Lori has always been smarter than me.

We’re the same age, so we went to school at the same time. But she had to top it off by graduating a semester earlier than me.

“You okay?” The woman in question dropped next to me on the couch.

“Yeah, I’m fine, why?”

She giggled a little. “You look like you’re deep in thought and you’re never thinking about anything.”

I laughed at her insult.

“No, I’m just happy for you. Proud of you.” I turned and caught her bright blue eyes.

It never made sense to me, why she had the black hair—the blackest hair could be and bright blue eyes.

“Thanks. It still seems like it isn’t even happening.” She curled her legs up on the couch and sighed, deep in thought.

“Well, it is. You have to be a real adult now.” I nudged her knee. My hand lingered a bit longer than it should have, but she didn’t notice.

“Ugh, I know.” She made a yuck sound and her face twisted up in mock disgust.

She sat with me for a while. I hadn’t meant to remove myself from the party, but I didn’t really feel like conversing at the moment. Her dad got a few people together—we lived in a small town so all graduations are a big deal.

But her dad was a firefighter, everyone in the city loved him so a lot of people just showed up, not even knowing what the party was for. I only knew her sister and her fiancé and a few of our friends from high school. I guess people in small towns didn’t grow apart.

“Are you going to join the party?” She asked me.

“I don’t really want to—but anything for you, best friend.” I told her.

She smiled and stood up, smoothing out her pink dress. It flowed out just above her knees, the neckline was just low enough to show some cleavage, but not enough to be immodest.

She looked beautiful.

She pulled me up before I could protest. I made sure my dress shirt was tucked in right and then followed her into the crowd.

You see that guy standing in a group of people, feigning laughs and smiles? Unfortunately, that’s me. I need a way out.

“You want me to get you a drink?” I leaned down and spoke in Lori’s ear. And I really had to lean, she was over a foot shorter than me.

“Uh yeah, a…”

“Root beer, I know.”

She rolled her eyes and rejoined the conversation. I took my leave.

I was very familiar with their house—I practically grew up in it. Whenever I needed to get away from my nagging parents, I came here. My bike from junior high is probably still in their garage. We only lived a few doors down, though my parents’ house took up about ten acres of the neighborhood. Woodmont wasn’t that big to begin with.

“Are you looking for something?”

I looked up from the fridge to see Theo, Lori’s dad in the kitchen.

“Oh yeah, just getting some root beer for Lori.” He nodded toward the pantry.

“Didn’t get a chance to chill any but the cans are in there.” He gruffed.

Theo was a simple guy. He didn’t talk much. For a while I thought he didn’t like me but now I just know it’s how he is. From what Carrie, Lori’s sister tells me, he changed after their mom died. Lori was too young to remember, around two years old I think, but Carrie was ten.

I grabbed her a can of root beer and a sprite for myself. I know she likes it cold so I grabbed a cup and some ice.

“So, how is the football going?” Theo popped open a beer and leaned over the counter.

It was uncanny, how much he looked like Lori. Same black hair; but she got her eyes from her mother—I’ve seen in pictures.

“It’s good. We had a good season so at least I didn’t go out a total failure.” I laughed once.

“Oh that’s right, it’s your last one.”

“Yeah. I had a good run though.”

He nodded in agreement, sipping more of his beer.

“Your dad said you were in the draft. Isn’t the combine coming up?”

I shook my head. The last thing I wanted to talk about was my father.

“No I’m…I don’t want to go pro. I’m going to medical school after I graduate.”

He raised his brow. I guess everyone thinks I’m just a dumb jock.

“Whoa. I’m impressed. Let me know how that goes…excuse me.” He left.

Yeah, I should have seen that coming. I shook the negative thoughts of my father and his meddling and brought Lori her drink.

“That took a while.” She downed the glass all at once.

“Sorry, I talked with your dad for a bit.”

“Oh. Well I’m going to open my gifts—come with me.” She grabbed my arm and dragged me up the steps before I could protest.

She shut her bedroom door behind her and got started on the gifts sprawled across her bed.

“Hey!”

She smacked my leg when I laid across her pristinely dressed bed.

“What? I’m tired. Who schedules a graduation ceremony at eight in the morning?”

She scowled and shook her head in mock disappointment.

I flew in from South Carolina and got here at seven, then drove straight to her ceremony. Duke university is a big deal because half of North Carolina was blocked off for it. I remember the day she found out she got in like it was yesterday. We were right here in her bedroom; she was afraid to open the letter so I did it for her. Of course I messed with her and said she didn’t get in. Then I felt like shit because she cried like I had never seen her cry before. When I told her the truth she didn’t speak to me for about a week. Yeah, not my brightest moment.

“Anything good yet?” She had a pile of wrapping paper going already.

“See for yourself.” She gestured to the stack of gifts on the floor.

She spun around in her desk chair and read some cards. So far, she got a hell of a lot of books and fancy journals. Oh yeah, she’s a writer. Literally, all she does is read and write. She talks about her characters like they’re real people. ‘I can’t believe Jason is gone. How could he leave like that?’ Huh? We’ll be having a conversation and she pulls that.

“Did you open mine yet?” She furrowed her brow at me.

“You got me a gift?” Her tone of voice was shocked. I must be more of an asshole than I think.

“Of course I did. My best friend is a college graduate. It’s on the bottom. Tell me when you get to it.” I leaned back and closed my eyes, planning to take a power nap.

I didn’t even get to sleep last night because I was finishing an online final—political science killed me more than molecular biochemistry did.

“Dillon? Wake up.” She wasn’t kind about shaking me awake. The skin on my shoulder when she touched me jumped to life, still tingling when her hand left me.

“I’m not asleep.” I lied. I rubbed my eyes and yawned.

When my eyes finally adjusted she was staring right at me with a bright smile. I guess she had opened my gift. I got her a flask that said, ‘write drunk (edit sober)’ on it, a 500 writing prompts journal she found on Facebook and really wanted, and a shirt that said, ‘I like my puns intended’ on it.

“This is so great.” She hugged me tightly. Her slender hands flew around my neck, her cheek pressed against mine.

I hugged her back and laughed.

“I’m glad you like it. I wasn’t sure you would like the flask.” She didn’t drink alcohol much so I knew it would probably never have alcohol in it anyway. Apple juice maybe, but not alcohol.

“Are you kidding? It’s my favorite one.” She laughed. She pulled away from me, still wearing a bright smile.

“I just wanted to get you something special. You deserve it. So, it’s your obligation as my best friend to get me a super cool graduation gift too.” I added. She rolled her eyes.

“Will do…and thanks for coming. I know it was pretty rough getting here.”

I shrugged. “Of course I came. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

She smiled at me, her eyes gleaming right into mine. She looked away and kept opening gifts.

I watched her with rapt attention. It was completely normal for me to drop everything and see my best friend graduate, right? Most of the time I spent with Lori, I wasn’t making rational decisions. Could be because I was a man after all, and she was really pretty…not just pretty--she’s beautiful, smart, witty, sweet…perfect.

Lorraine Dawes is my best friend and I’ve been in love with her since I was fifteen years old--since before I even knew what love was. You know, normal stuff.