June was the month we have to say 'goodbye' to everyone. Although the development between Declan and I had made no progress, our high school years were coming to an end. Most students wanted to finish high school as soon as possible — I wasn't one of those students. Most of my high school career was spent daydreaming, sending notes to my best friends, and gawking at Declan in the background.

Graduation and Prom were only four days away, and gosh did my heart broke every time it was mentioned. For four years, I've spent in this class with the same teacher who never once gave up on us. The entire atmosphere was somber, and barely anyone talked during our lectures.   

"What's wrong? Is everyone sad? It's a part of life. We just have to enjoy the last moments together," Mr. Griffin protested, instantly sighing when he didn't get a reaction from any of us. "How do you guys expect to enjoy the party with everyone quiet?"

Our class council planned a teacher appreciation party today, but everything seemed to hit extra hard today. However, the council hadn't failed; the classroom was decorated with balloons, glittery signs, and most importantly, a buffet of my father's Italian cuisine. 

"He's right! We should enjoy these last days with each other," I announced, capturing everyone's attention.

"Lana and Mr. Griffin are right," one of my classmates shouted, blowing into his air horn.

"Great, who's saying the speech?" the president of the council asked.

After the long speech about how thankful we are for our teacher and class, everyone rushed over to the buffet. Of course, I was first on that line and grabbed a little of everything, especially the Penne Alla Vodka. Mr. Griffin connected Youtube to the blackboard and took recommendations from us until a group of boys suggested a raunchy video.

"Have you been hearing the new rumors lately?" Catalina asked, wiggling her eyebrows.

"No, but I'm sure you're about to inform me." I giggled, rolling my fork in the pasta for a big bite.

"Apparently, Declan didn't go to the interview on purpose so he could attend the same college you're going to," Catalina informed. Damn, how do our conversations spread faster than the flu?

"You have to make a special memory with him!" Meadow encouraged, sipping her juice box.

"But we are going to the same university, so there is no rush," I replied, shrugging my shoulders.

Suddenly, both my arms screamed in agony when my two best friends connected their fists to them. The sudden attack caused my fork to bounce out of my hand.

"What are you saying? It's the end of your high school life! This is the best chance to get closer to Declan," Catalina stated, happily pumping a fist into the air.

"Just imagine you guys, together, on graduation." Meadow stared off into the corner of the room, deep in her imagination.

"Stopp, you guys are making me blush." I fanned myself, noticing how warm the room suddenly became.

"Come on, at least a kiss," Catalina suggested, puckering her lips.

"Oh, my god! That's a great idea! What else can be more memorable than having your first kiss during graduation day?" Meadow agreed, imitating Cata's kissy face.

"You guys are insane! I can't do that!" I laughed, my cheek boiling just thinking about it.

Catalina's eyebrow rose. "Do you know the school legend? Apparently, it says if a couple kisses on graduation day... they will stay together forever," Catalina squealed, almost choking on her piece of chicken.

"Really?" I asked, my eyes fluttering.

"I heard that too!" Meadow pointed her pointer finger.

"Though, it's too much to ask from Lana." Catalina laughed, sucking on the sauce on her fork.

"I think so too," Meadow agreed, bumping fists with Cata.

Was I really that hopeless?

A kiss? My first kiss? The kiss that only happened once in every teen girl's life was basically the most important moment in a girl's life! Am I actually ready for that level of intimacy yet? Especially with Declan? My heart exploding in my chest when I'm inches away from him-- imagine a kiss; I'll drop dead. How on earth would I even get it to happen? It seemed like a distant dream.

"Did you guys thank Mr. Griffin yet?" our classmate asked.

"No, not yet," Meadow replied.

"We just finished so you guys should probably go now," he suggested, sending a small smile before walking to the buffet table.

Meadow led the way towards Mr. Griffin. He stood behind his podium enjoying his plate of food, consistently grinning as he looked around the room.

"Mr. Griffin, we wanted to thank you for teaching us all these years," Meadow thanked.

"You guys worked so hard, especially Lana on our final exams. I'm so proud to be your teacher," Mr. Griffin said. "Congratulations on graduating."

