BFFs: Graduation Year

Graduation

Everyone threw their caps in the air and smiled as they did so. All at once, the sea of brightly colored red and white’s of the student’s robes faded and a splash of color went through the air. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief from their sweaty gowns and smiled up to the sky for relief.
 
“We did it,” Crystal said. She looked up at the sky and smiled at herself. “We’re officially done with school.”

Crystal unzipped her gown to reveal a black ensemble with flats below. She looked over at Miranda and saw the black on her graduation dress. Crystal smiled at her and watched as Avril, Leah, the boys, Joy, and Kriey came over with their black outfits.

For a minute, they stood in a circle and bowed their heads. They listened to the happy chatter and laughs coming from surrounding students and breathed in a deep sigh. When Joy finally looked up, they held hands and looked in the sky. They all smiled up and then let go of their hands.

“We graduated!” Joy said, after a minute or two. She hugged everyone and wrapped her arms around John’s neck, kissing him. They separated and she grabbed his hand. “That speech was amazing, Miranda.”

“Thanks. I just read what Suzie wrote with a spin on it.” She smiled up at the sky and couldn’t believe that she was the default valedictorian. “How do you think she’s doing?”

“Fine,” Crystal said, squinting. “She’s tough, she can handle it.”

“You guys!” Kriey smiled at them and squeezed Miranda and Avril. “You graduated!” Kriey hugged them all one-by-one and apologized silently to Leah. “I have to go for rehearsal, but you guys have to talk to me later. Promise, kay?” They all nodded their heads and Kriey smiled and left.

"Wow!” Darla looked towards the group of girls and smirked. “Depressed that you finally graduated? Or surprised?” She took in their black dresses and suits and sneered at them.

“Darla, we’re dressed like this because—”

“We know!” Lindsey said, laughing. “Obviously, you guys are the only one who cares.” She rolled her eyes and playfully ran away with Darla.

The group seemed confused at what just happened but stopped when Sheila walked in front of them. She smiled at them and grabbed the tiara off her head. She was crowned the Graduation Queen. She handed it to Avril and smiled at her. Avril didn’t smile back but she graciously accepted the crown.

“I’m so sorry about Faith.” Nobody seemed to know what to do with Sheila’s apology. “She always helped when no one else was there.”

Sheila smiled slightly and walked off, without another word. Leah looked towards Jeremy and noticed how he didn’t seem fazed by it. She didn’t want to question their relationship status because she wasn’t sure if they had even talked about what happened after the apartment incident.

“Jeremy, go and talk to her.” Leah seemed brutally honest and pushed Jeremy towards her. “You need to straighten things out.” Jeremy seemed unsure for a moment but then nodded his head and walked over towards her.

“Sheila?” he asked. She turned around but adverted her eyes away from him. “Are you alright?” he asked.

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?” she asked. She crossed her arms and attempted to walk away, but Jeremy grabbed her arm. She stood still for a moment and then breathed in deeply. “I’m scared, okay?”

“About?”

“If he’s going to hurt anyone ever again.” She spun around and completely faced him. She made her eyes look into his and blew in through her nose. “I didn’t think he was going to hurt me. I thought that it was just you and Leah. I thought that maybe you did something to him.”