Digital Strings Attached

Chapter 5

The Speaker had just concluded a thirty-minute speech for the Graduates of Seattle High and the Principal began calling the names of the students who were lined up to walk up on the stage and receive their Diploma. The sultry air had brought beads of sweat on Georgia's forehead and even her whole body. 

Good thing, I copped a different dress for my Celebratory dinner. Georgia pondered as she craned her neck, searching for her best friend in the line of students, and caught a glimpse of her black, shiny, straight hair just a few students before her.  She was fanning herself and wiping a sweat above her eyebrows and on the side of her cheeks when she received a text message from MrSmoothguy.

: "Hi! How is it going there, graduate?" with a smiling emoji. 

Georgia: "Perfect! haha perfectly hot in here, I'm about to walk on the stage all sweaty hahaha!"

:"Haha! Don't lose your cool, then!"

Georgia: "I am on the brink!" she replied jokingly. 

:"Okay, I'd better stay away, perhaps? Haha! Call you later?"

CALL ME??, Dumbfounded as she was, she remained calm.

:"Hmmm, okay. Surely, after dinner?" she replied, barely noticing that she was kind of shaking from excitement. 

:"Okedoke"

He's gonna call later, I'll finally hear his voice after all? Quite an improvement, huh? She thought in astonishment while walking towards the stage, just two students before her turn. Last time she tried calling him in curiosity, only to be answered by boisterous background noises, so she did not bother to ask him afterward. 

I wonder what his voice sounds like, she pondered, making some imaginary sweet voices in her head. 

"Georgia Marie Saunders" the voice of Principal Spears speaking her name through the microphone and echoing around the gigantic field of Seattle High brought Georgia back from her thoughts and wishful thinking. She immediately stepped on the platform and walked towards their Principal, shook her hands, and was handed her tubed Diploma. She scanned the crowd for her family and saw her Mom taking a picture of her, so she smiled, waved at her, and raised her diploma for them to see. 

The Ceremony was followed subsequently by a lot of pictures. Group shots with their families, classmates, teachers, and clubs. Trio shots, solo shots, and duo shots of the two best friends until their jaws somewhat locked into a smile. They bade their goodbyes to their friends as they were both headed to their joint family dinner. Their parents decided to celebrate together since Jovie's father was still in New York and was not able to make it in time for their Graduation. 

"That was tiring," Georgia complained.

"That was fun." Jovie corrected and elbowed her lightly.

"It's piping hot!" Georgia growled at her and Jovie just shrugged at her best friend's remark. 

As they were headed to the school's parking lot, a guy dressed in a blue polo and a cap who seemed like a deliveryman approached a group of students in front of them and asked, "Hi. I'm looking for Georgia Saunders?"

Jovie and Georgia both looked at each other, clueless. "I'm her Mother." Stepping forward, Georgia's mom implied with a curious expression. 

"WOW," Jovie mouthed at her, eyes wide and a discerning look. 

"Have no idea, bitch!" Georgia mouthed back at her mocking best friend, making sure her mom or dad wasn't looking, while she untied her Graduation gown so she could ventilate herself more.