Under the Strawberry Moon

Graduation Morning

Danielle awoke with a start to the sound of a pan clattering to the floor in the kitchen. As the scent of bacon filled her nostrils, she crawled out of bed suddenly remembering where she was and what day it was.

Saturday. Graduation day.

Glancing around the room, she noticed that Christina was already awake. She rubbed her eyes lightly and stretched before making her way towards the scent and sounds.

"Good morning, Danielle," Christina's mom greeted her kindly, quickly making her a plate and handing it to her. "Did you sleep well?"

Danielle took the plate from Christina’s mom, her eyes lingering on the neatly stacked pancakes and sizzling bacon. Her stomach growled in response, but it wasn't from hunger—more from the nervous energy swirling in her chest.

“Thanks, Mrs. Reed,” Danielle said, offering a small smile as she sat down at the kitchen table. She picked up a fork but didn’t immediately take a bite. Instead, her gaze wandered over the half-open window, the sunlight streaming in through the blinds. It felt like everything was about to change, and the weight of it settled heavily on her.

“Did you sleep well?” Mrs. Reed asked as she sat down across from her.

Danielle nodded, though it had been a restless kind of sleep, filled with dreams of the future and the uncertainty of it all.

“Are you nervous?” Mrs. Reed asked softly, as if sensing the unease in the air.

Danielle hesitated before nodding. “Yeah, a little. It’s just... so weird, you know? I feel like it’s all happening too fast.”

Mrs. Reed smiled sympathetically, sitting down across from her. “It is a big moment. But you’re ready for it, Danielle. You’ve worked hard.”

The compliment brought a faint blush to her cheeks. She didn’t feel ready, not at all. Graduation was a door closing, but what waited beyond it felt completely unknown. “Thanks,” she mumbled, picking up her fork and taking a small bite.

Danielle couldn’t help but smile at the reassuring tone in Mrs. Reed’s voice. It made her feel a little better, even if the knot in her stomach didn’t disappear.

Just then, Christina appeared in the doorway, already dressed in her graduation gown, her hair styled perfectly for the occasion.

“Good morning!” Christina greeted, her voice teasing. “You’re up early today, huh?”

Danielle rolled her eyes, trying to ignore the flutter of nerves. “I’m awake.”

Christina grabbed a piece of bacon and sat down next to Danielle. “So, I was thinking about the graduation party tonight.”

Danielle’s fork paused midair. “What about it?”

“I was going to invite Seth,” Christina said casually, "You know, since it’s a big night for all of us.” The mischievous glint in her eyes made it clear she was watching Danielle’s reaction.

Danielle nearly choked on her bite of food, her heart skipping a beat. “Seth?”

Christina grinned. “Yeah, Seth. You know, that guy with the striking blue eyes and white blonde hair? The one you couldn't stop thinking about yesterday.” She waggled her eyebrows up and down, just like she'd done the day before.

Danielle shrugged, not sure how to respond. The thought of Seth made her a little uneasy, not just because of the way he had stared at her, but also because she didn’t know what to think of him. “I don’t know… and stop it with that eyebrow thing!” She lightly smacked Christina on the arm.

“Oh come on,” Christina teased, nudging Danielle’s shoulder. “You were definitely checking him out yesterday. I’m just helping you out. It’ll be fun, I promise.”

“He’s not really... my type.”

Christina raised an eyebrow, but her smile didn’t fade. “You sure? Because I saw how you were looking at him yesterday. And do you even have a type? You've never been interested in guys,” she paused pointedly, “until him.”

Danielle opened her mouth to protest but quickly closed it again. Christina wasn’t wrong. Seth had certainly been hard to ignore, with his piercing eyes and that strange intensity. Whatever it was that had drawn her towards him. But it didn’t matter. She didn’t know him, and he didn’t know her. She wasn’t about to go thinking about him now. “I don’t know,” she muttered, pushing her food around on the plate. “Maybe. I guess it wouldn’t hurt.”

Christina’s grin widened, clearly pleased with herself. “Great! I’ll text him after breakfast. Don’t worry, it’ll be a lot of fun.”

Danielle opened her mouth to protest but quickly closed it again. She wasn’t sure what to say, and she definitely wasn’t sure about inviting Seth to the party, but she'd just agreed to it. She barely knew him, and the whole situation felt awkward. But Christina was right about one thing—this was a graduation party, and it was supposed to be fun.

“Alright,” Danielle finally said, not entirely sure why she was agreeing. “I guess it’s possible we won't even see each other or talk to each other. You've basically invited half the class to the party.”

Christina’s smile widened in satisfaction. “Perfect. We’re going to make tonight great.”

Mrs. Reed, who had been quietly enjoying her own breakfast, chimed in with a soft chuckle. “I think it sounds like a great idea. Just don’t stay up too late, okay? I’ll need you both to help clean up afterward.”

Danielle looked over at Mrs. Reed, who was watching them both with a knowing smile. It was nice to have someone’s approval, even if it was a little unsettling to think about Seth being at the party.

Danielle sighed softly, feeling a little out of control of the situation. Graduation day was starting, and already it felt like everything was shifting.