Chasing Miss Conner •OLD VERSION•

Forty One

|Endlessly By Green River Ordinance|

Forty One

"Shay Daniels!"

A cheer went up through the crowd as I stood, startling me because I didn't know anyone really knew my name. My mom screamed like a banshee of course, I'd expected nothing less. I beamed at everyone but my sole focus was on the one person standing beside the principle on that stage that held my heart completely.

Her unwavering blue gaze was pinned on me with a wide smile accompanying it. My steps seemed to go on forever as I made my way up to her. It was hard to believe that I was just ten steps........then five steps away from my future.

My hand shook the principle's but I wasn't looking at him. I was looking at her and was again struck with how incredibly gorgeous she was. Her gorgeous hair flowed down her back and shoulders in rivers of gold and I wanted nothing more than to pull her into my arms and kiss her.

I could only settle for a hug for now, but I'd take what I could get. My body shivered in recognition as familiar arms wrapped around me. Her lips brushed the skin of my ear and she kissed it softly. "I'm so proud of you, mia bella."

Tears pricked at my eyes as I pulled away, hoping my gaze conveyed how much I loved her. She nodded, her own eyes twinkling with moisture. I departed the stage and was immediately engulfed in another embrace, her robe smelling faintly of smoke. "How's it feel to be free?" Genny asked once she'd set me down.

My eyes met her green ones and I smiled and shook my head, not really having any words at that moment. Words cannot begin to describe the true feeling of freedom. It builds and builds in your chest until you feel like you're going to explode.

The ceremony lasted for another two hours, and it was excruciating watching my Juliette shake hands and hug other students. More than once a cocky boy would make a pass at her ass as he went in for a hug and more than once did Genny and my mom have to practically hold me down to prevent me from pummeling them all.

She caught my gaze after a particularly close call and shook her head at me in amusement at my obvious expression of jealousy.

I just grinned back at her and shrugged sheepishly. She gave me such a smoldering look in return that I was sure my robe was going to melt off my body from the heat of it.

After was the dinner, and it went pretty great. Genny and her family had actually ended up coming which at first was extremely awkward since Genny's mom had had no idea that I was involved with my teacher, or that I was even bisexual. But sensing my nervousness Juliette grabbed my hand, watching Genny's mom the whole time, and placed it on the table, interlocking our fingers before she placed a featherlight kiss on the side of my cheek. Mom watched the whole time with a wide smile on her face. I'm not sure if it was the love in our eyes or the declaration of such love so openly, but either way it won Mrs. Meyers over.

Genny fake-gagged, and I suppose that did everyone in because we immediately erupted into laughter as her mother "Dinozzo" slapped her up side the back of the head. Genny rubbed the spot and stuck her tongue out at us as she grumbled under her breath about abusive parents.

After that, all the tension diffused and it was wonderful. We joked, ate, drank, and joked some more. But eventually reality had to set in. Genny was leaving, I was staying. The parking lot was cold as I had huddled into Juliette and her arms tightened around me as I cried into her shirt, reliving the last few moments with one of the best friends I've ever had as she walked away from me.