Something There ( Portwell)

Graduation

Hi everybody, I know it has been months but I am going to make this chapter a bit longer for you guys. I have been brainstorming for the past couple days and I am going to start at EJ's graduation and go from there. I might double upload :)

EJ's POV

It is finally here. My graduation and I am pretty excited for this. My dad has finally accepted the fact that I won't be going to college at Duke and instead I'll be staying here going to University of Utah. I'm happy with my decision. Ever since Gina and I made up, we have been around each other non stop and she's supportive of my decision to stay. I would be lying if I said part of my decision to stay didn't have to do with wanting to be with her longer. We are finally in a good place and I don't want to lose that. I walk up to my mirror and finish tying my tie. I fix my hair and go downstairs to meet my parents, Ash, and Gina to head to my graduation. I see Gina in the kitchen and I sneak up behind her and wrap my arms around her waist. She smiles and turns around.
"You look very dapper today."
She says as she straightens out my tie and my shirt collar.
"Why thank you, and you look good yourself."
I hold her hands as we smile at each other.
" I'm proud of you, you know."
She assured me and I blush at her compliment.
"Thank you. For everything. For supporting my decision for college and for just being there. It means a lot to me."
She was about to lean in to kiss me when Ashlyn walks into the room and says,
" Hey guys we are leaving..."
We turn our heads and blush.
"I interrupted you again didn't I?"
We all laugh and agree with her. All of us walked out to the car and my parents started driving to school. I hold Gina's hand as she rests her head on my shoulder.
When we arrive at school, I leave them so they can go to their seats while I put on my cap and gown. I find my seat amongst the sea of other soon to be graduates. All I can think about while I am waiting for my name to be called is all my friends and I am hoping they are all able to be here to see me walk the stage. As I am feeling excited I am also anxious about my name being called well, because no one except Gina and Ash know what EJ stands for. I just know they will call me by my full name.
I get ready to walk the stage and then I hear it.
"Eric James Caswell"
Embarrassing. But I walk and I look out to the crowd to see my family and all my friends cheering for me super loud and I smile really hard.
After everyone walks, I make my way through the crowd to find everyone. When I finally spot them they all come running towards me. I try my best not to get tackled onto the floor but that plan quickly goes awry and next thing I know I am on the floor with Carlos directly on top of me along with everyone else.
I get up and try my best to hug everyone individually and when I finish that, I see Gina waiting behind everyone else. I smile at her and drop the substantial amount of flowers i've just received to go hug her. I hold onto her really tight and whisper in her ear.
"I love you"
We haven't told each other that yet but it feels right because I do, I love her. I can feel her smile against my cheek as she mutters back.
"I love you too"
I pull back and smile at her and then I kiss her..

I am going to write the next chapter right now and it's probably going to be camp stuff