Before We Graduate

Chapter 2: The First Item

SIENNA’S POV

I stare at the bucket list in my hands, the words from yesterday still buzzing in my head.

"Alright, Sienna. Let’s do it."

I don’t know why hearing Asher say that made my stomach flip, but it did. Now, I’m holding him to it.

The next morning, Asher is already outside my house when I step out. He leans against his car, scrolling through his phone like it’s any other day, like we didn’t just make some ridiculous promise to complete a years-old bucket list before graduation.

I adjust my backpack strap and walk over. “Morning.”

He glances up. “Morning.” Then, without missing a beat, "So… what’s first?”

I blink. “You actually want to start now?”

He shrugs. “Why not? You were the one all eager yesterday.”

He’s got a point.

I pull the notebook from my bag and flip through the pages. My eyes land on one of the easier ones. “Sing at a karaoke night.”

Asher raises an eyebrow. “Really? That’s how you want to start?”

“You scared?” I tease.

He smirks. “Nope. Just questioning your taste in first choices.”

I roll my eyes. “Come on, it’s simple. There’s that karaoke place downtown. We can go after school.”

He considers it for a second, then nods. “Fine. But if I have to embarrass myself singing, you’re up there with me.”

I grin. “Deal.”

* * *

At school, I barely make it to my locker before Jade appears out of nowhere.

She hooks her arm through mine. “Okay. Spill.”

I sigh. “Spill what?”

“You and Asher. I saw you two all smiley and whispery at his locker yesterday.”

“We weren’t whispering.”

“Fine. But you were smiling. A lot.”

I try not to blush. “It’s nothing. We just… made a deal.”

Jade’s eyes light up. “A deal?”

I hesitate, then hand her the notebook.

Her jaw drops. “Shut. Up.” She flips through the pages. “Wait, this is good. This is like… high school bucket list gold.”

I laugh. “That’s kind of the point.”

She snaps the book shut. “Okay, I support this. But-” She gives me a pointed look. “You do realize this is basically a rom-com setup, right?”

I groan. “It’s not-”

“Childhood best friends completing a bucket list? Forced proximity? Tension?”

I grab the notebook back. “It’s not a rom-com.”

Jade smirks. “Mmhmm. We’ll see.”

* * *

After school, Asher and I head downtown. The karaoke place is small, tucked between a pizza shop and an old bookstore. Neon lights flash in the window: OPEN MIC NIGHT!

Perfect.

We step inside, and I instantly regret it. The place is crowded, the stage is tiny, and the energy is chaotic.

I turn to Asher. “Maybe this was a bad idea.”

He grins. “Too late now.”

Before I can protest, he grabs the song list. “Alright, what’s our song?”

“We?”

“You promised,” he reminds me.

I groan and scan the list. “Something easy. Maybe-”

Asher suddenly snatches the book away and smirks. “Oh no. If we’re doing this, we’re doing it right.”

I narrow my eyes. “What are you thinking?”

He points at a song.

I gasp. “Absolutely not.”

“Absolutely yes.”

“ASHER.”

But it’s too late. He’s already giving our names to the host.

And that’s how I end up on stage, under bright lights, standing next to Asher as we prepare to sing "Breaking Free" from High School Musical."

Kill me now.

* * *

The music starts.

Asher grins at me, completely unfazed. Meanwhile, my soul is leaving my body.

I glare at him. “I hate you.”

He chuckles. “You’ll survive.”

Then he starts singing.

And, to my absolute shock, he’s actually good.

The crowd cheers. He’s totally into it, singing like he was born for this. And me? I barely remember how words work.

“Sienna, your turn,” he nudges.

I take a deep breath, squeeze my eyes shut, and just… go for it.

And somehow, against all odds, it’s fun.

By the time we hit the chorus, I’m belting the lyrics like my life depends on it, and Asher is laughing next to me, spinning me around dramatically. The crowd is clapping. My heart is racing.

For a moment, it doesn’t feel like high school or senior year or stress.

It just feels like us.

Like the old days.

Like before everything got complicated.

When the song ends, the crowd actually cheers.

Asher bows exaggeratedly. I smack his arm. “Dramatic much?”

He grins. “That was amazing, and you know it.”

I shake my head, but I’m smiling too.

As we leave the stage, my phone buzzes. A text from Jade:

Jade: YOU AND ASHER ON STAGE? EXCUSE ME? ARE WE IN A ROM-COM?

I roll my eyes but don’t respond.

Because the truth is…

I don’t hate the idea.