Fix Me

Perfect

"Sarah! Mom says it's time to get up, you missed your bus and—isn't it graduation today?" My twelve year old brother, Dillan, yells from the other side of my closed bedroom door. Ugh! At least I won't have to go back to that hell ever again after today.

I slide out of bed and pull a random band tee out of my dresser. When I see that it's Panic! At the Disco, I put it back and grab a plain shirt instead. I pull on my black sweat pants and glide a brush through my thick brown hair.

"Tell mom I'm taking the car. Thanks, Dillan, see ya later." I say, grabbing my backpack and walking out of my room. I run downstairs and grab a piece of toast as I slide into my converse. I pick up the keys and rush out the door, getting into the car and driving fast towards the school.

I get there with five minutes to spare, racing down the hall to the gym, where all of my other fellow graduates are already waiting. I spot Tanner, my six foot three best friend, across the room. 'You're late' he mouths. I stick out my tongue and take a gown and cap from the table by the door.

"Dillan had to wake me up, I'm sorry." I laugh a little, pulling the gown over my head and setting the cap on.

"Excuses, excuses," Tanner smirks at me. I roll my eyes playfully and take my spot at the end of the line. Tanner is near the beginning because his last name is Bryer, mine, however, is Zeal. Annoying to always be the last one, don't you think?

We listen to the valedictorian speech on new beginnings and I daydream about Ryan, Tanner and I moving to Canada. Our plan is to leave in two weeks. Right now we're packing up all of our things and still making sure we have enough money for the trip. We're taking Ryan's car and a small trailer we bought. Hopefully it will fit everything . . .

The principal, Mr. Stevens, starts calling names. It takes an hour, but he finally reaches mine. "And last but definitely not the least, Sarah Zeal." I stand and walk across the stage, shake the asshole's hand and walk up to the podium. I'm supposed to give a small speech on how we've all overcome difficult obstacles and blah blah blah.

"Good morning. I'm Sarah Zeal. You might know me as 'that punk girl that nobody likes' or 'that poor kid that got assaulted. Twice'. But I like to think that we all have secrets that have to be let out. So come out of your shell a little bit, and maybe try and be something you are for a change. You might find that you overcome more, that you achieve more by being yourself. So be who you are, because everyone else . . . is taken." I finish with my last cliché, remembering Brendon, and the way that he said that everyone had secrets that have to be let out. I pride myself in believing that.

I return to my seat and Mr. Stevens says a few last words. "You are now the official graduating class of 2014. Throw your hats!" I remove my cap and toss it into the air, good riddance.

I sift through the crowd, finding Tanner in the graduates and scan the audience for fire orange hair. I spot Ryan and wave. She smiles and pushes past the people to get to Tanner and I. "We can now, officially, move to Canada!" I yell.

The three of us laugh and move through the sea of people. "Let's go to Allstar's wings!" Tanner smiles. We rush to the parking lot and get in the car.

"We haven't been there in forever." I sigh, thinking about the night of the Panic! concert. That was the best night of my life, how did it all go sour so quickly?