The sky gets filled with a hundred blue caps as we, the recently graduated, celebrate. We made it. We did it. After four years of constant hard work, late nights studying, early morning for cheerleading practice, and a whole lot of unnecessary drama... I graduated.

"It is sad knowing many of us will lose contact in a few months and will probably never hear from each other again. Maybe will see something that reminds you of one of us and you'll think: hey I wonder how they are doing. No matter what, I think you all affected who I am today. You all played a key role in who I am today, and for that I thank you. Congratulations class of 2021. We made it."

I closed off my valedictorian speech with that exact sentence. When the office first told me I won, I couldn't believe it. Of course, I knew I was in the running against a few other students; but it felt surreal. Being on that stage, talking to all my fellow peers, teachers, and parents. I was elated, to say the least.

I looked for Miles after my graduation cap safely landed a few feet away from him. I could spot him easily in a sea full of seniors. His messy brown hair sticking out in all directions after wearing the cap for so long. I ran to him and he opened his arms.

"We did it, baby. We did it hermosa!" My legs wrap around his waist as he pulls me up. My head instantly finds its way to his neck... it always does.

"We did, didn't we?" Miles ended up being honor and I couldn't be more proud of him. I know how he feels about school which makes me feel even prouder. He gently places me back and gives me a quick kiss. I spot his mom and siblings approaching us.

"Hey, Sophia. Alex." I say to annoy him and he quickly rolls his eyes.

"And to think I came here to hug you."

"Aw. You big baby. Come here." Alejandro engulfs me in a hug and Clarissa joins in.

"I want a hug too. Congrats D."

"Thank you, guys," I mumble against Alejandro's chest. We pull apart. A few minutes after catching my mom and dad find us. After everything, we are slowly falling back into a goof partner. The divorce went smoothly I suppose. They both agreed on it. Dad has dinner with us most days; he says he's trying to fix our relationship and I believe him. I really do. Mom is doing the same, but it's a little harder with her.

"I am so proud of you Diana. Never forget that." Mom whispers into my ear as she hugs me harder than she's ever done before. A true mom hug.

"We got you something querida," Sophia says as she pulls a small box from her purse. A pink ribbon is taped on top of it.

"You didn't have to. Thank you." I rip apart the paper to reveal a beautiful gold necklace with a heart. I feel Miles's arms sneak around my waist.

"Turn it around hermosa." He whispers. I do. Behind the heart, the letters D and M are engraved to it.

"Oh my- this is beautiful. Thank you really. I love it." I place it in my own bag. I'll put it on back home.

The ride back to my house is short. I decided to host a small graduation party. When I say small I really mean it. Just Miles family, my own, Maggy, and Nia. All the people that truly matter to me. The people I know will stick with me even during my hardest days.

"Miles, Diana, I would like to speak with you guys. Alone." Mom says as she finds us sitting on the couch with Nia. We are wearing our caps and gowns still high off graduation spirit.

"Yeah. I'll be back." Nia excuses herself. Only the three of us now. Mom doesn't sit down. She looks at us.

"Miles, I want to apologize for the way I treated you. I treated you like if you were less just because you aren't American. That is something horrible and I understand if our relationship can't be fixed. I will understand if you won't forgive me. I truly do. But I want you to know-" Her voice cracks. "I want you to know that I value you. That I accept you into our family. I don't think anyone can ever be good enough for Diana, but you are very very close to what I always wanted for her. Please never change."

I look over at Miles to see his reaction. I only see his glassy eyes before he is standing up and hugging my mom. She looks a little confused at first, but she hugs him back. Her arms were tightly around his waist.

"Thank you." I hear him say. "I've only ever wanted you to accept me. Thank you."

"Very well then." She looks down at the floor trying to hide the very obvious tears streaming down her face. "I'll leave you to it."

"Let me tell Nia that I'm going to change real quick and that I'll be down in a few," I say to Miles as he heads up to my room.

Nia's beautiful hair is the first thing that pops as I enter the kitchen. She's talking to Alejandro, actually no. More like arguing with him.

"All I'm saying is Black people have been way more oppressed than Hispanics." She tells him.

"I never said you weren't. I was just explaining how we are oppressed as well. Nia, calm down. You would be a badass lawyer but calmate. Calm down."

You know what, I won't interrupt them.

"Hi, flower." I see as I peek my head inside my room. Miles is sitting on my desk chair, legs wide open using his phone. His hair is still a mess but I like it that way. He carries himself with this natural beauty so many people wish for and I think he doesn't even realize he has it.

"Hi, hermosa." He places his phone down. His eyes take in every action I do. From zipping down my graduation gown to pushing it down my arms, to me revealing my champagne silk dress. The spaghetti straps hang loosely on my shoulders.

"Fuck." I hear him whisper making me laugh a bit.

