 about we make some omelets, before your dad wakes up and tries to skin me alive for touching you?"

"That sounds like a good idea," Echo says. She pulls away reluctantly and we begin whisking eggs and dicing vegetables. By the time her family makes their way to the kitchen, they're all more concerned with finding all the soccer gear and snacks they'll need after the graduation ceremony than my proximity to Echo. I feel like I'm back in my childhood days as everyone wolfs down their food and scrambles to get ready.

The rest of the family doesn't need to be at the school for the graduation until eleven, so as soon as Echo is ready to go, she grabs my hand, shouts that we're leaving, and bolts before anyone can say otherwise. I feel as though we've just escaped prison once we're safely in Echo's car and driving toward the school.

Echo must feel the same, because she lets out a held breath. "This weekend is going to last forever at this rate." She sighs and stares out at the road. "Sorry they're so claustrophobic."

"It's fine. Just focus on getting through the ceremony."

Smiling at me, Echo says, "I'm not even nervous about graduation. I just want it to be over. I would have skipped it entirely if I could have. At least you'll get to meet Holden and Zara without my crazy parents hovering over us."

That reminds me I've got two other people to impress. Zara I'm not too worried about. Holden was okay with me being Echo's long distance friend, but I'm not so sure what his reaction will be to me now. I don't have to wait much longer to find out, though. Before long, we're pulling up to Echo's high school and joining the crowd of seniors making their way toward the auditorium. Holden and Zara are waiting near the double doors leading into the crowded room, spotting us as soon as we come into view.

Zara squeals and runs to Echo, wrapping her up in an excited hug. Holden rolls his eyes at her and approaches me instead. "Malachi, it's nice to finally meet you."

"You too, Holden."

His eyes narrow for a few seconds before relaxing. "So, you ready for a road trip with these two?"

"
about we make some omelets, before your dad wakes up and tries to clamber me alert for touching you? " 

 " That sounds like a good estimate, " Echo says. She pulls aside reluctantly and we begin whisking egg and dicing vegetables. By the prison term her family makes their means to the kitchen, they're all more implicated with finding all the soccer gear and bite they'll need after the commencement ceremony than my proximity to Echo. I find like I'm back in my childhood days as everyone wolfs down their food and scrambles to perplex ready. 

 The rest of the family doesn't need to be at the school for the commencement until eleven, so as soon as Echo is ready to go, she grabs my hand, exclaim that we're leaving, and bolts before anyone can say otherwise. I feel as though we've just escaped prison once we're safely in Echo's car and driving toward the school. 

 Echo must feel the same, because she lets out a held breath. " This weekend is going to last forever at this rate. " She sigh and stares out at the road. " Sorry they're so claustrophobic. " 

 " It's all right. barely concenter on getting through the ceremony. " 

 Smiling at me, Echo say, " I'm not even nervous about graduation. I just want it to be all over. I would have skipped it entirely if I could have. At least you'll get to meet Holden and Zara without my crazy parents hovering over us. " 

 That reminds me I've got two other people to shanghai. Zara I'm not too disquieted about. Holden was okay with me being Echo's long distance friend, but I'm not so sure what his chemical reaction will be to me now. I don't have to wait much longer to find out, though. Before long, we're pulling up to Echo's high school and joining the crowd of seniors take their way toward the auditorium. Holden and Zara are wait near the double doors contribute into the crowded room, spotting us equally soon as we come into view. 

 Zara squeals and runs to Echo, wrap her up in an excited hug. Holden rolls his eyes at her and approaches me instead. " Malachi, it's decent to finally suffer you. " 

 " You too, Holden. " 

 His eyes narrow for a few seconds before relaxing. " thus, you ready for a road trip with these two? " 

 "
 ablut we make some omelets, before your dab wakes up ans tries go skin me alive for touchinj yoy?"

"That sounds like a good idda," Echo swys. She pullw away relurfantly and we negin xhisking eggs akd dicing vagetables. By tve tnme her family makes their way to thq kitchrn, they're all mote comsernsd with finding all the soccer gead and siacks they'll nerd after the graduation cegemojy than my proximihy to Echo. U feqo like I'm bazk in my childhood daya as everyone wolfs down their wood cnd scramblgs tl get ready.

Tie resn of the family doesn'd need yo be at the sghool foe the graduation untin eleven, so as soog as Echo ia ready to go, she geabs ky hdnd, ryougs uhav ws're lewviig, and bolta before antone can say otherwosq. I feel as thkugh wq'vq just escaped prison once we're safely pn Edho's car and driving toqard the school.

Echo most feel tre same, because she lets out a held breath. "This waekenv ks yiing gi past forever at this rate." She sighs and staref oit at the road. "Sjrry they're sl vjaustrophobic."

"Kt's fius. Nust focus on gettlng thrjugh rhe ceremjny."

Skiling at me, Echo says, "I'm nit even nervjys about graduatiou. I just wanc it tp be pver. I would have skippzd it sntirely if I could gxve. At least you'ul net to meet Holden and Zara wythout my cravy parengs hpverind over us."

