Sara Sampaio as Chelsea Winter!

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H E' S M I N E

C H A P T E R – T W E N T Y - S E V E N

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Today is graduation day. Every high school senior is so excited to go to graduation and get dozens of awards and a diploma. They're all so happy to listen to the speeches and compliment the valedictorian after his/her speech. Everyone loves the concept of Graduation, except me. To me, it makes no sense. I don't want to go back to school after I know I'm finally free. I don't want to see the teachers; I don't want to get congratulated. People would congratulate and commend you after you've completed. I mean, none of those bitches were there when I was going through my hard times, so why the fuck are they here now. I made it alone and I'll celebrate alone.

Now prom is totally different. Prom is actually for the students. We get to see each other one last time. I think it makes a huge difference. I mean, at prom you get to be with your friends and have fun. I'm all about fun. Prom is me. We don't have senior prom king and queen. If it did I doubt I would have gone. I don't like the idea of competing for popularity.

At the moment, I'm in my living room. Mum is with Spencer at grad, so I am alone. I like being alone sometimes. I have the entire fridge to myself. I can laze around on the couch without being called to do anything. It's basically my lazy day. It would be really nice to have a friend here to share my lazy day with, but I guess this could do.

The Graduation ceremony is finishing at about Twelve or one in the day. I don't see how it could take such a long time to hear a bunch of speeches and whatnot. I miss my friends. On my phone, I began playing a game. I started this day by coming downstairs and watching television. Now I'm on my phone, playing games and taking selfies. I like to just scroll through Instagram and whatnot to bypass the boredom. Next, I'm going to make my name in the kitchen. By the time mum and Spence gets back, there probably might be no more chocolate or cereal or candy, or anything that I like. Of course they will get the vegetables and greens.

As I am scrolling through Instagram, I stumble on a picture, which just makes my blood boil. Firstly, I notice it was Chelsea who posted the picture and I immediately question why I was following her. After which I un-follow her. And secondly, the damn selfie was with her and fucking Xander. Her caption was something stupid and I just had the urge to strangle the bitch on sight. What the hell is this? Seconds later I find myself scrolling through her profile for anything else that I have to tell her about. I see a wide range of selfies and I just curse her fricking gorgeous face. On her profile I also see some pics with jay and Troy, then of me, and I wish she would delete them. After scrolling for a while, I notice pics of Xander and her, with cute captions about how much she loves him or whatever. I groaned and rolled my eyes.

I exited her profile. Sometimes I really wish Xander had Instagram. I could just scroll through his pics; it would have been way more than what I have on my phone. Xander doesn't want an Instagram account because he says he doesn't need anyone watching and liking his photos, or something like that. I told him he could have a private account but he still went against it. He's so fricking weird. He doesn't even have Facebook nor Twitter. It's only Snapchat. He's annoying as hell. He doesn't care that I need to stalk his profile sometimes.

I get up from my seat after my lurking and went to the kitchen. I'm starving and it's around eleven thirty now, so it's basically lunchtime. I need a sandwich. I've always wanted to experience the kitchen, but my mother always said I'd make a huge mess that I won't be able to clean. I don't think that will happen, I am so responsible it's like unbelievable. I walk to the cupboards and grab the loaves of bread. From the fridge, I get Cheese, Mayonnaise, sliced ham, chicken, turkey, a green thing in a bottle that I think is a paste. I want butter also, some ketchup and mustard too. I need chips, and tomatoes and lettuce. I'm going to try these things on a sandwich, without any mess. I start with my bread, then the different pastes and then I piled on the meat, cheese and lettuce. I crumpled potato ships on top then squeezed the mustard and ketchup bottles.

Only after I constructed the sandwich did I realize I didn't put it on a plate, and there was ketchup and mustard on the counter, along with crumbs and pieces of meat and stuff. It was a mess. I stood back, after creating my lunch, and stared at it. I bit my bottom lip... I don't think I want to eat this...

As I was going to dispose of it, my phone began ringing. I wiped my hands then swiped the screen on my phone. I put it to my ears, happy to hear Jay's voice. I grin as he began speaking, "Hey, hun, the ceremony is over and we're going for food... after your mum takes photos... yeah, I like need you to be here."

