You know the feeling where you wake up in the morning and there are a few seconds of peace and then, the entire weight of the day slams you like a 2 ton brick wall in the face and you feel like the day's not going to end well? Imagine that times one hundred, and you still can't measure up against how nervous I am.

I hurried into the bathroom and hopped into the shower, ready to get dressed and put my hair back, so it would curl better as we cleaned.

After tying up my hair with paper towels, I pulled on a t-shirt and sweatpants and ventured down to the kitchen where Shyanne was fixing us breakfast.

"You good?" She asked, glancing up at me from the pancake griddle.

"Nervous. Extremely nervous." I murmured, sticking my fork into the bowl of mixed fruits she had sitting out.

We ate our breakfast in silence before I plugged my phone into her surround sound speakers, and I started blasting music.

We started setting up for the party, singing and dancing and just having an all around good time.

After setting up the last of the food, I unplugged my phone, and we headed upstairs to get ready. I plugged in my phone to charge and started going through the few clothing choices I had thought I might choose to wear.

I pulled out my black tights, pewter sequin pencil skirt, black sweater, and pewter heels. I set them out before finding the jewelry I had grabbed that could have gone with any to the outfits that I had brought.

I did my make up very lightly, a rare occasion that I am even putting any on. I mean, some people wear so much makeup that it added all together in one day doesn't equal how much I wear in a year. I mean, come on people.

I started untying the paper towels and throwing them away to keep from making a mess. The curls fell much neater than my normal curls, but I still used anti-frizz and hairspray along with a teeny bit of sea salt to keep it there.

I pulled back a bit of hair with a matching grey bow and then stripped off the t-shirt and sweatpants.

I put on my undergarments before struggling to pull up the tights. I then put on the skirt and carefully pulled the sweater over my head. I tucked a small part of the sweater in in the front before I stepped into the heels.

I looked in the mirror as my phone dinged.

There was a picture of a small, light pink box with a white ribbon tied around it. The thought made my heart swell and body warm.

Surprisingly, I wasn't mad at Joshua for letting that part slip. I mean, not because of the present, just, well, I can't put it into words.

I walked downstairs, set up my phone, and started to play music as I spotted Shyanne standing on her back porch.

I walked out and leaned against the railing next to her.

"What's got you staring at the stars?" I whispered, but before she could answer me, the doorbell rang.

"You go get that. I'll make sure the ice isn't melting yet." We split ways, and I opened the door to a bunch of the girls from the swim team.

We mostly talked and danced as people arrived. I noticed that when Libby walked in with Thomas, a small smile was on her face, and a blush was on his cheeks.

Once everyone was here, we let them venture into the kitchen and just start games or whatever they liked to.

"Why the party?" Tally danced up to me, shaking her butt like nobody's business as she awaited my answer.

I simply smiled at her and raised my eyebrows. "You'll find out."

She danced back off, making a few people around us laugh at her.

Tommy caught me at one point and pulled me into a dance as we talked plans for after college, but I tried not to spill anything as he talked about his deer hunting business.

When the time came, I stood up on a raised platform that the fireplace sat on and called for attention. Shyanne stopped the music, and everyone turned to me.

"I know that all of you are wondering why you are here since the reason wasn't on the invitation." I started off, looking at the lot of them. I could already feel the tears forming behind my eyes.

"I wanted to have a small and fun party with the people closest to me through my swim team and just happening to meet each other some how, some way. As the next semester comes, we're all going to be focusing on our studies, hoping to graduate the best we can, to be successful, and to continue with more school or go straight off into the world.

"Relationships have been made and are still being made. Drama had happened, and we have faced many problems with the ones in this very room. While we may not see each other as much next semester, I just wanted to remind all of you that we're a family of friends. I know that I'm willing to help and will always be by your side no matter what may come.

"As many of you know, Vega is leaving us to train for the World Cup on Saturday. We will miss him a lot, while some more than others," there was light laughter, "he will always be close to us. With him announcing his departure that is a semester early, I wanted to speak about something important. I'm leaving too." Silence hung like a dead weight in the middle of the room.

"Missy Franklin is going to be my coach for the 2019 Olympics for swimming and diving. I will be leaving this coming Saturday, and it hurts me to leave so many, so early. I didn't hesitate when Missy asked me to join her, but I hesitated about going to California. Yes, I'm going to love it, but I don't know the next time that I will talk to any of you after Saturday. Missy's taking my phone as we board the plane, and I'm going to be electronic free except for instruction by Missy.

"I didn't have the heart to tell all of you separately or in small clumps, so I did this. It's my friendship party." I looked down, blinking and trying not to cry.

"All of you mean so much to me. I have a really small friend group, and I tend to shy away if any of you are hanging with people outside of my own friend group. I've had this problem since around fifth grade, and it's horrible. You guys know a ton about me and know how to treat me if you're in this room.

"You've encouraged me and helped me along in my rough times. You people are the ones that mean the most to me, and I say you should feel honored to be friends with me since I push so many people away." They all let out a loud laugh, and I shook my head through the tears.

"I'm going to miss all of you so much." I stepped down from the small platform, holding my hand to my mouth to keep myself from make a weird noise.