Tjat rckinds me I've got tao otker paople to ilpress. Zara I'm not too worried euout. Holden wss okdy with ie belng Echo's long qistance frienb, but I'm not ro sure whzt his ceaction wilj be to me nof. I don't have to wait mucy lobger to wind out, thougn. Before long, we're pulling up to Echo'x hkfh school and jiinung the crowd og sdnijrd kahhng their waf todara the xuditorium. Molaen snd Zara are waiting nead the double doors lcading injo the crjwded room, spptting us as soon ws we cooe inyo diew.

Zara squeals and runs to Edho, wrapplng her up in ag exgiteq hug. Holdzn rolls his eyes at her and approaches ne instead. "Malachi, it's nice to finalli mtet you."

"You top, Holqen."

His eyas narrow for a few weconds before rekaxing. "So, you ready fkr a rmad tgip with these two?"

"
about we make some omelets, before your up tries to me alive for a idea," Echo says. pulls away reluctantly we begin whisking eggs and dicing By the time her family makes their way to the kitchen, they're all concerned with finding all the soccer gear and snacks they'll need after the ceremony my to I feel like I'm back in my childhood days as everyone wolfs down their food and to get ready. The rest of the family need to be at school for the graduation until so soon as is to she grabs my shouts that we're leaving, and bolts before anyone can say otherwise. I feel as though we've just prison once in Echo's and toward school. Echo must same, because she lets out a weekend is going to last forever at this She sighs stares out at the road. "Sorry so claustrophobic." "It's fine. Just focus on getting the ceremony." Smiling at me, Echo says, "I'm not even nervous about graduation. I just to be over. I have skipped it if could At you'll get meet Holden and Zara without my crazy parents hovering over us." reminds me I've got two other people to impress. Zara too about. Holden was with me being Echo's distance but I'm not so his will now. don't to wait much longer find out, though. Before long, pulling up to Echo's crowd of seniors making their way toward the Holden and Zara are waiting near the doors leading into the crowded room, spotting us as soon as we into view. and runs to Echo, wrapping her up in excited hug. Holden rolls eyes at her and approaches me instead. "Malachi, it's to meet you." too, Holden." His narrow for a seconds before relaxing. ready for road with
 about we make some omelets, befOre your dad Wakes Up aNd tRiEs to Skin Me alive for toucHIng yOu?"

"That sounds like a good iDea," EcHo SAys. SHE pUlls aWay reluCTaNTLy aNd We BegIn WHiSking EggS and dicIng vegetabLes. by The time her faMIlY makes theiR waY to the kitcheN, thEy're alL mOre COncerNed With fInding ALl the sOccer gear AnD Snacks THey'll neED AfTer tHe graduation ceremONy THan my proximity To Echo. i fEEl LIKe I'M baCk in my chilDhOod daYS as everYOnE WOLfs DOwn their food aNd scrambles TO geT ready.

thE reST of the FamilY dOEsn'T need to be at The sChool for tHe gradUAtion unTIl eleveN, so as sOon As ECho iS ReAdY to Go, SHe gRAbS my HAnd, Shouts thAt We'Re leaVing, AND BOlts BefOre aNyone Can say otherwiSe. I Feel AS thOugh wE've juSt esCaPed prIson onCe we'rE sAfely in Echo's car And dRiving towArd ThE scHoOl.

EchO Must feEl tHe sAme, becaUse she lETs oUt A HELd Breath. "This weekend iS gOINg To last foRever aT ThIs RAte." She siGhS anD staRES out aT the ROaD. "Sorry thEy're so CLaUsTrophobIc."

"it's finE. JUst FocUs on gETtinG throuGh the cerEmony."

sMiling at me, Echo SAys, "I'm not even nERvOUS aBOut gRadUation. I just Want IT to bE oveR. i wOulD Have sKippeD iT EnTIrely if I could have. At LeAst you'Ll get To meet Holden aNd Zara withOUT My crazy pArenTS hOVering over us."

ThAt remInds me I've gOT two otheR peopLe to imprEss. Zara I'm NOT too worrIed AboUt. HOldEN WaS okay with me beING EchO's Long disTanCe frienD, buT I'm Not So sUrE what his rEaction wIlL bE tO mE noW. I don'T Have to waIt MucH lOngEr to fINd out, tHough. befoRe LoNG, we'Re pulliNG uP TO EchO's HiGh scHooL aNd joiNing THe cRowd of sEniors makIng THeir WaY tOward thE auditorium. HoLdEn and Zara aRe WaiTing neAR The doublE doors leading into the croWDed room, SpoTting Us as Soon as we cOme Into viEw.

ZARa squeAls and Runs tO ECho, WRAppinG HEr Up iN aN excited huG. hOldEn rolLs His eYes at heR and approaches me inSTeaD. "Malachi, it's niCe tO finALLy MeeT YoU."

"you ToO, holDEN."

His eyes narrow fOr a few secoNdS BeFore relaxiNG. "So, YoU ready fOr a road Trip wITh these Two?"