"I'm so happy that we are all graduating together without missing one person," Catalina said. It was a rare occurrence to have everyone in our class pass, especially with our low grades and all.

"There is one person who hasn't been confirmed to attend the graduation ceremony," Mr. Griffin scratched the nape of his neck.

"What?" we all asked in unison.

"What?" he nervously laughed. "Didn't Ambrose tell you guys? You seem inseparable."

Ambrose... Now that he mentioned it, Ambrose hadn't attended school since over a week ago. No wonder why everything felt so laid back, Ambrose was always the one yelling everywhere we went. I guess I got too occupied with Declan that I forgot about one of my closest friends. What was the reason for his sudden departure? 

"Please don't tell me that he can't graduate?" Catalina protested.

"No, no, no." he waved us off. "He can graduate but... it seems like he didn't get accepted into any colleges," he sighed as if the tension had lifted from his chest.

Oh, no. I've been a horrible friend. Ambrose has been suffering in secret while the rest of us celebrated our acceptance letters. Never in our five years of knowing each other has Ambrose ever been miserable or at least showed it. Ambrose always appeared carefree, as if nothing mattered in the world.

Scanning around the room, I noticed Cadian and Jayden-- Ambrose's best friends were digging their fingers into the pasta. First of all, gross and second of all, I had to interrogate them for Ambrose's location. If anyone knew his whereabouts it would be them.

"Cadian, Jayden, I need to speak to you," I announced. My sudden announcement paralyzed them, leaving Jayden with pasta still in his hand while Cadian paused with spaghetti overloading his mouth.

Ambrose's house wasn't anything I expected. His house had four white wooden walls, most of the paint chipped from the planks, and the screen door in front was damaged. The timber wooden stairs seemed like one step and it would collapse to the ground. There was tape over one of their windows instead of glass.

Suddenly, the door opened, and I was startled to see blood oozing down his nose as he iced his eye with an icepack. The bruise had begun as a purple stain above his eyebrow, sunk into the socket itself, and appeared as a black eye. What the heck happened?

"Lana?" His eyes bulged from their sockets, confusion registered on his face.

"Oh... hey, Ambrose I brought a peace offering." I scratched the back of my head, slowly walking to him.

"What are you doing here? How did you know where I lived?" 

"Jayden and Caidan told me," I admitted, my lips forming a straight line.

"Shit... Why did they tell you?" he whined, taking a seat on the steps.

Following suit, I took the seat next to him, opening the bag I packed with food and used the napkins to clean the crimson blood.

"I'm guessing they told you, right? That I couldn't get accepted into SilverLake university." he sighed, but it wasn't one of relief instead it was filled with failure.

"Yes, but there are other students in the class that didn't get accepted either. Aren't Caidan and Jayden going to engineering school?" I kneaded his back, hoping in some way I could relieve him of his stress.

His elbows were propelled on his legs, and his face fell into his palms, hot tears soaking his blue jeans. My throat felt dry. My throat felt as if someone thrust a handful of itching powder inside and before I knew tears were spilling down my cheeks.

"I disappointed everyone," he croaked. "My parents gathered up every single penny they had to their name to send me to that school, and in the end, I failed everyone. All I wanted to do was achieve something big instead, my parents can't stand to look at me."

"Ambrose... What did they do?" I asked, knowing they were the reason behind his bruised face.

"Nothing, when I told them, my father, he was drunk, and he overreacted," he said, but I knew it was a lie. His bloody nose was fresh and couldn't have been from a few days ago.

"Ambrose, please tell me the truth," I whispered, wrapping my arm over his shoulders.

"It's no big deal, my father is just angry. I don't blame him." He cried as his shoulders shook roughly.

The sight was so incredibly painful someone might as well have stabbed me in the heart and left me drained on the ground. How didn't any of us see this? We stood back, allowing this to happen. Why? He didn't deserve this. No one did.

"Parents aren't supposed to beat you even if they're angry." I hugged him tighter and he easily melted into my arms.

"It's fine, I'm always fine," he exhaled, forcing his snot back up his nose.

"Are you implying that this happened before?"

"It stopped once I went to Yvon High whenever I came back home they would either be sleeping or too drunk to function. On weekends I made sure to be anywhere but here," he admitted.

