Spring Fling

Prologue

Mylie fumbled with her graduation cap, threading her fingers through the blue-and-white tassel. Now that the ceremony was

over, people were streaming in and out of the high school gym, arm in arm, happy and smiling, on their way to graduation parties

and other festivities. Mylie had a couple to get to herself, but she wanted to talk to him first.

When he saw her, sitting on the picnic table, he grinned and walked over. He was so tall that his gown was just short enough

to be noticeable, and his mass of dark curls spilled out of his cap like ink.

“Hey,” he said, hopping up on the table to sit next to her. “I looked for you inside.”

“It was crowded,” Mylie replied, looking up at him. His glasses were crooked on his nose.

“How do you think I did on my speech?”

“You know it was great, Ben,” Mylie replied. “Everything you do is great.”

He bumped his shoulder into hers and said, “You all right?”

“I’m fine.”

“You don’t seem fine,” Ben replied. “Besides, you told me once that when a woman says she’s fine, she’s really not.”

“I did say that, didn’t I?” Mylie asked, grinning despite herself.

“You did,” Ben said. “So, tell me what’s wrong.”

“Do you really have to leave?” she blurted. “Why can’t you at least spend the summer here?”

“We’re moving tomorrow, Myles,” Ben said. “There’s nothing I can do.”

“You’re an adult,” Mylie said. “You can do whatever you want.”

“I’m going to college in Chicago,” Ben continued. “And I need to help get Mom and Grandpa settled before that. Besides, what

would I do here for the next three months?”

Mylie shrugged. “What we always do.”

“Mylie,” Ben said, his voice gentle. “You know I have to go.”

“But you’re my best friend.”

“And you’re my best friend.”

“So, stay!”

Ben sighed. “I have to get out of here, Mylie. You know I’ve never fit in. Not the way you do. Clay Creek isn’t my future.”

Mylie knew that. She’d known that since the sixth grade. But it didn’t make it any easier, not when he was leaving her behind

and not when she was losing her best friend to a college that might as well be on another planet.

“Please don’t be mad at me, Myles,” Ben said, taking her hand in his. “We’ll still talk. It won’t be that bad, I promise.

And we’ve got the party tonight. That will be fun.”

“When will you be back?” Mylie asked. She was trying not to cry, but it was hard.

“I don’t know,” Ben said. “We aren’t selling Grandpa’s house right now, but I don’t know of any reason why we...”

“Would need to come back?” Mylie finished. She yanked her hand away from him.

“That’s not what I meant,” Ben said.

Mylie glared at him. “Yes, it is.”

“Mylie...”

“It’s okay,” Mylie said at last. “I know you have to go. It’s just... I’m going to miss you.”

“I’m going to miss you, too,” Ben said, leaning in to wrap her in a giant hug. For a moment, Mylie thought he was going to

do more than just hug her, but he pulled away, pushing his glasses farther up onto his nose.

“I’ll see you at the party, then,” Ben said. “I’ve got to go. My mom still hasn’t gotten enough pictures.”

Mylie wiped her eyes, clearing the streaks of mascara running down her cheeks with the back of her hand as Ben walked away.

She wanted to tell him so badly how she felt. But she knew that the night of their graduation wasn’t the time. It was never

the time, especially since she knew that Ben was leaving, had always planned on leaving, no matter what.

For now, there was nothing she could do but watch him walk away from her, from here, and from everything Mylie always knew

they could have been.

“Hey! Hey, Mylie!”

Mylie looked up to see her friend Jodi walking toward her, waving her graduation cap in the air. “Hey,” Mylie said.

“I’ve been looking for you everywhere,” Jodi said. “My mom wants pictures, and I’m pretty sure Ben’s mom does, too.”

“I’m pictured out,” Mylie replied.

Jodi squinted at her in the waning sunlight. “Did you tell him?”

Mylie shook her head.

“Why not?” Jodi asked. “You said it wouldn’t matter now, anyway, since he’s leaving. Might as well tell him, remember?”

“I know what I said,” Mylie replied. “But it was easier to say than actually do.”

“I get it,” Jodi said, looping her arm through Mylie’s. “But I still think you need to tell him. I think he feels the same

way you do.”

“Then he should have said something,” Mylie said.

“Fine,” Jodi replied, rolling her eyes. “Do what you want.”

“What I want is to not be having this conversation,” Mylie muttered.

“You’re right,” Jodi said. “We need to go and get ready for the party, anyway.”

“I don’t know if I want to go,” Mylie said.

“Oh, you’re going.” Jodi half-dragged Mylie back toward the crowd. “You’re going to stop sulking and go to this party. It’s

our graduation , Mylie!”

“Okay,” Mylie replied. “Okay, you’re right. Let’s go. But I’m telling your mother no more pictures.”

“Good luck,” Jodi said, laughing. “My mother has infinite space on her digital camera.”

“I’m not throwing my cap again,” Mylie said. “Your mom can’t make me.”

“I’ll let you take that up with her,” Jodi replied. “Now, come on. Put a smile on that pretty face of yours. Tonight is our

night!”