Private Presley

Chapter 19: "Congratulations to the Class Of 1962!"- May 21st,1962

"I can't believe that today is my last day at Bayside." I said to Lucy as she held my box of high school stuff. Like a picture of me and Elvis when we 1st met in Germany,a Bayside bumper sticker, a "Romeo & Juliet" script from my drama club when I played Juliet, and love notes that Elvis wrote me when he was away filming movies. "Me either. I just seems like yesterday when we met each other in Germany." Lucy said before I shut my locker. As we were walking down the hall, Lucy told me to turn around. Standing behind me was Link Larkin, from the "Corny Collins Show." "Hey, Nikki." Link said doing his signature wink to me. "H-H-H-Hey Link." I said blushing while I fixed my peach summer dress. "I was wondering if you had anyone to take you to the graduation party tonight at Shelby's?" He asked me while combing his black jelled hair. "I'm sorry, but it seems like Shelby never liked me, because I played your love interest in Romeo & Juilet. Plus she never invited me." I said looking down at my shoes. "Oh,I forgot about that." He said combing his hair back. "And besides I can't go tonight, Elvis is planning some celebration tonight after the ceremony." I said as I shrugged my shoulders. "That's a bummer." Link said frowning. "But you should ask Bella, she's been wanting to go on a date with you ever since I moved here." I said smiling at him. Link thanked me for my offer and went off to find Bella and her clique. As everyone finished signing their friends yearbooks and cleaned out their lockers, me and Lucy went back to Graceland to get ready for the graduation ceremony starting at 6. I decided to wear a light blue dress with a light pink ribbon around the waist of the dress, white heels. I let Patsy curl my hair, and put my locket on my neck. "You look so beautiful, Nikki. I'm so proud of you and when you get your diploma, I'll be right there cheering you on." Patsy said as she gave me a hug. "Thanks,Patsy." I said smiling. After I got my graduation gown and cap in its dress bag, I heard Elvis knock on the door. "Hey Patsy, can you please give me and Nikki some privacy?" Elvis said poking his head through the door of his bedroom. When Patsy left, Elvis came in carrying two suits on hangers. "I can't decide what to wear." He said holding up a black suit & a blue suit. "I like the blue suit. I brings out the sparkle in your eyes." I said wrapping my arms around him. "Thanks, I don't know what I'd do without you." Elvis said kissing my cheek. He went to his closet and picked out a white buttoned up shirt and shoes and boxer shorts to go with it and went to the bathroom to take a quick shower. As he was getting ready,I decided to go downstairs and watch "American Bandstand" in the living room with Patsy and Lucy. When Elvis came down wearing his suit and black dress shoes, we got into his black cadillac and drove to the school. Buddy drove Lucy and Patsy. Vernon drove Dee and Red. And the rest of Elvis's bodyguards drove in a separate car behind us. When we got to Bayside High School, I got out of the car and met up with Link and Amber. Before I went into the auditorium, I went to the bathroom and put on my blue graduation gown and cap. After I changed, I went to my assigned spot in line and talked to a few kids before the "Graduation March" started to play. When the "Graduation March" started and we started walking, I began thinking of my time here at Bayside. I'm really gonna miss high school. After we went through the valedictorian's speech and the other awards,it was time for the diplomas. "Miss Embrianna Hudson-Berry." Mr.Belding said when he called me up to the stage. When my name was called,I heard Elvis say "That's my baby girl! Woo!" The rest of the guys just cheered. After the ceremony was over, I ran into Elvis's arms and hugged him. "I can't believe my Nik-Nik is a free girl at last." Elvis said hugging me. "Show me your diploma." Elvis said smiling. I unrolled it and showed it to everyone. I can't believe I finally graduated! When I finshed talking to them, we had to take our class picture. After we finished, I walked with Elvis to his car and we drove back to Graceland. "I can't believe this year has gone by so fast." I said as I put my head on Elvis's shoulder. "I know. I can't wait for this summer. Because I get to spend time with the best gal in the world." Elvis said smiling at me. As we listened to "One Summer Night"
by the Danleers, we pulled into Graceland. "Oh,before we walk into the house, close your eyes." Elvis said looking at me. "Okay,why?" I asked looking at him with a crazy look on my face. "Just do it." Elvis said putting one hand on my face to cover my eyes and one hand still driving the cadillac. I did as he told me and I heard his car door shut as he got out and came to get me out. "Keep your eyes closed darling." Elvis said as I felt his hands over eyes. As we walked into the house, I opened my eyes. "Elvi, why are all the lights off?" I asked him as I walked into the living room. "SURPRISE!" Everyone said as the lights came on. "I can't believe this. Who did this?" I asked smiling at my guests. "Well, you do have a fantastic boyfriend." Elvis said putting his arms around me. "Thank you." I said as