"Of course, Jay. I'm starving," I tell him and began walking out of the kitchen. "I have to shower and change, so-"

Jay cut me off, "Thirty minutes, love. If you decide to get distracted, then you just won't eat. I'll text you the location. Okay, bye, love you."

"Love you too," I grumble. I do not get distracted quickly. I hang up the phone and run upstairs quickly. I am really good at taking short showers, which is awesome in this case. I mean, I like long showers, but I know when I need to stop when I have to meet someone. I feel proud of myself for that.

Fifteen minutes later, I'm in my room, picking out an outfit for lunch. After a while, I decided on a simple plain, black T-shirt, black skinny jeans, and a pair of black converse on my feet. I decided on a black leather jacket just for style. I wore a few bangles on my wrists and a pair of gold earring in my ears. My hair was straight and make up was on point. I grabbed my cross body bag and stuffed my phone in there, along with money. Then I was out.

I basically ran to my car, because I knew I was late. I think I spent too much time on this non-time consuming outfit. Gosh, I should really learn time-management. Before driving off, I checked for jay's text, and realized I know the restaurant. I don't usually go there, but I've been there like one time with Spence.

After a ten-minute car drive, I was in the parking lot of 'Mimi's! Celebrating breakfast, lunch, dinner.' I step out of the car, already spotting Jay's, Xander's, Spence's and Chelsea's. How great, she's here. I walk to the entrance, my eyes immediately began to scan the semi-packed restaurant for my friends and Chelsea. The restaurant was dimly lit and there was soft music, but was a bit hard to hear over the chattering at every table. I spotted the group because of Troy's boisterous laughter. They were all laughing, it's just that Troy's was the loudest. I think the entire restaurant heard him. Jay and Troy's back as faced to me, Xander and Spence saw me coming and Chelsea and some other random girl was on the inside of the booth.

"Baby! You came!" Xander greeted. Someone's extremely happy to be finally free. He walked to me and engulfed me in a hug then kissed my cheek. "We're fucking graduates," he says to me.

I nod, "How was it?"

"I should have stayed with you, it would have been so much more entertaining," he smiled. I pecked his lips, showing how correct he actually was. They all should have stayed with me... well besides Chelsea. She could have gone. We walk back to the booth and I took a seat next to Xander.

"Hi, love, I missed you," Jay cooed. I wiped an invisible tear, "I'm touched. I missed you too..."

"That's what I thought," Jay grinned and rolled my eyes.

"Have you eaten already? Was I extra late?" I asked them

"Surprisingly enough, no... we just arrived," Spence answered.

"I'm guessing you didn't check all social media before you got dressed?" Troy laughed, and the others joined in, even the new girl. I furrowed my brows at her for a while, wondering who the hell she is. She's a blonde, with darting brown eyes. She actually had a really good body and she was beautiful. She blinked up at me and noticed I was staring at her. I didn't look away.

"Who is she?" I ask Xander, my eyes still on the blonde beauty. I don't dislike her, and maybe I came off as a bitch, but that's just me. I mean, she is pretty, how could I hate her and I don't know her.

"Amber. I'm Amber," she lets me know. Is that a bit of attitude I hear? I chuckle lightly and shake my head. Amateur.

"That's Spencer's 'friend'," Xander tells me. I roll my eyes, wow. I hope she knows she isn't going to last long with Spencer. It might last like a good two weeks, then he literally gets bored and stops any and every contact with them. I'm proud though, most guys barely have a girl for one day, Spence is two weeks.

"Guys, I'm starving, we should order," Troy says.

"I agree," I add. I lean back into Xander's arm and felt so much at peace. He doesn't know how long I've been wanting this shit. Since the damn day started.

I am so glad they aren't just talking away about the graduation ceremony. That would have vexed me. I didn't go for a reason; I want to know nothing about it. But my friends know me and their conversations are grad-free. I love them. It's so weird to grasp the fact that we're graduates. The high school phase of our lives are over. There is no more bleachers, no more janitor's closet or football field. It's just us now, and college. That's strange. That's really strange. Some years ago I was a fricking freshman for crying out loud.

