Beautiful Storm (San Francisco End Game #1)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Amelia - Age Eleven

Dear Diary

When my grandpa first gave me this book, he told me to fill it with all the things I loved about the world and I thought it would be easy. I had so many things to say. But then he died. My gut reaction was to burn every last page until my mom gave me a letter he’d written me, telling me it was his time and that he was happy. He was still filling his pages with love. In Heaven.

I made a promise that day to continue to smile and I kept that promise right up until yesterday. When my dad and my best friend made me break it . And now I don’t know what to write. I don’t have anything good to say.

But I’m trying.

Love always, Amelia Rosenberg

x

I stare at the door, my fingers curled into the silk of my dress. The dress I bought especially for Dad because it’s the same olive-green color as my eyes—his favorite color.

“Fifth grade, can you please take your seats. Your parents will be arriving soon.” My nervousness builds as our principal attempts to shush the room, and when none of the students listen, I know we have about three seconds before—

“ Students ! Seats. Now . Or I will not be opening these doors and you’ll remain elementary students for the rest of your days.”

I roll my eyes at her awful attempt to scare us. No one will believe—

“Can she do that?” One of the kids panics behind me, making me giggle. I guess I was wrong.

We all settle slowly, and when the last student finally sits, the crowd falls silent as a teacher moves to open the door.

I watch with giddy anticipation as one by one our parents enter the hall, all dressed up for our graduation. And it finally hits me… I’m about to be in middle school. I won’t be treated like a child anymore. I’m almost a teenager. The step before an adult. And I can’t wait.

My mom waves when she notices me staring, and I quickly wave back, though my eyes immediately flit to the adults entering behind her. Searching.

My friends’ parents arrive, as do other classmates’, and Luke’s family. But the one person missing is the one person I’m looking for. My dad.

When everyone’s inside, they close the doors and I turn to face the stage, internally folding into myself as I fight to hide my emotions.

He didn’t come. He promised and he still didn’t come.

The ceremony begins and I can sense my mom’s eyes boring into the back of my head, but I refuse to look her way. I don’t need her sadness.

I should have known better.

I could tell something was wrong.

The night goes on and I barely move from my uncomfortable folding chair other than to receive my certificate, faking my smile as Mom and my classmates cheer. After the formalities are done, the chairs are moved to create a makeshift dance floor, and my stomach knots at what’s coming. Of course we’d be the only school on the planet to have this stupid tradition.

I hide away as best I can, turning down the few guys that ask me to dance, and when our principal makes the announcement I’ve been dreading, I freeze.

“Now, finally, the father-daughter, mother-son dance.”

My classmate Vicki shoves her chair to the floor and runs away in a huff, drawing attention, and I feel for her. Her dad left when she was young, and she told them several times this was a bullshit tradition. I should have agreed, but I was too caught up in my own feelings, naively believing my dad would never let me down.

A few other kids stay seated, unfazed to be missing out. While I bite my cheek to stave off the tears.

He promised. And he let me down.

As the song plays, I smile at my friends and laugh when their parents embarrass them, but inside I’m dying.

He’s been missing more and more lately, always working, prioritizing his need for a promotion over his only child. Over me. And I accepted it. But that was before he broke his final promise. Now I’m not so sure.

When the song’s over and the regular music resumes, Luke walks my way, and a genuine smile lights up my face.

My rock.

The one person that really knows me.

Since I haven’t seen him dancing tonight—other than when his mom forced him—a little part of me hopes he’s here to keep me company.

“Luke, I—”

“Aww.” His friend cuts me off with a fake little pout, appearing out of nowhere. “Daddy didn’t make it? Such a shame.”

He laughs out loud, before continuing on his path while I’m left stunned. Where did that come from? Luke’s friends have always been nice to me. Luke made sure of that. But this guy is new. He’s one of the football players on Luke’s team, and we haven’t really spoken.

I turn back to Luke and catch his eyes widen as his gaze bounces between me and his friend. He opens his mouth to speak and my pulse races, knowing he always defends me, but when his friend calls out, he follows without a word, shattering my already broken heart.

My eyes water again and I run to the bathroom, sliding into a stall as the first tear falls.

I’m ready for this day to be over.

I needed him. Both of them. And I don't know what to do now.