Don't Hate the Player...Hate the Game(64)

I laughed. “You got that right.”

There were already several cars at the cemetery. I wasn’t surprised to see Maddie and Pastor Dan. We’d talked about going, and I knew Pastor Dan was going to say a prayer.

Mrs. Nelson smiled as she saw Alex and me walking up. Jason and Jonathan stood behind her, but Mr. Nelson wasn’t with her. Figured, that the Asshole wouldn’t come. He’d probably thought it as stupid idea.

Once we were all gathered around the vault, Mrs. Nelson cleared her throat. “I just want to thank you guys for taking time out of your parties and celebrations to come be with us. I won’t have this opportunity again—I will imagine Jake graduating from college and how his life would have turned out, but it won’t be tangible. This diploma and robe are real. I especially want to thank Maddie for all the time she spent tutoring Jake. I don’t know if he would have made it without her. I want to thank all of you for being such wonderful friends to Jake. He loved you all, and we love you too.” As she began to choke up, she nodded to Pastor Dan.

He smiled sadly and stepped forward. “If you’ll all bow your heads please,” he said. We obediently lowered our heads and waited for his voice to echo through the cemetery. After he finished, a chorus of “Amen’s” rang through the cemetery. Several of the girls including Maddie wiped the tears from their eyes. Jason and Jonathan took the cap and gown and diploma and gently eased them in beside Jake’s urn. Then a cemetery worker in a blue jumpsuit stepped forward. His nametag read ‘Earl’. He wiped his face on a red bandana and then started sealing the vault back up.

We all stood around in reverent silence for a few minutes. Mrs. Nelson nodded and turned to us. “Thank you all again for coming. We love you.” She motioned for Jason and Jonathan. They both took one of her arms and led her down the hillside to the car. I exhaled noisily with relief.

“Tough day, huh?” Maddie questioned behind me.

When I whirled around, she once again took my breath away. Her long dark hair cascaded in waves over her shoulders and down her back. I had to hold back from reaching over and running my fingers through it. Her dark eyes held a sadness that only I could fully understand. “Yeah, it’s been a rollercoaster for sure. You hanging in there?”

She nodded.

I smiled. “By the way, you did a great job on your speech today.”

“Thanks. I was afraid I would choke up,” Maddie said, with a grin.

“Nah, I knew you’d do great.”

We were interrupted by Blaine. “Hey, Noah. Hi, Maddie,” he said.

“Hi,” we both echoed.

Blaine turned to me. “Listen man, I’m having a bon voyage party tonight. I’d really like to see you there.”

I eyed Maddie before I said, “I don’t know. I mean, we’re leaving for Rio on Sunday morning. I have a lot to do…”

Blaine snorted. “Yeah, I know, but that’s why you really have to come.” He glanced over Maddie. “Duh, where are my manners? You should come, too, Maddie.”

She raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Really?”

Blaine grinned. “Yeah, why not? You can make up for lost time.” When Maddie gave him a blank look, he said, “You know for all the times Jake invited you to our parties and you never came.”

Maddie nodded. “Thanks, Blaine.”

“So I’ll see you two at my house?” Blaine asked.

“Um, yeah, maybe,” I replied.

“Good deal, man.” He snaked his arm around Maddie’s shoulder, and I stiffened. “Listen pretty lady. Noah doesn’t sound too convinced, so I’m trusting you’ll work your sweet magic on him and get his boring ass to the party.”

Maddie laughed. “Okay, Blaine. I’ll try.”

“Awesome! See you guys later!”

When Blaine was out of earshot, I threw a wary glance at Maddie. “You aren’t serious about wanting to go, are you?”

“Yeah, I think I am.”

I sighed. “Do you even know what goes on at Blaine’s parties? It isn’t Bible Study and worship music.”

Maddie shot me a death glare. “I didn’t think it was, Noah.”

“I just don’t think you’d like it, that’s all.”

“Well, I think I would,” she countered. She stood before me with her arms folded across her chest, a determined look etched on her face.

“But why now after all these years?”

“Because I want to have a little fun, okay? Today is graduation day. Four years of working my tail off to earn the coveted Valedictorian spot. Doesn’t that earn me the right to party a little?”

I scratched the back of my neck. “Well, maybe.”

Maddie barreled on. “Plus, I’m leaving for six weeks of missionary work on Sunday, and in case you didn’t notice, I’m standing in the cemetery where we just interred Jake’s cap and gown. I think I could use some down time.”

“We could go for ice cream,” I suggested.

She shot me a truly heinous look. “All I’m asking for is one time, Noah. One time to say I actually attended a high school party.”

I groaned. “If you seriously want to go, I’ll take you.”

She grinned. “Good. I’ll tell my dad.”