

I will have to find an excuse for why I'm there is someone asks. Shouldn't be too hard to figure out.

For as much as I have been looking forward to this day, there is one thing I completely forgot about. What college is she going to? Is she leaving the state? The city? The country? The continent? What if I never see her again? My life will be hell. It will officially be hell.

The thought makes me sick, so I ignore it to the best of my ability. But throughout my study session for finals, it keeps popping up.

Is it a good idea to ask her? No. If it's important she'll tell me. Wouldn't she?