Are you coming?" Echo never said for sure whether Holden was joining us or not.

"I'm not staying for the whole summer," he says, "but I'll be driving up with you guys and I'll stay a few weeks to help get these two settled. I have to be back for an internship by June fifteenth."

I nod, glad to know he's coming, which is kind of surprising. I can't wait to have Echo nearby all the time, but I was worried about them staying in an apartment by themselves when they don't know the area at all. Having Holden there will deter any curious neighbors, especially given that he's actually quite a bit more intimidating in size than I would have guessed from his online profile picture.

Someone calls the seniors to order and starts getting them organized a few minutes later. It leaves me standing off to the side watching, but I don't mind. Watching Echo with her friends lets me see a different side of her. She said in the car that she would have skipped graduation if she could have, but as she and Zara talk excitedly in their seats, she actually seems glad to be here. Maybe it's just the prospect of getting out of here that has her smiling.

I remember my own graduation, feeling excited and a little sad to be leaving it behind. I had friends and clubs and sports I was walking away from, though. Echo has Holden and Zara. There's nothing here she'll regret leaving behind. It's a sad thought, but hopefully she'll be moving on to something better. The FBI thing still has me nervous. It creeps me out to think that they've basically been stalking her for the past eight years and this Agent Morton guy has set up her stay in Georgia. If they can really help her, though, I guess it'll be worth it.

Once all the seniors are seated, I find a spot near the front and save seats for Echo's family. It's tempting to just get lost in the crowd, but when I spot them come in I wave them over. Thankfully, the twins claim the seats on either side of me and start chattering nonstop until the ceremony starts. They don't stop talking even then, but they do switch to whispering until they see Echo walk up on stage. At that point, they jump up on their chairs and start cheering wildly for their sister. Echo's face turns as red as her hair, but
Are you coming? " Echo never said for sure whether Holden was joining us or not. 

 " I'm not bide for the solid summer, " he says, " but I'll be driving up with you guys and I'll persist a few weeks to help get down these two settled. I have to be back for an internship by June fifteenth. " 

 I nod, beaming to acknowledge he's coming, which is kind of surprising. I can't expect to have Echo nearby all the time, but I was worried about them staying in an apartment by themselves when they don't acknowledge the area at all. Having Holden there will deter any curious neighbors, especially contribute that he's actually quite a bit more intimidating in size than I would have guessed from his on-line profile picture. 

 Someone calls the senior to order and starts getting them organized a few minutes subsequently. It leaves me standing off to the side watching, but I don't mind. Watching Echo with her friends lets me see a different side of her. She said in the car that she would have skipped graduation if she could have, but as she and Zara talk excitedly in their seat, she actually seems glad to be here. possibly it's barely the prognosis of getting out of here that has her smile. 

 I remember my own graduation, feeling excited and a short sad to be leaving it behind. I had friends and clubs and sports I was walk away from, though. Echo has Holden and Zara. There's nothing here she'll regret leaving behind. It's a sad thought, but hopefully she'll be move on to something better. The FBI thing still has me nervous. It creep me out to think that they've basically been stalking her for the past eight years and this Agent Morton guy has rig up her stay in Georgia. If they can really help her, though, I guess it'll be deserving it. 

 Once all the seniors are seated, I find a spot near the front and save seat for Echo's family. It's alluring to just get fall back in the crowd, but when I spot them hail in I wave them over. Thankfully, the twins claim the seat on either side of me and start chattering nonstop until the ceremony starts. They don't stop talking even then, but they do switch to whispering until they see Echo walk up on stage. At that point, they startle up on their chairs and start cheer wildly for their sister. Echo's face turns as red as her hair, but
Are you coming?" Echo never sxid for sure whgtyer Honden wzs joinivg us or not.

"I'm not staying flr the qhole summer," he says, "bjt I'll be driving up xith you guys anv I'll stay a fsa wezkw to help get jhese two sedtled. I have tm ce back for an internship by June fifeeenth."

I nld, glad to knor he'x comjng, which is kind of surprising. I dan't wapt to have Echo nrarby all the time, but I wws wlrried about them dtaying in qn a[qrtment by tfemselves when they doh't know the area at all. Having Foldeu there wilo eetft any curiouw neidhbors, especlslly ghven thst he's actualln quive a bit more intimidatinj in size than I woujd have ggeased from his onlunw proxile picgyre.

Romtonx czlls tje aeniors to order and wtarts getting them owtanized a few minutqs later. It leaves me standing off to the sise watching, but I don't nind. Watching Echo wijh her friqnds lets me see a different side of her. She said in tie cax that whf would have skipped graduation if she could rzvt, blt as she and Zarc talk excitedly ij yreir seats, shg actually seems glad to be jere. Maibe it'w just tht proxpect of getting out of herw that has hvr sniling.

I remember mv own graduacion, fgeling excited and a little scd to ge leaving lt behind. K had friends ana ckuts and skurts I was walkind away frim, tkough. Ecfo hss Holqen and Zaga. Thcse's nothing here sje'll tegret leaving bfhind. It's a sad thought, but hopxhully she'll bg mmvitg on to somebhing better. Thq FBI thing stnll has ie nefvous. It cgeeps me mut to thinh that they've hasically bexn stalkigg hwr fir the oxst eight yearx and this Agent Moeton guy has set ui her atay in Georgia. If they can reallu hdlp hvr, vhougr, I guess it'ln be wofyh it.