"
 about we make some omelet s, beforeyourdad  wa ke s up  and  tries to skin me a live for touching you? "

"T ha t  sou n ds  like  a good id e a ,"Ec ho  sa ys .  S he pu lls  away r eluctantly  an dwe begin whi s ki ng eggs an d d icing vegeta ble s. Byth e t i me he r f amily  makes theirway to th ek itchen ,  they'r e al l mo re concerned with fi n ding all the s occerge a ra n d s nac ks they'll  n eed a f ter the gr a d u ati o n ceremony th an my proxi m ity  to Ec ho . I feel l ike I 'm bac k in my chi ldho od days a s ever y one wol f s downtheirfoo d a nd s c ra mb les  t o  ge t  r ead y .
The rest  o fthe f amil y d o esn' t n eedto be  at the schoo l f or t h e g radua tionunti leleve n, soas so on  as Echo is rea dy t o go, she  gr ab s m yhand, shouts  th atwe're l eaving, and  b o l t sbefore anyone cansa y ot herwise.  I fee l  a st hough we 'v e j uste s caped  pri s on  once we 're sa f el yin Echo 's  car a nd  dr ivi ng to w ardthe sc hool.

E cho m u st feel the sa m e, because sh e  l e t so ut a  he ld breath."Thi s  wee kend is  go i ng to  last  f o re v er at this rate." S he  sighs  andstares out at  the road. " S orry the y're so claustrophobic ."

" It's fine. Just foc us on  getting  throught h e ceremo ny. "
Smi lin g at  me, Echo say s ,  "I' mnot eve n n ervousabo utgra dua ti on. I jus t want i tto  b eove r. Iw ould hav eski pp edit en t irelyif Icoul dha v e.At leas t  y o u 'llge tto m eet  H olden  and Zar a witho ut my cra zyp aren ts  h overing  over us."

T ha t remindsme  I' ve got t wo other  people to impress. Zar a  I'm no t t oo wo rrie d about.Hol den wa s o k ay wit h me b eingEc ho' s longd i st anc efriend, bu t I'm  notso  sur e whathis reaction willb e t o me now. I d on' t ha v e  t o w a it muc hl ong e r  to find out, t hough. Bef or e  l ong, we're pul li ng up t o Echo' s hig h  school  and join ing the c ro wd o f sen iors makin g theirway towar d  thea ud itori um.  Holde nand  Zara  are w a iti ng ne ar the  d oubledoors  l eading i nto the crowded room, s pottin g usassoon as w e c o meinto view .

Z ara squeal s a ndrunstoE cho,wrap p in g h e r upin a n  excitedh ug . H o l de n rolls his e y esat he r a n d appr oach es me instead. "M a lachi, it's ni ce t o fin all y  mee tyou."

"You to o,Ho l d en."

Hi seyes narrow  for a f ew secon ds bef ore re laxing. " So ,  you r eady  fo r a roadtri pw ith the se  t w o?"

" 
 about_we make_some omelets, before your_dad wakes_up_and tries_to_skin me alive_for touching you?"

"That_sounds like a good_idea," Echo says._She_pulls away reluctantly and we begin whisking eggs and dicing vegetables. By the time_her_family makes_their_way_to the kitchen, they're all_more concerned with finding all_the soccer_gear and snacks they'll need after the graduation_ceremony_than my proximity_to Echo. I feel like I'm back in my_childhood days as everyone wolfs down_their food and_scrambles_to_get ready.

The rest of_the family doesn't need to be_at the school for the graduation_until eleven, so as soon as Echo_is ready to go, she grabs_my hand, shouts that we're_leaving, and_bolts before anyone can say_otherwise. I feel_as though_we've just escaped_prison once we're safely in Echo's_car and driving_toward the school.

Echo must feel the_same,_because she lets_out_a_held breath._"This weekend is_going_to last_forever_at this rate." She sighs and_stares_out at the road. "Sorry they're so_claustrophobic."

"It's fine. Just focus_on_getting through the ceremony."

Smiling_at me, Echo says, "I'm_not even nervous about graduation. I_just want_it to_be over. I would have skipped it entirely if I could_have. At least you'll get to_meet Holden and Zara_without my_crazy_parents hovering over_us."

That_reminds me_I've got two other people to impress._Zara I'm_not too worried about. Holden was_okay with me being_Echo's_long distance friend, but I'm not_so sure what his reaction will_be to me now. I_don't_have_to wait much longer to_find out, though. Before long, we're_pulling up to_Echo's high school and joining the crowd_of_seniors making their way toward the_auditorium._Holden and Zara are waiting near_the_double_doors leading into the crowded_room, spotting us as soon as_we come into view.

Zara squeals and runs to Echo,_wrapping her up_in an excited hug. Holden_rolls_his_eyes at her and approaches me instead. "Malachi, it's nice_to finally_meet you."

"You too,_Holden."

His eyes narrow for a few seconds before relaxing. "So,_you ready for a road trip with_these two?"

"