"Ambrose, I know they're your parents, but it's not healthy living here. You have to get out of here," I stated.

"How? I'm worthless! I couldn't even get into freaking community school. How fucking stupid can I be to not get accepted?" he bawled, the vulnerability in his voice broke me. 

"You're not stupid, stop saying that! Tell me something... What was your dream when moving to NYC?" I asked.

His eyes pierced deeply through mine and flickered nervously as though he was contemplating what to say next.

"When I was younger, my father always said a man's job was to achieve something big and marry the best woman. I know, it's pretty old school," he slightly chuckled. "But it stuck with me. I thought moving to the big city would help with that, especially when I met you."

His eyes were brimmed with so much vulnerability, it sliced my heart into tiny bite-sized pieces.

"Now, I can't even show my face to that asshole Declan," he mumbled in a disgusted tone.

"Declan?"

"I told him how I was going to be the one with you in the end, but I couldn't even get accepted. Declan gave up going to NYU in order to go to the same school as you," Ambrose mumbled softly.

"That's not how it really happened." I bit my lip.

"I feel pathetic like a big fat loser," he croaked, as silent tears started to trail down his cheeks.

Slowly, I removed my arm from around him and grabbed his hand instead, sending it a reassuring squeeze.

"College isn't the path for everyone. I think I mentioned this before, but you know how my Dad and Declan's Dad are best friends. Declan's Dad graduated from NYU and succeeding in making one of the most successful companies. On the other hand, my father dropped out during his last year of high school. He applied for an apprentice chef position right after dropping out. You remember, right?"

He quietly nodded.

"Even though they have two different careers, they get along so well. They appreciate and respect each other's work."

"I sure hope so, or he wouldn't have invited you guys into their house," Ambrose faintly chuckled.

"True. Well, what I'm trying to say is... we both aren't good at school, but I believe we all have something we're good at." I slightly smiled.

"Something I'm good at?" he said, coming out more as a question.

"Exactly something big only you can do." I pointed at his chest to empathize the 'you'.

"So if I find my calling and become big, will you return my feelings?" he asked.

"That's a whole other thing," I responded, breaking our eye contact.

"From the famous words of Declan, 'You will never know what will happen. You might hate someone today, but tomorrow you could like them.'"

"You know, I care about you, Ambrose. But I can't imagine us becoming any more than friends," I explained, my chest filling up with lead.

Ambrose was one of the most important people in my life. One of the worst things someone could experience is being led on or rejection; they both are in the same boat. And I didn't want Ambrose to attack those issues head-on because of me. For some sick reason, Declan was the owner of my heart.

"That's fine with me for now, but I will definitely find something I'm good at. Make a lot of money and win the girl of my dreams." he smiled, pinching my chubby cheek.

"So what about graduation and prom?" I asked.

He slyly raised his eyebrow. "Are you saving me a dance?"

"Sure, why not!" I shrugged.

"Then I will go with pride, though I might need some makeup for my eye." He laughed, pointing at his black and blue eyes.

"I think I can help with that," I said, handing over the freezing food I had brought.

"Grades are not the only thing that defines a man. One day I'll be bigger than Declan, I cross my heart," he declared, making a cross over his heart.

"Let's promise to achieve great things," I stated, sticking my pinky out and waited for his.

"Promise," he singsonged, connecting our pinkies.

"Let's make our graduation and prom the best day of our lives," I cheered.

"And make glorious memories together." we both laughed.

After Ambrose finished the plate of food I brought, we messaged his friends for a sleepover. Thankfully, Jayden invited Ambrose to sleepover at his house. If I didn't live at Declan's house, I wouldn't hesitate for a second to invite him to our home, but I'm grateful for Jayden. No way would I be able to relax knowing Ambrose was suffering here.

I scrolled through my phone while I was waiting on Ambrose. Catalina and Meadow spammed my phone with pictures of the Prom dresses they were trying on. All of them were beautiful and elevated their curvaceous bodies. Once Ambrose had his sleeping bag, we caught the next train back to the City.

This chapter was quite hard to write :(. Had myself tearing up a few times. I'm sorry in advance <3333 I hope you enjoyed this chapter either way.

Love you !!!