"You really get on my nerves, Sunshine." I stare her down, watching as her lips curl into a smile.
Carson brings her hand to my own. "But you like that, don't you Ian?"
"You're lucky I do."
𑁍𑁍𑁍
Killian sees others as an interference in his life...
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Wednesday, June 7th
Finally.
Finally.
The fateful day has come.
I have dreaded as well as pleaded for this day ever since the start of my schooling here at Columbia. While the day will bless me with freedom, it also forces me to move forward with my life again. Not sure what I'll do about that, but I'll figure it out at some point while everyone else around me becomes successful. Sounds pathetic, but what else can I do?
With the weather being clear, the ceremony is to be held outside, at the Morning Side Campus. There is only a small breeze that blows at our tassels and gowns as the spectators fill into their seats.
Around me are the people from my graduating class. Some I've encountered before, and others I've never even met during my time here. None of my friends are sat near me, and since our class is so big, I doubt I'll ever find them amongst all the students. There is one person I've managed to spot easily, though.
Killian.
He's sat at the very front of the student section. Being the valedictorian, it is important that he is before everyone else. Next to him is the salutatorian, followed by the rest of the top ten students of the class.
I watch Killian carefully, seeing as he adjusts his glasses repeatedly. I want to go over and talk with him to perhaps calm his nerves before the ceremony, but I don't want to forget where my spot is in the seats. After all, we have a specific order of names when we get called to receive our diplomas.
Killian glances down at his wrist, and probably takes a peek at his watch. Then he looks up, in-sync with the band who starts playing, signaling that the ceremony is finally going to begin.
The band plays the introduction song, followed by the national anthem with members of the choir singing. We all stand for it, and I can feel my nerves rising. Not for myself, but for Killian.
The dean steps up to the stage to welcome everyone to the event, and then he introduces the people behind him. All of them are educators from the university, with some of them being board members. He introduces our class elected speaker, who is one of our professors. I never paid attention during the voting period, so the professor is one that I've never even heard of.
He gives the usual pep talk, telling us to move forward in our lives with joy for whatever path we choose. It's typical, but it gets the job done.
After him is the salutatorian, who is introduced by the dean, who gives her the diploma as she makes her way up to the stage for her speech. She shakes hands with each of the people on stage before making her way to the podium.
Her words are simple. With her only being the second of the class, I'm sure she was told to keep her speech a bit shorter than the main event, the valedictorian. It was the same way for my high school graduation. While the salutatorian did have a lengthy speech, the valedictorian's ended up being several minutes longer.
