A Different Kind of Education

Chapter Thirty - One : Graduation

"Candice Jimenez." The uproar of hoots, hollers, and claps consume my ears.

I smile so wide my jaw hurts as I walk confidently down the center isle up to the podium where my beloved diploma awaits. Today is the day that has been motivating me to make it through the school year. To make it even better I am confidently walking down this isle having made it through high school with straight A's. Both of my parents were extremely proud, and slightly shocked at my level of success. All of my peers happily cheer for me just like we had all been doing for each other for the past hour. I took to my right and see the mass known as my family appearing flawless and collected by clapping in a muted fashion. Rebelling against our school's composed aura, I throw my fist up in the air with my diploma and yell out a deafening 'Hell yeah!'

For the rest of the ceremony I'm kicked out of and forced to sit in the mess hall being scolded by one of the teachers. The whole time I just laugh and play on my phone, which makes her threaten to take my diploma away but it only makes me laugh harder. Not only have I safely tucked my diploma in my pocket I had sown into my gown already, but I'm well aware my parents could buy my school's cooperation - even if it pissed them off. When the ceremony ends the teacher reluctantly lets me leave the mess hall to see my family. I see my mother staring at me with the look of irritation I know so well and I can tell that she is fuming about my behavior. Thankfully we have witnesses so she keeps her mouth shut and act as if she was ecstatic that I have graduated, I am grateful that my family isn't keen on intimacy because, well, we are that stereotypical rich family, therefore our 'let's congratulate Candy' time is very brief.

"Alright sweetheart," My mother says fakely, "The family has to head home so I'll meet you at the house tonight."

"Tonight I'm going out with Clara to celebrate and staying at her place so I wont be home until tomorrow." I contradict her and the look she gives me makes me want to laugh. By now my mother has learned that celebrating and staying at Clara's house meant partying all night.

"Okay honey have fun!" She encourages me with a fake smile and tone.

"Thanks mom!" I holler back as I walk away to where I know Clara's car is parked. Her family is nothing like mine so I take my time on the way to the reserve student parking, making pit stops along the way. Some kids I have either partied with or sat through boring classes with, took pictures with me and we gave each other best wishes. All around there are multiple people from my graduating class sobbing because of the fact that the majority of us will never meet again, until maybe our twenty year reunion. Unlike them I'm not sad or remorseful about it all. Maybe it's because I know this is all apart of like and that those who matter to me will always be here.

By the time I'm able to make my escape from everyone, a good 30 minutes have passed and Clara has sent me a text to let me know she's ready to go. I strip down to my lace summer dress as I practically run to her car, overly excited about getting away from this hell hole. My grin is so large it's painful when I buckle myself into Clara's beautiful sports car.

"You ready for this?" She asks, looking at me.

I consider her question for a moment. Am I ready for this? What even is this?

"Yeah. I think I am." I tell her confidently, though I don't have a damn clue what this means.

"Great. Now let's go conquer this one last party and start our summer of mischief and wonder."

"Sounds perfect to me. But first, let's stop for some food because I'm starving."

"Same here."

****

An hour later she and I are binge watching Grey's Anatomy and eating Chick fil A like ravenous animals. We still have a good hour or so before the pool party our class has worked together to make happen and since it is just a pool party where Clara and I actually planned to swim at, the two of us plan to waste time being cozy.