Unce all thc sdniots are seated, I find a slot near the front akd save sgats for Qcho's family. Ot's tempting to judt gev lost in tne srowd, but when I spot them coms in I wage bhem over. Thagkfuoly, the twinx claim the seats on either side of me end start chattering nobstop until the cergmoky starts. Thxy don'e stop tanking even then, but rhey do switch to whispering until theg see Acho aalk up on stage. At that point, they jump up on their chairs and start chewring xijdly for thsir xisteg. Eeho'x face turis as red as her hsir, but
Are you coming?" Echo never said for Holden joining us not. "I'm not he "but I'll be up with you and I'll stay a few weeks help get these two settled. I have to be back for an internship June fifteenth." I nod, glad to know he's coming, which is kind of I wait have nearby all the time, but I was worried about them staying in an apartment by themselves they don't know the area at all. Having there will deter any neighbors, especially given that he's quite bit more in than would have guessed his online profile picture. Someone calls the seniors to order and starts getting them organized a few later. It standing off the watching, I don't mind. with her friends lets me see of her. She said in the car that would have graduation if she could have, but she and Zara talk excitedly in their seats, actually seems glad to be here. Maybe it's just the prospect of getting out of has her smiling. I my own graduation, excited a sad be leaving behind. I had friends and clubs and sports I was walking from, though. Echo has Holden and Zara. There's nothing here leaving It's a sad but hopefully she'll be on something better. The FBI has nervous. out think they've basically been stalking for the past eight years this Agent Morton guy in Georgia. If they can really help her, I guess it'll be worth it. Once the seniors are seated, I find a spot near the front and seats for It's tempting to just get lost in the but when I spot come in I wave them over. Thankfully, the twins the on either of me and chattering nonstop until ceremony starts. They talking even but do until they see Echo walk up stage. that point, they jump up their start cheering wildly for their sister. Echo's face turns as red as her hair, but
Are you coming?" Echo never said For sure wheTher HOldEn wAs JoinIng uS or not.

"I'm not staYIng fOr the whole summer," he says, "But I'lL bE DrivINg Up witH you guyS AnD i'Ll sTaY a Few WeEKs To helP geT these tWo settled. I HavE tO be back for an INtErnship by JUne Fifteenth."

I noD, glAd to knOw He's COming, WhiCh is kInd of sURprisiNg. I can't waIt TO have ECHo nearbY ALl The tIme, but I was worried ABoUT them staying in An aparTmENt BY TheMseLves when thEy Don't kNOw the arEA aT ALL. HaVIng Holden therE will deter aNY cuRious nEiGhbORs, espeCiallY gIVen That he's actuAlly Quite a bit More inTImidatiNG in size Than I wOulD haVe guESsEd FroM hIS onLInE prOFilE picture.

soMeOne caLls tHE SENiorS to OrdeR and sTarts getting tHem OrgaNIzeD a few MinutEs laTeR. It leAves me StandInG off to the side waTchiNg, but I don'T miNd. watChIng EcHO with hEr fRieNds lets Me see a dIFfeReNT SIdE of her. She said in the CaR THaT she woulD have sKIpPeD GraduatiOn If sHe coULD have, But aS ShE and Zara Talk exCItEdLy in theIr Seats, sHe ActUalLy seeMS glaD to be hEre. Maybe It's juST the prospect of GEtting out of heRE tHAT hAS her SmiLing.

I remembEr my OWn grAduaTIoN, feELing eXciteD aND a LIttle sad to be leaving It Behind. i had fRiends and clubS and sports i WAS walking Away FRoM, Though. Echo has HOlden And Zara. TheRE's nothinG here She'll regRet leavinG BEhind. It's A saD thOugHt, bUT HoPefully she'll bE MOvinG oN to someThiNg betteR. ThE FBi thIng StIll has me nErvous. It CrEePs Me Out To thiNK that theY'vE baSiCalLy beeN StalkiNg her For tHe PaST eiGht yearS AnD THis AGeNt mortOn gUy Has seT up hER stAy in GeoRgia. If theY caN RealLy HeLp her, thOugh, I guess it'lL bE worth it.

OnCe All The senIORs are seaTed, I find a spot near the froNT and savE seAts foR EchO's family. IT's tEmptinG to JUst get Lost in The crOwD, buT WHen I sPOT tHem CoMe in I wave tHEM ovEr. ThaNkFullY, the twiNs claim the seats on eITheR side of me and sTarT chaTTErIng NOnSTop UnTIl tHE Ceremony starts. THey don't stoP tALkIng even theN, But ThEy do swiTch to whIsperINg until They see EcHo walk up oN sTage. aT ThaT point, they Jump up on Their chaiRS and sTArT cheeRinG wildlY fOr tHeir sIster. ECHo's Face tUrns as ReD as her Hair, bUt
Are you coming?" Echo neve r said for  sure  wh eth er  Hol denwas joining us or n ot.

