Boy King

Dinner with Friends

Rory had found Mary and her… companion and had informed her of his plans for that night. It was slightly embarrassing, standing in front of such a great crowd of his fellow students and talking to his intoxicated guardian. She didn’t say much of anything to his quietly spoken words.

“If that’s the case, then we’re going home.” The man helping to support Mary tightened his hold on her waist and then began tugging Mary back towards the parking lot. “We’ve got better things to do than watch a commencement speech.”

Rory watched the two stumble through the crowd and then turned to find Amelia standing behind him.

“So what number are you in the line to get your diploma? I’m in the third row with the A’s.”

Rory glanced down at his gown and Amelia followed his line of sight. “So you’re an honor graduate? That means you’ll be in the front row. I wish I had kept my grades up so I could be an honor graduate. That way I’d be done with all this that much quicker.”

As Amelia rambled on about the ceremony, they walked towards the ever growing crowd in the gymnasium, where they were supposed to gather and form lines to go out onto the school field for commencement. Rory stumbled through the crowd to take his place next to the other honor graduates and was disappointed when Amelia stayed beside him, speaking about the others around them.

“That girl there,” Rory knew her name to be Lexi, “I never thought she would make it this long without getting pregnant. She’s had a different boyfriend every week since she started high school…” Amelia droned on but Rory tuned her out and closed his eyes, wishing he was home sleeping.

Suddenly, ice blue eyes appeared in his mind for the second time that day and he snapped his eyes open quickly. He remembered wings.... Something with wings. Something with wings that had a name. Rory became aware that the red-headed girl beside him had become blissfully quiet and glanced down at her diminutive stature.

She was staring at him again. Staring at him like she knew what was going on inside his head. He shook his head to clear any thoughts of mind reading from it. Or that she was the cause of him seeing those ice blue eyes.

“Alright kids. Time to get this show on the road.” The school counselor and principal were standing at the entrance to the food court. “Everyone get in line and then the principal will lead us out to the field.” The counselor was motioning frantically for everyone to get into the lines they were going to be in when it came to walking up to get their diplomas.

Amelia smiled dazzlingly at Rory and turned to find her line. Rory turned towards the principal again and moved to follow him. Suddenly a tug on his arm swung him around and Amelia was on her toes kissing him.

“Good luck, Rory. I hope it works out for you.” Amelia turned for the second time and ran off.

Dazed from the sudden onslaught, Rory wondered, Hope what works out for me…? Shaking it off, Rory strode out of the cafeteria and followed the line to the commencement ceremony.

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“Oh, my God! I had no idea that you were the valedictorian!” Rory winced as Amelia jumped up and down beside him. “You could have at least told me.” Amelia rolled her eyes. “You’re so closed off from everyone. We’ll fix that eventually.” At this she winked at him. “How in the world did you manage it anyway? That’s seriously hard.”

Rory shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“Well, enough about that. Come on and I’ll introduce you to the people we’re going out with.” Amelia took hold of Rory’s hand and twined their fingers together and then she strode off towards the parking lot, dragging Rory with her.