Before We Graduate

SIENNA’S POV "One more year." That’s what I tell myself as I stand in front of my mirror, staring at my reflection. One more year of high school, one more year of the same routine, the same people, the same hallways. Then everything changes. College. A new city. A new life. I should be excited. Everyone else is. But there’s this weird feeling in my chest, like I’m standing on the edge of something, and I don’t know if I’m ready to jump. “SIENNA! If you don’t come downstairs in the next ten seconds, I’m eating your toast!” My little brother, Luke, yells from the kitchen. I groan, grab my bag, and head downstairs, nearly tripping over my own feet. Smooth. A great way to start the year. Luke, in all his annoying 13-year-old glory, is already halfway through my toast. My mom glances at me over her coffee, raising an eyebrow. “You look nervous.” “I’m not.” I grab my toast back, ignoring Luke’s protests. “She totally is,” Luke mutters. “Probably thinking about a certain someone.” I freeze mid-bite. He smirks. “You know, childhood best friend, suddenly attractive over the summer, totally acting different now—” I shove a piece of toast into his mouth before he can finish. “Shut up.” My mom sighs. “Luke, stop bothering your sister.” Then she turns to me. “Asher’s waiting outside.” Of course he is. I swallow hard, grab my bag, and head for the door, bracing myself. * * * Asher is leaning against his car, scrolling through his phone when I step outside. The first thing I notice? He looks… different. Not in a dramatic, movie-montage kind of way. But in the way that makes me pause. Taller, maybe? Or just more confident. His dark hair is messier, but in an intentional way, like he doesn’t care but somehow still looks good. And his eyes—warm brown, but sharper than I remember. He glances up and smirks. “Took you long enough.” “I had to fight Luke for my breakfast.” He chuckles and pushes off the car. “Sounds like a personal problem.” I roll my eyes but fall into step beside him. We’ve been walking to school together since we were kids. Some things don’t change. But others… I sneak a glance at him. We didn’t talk much over the summer. Not because anything happened—at least, I don’t think so. But because life got in the way. He was busy. I was busy. And now, standing next to him, I feel like I’m talking to someone I used to know, instead of my best friend. I don’t like it. “You okay?” Asher asks, catching me staring. “Yeah.” I look straight ahead. “Just… summer felt long.” He’s quiet for a moment. Then: “Yeah. It did.” And that’s it. No explanation. No deep conversation. Just two people walking to school like nothing’s changed, even though everything has. The second we step into the school building, the chaos begins. Friends reunite, gossip spreads, teachers pretend they’re excited to see us. My best friend, Jade, practically tackles me. “Sienna! Senior year, baby!” I laugh, hugging her back. “We survived.” “Barely.” She grins, then eyes Asher over my shoulder. “Damn. When did he get hot?” I choke on air. “Jade!” “What?” She shrugs. “I’m just saying. If you don’t make a move, someone else will.” I glare at her, but my face is on fire. Asher, thankfully, is already heading toward his locker, oblivious. “You’re imagining things,” I say. Jade just smirks. “We’ll see.” * * * Lunch is the first time I get a moment to breathe. I sit down with my food, trying to process the day, when something in my bag catches my eye. A notebook. My old notebook. I pull it out, flipping through the pages, and then I see it. “Before We Graduate – The Ultimate Bucket List” My breath catches. I remember this. Asher and I made this list years ago—freshman year, maybe? It was full of stupid, random things we swore we’d do before graduation. Sing at a karaoke night. Have a snowball fight. Go on a road trip. Dance at prom until we can’t feel our feet. Jump into a pool at midnight. There are at least twenty things written down, some crossed out, most untouched. I glance across the cafeteria. Asher is sitting with his friends, laughing at something. I don’t know why, but something inside me clicks. This year feels like an ending. Maybe it doesn’t have to. Maybe we can finish what we started. After school, I find Asher at his locker. “Hey,” I say. He looks up. “Hey.” I hold up the notebook. “Remember this?” His eyes widen slightly. “No way. You still have that?” I nod. “And I think we should finish it.” He leans against his locker, arms crossed. “You serious?” “Dead serious.” He studies me for a long moment. Then, slowly, he smiles. “Alright, Sienna. Let’s do it.” I don’t know what I expected. Maybe a simple yes. Maybe a laugh. But in that moment, looking at Asher - really looking at him - I realize something. This year might be our last. But it doesn’t have to be ordinary. It can be unforgettable. And maybe, just maybe, so can he.