Catching Red Eyes

The next few weeks were a mix of sleeping, eating, unpacking, and spending time with my parents. I spent time with my mother and even tagged along with during her spa days. The day before we left for New York for my graduation, she convinced me to get my nails, toes, and hair done. I didn’t mind it. My hair was a little lighter from the highlights and my nails and toes were a light pink. My mom’s stylist blew out my hair and my mom booked her to come tomorrow to style my hair again.

I woke up graduation day with my stomach in knots. I don’t know why I was nervous but I pushed away the butterflies and went downstairs to my parents waiting with a huge breakfast. I grabbed coffee and sat down with them.

“You ok, honey?”

“Yea, just my stomach is in knots. Probably just nervous.”

“Well, get a shower and you will feel better,” my dad said.

I took his advice and jumped in the shower. I felt a little better while I wrapped a towel around me. I heard the doorbell ring and my mother’s dogs were barking their heads off. I quickly dressed in sweats and a t-shirt and ran down the stairs, thinking I would see my mom’s stylist but it was the biggest bouquet of flowers I had ever seen.

“Aw, thanks Mom, those are pretty.”

“I didn’t get you these, honey. Look, there’s a card.”

I grabbed the card and opened up the small envelope.

To: Rowan
Congratulations on your day, wishing you the best of luck with your future endeavors.

“It doesn’t say who it’s from…”

“Maybe you have a secret admirer?! Rowan, are you holding back on me? I mean I know you and Harry had a little falling out but who is the new beau??”

“Mom, stop. It’s probably from Marc and George.”

Before I had to examine the card further, my mother’s stylist came walking inside.

“Oh, wow, those are divine flowers!” she said.

“Thanks.”

“She has a secret admirer!”

“Mom, stop. Come on. I don’t want to be late.”

“Fine, fine.”

After an hour of primping and poking, I was finally ready for my graduation attire. My mother found a very simple, white dress a few months ago for me that I quickly changed into. It had a criss cross pattern from my neck to the top of my chest and was sleeveless. It was about mid-thigh and had a small white belt right above my belly button. My shoes were an off white and had straps around the ankles. I looked at myself in the mirror and was happy with what I saw. My hair was shining and curled on the ends. My makeup was simple but my blue eyes were bright and big. My mother’s stylist pinned my graduation cap in my hair and my graduation gown was already in the car.

Driving back into New York City was sort of mind numbing as I watched the people and cars go about their day. I kissed and hugged my parents good bye before going to find Laurie in the sea of violet and white.

“Oh my God, you look stunning!!” Your hair is so pretty and your makeup! Wow!”

“Thanks, Laurie. I sort of cheated on you with my mom’s stylist.”

“That’s fine because you are drop dead gorgeous right now. Come on, let’s get in line!”

As we were waiting in line, the stomach knots came back. The sun was shining and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Why was this happening right now? I shook myself to get the knots out of my stomach. It sort of helped. As we were walking in, I tried looking for my parents but with the sea of people, I couldn’t spot them.

Like any graduation, it was a bit long but I enjoyed hearing the accomplishments from my fellow graduates. When they called my name, I held my breath as I walked across the stage and shook hands and took my diploma. When I finally sat down, I let out the breath I was holding, but the stupid knots were still there. I squirmed in my chair like I was 12 and waited for the cap toss so I could find my parents.

After what felt like an eternity, I was able to move and locate my parents. Cameras were flashing around me and I was in some kind of strange déjà vu. There were more cameras than expected and I saw black spots. Then I heard it. The screaming chaos of teenage girls.
My eye caught one girl in particular who was running towards something or someone behind me with her phone in hand. Then there were more and more people running past me. For a split second I felt that I was in danger but then I heard someone yell his name.

“HARRY STYLES!”

My head whipped around and there he was, at my college graduation, being swarmed by a group of people.

I heard people buzzing around me.

“No fucking way, Harry Styles is here.”

“Who?”

“Oh my God, he’s way taller in person.”

“He’s so hot.”

“I need a selfie with him like now.”

“MOM, take my gown, I need a picture with him!”

I was like a rock in a stream with the stream being the people; I was pushing back against them to get away from what they were running towards. Finally, I broke free from the stampede and saw my dad’s familiar face.

Notes