tratie one shots ~

3. Graduation

Travis' povs

I scanned the crowd from my seat. 4 years. This is the last day of seeing and interacting with the people I had spent 8 hours a day in this hellhole for the last 4 years with. I don't know how to feel, in all honesty. it's bittersweet. I'm gonna miss these people, but I am so happy I'm finally out of this prison.

I still don't see them or phrased better, see her.

Her. The girl I've grown up with, the girl who makes me feel safe, and at ease, makes me feel at home around her, the girl who I had fallen in love with before I could even spell her name. The girl who makes me feel wonderful things. I suck at literature, but I could go on and on about her.

She, Connor and Mum were supposed to be attending this, yet I could not find them after scouring the crowd yet again. I was almost up, I heard our principal (whom I definitely did not bother for my time in high school) announce the name of the blonde girl in front of me. My palms perspired, my heart palpitating, yet I could not name a reason for why I was suddenly anxious. I've always been a confident person, suave, if one must, going on stage did not scare me, yet I felt as if I were combusting.

The principal called my name with a sigh. I could not suppress the sheepish smile on my face at his expression of fond exasperation. Running up to the stage, I received the certificate.

My gaze swept over the crowd and locked with hers. Her enchanting green eyes, twinkling with mischief on the brink of laughter. I could feel my eyes pooling with tears, and I blinked them away. For some reason, I feel overwhelmed. Maybe it's the fact that all these years, I was in the audience, forced to watch and bored out of my mind, yet today, I'm standing on stage, while my juniors watch me, probably also bored out of their minds. I snap out of my trance, thank the principal, and step off stage, joining my classmates at the end and cracking jokes as everyone got emotional, knowing it'll be the last day I spend with them. Once again, tears spring to my eyes, but I resist the urge to cry. C'mon Travis, don't cry in front of her. 

The principal seems to be droning on and on... I catch her eye again, she seems visibly bored. She playfully rolls her eyes, grinning good-naturedly at me. I can hear my heart thumping again, I look down to suppress my grin. 

"And with that, the academic year of 2023, will be graduating..."

At that, everyone throws their graduate caps, and as the caps fall down around everyone, I catch her eye, yet again. Time seems to stop, this time her eyes seem to be calling me.

I slowly walk towards her, and as I approach her, I notice her eyes seem to be watering a bit.

"Anything wrong Katie-Kat?" she shakes her head, seeming to sniffle a little as she wipes her eyes with her sleeve.

"Just", She turns her head to face me, "I'm going to miss walking to school with you..."

At that, something in me snaps. I pull her into my embrace. She smells like her lemon shampoo, as always. The tears I've been holding onto for the whole evening roll down my face like crocodile tears.  So much for not crying in front of Katie. I bury my face into the crook of her neck, knowing that my tears falling onto her skin would tickle her. She sniffle-giggles adorably. and pats my back, her other hand cupping the back of my head, stroking my hair.

"Let it all out, you deserve this meltdown after 12 years of hell," She says.

I pull out of the embrace to wipe my tears and laugh as I tease her for still being stuck in school for a year.

I guess I will miss school a bit, maybe.