Life is the Long Game

Chapter 69

Riley's POV:

I wake up with a hangover, as expected, and also Lucas's naked body wrapped around mine. I smile as the memories of last night flood my brain, and look down in admiration at my fiancé who is still sleeping peacefully. I glance over at the clock, it's 11:20. Fuck. Graduation is at 3:30.
"Lucas. Baby, we've gotta get up." I whisper, placing kisses all over his face.
"Last night was so good." He replies.
"Get up now and we can have a repeat tonight. And I'll give you a preview in the shower." I tease him.
"I'm up." He jolts up and I go and turn the shower on.
"We graduate today." Lucas says, coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist.
"I know. And people said we wouldn't do it as parents."
"But Riles, here we are. Graduation, with our beautiful daughter." I put my hand in the water to find it is the right temperature, and step in.
"You coming in or what?" I ask Lucas and he jumps in.
"I love you Riley, so much." He says to me out of the blue as I shampoo his hair.
"I love you too Lucas." I reply and we continue to shower each other. When we get out, we both put on some sweats and make some brunch, as it's too late for breakfast but too early for lunch. After, I go back to our room and get ready for graduation, with Lucas.
"So we aren't picking Ams up till tomorrow?" Lucas asks.
"Correct. Missing her?"
"Every moment I'm not with her I miss her Riles."
"Me too babe."
"So, I'm ready so I'm gonna text Josh to see if he wants to come over. I'll be in the living room if you need me." Lucas explains.
"Okay." I reply simply and he heads out of our room, and then I remember that Josh isn't actually graduating with us, I forget he's older than us so often now, with the amount of time we all spend together. Then, my phone buzzes distracting me from my thoughts. It's a text from Maya: Seeing as Boing is with Huckleberry, wanna finish getting ready round mine? 💕xo

I think for a moment, and reply:

Sure peaches, I've still got my makeup to do, be there in a minute. xo 😘
I pack up my makeup, and pick up my shoes and graduation robes and walk through to the living room.
"Hey Uncle Josh!" I say when I see him on the couch with Lucas.
"Riley, hey!"
"I'm gonna go over to Maya. Let me know if you need me." I explain and walk across the hall.
"Peaches! I'm here." I announce waltzing into her bedroom.
"Ready to graduate?"
"Mentally? Yes. Physically? No, I need to put some makeup on first." I joke and hug her.
"Did you ever think we'd end up here?" Maya asks.
"Yeah, I've always had hope. You?"
"Not completely, I still think I'm dreaming this life; graduation, Shawn, Josh, NYU. All of it, it's my dream."
"Well believe it sister, and the best thing? We're still best friends, they said we'd drift apart, but I think we're closer than ever." I tell her.
"I love you Riles."
"I love you Maya." We finish up our cute little moment and then complete getting ready.
"Hey Riles?" Maya asks.
"Yeah?" I reply.
"Still got Ring Power?" She looks up from adjusting her cap and gown, I happen to be doing the same thing.
"Thunder?"
"Lightening. Now let's go graduate!" She grabs my hand and we march over to my apartment to collect the boys.
"Okay we're ready!" I say and we leave.
When we get to school, Uncle Josh kisses Maya goodbye and goes off to find mom and Auggie and everyone, and we take our places along with Farkle and Enid.
One by one, my dad calls out the names of the senior year and we walk down to collect our diplomas and move our tassels from one side to the other. Out of our group, Lucas goes first, then Maya, me, Farkle and finally Enid. It is then time for Farkle's valedictorian speech, where he explains how he used to be embarrassed by his name but has learnt to embrace it, as has everyone in our year learnt to embrace their flaws and insecurities and how we've all suffered loss, he brings Zay and Isodora up in this part and he explains at how he is very grateful for his friends. By the end of it, Maya, Enid and I are all crying.
"Your senior class of 2019." My father says proudly and we all rise. "Congratulations, you have all graduated. I just have one final lesson however which was given to me as my final lesson in school by a very wise man; Dream. Try. Do Good. I love you all." He says, emotionally and we all cheer, and make our way off stage.
"Riley, I'm so proud of you!" My mom hugs me tightly.
"Thanks mom." I simply reply, and continue to hug and be hugged by people, congratulating and being congratulated and take what feels like hundreds of photos for about an hour.
"Riles, you ready to leave now?" Lucas asks me, holding my hand.
"Yeah, I am." I answer confidently and take one last look at the school building before we walk away, also holding hands with Maya and Farkle, our heads held high and my fathers words taken from Mr Feeny's, still ringing in our brains.
Dream. Try. Do Good.