I entwine my fingers with Xander's, which was around my shoulder, then kissed his hand. He looked down at me, "You alright, babe?"

"Uh yeah... I was just thinking..." I tell him.

"Are you sad about it?" he asked. I bite my bottom lip and looked into his eyes for a while. Am I sad about that? "I don't know..." I mumbled. Xander flashed a tiny smile then leaned down and kissed my lips. It lasted for a second, but it was perfect. I smile at him, "I love you."

"I love you more," he replies. I kiss him again, and the kiss lasted longer. It took me a while to realize everyone was basically paired off, besides Chelsea. I'm not that cold hearted to say she deserves to be alone like this because no one deserves that. I was going to speak up but before I could, she excused herself, and hurried off to the bathroom.

I turned back to Xander with a confused look. He looked oblivious to everything as he leaned in to kiss me again. I pecked his lips once then pulled away. "I'll be right back."

"No, where are you going?" he asked as I remove his hand from around my shoulders.

"I need to pee," the entire table watched me now and I just rolled my eyes at them. I kissed Xander then walked away. I really hope I'm not doing this in vein and she's actually okay. She didn't look okay, though. So I feel the need to check on her. I don't like her, but damn, it seems like neither of them out there like her either.

"Chelsea?" I call as I entered the bathroom. I was met by sniffling, then they became softer and suddenly stopped. But I could still hear her in the stall.

"Chelsea, please come out."

"Why? So you can rub your relationship in my face again?" She questioned and I heard the door of the stall unlocking. She stepped out and immediately went to the mirrors and sink where she washed her face.

"That's not what I'm trying to do," I say. Honestly, I wasn't trying to do that. Xander is just affectionate. I know I have been doing that for like two days since we became 'friends' again, but I wasn't doing it then. Before she could answer, I took a chance and asked her, "Do you still have feelings for him?"

Chelsea looked up at me, with bloodshot eyes and immediately began to shake her head, "No, of course not. I dumped him."

"So why the tears? Why does it bother you so much? Chelsea, if you still like him, you can tell me." I actually don't want her to tell me that. Then, I'd be forced to flush her face down the toilet. Xander is mine, always have been and always will be.

"You don't expect me to cry, Shae? He was my first everything. How could I not cry when I found out he didn't mean anything he told me in our relationship, that he was sleeping with another girl!"

"Yeah, but you admitted that you didn't actually liked him that way. Wasn't he just a shoulder to lean on?"

"You don't understand, Shae. You will never understand. He was a shoulder to lean on, he was there for me when my brother died, I trusted him with everything, I loved him. How am I supposed to react when I hear it was all fake?" I'll admit, she has a point. She deserves to cry... and now I'm feeling horrible.... again.

"It wasn't all fake? Xander cared for you."

"Yeah, but not as much as he cares for you. He loves you, more that he would have ever loved me..." she mumbled. I don't know what to say, if I agree I'd be a bitch, and if I disagree I'd be one of those annoying bitches who would call themselves fat when they're the size of a stick. I don't want to be either of them right now.

"You know what? It's okay. I am fine. He loves you and you love him and I should just get over it, right?"

"No. I admit, I don't know what you're going through and how you feel right now, and I wasn't really making it any better, so I am sorry. You should talk to Xander, you know, like seriously, tell him how you feel..." I don't know how that will help, but I'm just being kind. Giving up my bitchy ways for Chelsea.

"I appreciate that," she smiled at me, "You know, for the past few days, I began to think you hated me..."

"I did," I nod my head, "Your presence pissed me off. I thought you would just begin to hate me then leave the group or something." Honesty is the best policy. She must know.

"I can't hate you, Shae. It might have been fake or whatever, but you helped me. You gave me confidence and courage, and for that I could never stop thanking you."

"It wasn't fake. I mean, at first yeah, but afterwards, when I got accustomed to your yapping, I was actually happy to see you coming out of your shell."

Chelsea smiled at me, "So, are we good?"

"Yeah, sure," I shrugged my shoulders. I was about to walk out of the bathrooms but was abruptly stopped when she pulled me in for a hug. It took me a while to hug her back, but eventually it happened and she whispered, "Thank you."

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Last and final Chapter up tomorrow! :) 

Promise :) x