1 year later.
Maisie's Graduation.

It was so beautiful out.

I sat in my section according to last names. Senior year was tough. Dealing with college applications, applying for scholarships, getting my work turned in, being a mom to two baby girls who were going through milestones like sitting up, crawling, then using furniture to lean against and walk. Now they were walking.

Vanessa and Lily were walking. Being a year and seven months. They loved talking to each other, being really loud, babbling.

I loved them so much, there were times I questioned if I could handle both of them, on my own. But my mom encouraged me.

Today they were dressed in cute pink and white dresses, Lily had a white bow head band, while Vanessa had a pink bow head band.

My hair was curled, short, and blonde at the tips. Cutting my hair at the start of senior year, felt like a relief. One, my babies couldn't tug on it, and two, I looked at it as letting go of what happened.

I was wearing my purple gown and cap, waiting for my principal to deliver his speech. Quickly looking out on the bleachers, I spotted Chance who was with Madison, their hands lazily intertwined. Madison wore the same gown and cap, Chance wore his fraternity shirt from the college he attends. My mom was here with all of my extended Family, Daniel was even here.

My grandparents frowned upon me when they found out I had twins, they wouldnt even speak to me for a month, but they eventually came around and love them as much I do. My aunts and uncles set up play dates with their babies, and my cousins were mostly around my age who loved spending time with Vanessa and Lily.

Madison ran to her seat, in her heels, like it was nothing, even in grass. Our principal said his introduction, taking longer than he needed, then letting our class speaker up, and then the valedictorian. This took forever, but I was way to excited and nervous to care. When they were done, the names began. It seemed to go faster when you are the one graduating instead of being in the crowd. I was nervously playing with the purple and white string tassle that had 2018 in silver, shiny, metal, dangling.

I was too nervous to hear my name being called, it wasn't until the person next to me nudged me, and hearing my named being called for the second time. I hastily got up, and walked to the stage. I heard airhorns and yelling, possible from my family.

As I was handed my diploma, I was towering over our principal and teachers with the wedges I was wearing. Shaking their hands, I walked down the stage, and to where the graduating seniors were standing.

It took forever to get done, then the next thing, everyone was cheering. Madison jumped on me, making us tumble to the ground.

"We're done! We're done!" She chanted as we helped each other up.

"I hope to never see any of you ever again" she yelled out to the crowd.

Her parents found us, with Chance trailing behind. She was given a bouquet of roses by her parents.

"Where's my graduation present?" She teased Chance.

"Your graduation is your present" he said. She looked really dumbfounded.

"You can't say stuff to her like that, Chance, she'll take forever" I laughed, "Do you smell that? I think she's thinking too hard" I laughed harder. Madison pushed me lightly, and Chance finally caught on.

I was jumped at the sound of a blaring horn by my ear, and quickly turned around. Daniel smiled then hugged me.

Then it was just continuous hugs from family. I was given a huge bouquet of a mix of flowers. All sorts of colors, with the base wrapped in plastic and a brown paper tissue with a prickly small rope tied into a bow to keep them together.

I was given huge balloons, one was just a black graduation cap with thin streamers hanging from it.

Vanessa and Lily were running towards me, almost falling a couple times on the grass. By time they got to me, they were clinging to my legs and tugging on the satin purple graduation gown I had on.

I then was getting pictures taken of me. My mom had me hold Vanessa and Lily while she held my stuff, to take pictures. Let's just say this took forever.

Later, i caught up with Madison to take pictures.

"Graduation Party at your house?" She clarified.

"Yeah, and bring some salad, everyone else wants to bring meats and chips for the cookout" i hugged her.

"Okay, see you" she pecked my cheek before running off in the parking lot. Everyone was so quick to leave, the parking lot was anarchy. My cousins already took the babies home after my mom took pictures for a nap and to start setting up.

I got in with my mom.

"Im so proud of you" she told me, with her eyes watering again.

"Me too" I said recalling every difficulty.

-

The music downstairs was blaring with modern rap mixed up with popular pop songs. I dressed Vanessa and Lily in onesies. Darren's mom offered to take the twins for the night, I took the offer knowing I'd probably be upstairs most of the time trying to put them to sleep or tending to them.

I threw the diaper bag down the stairs, missing my little cousin who ran by.

I expertly carried both car seats down the stairs to Darren's mom who was waiting.

"They're both teething again, so i put some gel in there for it, and Lily has a diaper rash, so there's baby powder and gel for that" i smiled, kissing their foreheads, "I love you pretty girls, see you tomorrow"

"Alright" she smiled. She took both of them outside with the diaper bag balanced on her shoulder.

I stood in the door way, waiting until she pulled out from the driveway.

I closed the door. Family was here and so were my friends. Black and white balloons were every where. My little cousins were chasing each other, my older cousins were drinking some kind of alcohol, and the older adults were drinking wine or beer. Daniel was tending to the grill out back. Going out back was filled with even more little kids, and my friends. Wearing a sun dress and wedges, I was again taller than most of the people here.

Madison and Chance were talking with Daniel, so I headed over to them.

"He's back?" I heard Daniel asked.

"Who's back?" I said confused.

"He who must not be named" Madison joked.