I gave him a kiss. "Your welcome. Let's go greet some people." Elvis said holding my hand. As I was talking to Lucy,Buddy, and Patsy, Elvis came up to me and walked with me into the kitchen. "Some people have been waiting to see you." Elvis said drinking his glass of fruit punch. As we came into the kitchen I saw my family and my friends back home from Germany. "Momma,Daddy,Daniel." I said as I ran up to hug my family and then I hugged Cheyenne,Dalania, and Priscilla next. "How did you get here?" I asked them. "Elvis decided to fly us in last night and here we are." Dalania said smiling. "I still can't believe that we're here at Graceland. This house is amazing." My mom said drinking her champagne with my father. "I bought the house for my parents because I promised them that when I got older I would do whatever it took to give back to them and take care of them when I became famous. I knew my momma loved it." Elvis said smiling. "I know she did." I said smiling. After Elvis left me alone with my family and friends, I saw him go to the front of the house. "So sweetheart,tell us,where you plan to go to college?" My father asked me. "Oh, college. More knowledge for the brain. Umm... I've thought about it and I've got acceptance letters from NYU and Juilliard. But I've decided that..... I'm not going to college." I said looking at my parents. "Why don't you wanna go to college? I thought your dream was to make it big on Broadway." My mom said. "I know, and I'll get there someday, but not right now. I just wanna stay with Elvis. You both know what it's like to be in love with someone who you don't wanna leave. I said to them smiling. "Well it's your decision, and if your happy with it,then we're happy."
My dad said smiling. As we hugged, I heard Elvis clinking a knife against his champagne glass. "May I have everyone's attention please?"as Elvis asked our guests, me and my friends and family to come into the living room as he stood up on his piano stool with me looking up at him. "Nik, I'm so happy that I got to see you graduate with your friends and family but I also got to see you grow up into the beautiful girl that I have gotten to know over these few amazing months. Your not that little 17 year old girl who I met in Germany anymore, your my woman." Elvis said to me as I heard "Aww's" chorus around the room. "And since we're celebrating you my love, I've got a surprise for you out front." Elvis said after he jumped down off of the stool and walked with me out on the front steps. I closed my eyes as I heard murmurs of whispers about my gift. When Elvis came up behind me again he told me to open them. Out in front of me was a cadillac.... not just any cadillac his mom's pink cadillac!!!! I jumped into his arms screaming and covered him with kisses and ran off of the front steps to look at my new and 1st car. "Baby, you did not have to do this." I said crying tears of happiness. "I wanted to. I knew momma would've wanted me to, so I did." Elvis said as he wrapped his arms around me. "Thank you so much." I said hugging him as my family and friends ran from the steps coming to admire my new car. After celebrating with my guests and Elvis singing to everyone, it wasn't around 10 when my guests decided to leave. "Oh,what a day."I said after I changed into my purple silk pjs while Elvis changed into his black silk pjs. "I know. It was nice." Elvis said coming to lay down beside me on the bed. "I wish it wasn't over." I said as I played with his hair. "Well, it doesn't have to be. Wait a sec." Elvis said getting up and looking through his bedside drawer. "What are you doing?" I asked sitting up. "Close your eyes." Elvis said smiling. I did as I was told, again, and when I opened my eyes I saw a pink gift bag sitting on the bed while Elvis was on his knees. "Why are you staring at it babe? Open it!" Elvis said smiling. I took the bag,tore it open, and saw a black ring box. "Your not proposing are you?" I asked with a surprised look on my face. "No. Not yet anyway. It my mother's promise ring and she gave it to me when I was 17. She told me "Son,whenever you find the right gal,give this to her." Elvis told me holding up the silver ring with a diamond shaped heart in the middle. "That's beautiful." I said looking at him. "It was. So what do you say Miss.Nikki, will you promise me that you will love me forever and sever and maybe someday even become my wife,Mrs.Presley?" Elvis asked before putting the ring on my finger. "Yes." I said smiling. After the ring was on my left hand beside my silver ring, I gave him a kiss. " I love you sooo much." I said laying down beside him again. "As do I, my love." Elvis said kissing my forehead. "One more request before we go to sleep, where would you like to go on your senior trip with me, just us two?" Elvis asked me. "I would enjoy that since I'm gonna be spending all of my time with you. How about New York? I've always wanted to go there and see some Broadway shows after we moved." I said getting under the covers after turning off the lights. "Alrighty then, we'll go to New York in about 2 weeks." Elvis said giving me a long kiss goodnight."Goodnight,baby doll." Elvis said before snuggling up to me. "Night,teddy bear." I said closing my eyes and dreaming of my freedom with Elvis.