Challenges

Part XXIX

***2001**

Finally the day that Justin had been waiting for had arrived: graduation. It was a bittersweet moment as he put his tie on.

"Are you okay?" Matt asked, walking in holding a fresh pressed blue graduation gown.

"Yea." Justin said, trying to get his tie knot just right. "Just wondering where things go from here."

Matt laid the gown on the edge of the bed, making sure not to cause any wrinkles.

"Lori would kill me if I got this wrinkled again." Mat laughed.

"She spoils us." Justin looked at the gown.

"Of course she does." Matt moved over and fixed a fold on the knot. "We are the best."

"I am glad you are here." Justin hugged Matt.

"Me too."

***

Graduation was always held on the football field. Justin was nervous as he marched down the small hill to the field, and took his place in alphabetical order. On the side were the teachers dressed in their black gowns and wearing various colors of hoods to show their advanced degrees.

Most of the graduation was a blur, from the speech, to the singing, to the actual walking across the stage. He felt that it went by much faster than it was supposed to. He felt like time had sped up just to get him out of this place, and to end this chapter of his life.

They had all agreed to meet at the end of the field for a group photo as friends before leaving. Justin started to walk towards the area, not sure how he felt.

"Are you okay?" Lily asked, taking a stride beside him.

"Yea." Justin said not sounding convincing even to himself.

"Worried that we will all go our separate ways?" she asked, looking at him intently.

"Yeah." Justin said with a sad tone in his voice. "We have, for the most part, been together for a long time."

"Well," Lily said with a chuckle, "I hate to say this, but we will."

Justin stopped walking. "Why do you say that?"

"Not something you wanted to hear?" She stopped as well.

"I figured you would say something more meaningful and cheerful." Justin shook his head. "That is downright depressing."

"Things will be alright!" She said with a cheerful voice and a smile.

"That didn't help." Justin started to walk again towards the spot they had designated. Nate, Grayson, Kimberly, Neil, and his parents were already there waiting. He saw Cody running up from the stands and Scott coming from a group of other guys saying goodbye too.

"Look," she grabbed his arm again to stop him before they got too close to the group. "We will come together again. We made that promise at the campsite, remember?" She looked back at their friends laughing and having a good time. "But it will be a time when we are going to have to go our separate ways."

Justin felt a pull on his chest, as if he were going to cry. He knew she was right. He saw it happen to Matt and some of his friends. They pulled away all at various times.

"Some of us will be pulled away by force," she was still looking at the group as she talked, "and others it will be a conscious choice."

Justin looked at Lily with his eyes squirting, not sure if it was the sun or if he just wasn't sure what she was getting at.