There's Just One Thing I Have To Do First

Graduation Day

Vanessa

The air was buzzing with excitement on the afternoon of Graduation Day. I had slept over Addison's house last night so that we could get ready for the ceremony together in the morning. "How do I look?" she asked, emerging from her walk-in closet and posing in a matching blue cap and gown.

I teared up at the sight of her. "You look radiant, Addie." I fingered the golden tassel on my own headpiece. We really did it. High School is over. I glanced up at my friend. "I feel as though I'm dreaming. It simply can't be possible that we are graduating in only a couple of hours."

My friend flopped down on the bed, her sights settling on the ceiling. "I can't believe we're adults now. Where did the time go? It seems like just yesterday we were giggling in Miss Applebee's third grade classroom."

I thought back to how I had come to know my best friend. Miss Applebee had asked us to take out our crayons to draw a picture of our family. I was horrified to discover that between the back-to-school jitters and the scramble of getting my book bag ready in the morning, I had neglected to pack my coloring tools. Addison, being the kick-ass person that she was, broke all of hers in half so that she could share them with me. I was grateful for her then and I was still thankful for her now, even all these years later.

My gaze drifted over to the bedside clock and I noted that the time was four o' clock. The ceremony didn't begin until six. "We have two more hours until we're adults," I reminded her. "Don't rush it. For now, let's just be kids for the last time."

She smiled at me deviously, her green eyes full of mischief. "Yes. Let's be children."

"What are you getting at?" I questioned, raising one brow. "What cockamamie idea do you have swirling around in that head of yours?"

Giggling, she tapped me on the shoulder before leaping off the bed and sprinting out of the room. "Tag. You're it!" She called over her shoulder.

"What are you doing? You're crazy," I replied, laughing. But that didn't stop me from hopping off the mattress, following her down the stairs, and out onto the lawn.

We chased each other around, Addison's gown flapping behind her in the balmy breeze that marked the beginning of summer. Breathlessly, we collapsed onto the grass in a fit of giggles as we massaged the cramps in our sides.

Addison held her face up towards the sky, the sun casting a golden glow on her skin. "I'm going to miss being young and having no cares in the world."

I propped myself up on my elbows, crossing my ankles. "I'm not ready for everything to change."

She plucked at a blade of greenery. "They're going to V, whether we like it or not. It's a part of getting older, a rite of passage."

Sighing, I rested my head on her shoulder. "I wish I could stop time from moving forward."

The days of catching fireflies by the river when the weather was hot and building snowmen in the winter were drawing to an end. A world full of responsibilities was opening up to us, the moment we accepted our diplomas. From there, we would go on to universities, get jobs, and then start building families of our own.

Part of me was eager to find out all that the future was going to offer me as I branched out on my own. The other half wanted to curl up in the safety of my comfort zone and refuse to come out. It was a confusing time in my life and very much bittersweet.

I gazed out at the large crowd that filled the courtyard. It was a lovely evening with the warm temperature cooling off for the day. A sea of blue heads were milling about on the lawn as they excitedly found their places in the procession line. As the first chords of Pomp and Circumstance began to play from the high school band, I glanced over at Addison one last time before taking my spot at the front.

This is it. It's time to say goodbye. Wiping away the tears that had formed in the corners of my eyes, I took a deep breath. Be strong. You've driven down this road before. You can do it again. It seemed no matter how much I wanted to believe that letting go of something I've come to know so well wouldn't be as painful as it was before, the truth was that it never got any easier.

On the Principal's cue, I led the senior class in single file down the aisle until we reached the rows of chairs that had been set up for us. A junior from Chorus Club sang The Star-Spangled Banner beautifully and then everyone was asked to be seated. Various speeches were made before the Valedictorian was called up to give his.

I vaguely recognized him as a guy I had once shared History class with. As he spoke about taking chances and not letting the negatives from our past define us, my sights wandered around upon my classmates. My gaze eventually settled on Matt as he stared straight ahead. Although it appeared he was paying attention, I suspected that in his head he was probably miles away.

I smiled sadly. We both had lessons to learn from the Valedictorian. I should have taken that opportunity to be with him when it was presented to me, and he needed to stop letting the taunts from his bullies shape him. We were both more than our fears and insecurities. He needs to know that.

I was still contemplating on whether I should say goodbye to him to give myself some closure or let the past stay behind me. Any words of wisdom on that one, Mr. Valedictorian? Tina Walters' parents were allowing her to throw an end-of-the-year party at their mansion so I knew that this likely wouldn't be the last opportunity I had to speak with Matt. I still have time to decide.

My focus was pulled back to the front stage when the audience began clapping. The Valedictorian had finished his speech and the principal returned to the podium, indicating that it was time to start handing out the diplomas. I was the first to receive mine as my last name was at the beginning of the alphabet.

When he called me up, I stood and walked across the stage with wobbly knees. From the crowd, Addison caught my eye and winked at me. "I did it," I mouthed to her. She beamed, giving me two thumbs up. I scanned the faces in the audience, realizing that this might be the last day I ever saw most of these people.

The wave of emotions that hit me in that moment was overwhelming. I was nostalgic, sad, proud, and excited for my future. The path that lay before me was unwritten and it was quite daunting. How things played out next, was up to me.

Sitting back down, I wistfully watched the senior class receive their papers of accomplishment one by one. When the Principal had made his way through the list, he cleared his throat. "Ladies and Gentleman," he announced. "I present to you, the Graduating Class of 2023." A deafening cheer and applause erupted from the audience as several air horns sounded off from somewhere amongst the crowd.

The other graduates and I threw our caps up into the air, catching them as they fell back down around us in a royal-blue flurry. High School is truly over. I'm going to miss this place.

***

Matt

High School was over. Thank God. I was more than relieved to leave this hell-hole of a dump behind me forever. I'll never have to see Troy and Scott's dumb faces ever again or endure anymore of their taunts.

As my tossed cap came sailing back down from the sky, I quickly grabbed it and placed it onto my head as fast as possible. No doubt that cheap piece of cardboard had messed up my hair. I cringed, trying not to think about what it looked like underneath. Or how silly I looked wearing the cap. But what did it matter anyway? There was only one person here that I would continue to see and I was confident they loved me, no matter what.

I searched my way through the crowd until I spotted my dad. Wrapping me up in a giant bear hug, he clapped me on the back. "You did it, Son. I'm so proud of you." He held me even tighter as he whispered in my ear, "If your mother were here, I know she would be bursting at the seams with joy over the man you've grown up to be."

Looking away, I tried to discreetly wipe away a stray tear. Even through all of my screw-ups, my dad had never stopped believing in me. He had always done his best as a single parent to instill morals in me and teach me how a woman should be treated. We didn't have much money but he had fought to give me a decent life and I owed it to him to be a son he could brag about.

"I love you, Dad." I hugged him back, not caring who saw.

Pulling away, he clasped my shoulder. "What do you say we go out to dinner to celebrate? You deserve a reward for all of your hard work."

I bit my lip as I studied him. "Do we have the cash for that?"

A flash of sorrow clouded his face and I instantly regretted asking the question. "Yes," he replied. "I made sure to pick up extra shifts this week so that I could treat you to some place nice."

"Alright. Sounds excellent to me then." My gaze drifted over to one of my former friends. "There's just one thing I have to do first."

Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top