"Okay" I dragged out, "hey, did you bring the food?" I changed the subject.

"Oh shit!" I heard one of my cousins yell, followed by the change of volume to the speakers.

"Baby, ooh, I like your style" the upbeat Drake song began to play.

Soon the back yard was filling with dancing people of every age. Including Madison and Chance.

When the sun was setting, we turned on the white lights we had draping along the tall wooden fence around the yard, around the tree trunk, and that strung above us.

Walking inside to put a movie on for the younger kids, there was knocking on the door. The lights in the house were still on, to make sure there wouldn't be any "funny" business going on. We all know what happened last time at a party with drunk people.

The knocking happened again. I sighed as I finished putting a movie and swinging the door open, thinking my younger cousins were trying to "ding dong ditch".

I was confused to see someone standing with their back facing me, dressed in a dark shirt and jeans, looking out to the front yard where there were cars lined up on the street and driveway.

"Uh, hello?" I nervously caught their attention, causing them to turn around.

I slightly gasped with surprise.

"Darren?" I questioned. He looked completely different, almost a different person. He no longer had the long hair, it was clearly cut. He looked bigger, in a healthy way, muscular. His face was more defined, but his eyes were the same green I remember.

"Maisie?" He said quickly looking me up and down, then frowning, "Your hair" he lightly touched my shoulder length hair.

"Back at you" I gently ran my fingers through his short hair, it seemed so curly now. Quickly putting my arm back at my side

I looked back in the house, making sure no one seen me, and stepped outside, shutting the door.

"What are you doing here, Darren?" I asked seriously.

"Wanted to congratulate you, and apologize" he answered smoothly.

I crossed my arms, "Fine, do what you said you're going to do"

He slightly smiled while looking down. I was a little bit taller than him in the wedges, making this feel awkward.

"Congratulations on graduating" he smiled.

"And im sorry for the last time we were together at the same place, I was a total ass, and I'm sorry for any hurt I've caused you" he was looking into my eyes.

"Yeah you were, but I'm over what was between us" I dropped my arms.

His eyebrows drew together, "You are?"

"I have more important things on my mind right now" I told him, "I try not dwelling on the past or people who hurt me"

"Madison hurt you, but your still friends with her?" He chuckled without humor.

"She didn't do it on purpose, and she's my best friend! You were just some guy who had drunken sex with me" anger was boiling through my veins.

"You may be the father of our baby girls, but we shouldn't keep doing this, you even said you fell out of love with me, so why are you still trying?" I quietly asked with too much emotion.

"We're still drawn together, I just really wanted to see you" he stepped closer now.

"Darren" I whispered, my anger going away, "we don't love each other"

"That's a lie and you know it, I only agreed with you last year so you wouldnt be stuck with me" he lightly held my hand.

"Stop lying," I pulled my hand away, "what do you want?"

"I'm telling the truth! Why can't you believe me?" His eyes flashed with anger.

"It's been a year, Darren," I sighed, "someone doesn't just pop in to say 'congrats on graduating, I'm sorry I was being a dick last time were together, but did I mention i still love you?' so what is it?" I raised my eyebrows.

He sighed, "I'm one hundred percent serious"

I didn't know what to say. I'll always have some connection with Darren, but I just don't feel the same way.

We stood in silence.

I heard the door open, "Darren, when did you get here?" I looked back to see Chance who was grinning.

"Not too long ago" he smiled back.

"Chance" I said quietly until he got the hint and shut the door again.

"Darren, you're not making anything better" I groaned.

"What?" he questioned.

"If you really mean what you said, you're really going to make me feel like a bad person" I interlaced my hands together out of being nervous.

"What do you mean?" he frowned.

I took a long breath.

I looked back up at his green eyes, "I don't have those kind of feelings for you" I quietly told him. Lying.

He put his hands in his pockets and blew through his mouth.

He brought one of his hands up to run them over his short hair.

He finally looked back at me, "That's all I needed to hear".

"I really did love you, it just... " he hesitated,  "wasn't the right time" he faintly smiled without showing his teeth.

He stepped closer to me, and kissed my cheek, "Good luck, I wish the best for you, and Vanessa and Lily" he began to walk away.

"Thank you" I quickly said, which he responded with a confused look, "for understanding, I just needed closure on this relationship"

He nodded, "Me too, it was good".

He began to walk away again, this time without me stopping him.

I watched him disappear down my driveway and into a white car, and drive away.

I couldn't stop the tears. The door opened. I was wrapped in my best friends arms.

"Why couldn't I just tell him the truth?" I cried into her shoulder, "why did I lie about not feeling anything for him anymore?"

"Because you're stubborn and can hold grudges like they're children to you" she joked.

I laughed that turned into a soft sob, I pulled away, wiping away the tears.

"I'm pathetic" I quietly said.

"Maybe it's time to forgive him, it's been like over a year since everything happened?" she clarified.

"Maybe, but I basically told him I don't love him anymore and hope he does good in life" I sniffled.

"It's up to you, remember, tomorrow may be too late" she shrugged, walking back into the house.

Is it too late?

-

Lowkey was going to be an asshole and leave you hanging right there saying "that's the end" but I promised 2 more chapters. That means one more now :)