Tales of the Heart

Graduation

Olivia's POV:

I stare at the mirror, wow I'm graduating. 4 years of exhausting and tiring years, with the people I love. Some of my worst moments have happened during this period of time, addiction, losing friendships, almost commuting suicide, among other things. One of the best things that have happened to me throughout these four years, is that me and Spencer have gotten a lot closer. Sure me and he have been friends forever, but these last four years, I don't know it's like he's been my confidant, the only person I feel that truly gets me. He's a big football star as well and I still find it amazing that even though he has such a busy schedule with football, he always seems to make time for me. I wonder how he's preparing for his graduation, he's valedictorian which is no surprise, he's always had straight A's in all of his classes. "Olivia, let's go before we're late!" Jordan yells from downstairs. It's almost showtime, but before I leave I shoot a quick text to Spencer.

Me: Good luck on your speech today, I can't believe we're finally graduating, good luck I love you 🫶🏾😁

After a few minutes, I see those three dots l, letting me know he's texting me back.

Spence 🖤: Thanks, and I know it's been quite a journey, now it's time for the next chapter in our lives, enjoy your graduation, and I love you too 🤍

I smile at his text before I go downstairs and get ready to go to my graduation.

THREE HOURS LATER

Spencer's POV

I hear my name being called by principal Carter, I guess it's time. These past four years were filled with a lot of ups and downs, but overall I wouldn't change anything that happened. I walk up those stairs, then I walk towards my principal. Me and principal Carter have a love-hate relationship. When he first came here, he was trying to tear everything that I was trying to build down. After some time we eventually came to terms on things, and ever since we've been good. He and my mother have also been dating for a few months. He seems to make her feel like the happiest woman alive, so that also makes me feel good that he's making her happy.

Once I get up to principal Carter, I shake his hand and accept my diploma. He steps aside from the podium, making space for me to give my valedictorian speech. I step up to the podium and take a huge sigh of relief.

I scan the crowd and see my mother with my brother. I look to my right to see Coop, Patience, Jordan, and my best friend Olivia, smiling at me.

"Here goes nothing" I say to myself, before clearing my throat into the microphone.

"Good evening respected guests and members of the community, staff, family, friends, and
fellow graduates. I am absolutely honored to be standing here representing the graduating class of
2021. On behalf of the graduates, I would like to thank you for joining us on this amazing occasion." I sigh and look over at Olivia. "You got this." She mouths at me, and I look back towards the crowd.
"Graduation is a time of reflecting on the past and looking onward to the future. It is a time that
we, as graduates, get together for one last hurrah before moving on to bigger and better adventures.
This year we have a very unique and exceptional group of students who are graduating. We have been
through so much together and have changed and grown together.
As we look back on five amazing years, it is easy to see that our school has played an instrumental
role in helping to shape the young men and women we are today. Five years ago, we walked into this
very room, mind you, we were a tad smaller, but back then so were we, and we had no idea what to
expect from this middle school. We thought it was a stepping ground to the real goal, high school.
We were timid grade 8's who were lucky to find our way to class on time. Friendships quickly
developed between students from, once rival, elementary schools. This was an exciting time in our
lives. We were given new privileges, as well as new responsibilities.
And then came grade 9. By now, those new friendships were stronger and no one even
remembered which elementary school you came from. You now belonged to the realm of high school.
However, at the end of grade 9, we were given the choice of making this place our home away
from home for the next three years. We each made a decision that would forever affect our lives. We
decided that we would rather stay here, at our school, than walk 9 blocks down the street to the weird streets of L.A.
At first, I was quite unsure about this decision. I can now look back and honestly say that I have
definitely made the correct decision of staying here. I am sure that this is true of all the graduates here
today.
We spent grade 10, with fewer people, but we worked hard in school and played
harder on the football fields. Grade 11 was a year that we used to experiment.
We tried new haircuts, made new friends, had new parties, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. That
brings us to grade 12. Everyone always told me, "grade 12 goes by fast," but I never imagined it would
be this fast. One year. One last year and what a year it has been. We finally did it. We completed 13
years of education. We finally completed grad
transitions and here we are all together for the last time. That definitely puts a lot of pressure on me.
When you enter our school, you can see our school motto: The small school with the big heart.
The first time I saw this, I thought That has to be the cheesiest thing I have ever read. However, the
more I thought about it, the more real it became. There is something truly wonderful about this
school. There is something amazing about walking down these halls and being able to name each and
every face. There is something remarkable about the way the entire student body gets excited over
one night of can collecting in the rain." I say, and everyone starts clapping.

"I want to give a special thanks to my mother, for teaching me right and wrong, and always staying on me about my school work, but more importantly thanks for showing me that love can come in many different ways." I say, and my mom smiles, with my brother Dillion hugging her.

"I also want to thank Coach Baker, for being a father to me when my father passed away, even before then when he wasn't around. Thank you for showing me that there is more to football than just playing, but instead, it can also befriend in many ways, thank you, Coach." I say, and he points at me nodding his head while smiling.

"Last but certainly not least, I want to thank my best friend, Olivia Baker." I say, and look over towards her.

"Thank you for being the best friend a person could ask for. As I stand here with the fear I always knew that you would be there through thick, and thin good times, and bad you were the best friend I ever had I come to you with the trouble with the pain and sympathy I had but I realize that I can't because your no longer here with me You would brighten up my day with a beautiful smile on your Face you were always happy whatever you went through If I could have told you my last words I would tell you I love you and I am sorry for those last words I'd spoken to you. You were something great and I knew if I had Something to talk about I would always come to you. You will always be in my heart and memories. Thanks for being the best friend I ever knew, and ever will know." I say, and she has tears of joy in her eyes while smiling.

I turn back towards the crowd before closing out my speech, and everyone erupts in applause.

We all throw our caps into the air, celebrating our graduation.

I walk toward my mother and hug her tightly. 

"I'm so proud of you, wow I can't believe my baby is finally graduating!" She yells in excitement.

"Thanks, ma, I couldn't have done it without you!" I say matching her excitement.

After I give out more hugs, I spot Olivia, so I walk toward her.

She spots me and smiles, before running toward me.

We embrace, and it's just like our other hugs, long, but compassionate.

"OMG, I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE FINALLY GRADUATING!" She yells in excitement, making me chuckle.

"Yeah, well I couldn't have done this without you." I tell her, and she smiles.

"Me either, without you, I probably would've... well you know." She tells me.

"Yeah, I do."

Three Hours Later: After Party

Spencer's POV

This after-party has been amazing, but I haven't seen much of Liv, I wonder if she's ok.

I start to look around for her before my eyes lay on her body silhouette.

She's over by the balcony, looking off in the distance.

I walk toward her, before putting my arm around her shoulder.

"Are you ok?" I ask, and she nods, before turning towards me, with glossy eyes.

"I'm fine Spence, I just, I don't know, I-" she starts to say before I cut her off.

"Don't feel comfortable around this type of environment."  I say, and she nods, before looking back into the distance.

"It wasn't too long ago when you found me on the floor of your mom's house, and I'm... just scared that I'll relapse again, and I don't want to go through therapy again, I don't want to be away from my family... from you." She tells me, and I nod, before hugging her.

"I'm sorry Spencer, I didn't mean to act like I'm a burden on you tonight, go back and have fun, I'll just find a way to avoid all of it." She tells me, and I shake my head.

"Naw I don't want you to spend any time by yourself, come on, let's get out of here." I say.

Sorry it took so long but I wanna give a shout-out to the person who wrote this chapter Tda824