"All yours baby." I joke. I grab my purse so I can put on the gold heart necklace he got me. "Help me please?" Miles stands up and comes up behind me. I get a sense of deja vu as he pushes my hair to one side and looks at me through the mirror. His hand grazes my back as he places a soft kiss on my shoulder. Then another on my neck. And a final one of my cheek. I give him the necklace and he clips it on easily.

"Perfect fit, hermosa." I don't respond. I am too busy looking at him. Our eyes lock through the mirror. This is perfect. Not the necklace, but us. Miles and I being together is perfect.

His hand finds my waist and he turns me around. His lips connect with mine in a way like we've done this a thousand times. Yet it still feels like the first time. The fireworks still explode and the sunset allows the night to come. Kissing him always feels like this.

"We should probably-" He kisses me again. "Probably- head down," I mumble against his lips. I feel a smile forming on Miles's lips.

"I rather not."

"Brat."

"Don't call me a brat hermosa. It's not nice." He jokes. I see his eyes catch a glimpse of something in my closet. "What's that? Is that your prom dress?" I turn around to see what he's looking at and indeed it is my dress.

"Yes, but it's not for you to see."

"Oh come on Diana. I want to see it. You know so we can match." He grips my waist again and gives me a quick peck.

"I'll tell you the color."

"You know how many different shades of the same color exist. I should see it."

"Nop. You'll see it in a few days baby. Come one." I grab his hand and pull him out of my room before he actually convinces me to show him my dress. "Just so you know, you'll die when you actually see me in it."

I think he might. With the open back, red shinny top that flows down hanging tight to my body. The slit in the left leg allows some room for the dress to move.

The house downstairs is not pact-like I thought it would be. It s simple with creme colors, a few balloons hanging around here and there, and a lot of champagne. Not for me... obviously.

"Maggy you made it." I hug her, the sweet smell of cookies fills surround her. It always does.

"I am so happy darling. Congratulations Diana. You did it." She hugs me once again and I hear the faint whisper in my ear. "I'm so proud of you." During my years of school every time I had a question, I would go to her. Even if she didn't know the answer or was confused she would sit down with me and explain to the best of her ability.

That was the type of mom I wanted to grow up with.

"Miles, so happy you finally manned up. I was waiting for this to happen since the day I saw you guys in the pool." Maggy says to Miles.

"What happened in the pool?" Clarissa chirps in.

"Nothing. Just- Thank you, Maggy." Miles ignores Clarissa's question. That pool incident seems like a lifetime ago.

"Sometimes I wonder D-" Clarissa says "How did you guys even end up together. I'm not mad about it, but Miles? It's questionable." She jokes.

Miles Scratches her head when she's not paying attention to him. " Thanks for the vote of confidence, brat."

"Anytime." She smiles at him before lightly punching him. "But really Diana, how did it happen?"

"I think it was the Spanish." I stop for a moment. "Guess I just fell in love with him." I blurt out before I realize what I said.

"Tu lo amas?" Clarissa ask. I feel Maggy tense up next to me. "You love him?"

"You love me?" Miles repeats. His eyes shine at me.

Fuck. This is not how I wanted this to go.

"I'm going to air dry the dishes." Clarissa jokes and leaves with Maggy trailing behind her. The air is filled with tension. It's thick. So thick that for a moment I think I actually see it.

"You love me?" He asks again. He moves closer to me, his hand was around my waist.

"You totally told Clarissa how you fucked up with the air washing thing didn't you."

"Yes, but Diana, Hermosa, I asked you a question. I would really like for you to put me out of my misery and answer it."

"Yeah. I love you." I admit. It isn't a lie. It's the whole truth.

"You are so ugh. I really wanted to say it first. I mean I have been pinning over you for the last, I don't know, eight years." He pecks my lips.

"You said it first flower. You said it when you picked flowers from the sidewalk because you wanted to get me flowers. You said it when you taught me how to dance salsa. You said it when you called me perfect whenever mother made me feel bad. You said it when you switched classes for me." He stays silent for a moment thinking if what I'm saying is actually true.

"Ha! I did say it first. Was I really that obvious?" He laughs as he leans in and meets my lips. I have ignited into a fire and I've switched into a sunset with multiple colors. What Miles and I have, it's exactly like a sunset. "But really, I love you." And we kiss again, slowly, as if savoring every second again. At least I was.

The rest of the day passes by in a blur. With dancing, some awful karaoke, and lots of food the night comes to an end. Both our families mingle together as they get to know one another. Mom behaves the best I've seen in years. She looks genuinely happy. Her skin is glowing and for the first time in a while, I see her genuinely smile. She has my same smile; all big and full of love. 

y'all i feel like a proud mom. im actually going to cry. 

epilogue coming tomorrow or thrusday... im excited but sad.