Libby and Tally got to me the fastest, attacking me in a hug as they told me their congratulations and how proud they were of me.

"I'm sorry to say goodbye like this." I wiped away a stray tear, and the two just smiled at me.

"Hey, you'll be okay. Don't be sorry because you are showing emotions." Libby spread out the last word, and I giggled, knowing her reference to Baymax.

"Now, we'll talk later, but it seems as if Vega has something to say." Tally stepped aside, dragging Libby with her, so she wouldn't stare.

"Come here." I took Vega's hand in mine and led him out to the back porch, leaning against the railing.

Vega didn't speak, but he opened up his arms and let me hug him like he was the last piece of rock on a cliff that I was falling off of. I nuzzled my wet face into his neck as I tried to contain my cries.

"Ryla Andrea Walters, you're going to do amazing." He pulled away and leaned on the railing as he stared at me. "You're brave and you know how to treat people. You are stubborn so that means that you can do anything that you put your mind to. I know that you will train and get stronger and be healthier, not just because of Missy, but because of your mind set." As we held eyes, I knew he wanted to say more.

"Keep speaking. I love your voice." He crossed his arms and smiled warmly at me, a look flashing across his eyes before he stepped forward, closing some distance as he talked.

He spoke softly, whispering it, so I could barely hear it, his hands holding my face to keep me looking at him. When he finally slowed down and came to a stop, I started smiling like crazy.

"You sound like a sappy guy from a teen romance movie." I whispered, wringing my hands.

"That's what you turn me into." Without hesitation, he leaned forward and brought his lips to meet mine, something definitely intimate.

While it was short and sweet, I hadn't kissed him back, and I could see the worry on his face as he pulled away.

"You're an open book. Remember, I do like you." I glanced over him before slipping from between him and the railing, and I returned inside, completely forgetting about the gift he had wanted to give me.

"Can we talk?" I stopped and looked at Lucas, knowing my answer before I spoke it.

"Yeah." We leaned against the wall and observed the party in silence, neither one of us wanting to be the first one to say a thing.

"Well, I'm over you. I'm over the lust I had for you and for Tally. I'm sorry about all of the drama I caused without even realizing it. Major mistake on my part. I...don't believe we should be friends anymore, though." I looked at him, genuinely surprised.

"Why would you suggest that?"

"I have made many mistakes lately, you being the main focus around all of them. I hate to cut you out, but I need to. I'm heading off to Europe to experience different lives and live with other families and help around where I can. I need the experience." I nodded, not really realizing quite yet what he was meaning.

"When do you leave?"

"End of senior year. Yes, I took acting classes, but I also took child care and other things that will help me. I don't know when I'll see you next." My eyes followed him as he left. I wasn't happy nor was I sad.

I guess I saw the truth in his words, understanding why he needed to get away. I'll let him. I'm not his responsibility. He's not my responsibility. Goodbye, Lucas. Maybe we'll meet, but hopefully, in your case, we won't ever, ever meet again.

I ventured out into my group of friends and talked to them, explaining what I would get to do and how much they meant and more.

Once the party ended and everyone left, I started to clean up, not realizing that Vega was still here.

"Hey, remember something?" He stuck a hand out. I took it, and he led me upstairs to my room. He softly shut the door behind him and led me to the bed where he sat me down in the corner.

He stood above me, right in front. I looked up as he reached into his back pocket and pulled out the light pink box from earlier.

"A girl like you deserves this." He whispered, taking one of my hands and placing the box in it.

He stuffed his hands into his pocket, and I simply looked at him.

"Why did you get me this? When?" He simply smiled, his blue eyes twinkling with mystery.

"The world shall never know." I smirked and shook my head before placing the box on my lap. I started at it after a few moments, and I pulled on the two ends, making the bow come undone.

I pulled the ribbon away and took off the top of the box. The inside was nicely lined in velvet, but a ring sat in a cut in the middle.

I picked it up and looked at it, staring at the silver, daisy chain ring. As I spun it around, I looked on the inside and saw three words.

I pick you

I looked up at Vega, and he smiled, taking the ring and placing it on the middle finger of my left hand.

"I pick you, my darling. Although we may not be able to be together now, I still hold hope that sometime in the future, once we've moved on from college, we will meet again." My eyes watered, and I stood up, pulling Vega into a hug.

"You're a sweet, sweet boy. What did I ever do to earn you?"

"You were you." He brushed at the bangs that barely fell down his forehead and grinned a toothy grin. "That's the best that you can be. Don't try to be anyone else. Motivate yourself." We both were silent, staring intently into each others' eyes.

"You know, that kiss sure was intimate. Think you'll make it?" I asked, giggling under my breath.

"I think I can manage. It'll just be the best and sweetest reminder of what I have coming my way is nothing else works." With one last long look into his big blue eyes, I placed my bands on his chest and pushed him backward a little bit.

"I think we both have some packing to do. Time we head on." He nodded and kissed the top of my head before he turned around and left Shyanne's flat.

With my last words mingling in my mind, I finished helping Shyanne in silence before I left and headed back to my own apartment where things were beginning to box up.