Countdown begins

VIOLET

Prom had come and gone, leaving the students of Golden Elite in a frenzy about the next big milestone: graduation. With less than a week left, the school halls were alive with excitement. Streamers in the school colors hung from the ceilings, and the walls were plastered with posters announcing various senior events. Students dashed back and forth, their voices rising above the hum of activity.

Graduation day was meant to be a celebration—a culmination of years spent within these walls—but to me, it was just another obligation to get through. The thought of endless festivities made my head spin.

Ashley and I made our way to our lockers, dodging clusters of students who were busy decorating or gossiping. She had been talking non-stop about the graduation after-party for days now, trying to convince me to attend.

“Honestly, Vi, I don’t get why you don’t want to go,” she said, her voice tinged with frustration as we stopped by our lockers.

I sighed, pulling out the books I needed for the next period. “I’ve told you a hundred times, Ash. I don’t like parties or loud places. I’m only going to graduation because, well, I have to.”

Ashley pouted, crossing her arms. “But you went to prom, and you enjoyed yourself. That was a party too, you know.”

“Prom was…” I trailed off, struggling to find the right words. After a moment, I shrugged. “...different,” I finished weakly.

Ashley’s eyes lit up with mischief, and she nudged me playfully. “Different because you had your first kiss with the hottest guy ever.”

I rolled my eyes, though I couldn’t stop the heat creeping up my neck. It had been months since prom, but Ashley never let me forget about that night—or Ryan. And, to be fair, she wasn’t entirely wrong. Prom had been tolerable because of him.

As if summoned by the thought of him, a familiar arm slung over my shoulders, and his scent—a mix of cedarwood and something distinctly Ryan—washed over me.

“Hey, babe,” he murmured, his voice low and warm as he pressed a kiss to the top of my head.

It didn’t matter that we’d been together physically for weeks now, or that we’d even arrived at school in the same car that morning. His touch still made my heart flutter, and I felt my knees go slightly weak.

The hallway seemed to fall eerily silent, the buzz of conversation fading as heads turned in our direction. Ryan Jerkins, the school’s resident bad boy, publicly smooching his stepsister? That was definitely a sight to behold.
“Hi,” I said softly, meeting his gaze with a bright smile that I couldn’t contain, no matter how hard I tried.

It had only been a few days since Ryan had shared his story with me—his past, the pain he’d carried for so long, and the demons he’d been fighting in silence. Hearing him open up like that, seeing the vulnerability behind his usual confidence, had changed something in me. It wasn’t pity I felt—it was something deeper, something that made me want to stand beside him, to be the one he could lean on when the weight got too heavy.

Since that night, I’d felt closer to him in a way I couldn’t explain, like some invisible barrier between us had been broken. And now, every glance, every touch, every word felt charged with a new kind of meaning.

“You’re staring,” Ryan said, a teasing edge in his voice.

I blinked, realizing I had been caught lost in thought. My face flushed instantly, and I tried to look away, but his hand caught my chin gently, tilting my face back toward him.

“What were you thinking about, Violet?” he asked, his voice low and smooth, his thumb brushing lightly against my jaw.

“I-I wasn’t thinking about anything!” I lied, the heat in my cheeks betraying me.

Ryan smirked.“Liar,” he said, leaning in slightly, his breath warm against my ear. “You were totally thinking about me.”

His words sent a jolt through me, and I could feel the blush spreading down to my neck. I bit my lip, trying to hold back a smile, but it was useless.

“You’re adorable when you get flustered, you know that?” he said, his tone softer now, almost affectionate.

My heart fluttered at his words, and I felt the blush deepen. “Ryan…” I mumbled, looking anywhere but at him.

He chuckled and brushed a strand of hair from my face. “Relax, I’m just teasing,” he said, though the warmth in his gaze lingered as he stepped back.

“See you in class,” he added casually and just like that, he pulled away, leaving me flustered and breathless as he stalked toward the classroom. His broad shoulders disappeared through the double doors, but my gaze lingered until he was completely out of sight.

When I finally tore my eyes away, I found Ashley staring at me with a knowing smirk.

“Not now, Ash,” I muttered, stuffing my books into my backpack in a hurry.

“I wasn’t going to say anything,” she replied, raising her hands defensively. But the grin on her face said otherwise.

I arched an eyebrow at her, and she laughed, shaking her head. “Fine, fine. Let’s go.”

“Everyone’s been breaking up like crazy since they found out which colleges they’re going to. It’s like people think long-distance relationships are impossible.”Ashley said suddenly, pulling out a small tube of lip gloss from her bag. .

Her comment stirred something inside me, a pang I hadn’t allowed myself to fully acknowledge until now. The reality of graduation hit me like a cold wind, bringing with it the inevitable truth—separation. It wasn’t just high school ending; it was the end of this small world we’d all shared. And for Ryan and me, it meant more than just graduating.

Ashley’s words lingered in my mind as I thought about the letters we’d received. UC Berkeley for me. Yale for Ryan. He was pursuing an art program there, something that suited him in every way, but it was on the other side of the country.

I tried to focus on the present, but my thoughts spiraled. What would it be like without him? We’d only just started figuring us out. Could it survive the distance? Would it?

Ashley snapped her compact shut with a soft click, her lips now glossy. “So, what about you and Ryan? Have you talked about what happens after graduation?” she asked casually.

I froze for a second, caught off guard. “Not really,”

Ashley gave me a pointed look. “Vi, come on. You two are a couple. You have to talk about it at some point.”

I shrugged, forcing a small smile. “We’re just… taking it one day at a time.”

It wasn’t a lie, not entirely. Ryan and I hadn’t discussed it yet, and maybe that was intentional. Maybe we were both avoiding it because neither of us wanted to face the truth.

The thought of being separated from him felt like standing on the edge of a cliff, staring into an abyss. What would it be like to not see him every day? To not hear his voice or feel the comfort of his presence?

Ashley’s voice cut through my thoughts. “You’re gonna love Berkeley. I mean, California? Sunshine, beaches, all that laid-back energy? It’s perfect for you.”

I nodded automatically, not trusting myself to speak.

“And hey, I’ll be in New York,” she added with a grin. “Only a quick flight away if you ever need a girls’ weekend or just someone to vent to about your crazy professors.”

I smiled at her, grateful for her attempt to cheer me up, but my thoughts were still tangled in the uncertainty of the future. I wanted to believe we could make it work, that love would be enough to bridge the distance. But deep down, a small, fearful voice whispered that maybe love wasn’t always enough.

As we entered the classroom, I pushed the thought away, focusing instead on the present. There was still time, I told myself. Time to figure things out. Time to hold onto what we had.

For now, that would have to be enough.