This is the worst chapter I've wrote so far and guys if you see any mistakes let me know don't bash me😭

Months have passed since my grandma's funeral. I could say that I've practically healed from her absence, but I still miss her. Senior year is coming to a close, and I am so ready for this, especially Prom and my birthday next week. Weird and cool, right?

So, it's picture day for graduation, and I'm at school early with Karissa, Jaelee, and Xalia. We're all seniors, obviously. And before I even stepped out of the house, I made sure I looked picture-perfect. I was ready to eat everyone up today, and I knew the girls and I were going to slay.

One by one, we were called up for pictures, and I have to say, I was extremely disappointed in my classmates—well, most of them. Some showed up with their hair looking a mess, makeup like ghosts, looking like they just crawled out of bed, or worse. It was a disaster. I nearly lost it, but instead, I just shook my head. What else could I do?

After the pictures, the girls and I decided to get some fresh air and chill for a bit. We needed a break after witnessing that nightmare. We found a perfect spot with some shade and settled down.

"This spot is perfect," I said, satisfied.

"Absolutely," Xalia agreed.

"I can't believe we just watched a nightmare unfold on picture day," Karissa groaned.

"Oh my God, yes, it was truly horrible," Jaelee added.

"Right? Like, they couldn't get themselves together for today? So embarrassing," I said, shaking my head.

"I know, right? Whoever edits our pics better not put us next to any of those weirdos. If they mess it up, I'll be mad as hell and might throw a tantrum," Karissa threatened.

"Same here. I pray they get it right for once," Xalia added, looking hopeful.

"You better pray harder, Xalia, because I have a feeling when the pictures come out, it's going to be a field day," I said with a smirk.

"Oh God, help us," Xalia muttered, shaking her head.

Me and the girls kept gossiping, and then they asked if everything was cool between me and Adam. I told them the truth: I had completely zoned him out. Not really, but I had to put a mental door between us. Things between Adam and me were far from fixing, so I told myself, you lose some, you win some. Adam won't be the only guy I fall for, and I have to accept the loss of him not being a part of my life anymore. I'm not thrilled about it, but I'm alright. I'm mature enough to be civil and move on. And no, I haven't found anyone else yet, trust me.

So, after we were done talking, I went home since we were free to leave. When I got home, I just collapsed onto my bed, feeling amazing. Then, Prom and my birthday popped into my mind. Prom is the day after my birthday, and I'm kinda mad and sad that no one has asked me to Prom yet. But I guess it's alright.

Even though no one has asked me, I'm still going to go and look cute as ever because I just have to. I know I'll be a bit upset seeing all the couples on the dance floor, but it's whatever. After a few minutes of stressing about Prom and my birthday, I decided to call the girls to see what was up with them.

When I FaceTimed them, they all started to spill the beans about Prom.

"Girl, I have no one to take me to Prom," Xalia sighed.

"I'm forever single," Jaelee added, shaking her head.

"Nobody asked me to Prom, and I'm so upset," Karissa grumbled.

I had to chime in before the chatter got out of hand. "Guys, guys, chill."

"Okay, Miss Ma'am, but who's going to take us to Prom? It's right around the corner," Karissa whined.

"Ugh, screw men. We can just go to Prom together—us four baddies," I declared.

"Screw women too, and hmm, I'm liking that idea," Karissa said, a smile creeping onto her face.

"Same," Jaelee agreed.

"I'm with you all. We should go together. But let's put Prom on hold for a minute. Dena, isn't your birthday the day before Prom?" Xalia asked.

"It is, and I'm stressed out," I admitted.

"Dena, girl, don't worry too much. Your birthday will be fine, and so will Prom," Karissa reassured me.

"I guess so," I sighed, feeling a bit more at ease.

I can't believe I'll be turning eighteen the day before Prom. It's crazy and weird—everything is happening so fast. It's hard to comprehend, but one thing's for sure: I'm going to turn up for my birthday because you only live once and you only turn eighteen once.

The girls and I are still on the phone, talking about my birthday and Prom. We decide to go shopping tomorrow to look our best for both. But while we're chatting, Adam pops into my mind. I don't know what to do, so I tell the girls I'm exhausted and need to sleep. They understand, and we end the call. I'm losing my mind left, right, and center.

I need a distraction, so I log onto my shady spy account to check up on Deanesh. She posted pictures of Travis asking her to Prom, and that just takes the cake for me. Why do all the lames always get good things first? I throw my phone against the wall and scream because it's too much.

After a few minutes of being a maniac, I gather myself together and start acting mature again. The day passes, and now it's shopping day with the girls. I wake up feeling happy, mostly because I'm going to get new clothes, even though I have a ton already.

