Lover/Leaver (Jake Kiszka)

Chapter 6: Graduation and Flirtation

The morning of graduation dawned bright and clear, a perfect of new beginnings. Amelia awoke with a mix of tiredness and nerves, the reality of the long day settling in as she stretched and looked at the sunlight streaming through her window.

She glanced at the clock and realized she had just enough time to get ready. After a quick shower, she carefully did her hair and put on her graduation dress. It was a white dress with ruffles and pearls all over it. Her heart raced as she thought about her speech. She took a deep breath, remembering her words that had come to her in the quiet hours of the night.

As she applied her makeup, there was a knock on the door. "Come in!" she called.

Jess stepped in, already dressed in her graduation gown, her smile wide with excitement. "Ready for the big day?"

"Ready as I'll ever be," Amelia replied with a grin. "Can you help me with my cap? I can never get it to sit right."

Jess laughed and adjusted the cap on Amelia's head. "There, perfect. Now, let's go make some history."

They joined the procession of graduation heading to the ceremony, the campus alive with excitement. Families and friends filled the seats, cameras flashing as they captured the moment. The graduates took their seats, and the ceremony began.

After the usual speeches and presentations, it was time for Amelia's speech. As the valedictorian, she was the final speaker, the one to send her classmates off into the world. She walked to the podium, her heart pounding, but as she looked out at the sea of familiar faces, a sense of calm washed over her.

She took a deep breath and began, "Good morning, everyone. Today we stand on the precipice of a new chapter in our lives. As I look out at all of you, I see not just classmates, but friends, and fellow dreamers. We've shared laughter, tears, successes, and failures. We've grown together and today, we celebrate our journey."

She paused, glancing at her friends sitting in the audience. Max gave her a thumbs up, Lisa beamed, and Eddie nodded encouragingly.

"Our journey has been filled with ups and downs, but through it all, we've had each other. We've pulled all-nighters together, played impromptu gigs, and faced the challenge's head on. We've learned that it's okay to be unsure, to feel like we're not ready. Because the truth is, none of really are. We're all just figuring it out as we go, and that's perfectly fine."

Amelia's voice grew stronger as she continues, "The most important lesson I've learned is the power of friendship and perseverance. It's the late-night talks, the shared meals, the support we've given each other that made this journey worthwhile. Our dreams are big and the road ahead of us will have its challenges, but we are not alone. We have each other and together, we can achieve anything."

She looked out at the crowd, feeling a surge of emotion. "As we move forward into the next chapter of our lives, let us remember that it's okay to stumble, to fail, and to get back up. Let's continue to dream big, to support each other and to chase our passions with everything we have. Congratulations, Class of 2024. We did it!"

The crowd erupted in applause, and Amelia felt a wave of relief and pride. She stepped down from the podium, her friends rushing to congratulate her.

"That was amazing!" Lisa exclaimed, hugging her tightly.

Eddie nodded, clapping her on the back. "You nailed it."

After the ceremony, Amelia and her friends returned to her apartment that she shared with Jess. They had survived the speeches, the pictures, and the formalities, and now it was time to celebrate.

"Let's get this party started!" Max shouted, kicking off his shoes and heading straight to the kitchen where he began mixing drinks.

Lisa laughed, shaking her head. "You always know how to set the mood, Max."