Different Sides To The Same Story

Chapter thirty - Jason Dalton

   We all met up at grad, but we had to take our assigned seats pretty quickly. I could see my family in the back row. This was a proud moment, my sister never graduated highschool, she dropped out once she had Perri. And my mom simply got her GED so I was the first person in my family to ever graduate highschool properly.

We got organized by last name so I was beside Callie. We'll finish getting our diplomas by fiveish due to the size of the graduating class. After that we'll kill some time then prom starts at seven. I never officially asked lily to go with me, but I just assumed we were going together so I bought her a corsage.

I decided to just wear some of my step dad's old clothes. I wore black slacks and a black button up and I left the top buttons undone. It was a simple outfit but it was fine for this. We were driving up to California later this week so I've got to start packing, since I've been procrastinating.

I get pulled back to reality by the principal calling my name. I walk up one stage, shaking his hand and saying a quick thank you.

He flips the yellow-whatchamacallit- and I got to go sit back down after there was some clapping. I smiled at Ms. Decker who sat up on stage. Our walkout worked and the principal rehired her after March break.

Before I'm even sitting again, they call Callie's name and she rushes up onto the stage in her blue gown. I knew this was a big deal for her too. Her older brother who she adored came to see this. She smiles as the principal flips her yellow thingy.

Once she sits back down I smile at her, and she grins back. We did it, maybe not with flying colours but we both graduated.

---

We all sat at a sushi place, sharing rolls and laughing about memories. "No but dude do you remember your first words to me?" I ask Seth through laughs. He nods a bit but I cut him off before he can answer, "'Yo bro, what's the answer to B?'" I quote him.

"That fucking Mr. Stewart gave us detention for a week and I still didn't know the answer." He says back.

"Do you remember how we met?" I ask Callie.

She nods, laughing a bit, "'Are you sure you're in the right classroom?'" She quotes herself.

"Why was it so hard to believe I wanted to take home ec?" I question.

"Because you were the only fucking guy in that class!" She says loudly.

I turn to Lily squeezing the arm I have around her, "D'you remember what I said to you when we first met?" I question.

"Didn't you just say, 'yours or mine?'" She asks.

I shake my head as the others fall back into conversation, "No that wasn't the first time we met." I tell her, smiling.

"Yeah it was." She argues.

"The first time I was in grade ten and you were in grade nine. You walked up to me and asked where the art room was, I said 'it's in the north building.'" I explain to her.

She looks at me funny, "The art rooms in the main building."

"I know, I was hoping you'd have an excuse to come back and talk to me." I tell her, watching her blush.

"That's a load of shit you just wanted to be mean." She points out.

I shake my head, "Believe it or not, your choice." I shrug.

She smiles at me, leaning her head against my arm. "D'you remember what you said when I told you I was bi?" Seth asks, bringing me back into the conversation.

I nod, "'Bout damn time you realized.'" I say, quoting myself.

"How did you know I was bi before I knew?" He questions, laughing.

"Because you realized by hooking up with Alec, I realized because you always stared at Stevens abs in the locker room." I tell him loudly.

"Oh yeah, I forgot about Alec." He says.

I laugh, recalling another memory, "Remember the first time you me and Seth all had weed together?" I question Callie.

A grim look comes over Callie's face, "Would you stop bringing this up."

"Oh yeah!" Seth says remembering it, "Jason left for like three minutes and we made out." He says to Callie.

"That's how I realized I was gay." She jokes, earning a glare from Seth.

"God you guys have so many memories." Lily says, laughing along with us.

"Don't worry Lily you're not alone, I just joined this group last year so I don't get half their inside jokes." Jaime tells her.

"Yeah also I just started hanging with you guys." Izzy adds.

There were so many good memories, I was sad Seth wasn't coming with us, but we'd always have these memories. I hope he'll visit.

---

When we arrive to prom it's already in full swing. Kids were dancing to the fast music and others were drinking punch.

We all entered together but got split up pretty easily. I held Lily's hand as she led me to the dance floor. We danced to forget me too by Machine Gun Kelly. And halfway through Seth joined us, high as a kite as he started to sing along sloppily.

A slow song starts playing and Seth leaves claiming he's looking for Izzy. I place my hands on Lily's back, and she puts hers on my shoulder bringing me closer. "You know what I wanna do?" I ask her, quietly.

"What?" She whispers.

"Get a tattoo with me." I say, as she puts her head against my chest, "Lily I want to spend the rest of my fucking life with you."

She leans back out to smile up at me, wrapping her arms around my neck, "I do too, I love you Jason." She tells me.

After the song passes Seth comes back with Izzy and gives us a 'gift' as he put it. He hands us a flask, and I drink some.

I wasn't joking, I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I want to go to all of her volleyball matches. I want to come home to her at night. I wanna cook her dinner. I wanna have fucking kids with her. And I wanna fucking marry her.