I go through my morning routine and head over to Jaelee's place to pick her up since her car is acting up. After picking her up, Karissa sends us the location of where we'll be shopping today, and we head off to meet her and Xalia.

The place is beautiful—I don't think I've ever been here before. I park the car, and Jaelee and I meet up with Karissa and Xalia.

"Hey, loves," I greet them.

"What's up, guys?" Jaelee chimes in.

"I missed you guys so much, even though it's only been a day," Karissa says dramatically.

"Aww, me too, guys," Xalia adds.

"We missed you too, and this place is gorgeous," I say, looking around.

"It sure is, but let's not waste any more time. Let's get in and get busy," Karissa says, leading the way.

"Let's get it," Xalia agrees.

We step inside, and it's magical. The place has a princess theme throughout, and it's everything. We scan the store for dresses, and it's hard to choose because they're all beautiful. But we make up our minds, get what we need, and head to another store to shop for shoes. It's a blast.

After shopping, we go on our usual lunch date and have an amazing time. Days have passed and now today is my birthday. I can't believe it's happening now, but I'm excited. When I wake up, my phone is flooded with birthday messages. I get out of bed and head downstairs for some water.

Out of nowhere, my mom, Karissa, Jaelee, Xalia, my little brother Amari, my grandpa, and my dad (unfortunately) all surprise me, singing happy birthday. It feels so good I can't help but cry. It's beautiful. We eat, dance, and I get presents—of course—and a new car from my dad, which is really sweet. The moment is special, but it won't be as lit as tonight at Xalia's place. There, I'll be having a showdown on the dance floor.

After everything with my family and friends, it was time to get ready for tonight. The girls insisted that today was my day, so they did my makeup and hair. They nailed it. When I put on my beautiful dress, I was absolutely breathtaking. Naturally, my mom and the girls had to snap a picture of me for the 'Gram. It's night now, and the excitement is palpable.

We took pictures, and then the girls and I headed outside to our cars. As we did, I saw Anthony waiting for me. This time, I didn't want to rush or avoid him. I was open to hearing what he had to say. He approached as the girls got into the car.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey," I replied.

"Happy Birthday," he said, pulling out a gift and handing it to me.

"Oh my God, thank you so much, Anthony," I said, genuinely touched.

"You're welcome. I know things didn't work out between us, but I want to be your friend. I'm hoping you'll let me, and I'm sorry for being a jerk. That being said, I want you to have an amazing night like the queen you are."

"Aww, thank you so much for your kind words. I'd love to be friends and put everything that was bad in the past."

"That's awesome. I'll let you go now," he said, giving me a hug before saying goodbye for the night.

It was nice to be mature and civil with each other after everything that happened. I got into the car, and we drove off to Xalia's house. To my surprise, a lot of people were there to surprise me, and it was awesome. They gave me gifts, hugs, and took pictures with me. It felt like I was famous.

As the night went on, I thought about Deanesh. Today is also her birthday, but screw her. We're not friends anymore, so I don't know why she's on my mind. Anyway, one of my favorite songs started playing, and I had to get on the dance floor. I sang along, recorded some moments for Instagram, and made sure everyone saw what a great time I was having. I danced with the girls, goofed around, and had the best birthday party ever. Everything was perfect—no cares in the world, no worries at all. Tonight was just about me and only me.

The music was pumping, and the vibe was electric. Everyone was having a blast, but I was in the spotlight. This was my night. I was twirling on the dance floor, my dress flowing around me like I was in a movie. People were cheering, and I felt like a star. Every glance, every cheer, was for me.

Karissa, Jaelee, and Xalia were my ride-or-die crew, hyping me up every second. They were dancing, laughing, and making sure I felt like the queen I am. The energy was contagious, and soon everyone was caught up in the celebration.

As the night wore on, I took a moment to step outside for some fresh air. The cool breeze was refreshing against my flushed skin. I leaned against the railing, looking out at the night sky, and felt a sense of peace wash over me. It was a stark contrast to the whirlwind of emotions I'd been through recently, but it was a welcome change.

I went back inside, where the party was still in full swing. We kept dancing, laughing, and taking pictures until we couldn't anymore. It was a night filled with love, laughter, and a little bit of sass—just the way I like it.

By the end of the night, as the crowd began to thin out and people started to leave, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction. I had celebrated my birthday in style, surrounded by people who cared about me. It was a night to remember, and as I lay in bed that night, I couldn't help but smile. This was just the beginning of an incredible year ahead.

One more chapter coming next Tuesday 😔