Kayden: The Past Read Free Page B

without his sorry ass around. I sat there stewing about my feelings, or lack thereof, for my father while everyone gave speeches that I had tuned out.
    The kid next to me stood up, and it was my queue that I’d be next. My moment had finally arrived; high school official ended the second I walked across the stage and shook the hand of the principal. I could hear the cheers from the crowd and the hoots of my mom from a distance.
    There would be no graduation party filled with family afterward. My mom had to work, and there wasn’t extra cash to pay for a party. I understood and had enough to do that evening to fill the time and celebrate. Scott’s family was throwing a party, followed by a party for all his friends, without the older crowd to bring us down.
    My friends and I gathered in front of the school after throwing our caps in the air. Our parents took pictures of us as a group; none of us knew how close we’d be after high school. They were going off to college all over the country while I’d stay home to work and figure out my future. We still had the summer to party and hangout, but I knew shit would change soon enough, and I’d be left behind.
    I had a mission for the evening of graduation—Mindy. I’ve liked her for years, and she hardly noticed me, but tonight that would change. She left for college two years ago, and I’ve changed and grown into a man during her absence. She’d be mine tonight… paybacks are a bitch.
    I strolled into Scott’s backyard shortly after nine, and the party was already in full-swing. The family had cleared out; a bonfire was roaring in the middle of the yard, and people were everywhere. I found Scott in his usual spot, dispensing drinks.
    “Dude, can you believe it’s all fucking over?” he asked handing me a drink.
    “I thought this day would never come.” I sipped the beer letting it run down my throat. “The last couple of months fucking sucked. I’m ready for whatever’s next,” I said.
    “I can’t wait to get out of this shit hole town and head off to Chicago for school. I can’t believe I got into Northwestern,” he said with a smile.
    “I’m happy for you. Maybe I’ll come out and see you sometime. It’s going to be weird without you here, though,” I said my smile dropping with the thought.
    “I’m sorry, Kayden. I keep forgetting you’re not going off to school like the rest of us. What happened to you is not right, dude, just not fucking right. You would have been offered a full scholarship,” he said with a sincere look on his face. Scott’s my best friend and I’d be forgotten and replaced within months of his departure.
    “Scott, don’t be sad for me. I’ll make it and figure shit out,” I said slapping him on the back. “This is a night of celebration, and I see your sister is here.” I motioned with my head in her direction.
    “Yeah, but she’s still the same miserable bitch she’s always been,” he said with a sour look.
    “Well at least you’re not going to the same school, you’ll rarely see her.”
    “You got that shit right. She’ll get hers, that nasty bitch,” he said taking a swig of the beer he’d been fidgeting with during our conversation. Scott and Mindy always had a tumultuous relationship. She treated him like shit since he was little. She never got over the fact that their parents fawned over Scott; he was the golden child, the one who would carry on the family name. He was lavished with love and affection, and Mindy became more miserable over time. Scott never felt her absence when she left for college.
    I casually walked towards Mindy; she sat on a log near the fire talking with friends and laughing. I kept my eyes on her waiting for her to notice me. I knew she would notice me, but maybe not recognize me, at first. Her eyes zeroed in and locked on me when I was within ten feet of her.
    “Hey,” she said with her mouth hanging open in shock.
    “Hi… Mindy, right?” I said. I didn’t want to give