Episode 3: The Graduation Cap
703 Words
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The high school football field looked completely different today. The bleachers weren't filled with screaming sports fans, but with weeping parents, flashing cameras, and a sea of green graduation gowns.
Aria stood near the back of the crowd, adjusting the collar of her sundress. She was fifteen now, just finishing her freshman year, but today wasn't about her. It was the day Leo and Ethan graduated.
"I can't believe my boys are officially done," Aria’s mom choked up, dabbing her eyes with a tissue as the commencement ceremony ended. The crowd erupted into cheers, and a hundred green caps flew into the bright blue June sky.
Within minutes, the field became a chaotic maze of families. Aria scanned the crowd until she spotted them. Leo and Ethan were practically glowing with excitement, their gowns unzipped, caps slung backward. Leo caught her eye and waved frantically.
Aria and her parents navigated through the swarm of people. The moment they reached them, Leo grabbed his mother in a massive hug, spinning her around.
"We made it, Mom! No more high school!" Leo shouted.
While her parents swarmed Leo with congratulations, Aria felt a presence stop right in front of her. She looked up.
Ethan was looking down at her, a breathless, handsome grin on his face. He looked so grown up in his graduation attire, a medal for academic excellence dangling around his neck. For a second, the four-year age gap felt like a literal canyon between them. He was stepping into the real world. She was still stuck in high school.
"Hey," Ethan said softly.
"Hey," Aria replied, her voice suddenly shy. "Congratulations, Ethan. You actually did it."
"Barely," he teased, running a hand through his famously messy hair. He looked at her for a long moment, his expression softening. "You look nice today, Ari. Red suits you."
Aria felt the familiar, dangerous warmth rush to her cheeks. Before she could stumble over a thank-you, Leo crashed into Ethan’s side, throwing a heavy arm around his shoulder.
"Can you believe it, man? Two months of summer, and then we're packing up for state college," Leo beamed, completely oblivious to the sudden dip in his sister's stomach. "Brothers sharing a dorm room. It’s gonna be legendary."
*State college. Two hours away.* The reality of it hit Aria like a physical blow. They were leaving. Ethan was leaving.
"Yeah," Ethan laughed, punching Leo’s shoulder. "Try not to leave your dirty socks on my side of the room." Ethan then turned his attention back to Aria. Seeing the sudden quietness in her eyes, his smile faded into something gentler. He stepped closer, taking off his green graduation cap and placing it right on top of her head. It slipped down, covering her eyes.
"Hey!" Aria laughed, tilting her head back so she could see him.
"Keep it safe for me," Ethan whispered, leaning down slightly so they were eye-to-eye. "Just because Leo and I are going to college doesn't mean you get to slack off, okay? I expect straight A's next year. I'll be checking."
"I don't need a babysitter, Ethan," Aria mumbled, though her heart was pounding so loudly she was afraid he could hear it.
"Not a babysitter. Just..." Ethan paused, his dark eyes searching her face for a brief, unreadable second. "...someone looking out for you."
"Alright, break it up, you two," Leo interrupted, playfully shoving Ethan away and pulling Aria into a suffocating headlock. "Stop trying to corrupt my little sister, Vance. Come on, Mom wants to take a million photos before we starve."
As Leo dragged her toward their parents, Aria looked back over her shoulder. Ethan was standing there, his hands in his pockets, watching her with a warm, steady gaze.
She reached up, holding the edges of his graduation cap on her head. It smelled like the styling gel he used and the crisp summer air. He was moving on to a world filled with college parties, new people, and beautiful girls his own age.
Aria tightened her grip on the cap. She had three years of high school left. She just had to survive them, grow up, and wait for the gap between them to finally close.
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- Writer
