The Emma Series
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C. Wright
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Graduation Day
DIABLO
Diabloās patience is running thin. His sleep was restless, but thatās nothing new.
The redhead he left behind in the early morning hours (he never lets anyone sleep over or come to his place) was a disappointment in bed, and he couldnāt wait to get out of there.
He has important meetings today and he needs to be prepared and well-rested. But as always, sleep eludes him, and he ends up working until five before heading to the gym in his buildingāfor convenience, of course.
At least there, he can let off some steam.
EMMA
Emma. Sweet, naive Emma. Sleep is a stranger to her tonight.
She has a crucial job interview in the morning, but her friend Carly has been partying all night and brought the noise back to their condo, making sleep an impossible dream.
***
If Carlyās antics cost me one more thing, thereās going to be trouble. Iām a 23-year-old woman caught between joy and sorrow. Today is both the best and worst day of my life.
This is a significant milestone for me. Iāve worked hard and sacrificed a lot to get here.
Iām one of the few students graduating today with a double major from NYU. An MBA and an MS in Accounting, and my parents wonāt be here to witness it.
Such is life.
I dress in simple black trousers, a white button-up blouse, and flat black shoes, with minimal makeup.
My long black hair falls down my back in loose curls, almost reaching my waist.
Sometimes I think about cutting it because itās such a hassle to style, but Carly, my best friend, insists itās my best feature.
Carly and I met in college. Sheās my age and is barely graduating today. Sheās a party animal and despises studying.
Her parents are loaded. I have no idea what they do, but whatever she wants, she gets.
Carly does everything with passion. Whether itās partying or picking out the perfect outfitāshe always nails it. Today is no exception.
Sheās wearing a sleek, short black cocktail dress with sky-high heels. As always, sheāll be the center of attention once she sheds her graduation gown.
I might sound like a jealous friend, but Iām not. I know I have my own charm, or so Iāve been toldābut Carly? Sheās a showstopper.
āCarly, we need to go. Weāre going to be late for our own graduation, for heavenās sake.ā
āComing, B.ā
She initially called me a snobbish bitch when we first met but decided it was too long to say every time she addressed me. Now itās just B.
Short for bitch. Said with love, of course. Or so she claims.
We grab our handbags, caps, and gowns and rush to her black BMW M3.
āStep on it, Carly! Weāre going to be late!ā
Carly doesnāt need to be told twice. She always drives like a bat out of hell and I usually scold her like a worried mom, but I donāt want to miss a thing today.
Weāre meeting our friends Rick, Cody, Mario, and Carlyās current fling CashĆØ at the ceremony. We decided a while back that itās better to have mostly guy friends.
What can I say? Women can be catty sometimes. Weāre full of drama and backstabbing if things donāt go our way. Carly has enough sass for ten women and radiates confidence.
I know it sounds hypocritical coming from little old me, but our group works like a well-oiled machine. If one of the guys starts seeing someone, weāre always polite while it lasts, but it never lasts long.
Letās just say theyāre all players and both Carly and I have had to step in more than once as a pretend ānewā girlfriend to help the guys shake them off. Hit it and quit itāthatās their motto.
On the drive to the ceremony, Carly decides to touch up her makeup as usual, swerving all over the road. Luckily, Iām used to it by now.
The twenty-minute drive feels like an eternity, and she nearly kills us twice before we finally arrive at the campus.
The ceremony is about to start and we canāt find the guys, so we decide to take our seats and catch up with them later.
We plan to meet at our condo at six oāclock for drinks and snacks before hitting a club to celebrate our graduation.
I hate parties, let alone clubs.
I can count the number of times Iāve partied and gone clubbing on one hand, what with juggling a double major and part-time work.
I know deep down these are just excuses for me to stay home and study.
Iām so lost in thought that I almost miss my name being called.
āEmma Taylor, MBA and an MS in Accounting.ā
I tune out the rest of the Chancellorās speech because I hate being the center of attention.
I rush up on stage, practically snatch my degrees, and hurry off.
Carly, being Carly, makes sure all eyes are on her and flaunts her stunning beauty.
We meet at her BMW after the ceremony, squealing with excitement that we finally graduated, hop in her car, and head to the mall to shop for our dresses for tonight.
This is going to be a long day. I hate shopping even more than I hate clubbing.
