In The Wrong World

Chapter One - Graduation

'Peers, professors, administrators, and parents, welcome. We are graduating.

Can you believe it? Four years ago, most of us walked into these halls as nervous as we were the first day of school. We were the freshmen, the low men on the totem pole. Now, those same four years later, we're leaving the school behind to a whole new crop of people, most of whom were just as nervous as we were when we arrived.

It has been a long four years and a short for years. Long because of all the drama and bad homework, the boring readings and early-morning extra credit projects, and all the other little pratfalls that hit us in high school. Short because of the lifelong friendships, the lasting memories, and the truly interesting and amazing things we learned between the occasional bits of drudgery.

Good or bad, long or short, I will always remember this place. While I'm thrilled to be our valedictorian, I can't say I've spent as many hours as some of us have between these halls: Our teachers, of course, spend an inhuman amount of time here, and many students do as well. Most of them even do it of their own choosing. I came by to get a book I forgot last night around 8 p.m. and found Rachel Earl, student head of the graduation planning committee, still here putting crepe paper on chairs and laying out programs in each and every seat. That's dedication.

It takes that kind of teamwork to survive anywhere in life, I've found. I know my experience is limited, but every problem I've overcome has been because someone has been there to help me. My support net ranged (and still ranges) from my parents to my teachers, depending on the kind of trouble I've had and its severity.

This isn't to say I've been a troublemaker-I only got sent to the office twice, and one of those times was a misunderstanding-but even for me, a relatively quiet student, a lot of help has been needed to get me through at times. This is where our high school truly excels, I think.

What's next? I will be going to college the sometime, as will many of my classmates. More of us yet will go to various branches of the armed forces to help keep our country safe home and abroad. Others may get right to work, or even take a year or more off to decide what they want to do. Leaving high school is such a brutal transition, as Principal Davis put it, that I don't know what the world has in store for any of us.

I do know how I'll deal with those life events, though: by using the skills and info I've picked up here. It all comes down to help, and I've got plenty of people to thank for that: parents, of course, teachers, friends... I guess that means the biggest thing I learned in high school is to lean on others when needed.

There's another, more important, side to that idea as well, and it's the one piece of advice I'd like to give you as we get ready to cross this stage for the last time: Make sure you're around when other people need someone to lean on. They'll thank you for it. Heck, one of them might even mention you in his valedictorian speech.

Congratulations, Class of 2015! We did it!' I completed my speech with a smile into the crowd that had a roaring clap and many cheers. Over the past few years here there has been many people who disliked me or didnt know that I even existed but that doesn't matter anymore to me now. Looking around I see that we are just young people who will make mistakes and even though I may have not been popular in high school, my life will go on and these people will just be a memory. As I leave the stage and walk towards my seat I search for my family in the crowd and see that my dad has small tears running down his face. When I am finally seated, the principal is the next to talk to students.

'Today is a day that is celebrating all that is good with our students, teachers and school. It is wonderful to look out at you all and feel that energy that comes on graduation day. I am excited about the future for each and everyone of you. You all have the potential to be whoever you want to be.
I always urge you to take a moment to be sure you put in enough energy, faith, talent and time into an institution that has strong codes of conduct that will benefit you and the community.
I always find it very sad to say goodbye to the graduates, however life must move on I take comfort in being sure that all of you will flourish and there is a big world out there for all of your talents.

Keep in touch with the school. We will always want to hear about your accomplishments and achievements. In my final words to all of you, I say good luck and congratulations.' Everybody in the room was sniffling after the principals speech. I had tears coming out of my eyes so bad that my vision was blurred and I didn't even notice everybody getting up to find their families and mine coming over to me. My dad was the first to speak.

'Congratulations buddy. You did a really good speech and you've finally made it. You're free of this place now' I smiled at my dads words. He was right though, I was free of this place. My dad hasn't been the same since last year when my mum died of cancer. My family was all really close and we all took it hard. It's still hard to think about it now. She should have been here, sitting next to dad and crying. Since she died the glint and sparkle in my dads eyes has gone and replaced by a permanent sadness but he smiles to not upset both me and my sister but I know how much he misses her.

'Has anybody ever told you how cute you look up on that stage making up a bunch of bullshit in a very nice gown' My train of thought was stopped suddenly when I was picked off the ground and into Andrew, my best friends arms.

'Nope. Nobody ever has. And nobody ever will haha. Please put me down Andrew, or you're gonna have a bunch of dried up tears on your clothes' he places me on to the ground carefully and ruffles my hair which makes me frown.

'Lou-Lou! Don't forget about me' My little sister Lizzie shouts to me. Her real name is Elizabeth but I've always called her a nickname since she was born so she is used to it. I scoop her up in my arms and give her sloppy kiss on the cheek which makes her frown a little but is soon replaced by an award winning smile.

'I could never. Ever. Ever forget about you my little Lizzie.' She smiles widely at what I said and motions for me to put her down on the ground.

I look around again at all the people. Some were crying, some were passive, most were hugging their family and friends goodbye. I guess that's what I will regret from high school. Never really making any friends and being the loner of the school. But I did try to make friends, it just never happened. I looked over to find the girl who always hated me during high school and thought about how good it was to be finally able to get rid of her and never see her again. I couldn't see her and decided that she had most likely left when a high pitch squeal is heard from behind me and next to Andrew. Tara, the girl who hated me and put me though hell was in Andrews arms looking like a fake, slutty damsel in distress. She told Andrew in her annoyingly high, flirty voice that she 'fell'. I mean I can see why she is flirting with him because he is a werewolf with perfect genes and a body of a Greek Adonis. He has these blue eyes that sparkle so brightly that draws every girl in and a jawline that is more structured than my life but he's also my best friend and she shouldn't even think about going near him after all I told him what she did to me.

'It's okay' he brushes her off quickly and turns to me with a look of disgust. Her face turns red from the embarrassment of being rejected which I'm sure doesn't happen often for her. Well jokes on you now, bitch.

'Hey' I start 'you wanna go now?' I ask my family and we start to leave the school for the very last time.

After the end of high school, it's the beginning of my year off with Andrew. After my gap year I'm going to being to university in Scotland so I'm taking the time just now for myself. This next year with me, Andrew and the pack should be a hella good one

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(A/N)
Would this consider to be any kind of good? If anybody actually reads this anyway