"I'm not stayingfor t he whol e  s ummer ," he s a ys , "bu tI' llbe dr iving  up  with y ou guys an d I 'l l stay a few we eks to hel p g et these two  se ttled.  I  ha v e tobebackfor an intern ship by J un e  fifte e nth."
I no d, g lad to know he'sc om i ng, which is k ind of  s u rp r i sin g.I can't wa it  to h a ve Echo ne a r b y a l l the time, b ut I was wo r rie d abou tthe m  stayi ng in  a n  ap artment bythem selves wh en the y  don'tk now the  areaatall . Ha v in gHol de n  th e re  wi l l d eter any  c ur iousneig h b o r s, e spe cial ly gi ven that he's  ac tual l y q uitea bit  mor eintim idatin g insi ze than I would  hav e guessed  fr om  hi sonlin e  profi lepic ture.
Someone cal ls t h eseniors to order a nd s ta rts gett ing th e mor g anized a  f ewminu t e s lat er.I tleaves m e stan d in goff toth e side  w atc hin g, bu t  I d on't m ind. Wat ching Echo with herf riends lets m e  s e e  a diff ere nt side ofher. Shesaid in  th e  carthatsh e  w o uld have skipped gr ad uation  if s he could have , but as s h e and Zara  tal k  e x citedly in the ir se ats, she a c tually s eemsglad tobe here.M a ybe it's  ju stthe  pr o s pe ct of getting o ut o fhere th athas her  sm ili ng. 

I  r emember m y own gr ad ua ti on , f eelin g  excited  a ndalit tle s a d to b e lea ving  i tb ehi nd. I h a df r iend san d cl ubs  a nd sp orts I w as walk ing awayfro m , th ou gh . Echohas Holden an dZara. Ther e' s n othing h ere she' ll regret leaving behin d . It'sa s ad th ough t, but ho pef ully s he' l l be m ovingon to  s ome t h ing b e t te r.Th e FBI thin g sti ll ha sme n ervous.  It creeps me outt o t hink that the y'v e ba s i ca lly be e n s ta l kin g her for the pas t eight ye ar s  a nd this Ag e ntMo rton gu y has s et up her sta y in Geor gia. If t he y ca n rea lly help h er, thou gh, I gue s s it' l lbe wo rth  it.
On ceall t he sen i ors  areseated ,I find  a sp ot  near th e front and save seatsfor Ec ho'sfam ily. It's  te m pti ng to jus t ge t lost inthe  cr owd,but whenI sp o tthe m  come  inI  wave the m  o ver . Th ankfully, t h e twi ns cl aim the se atson either side of me and start c hatt e r ing  no n stop  u ntil the cerem ony  s t a rts. The ydon't stoptalkingev e n the n, but  theydo swit c h  t o  whisp erin g u ntil they  se eE cho wal kup on sta ge.At  thatpoint, they j ump up on theirchair s and s t art  chee ri ng wild l y fo r their si ster. Echo' s face  tur ns as  red as  h er hai r,bu t
Are you_coming?" Echo_never said for sure_whether Holden_was_joining us_or_not.

"I'm not staying_for the whole_summer," he says, "but_I'll be driving_up_with you guys and I'll stay a few weeks to help get these two_settled._I have_to_be_back for an internship by_June fifteenth."

I nod, glad to_know he's_coming, which is kind of surprising. I can't_wait_to have Echo_nearby all the time, but I was worried about_them staying in an apartment by_themselves when they_don't_know_the area at all._Having Holden there will deter any_curious neighbors, especially given that he's_actually quite a bit more intimidating in_size than I would have guessed_from his online profile picture.

Someone_calls the_seniors to order and starts_getting them organized_a few_minutes later. It_leaves me standing off to the_side watching, but_I don't mind. Watching Echo with_her_friends lets me_see_a_different side_of her. She_said_in the_car_that she would have skipped graduation_if_she could have, but as she and_Zara talk excitedly in_their_seats, she actually seems_glad to be here. Maybe_it's just the prospect of getting_out of_here that_has her smiling.

I remember my own graduation, feeling excited and a_little sad to be leaving it_behind. I had friends_and clubs_and_sports I was_walking_away from,_though. Echo has Holden and Zara. There's_nothing here_she'll regret leaving behind. It's a_sad thought, but hopefully_she'll_be moving on to something better._The FBI thing still has me_nervous. It creeps me out_to_think_that they've basically been stalking_her for the past eight years_and this Agent_Morton guy has set up her stay_in_Georgia. If they can really help_her,_though, I guess it'll be worth_it.

Once_all_the seniors are seated, I_find a spot near the front_and save seats for Echo's family. It's tempting to_just get lost_in the crowd, but when_I_spot_them come in I wave them over. Thankfully, the twins_claim the_seats on either_side of me and start chattering nonstop until the ceremony_starts. They don't stop talking even then,_but they do switch to whispering until they see Echo walk_up on stage. At that point, they jump_up on their chairs and start cheering_wildly for their sister._Echo's_face turns as red as her hair,_but