Quaker Day, My Almost-Finale💔💔

May 23, 2025 (TWO DAYS TILL MY BIRTHDAY TWO!!!)

Quaker Day. Franklin High’s wild, loud, chaotic, perfect version of a celebration—and Emmett is here. He didn’t skip. He could’ve. I really thought he would. But he’s here, in the third row under the seniors’ flag, in a white shirt, with that haircut I know by heart. The second I looked, I found him. No hesitation. No doubt. My eyes know where he is, always.

Right now, he’s leaning back, watching the performers with that soft focus he does sometimes. I swear I caught him looking in my direction a couple of times. Maybe it’s nothing. Maybe it’s everything. But it’s mine. That moment belongs to me now.

There was a tug-of-war. There were cheers. But I only saw him. The light hit him just right—like someone backstage decided to give me one last perfect look at him before it’s all over. And then he smiled. That smile. Bright as clouds, as milk, as heaven itself. The one I’ve fallen for more times than I can count.

A mini battle broke out—juniors vs. seniors, chants and stomps shaking the ground. “YOU CAN’T DO THAT!” we yelled. “WE CAN’T HEAR YOU!” they threw back. But I barely noticed. I was busy doing four things at once:

1. Watching Emmett.
2. Watching the dance.
3. Dreaming of dancing with
4. Writing every heartbeat down.

And then—so him—he pulls out his phone. Silly boy. Like he’s done a dozen times in my diary entries. But this time, I feel proud. He’s showing someone a clip from the school play. My school play. I helped with that. I hand out tickets, pass out programs. And he’s watching that.

And then, the thing that heals me at once

At least for today.

He claps. Loud. Honest. The hardest I’ve ever seen him clap. That’s Emmett. Kind soul. Good heart. And maybe—just maybe—I’m not invisible to that kind of boy. Maybe.

But even if I am… today, I saw him. I really saw him. And that’s enough to carry in my chest for a while.

The cheerleaders came on next. And yeah… my insecurities rose like ghosts. They’re skinny. They move like magic. They’re everything I think I’m not. And he watched them—of course he did. What football guy doesn’t? They cheer for him. They hang out with him. I tell myself it doesn’t matter. I try to believe it. But jealousy is a quiet thing with sharp teeth.

Now he’s on his phone again talking to someone. somehow hearing someone in this swirling mess of noise.

And just when I thought the day couldn’t get any better—well, it did.

First off: Yayyy, women! #WomenPower #GoWomen
The teachers started a basketball match, and guess what? One of the players was a woman—my old family health teacher! It was her vs. all men and honestly, it was so fun to watch. I cheered a little extra for her, obviously.

But then… fate decided to nudge me again.

The ball—out of nowhere—comes flying straight at me. And of course, I didn’t know it was coming towards me. Because, well, as you know, I was too busy watching my Emmett. It came so close, I had to react. I pushed it back quickly—because in these big assemblies, everyone’s always watching where the ball goes. So I didn’t even think about it, didn’t even glance at him. I just pushed it forward and looked straight ahead, trying not to make it a thing.

But when I looked forward—there he was.

Emmett looked at me.
Of course he did—the ball had come in my direction. That’s how it works. But still.

I had his eyes on me.
In a HUGE crowd.
Only for a few seconds.
But his eyes found me.
I swear, someone pinch me—I’m dreaming.

—I know it was brief, but it felt like a dream I didn’t want to wake up from. I keep thinking about it, over and over again. And now, in my head, I’m singing that song—“Eyes Don’t Lie” by Isabel LaRosa. The way she sings it is exactly how I feel. Mellow. Deep. Magical. Soft like a secret.

” Eyes don’t lie
Eyes don’t lie
Say you’re mine
Eyes don’t lie”

And right now, that lyric feels like it was written for me.

We were dismissed to switch seats.  Now the freshman sits in the sophomore section. the sophomores sit in the juniors section you get the idea. And well the juniors sit in the senior section, the seniors on the floor. I moved into the row Emmett had just vacated—his seat was taken, but the row… it still felt like him. And then, a sideshow. I found him again—so easy, behind a tall boy in black. Who I happen to know. Of course I saw him. I always do. He was in the second picture in the sideshow. He looked so cute… sigh. Now he’s sitting on the floor, almost ready to walk out of high school and into his next chapter.

They played “Where Did All the Time Go?” during the senior sideshow. I’ve never related to this song before more in my life. It does feel like just yesterday I met him in the weight room, still trying to figure out who I was, still unsure of everything. Now he’s slipping away.

After this, I’m going to search for that senior sideshow.  on YouTube—something else to remember him by. Another thread to hold on to. And it looks like we have one more act.

I’m getting teary…………………