Lucky Number Seven: A Roc Royal Story

Chapter 18: Graduating

-Chresanto's POV-

"Chres come on." I turned over. "Chres." I grumbled. She started pulling my arm and I just sat up. "Do you know what time it is?" she nagged. "Yo, Camryn can you just get out of my face right now?." She did a double take. "Oh really? That's what you want?" she said, getting off the bed. I rolled my eyes and walked to the bathroom hearing her mumbling behind me. I started freshening up.

It's June 8. We graduate today. Is this real? It seems like just yesterday when I found out who she was, when I kissed her for the first time, when I made her mine. And now we're already at the end of the road. I splashed hot water onto my face. Still couldn't make up in my mind what was the best thing to do. Camryn had slept over the past two days. Said it was just because, but she knows that I leave in 2 weeks for training camp. Our clock was really ticking.

After I got out of a long, stressful shower, I wrapped a towel around my waist and went back into my bedroom to see Camryn sitting on the bed staring blankly at the wall. She must be thinking as hard as I am. I tackled her and covered her with kisses. "I'm sorry baby." I mumbled, pulling her to face me. "I was just tired." "Whatever." She said holding back a smile. I started pecking her around her neck. "Ok ok ok!" she giggled. "Oh aite. Come on let's get ready." 

-1 Hour Later-

I opened the car door for Camryn and then hopped in the driver's seat. What was really sucking lately was the big ass elephant in the room. Every room. But right now it was the elephant in the car. We endured a silent ride to the convention center we were graduating out of. As I parked the car, I took a deep breath and got prepared to go out on a limb.

"Cam?" I looked over nervously. "Yes?" She said just as anxiously, gazing into my eyes with question. "Can I..talk to you real quick?" "Yea. Of course." She adverted her eyes for a minute. 

"Look. I'm so in love with you. I've never had someone in my life like you. You were the first person who made me feel like I could really be who I was. Like be myself. I always felt like people put me in a box, and counted me out before I even had a chance. I felt like I had to act a certain way to fit into people's expectations. Ever since I lost my sister I've felt more alone than ever. I was only 14. I wasn't ready to lose someone I was so close to like that. Even with Cayla, I was just never right. You...you're what I need. You calm me down. You make everything so much better, and I've fucked up so many times. I-I don't wanna lose you Camryn. When I look at you...I know without a doubt that..." I looked down. I can't believe I'm actually scared right now. I looked up at her. She said nothing, just continued to wait. "I...I wanna be with you forever. I don't see any other way I wanna go through life and...I don't know whats gonna happen next year. But I wanna be with you. Nothing is gonna change that. So...if that's ok with you...I want to stay together."

We looked at each other in silence. She slowly formed a smile. I exhaled in relief. "I love you Chresanto. You got me." I leaned into kiss her. As soon as our lips touched, I heard a knock on my window. I looked out to see my mom. "Ya'll better get inside and graduate!" she yelled. I closed my eyes in embarrassment. "We coming ma." I laughed as we got out of the car and walked in together with my mom. 

-Camryn's POV-

As I finished the last words of my speech I looked back at Alicia. She winked at me with tears in her eyes. My speech was the last formality on the program before the big event. We were finally about to graduate. I returned to my seat feeling super emotional. They begin calling off names, and when they called Chresanto August I jumped up into the air. They announced how he would be attending Arizona University on a full basketball scholarship. I saw his mom screaming in the crowd and a man beside her who looked freakishly like Chres beside her...could that be...his dad?

Damn I think it is! This would be interesting. I had heard nothing but terrible things about him from Chres and I know that with their current relationship he did NOT invite him. Yikes. I focused back on the ceremony. Only screaming occasionally for Myles and Alicia. When it was time for me and Cayla to walk across the stage I heard my dad's voice booming loud and clear. I can't believe it. I finally graduated. I'm out!

-45 minutes later-

My cheeks hurt from all the photos I had to pose for between Alicia's parents, my dad, and Chresanto's mom. We were all outside figuring out what were our next plans for the day-Me, Cayla, Alicia, Myles, Chresanto, and all of our parents, when the man that seemed to be Chresanto's father walked up to the circle. Immediately, tension spread without everyone even knowing the situation. I grabbed Chresanto's hand, trying to keep him  calm. "How's everyone doing?" He said easily. Alicia's dad spoke up, breaking the silence. "I'm good...I don't think we've met?" Asking the question I'm pretty sure we all wanted to know.

"Oh." he chuckled, running his hands along the scruffy stubble on his cheeks. "I'm the basketball star's father." He grinned at Chres. Chres turned his head away to not look at him. "Can I talk to you?" His dad said. "Come on now Jonathan. Please don't do this right now" Chres's mom spoke up, looking sad. "What I don't have a right to speak to my own damn son?" he snapped at her, slightly raising his voice. "You really don't actually." She retorted, mugging him. He sighed, putting his hands up. "Look, I just want to talk to my boy. He just graduated high school." His hand tightened around mine. Somebody had to do something to end this situation. I started to just back away, pulling Chres along. Once we had fully turned around I heard, "And who the fuck is this that she can pull MY son away from ME?" In an instant Chresanto had separated from me and lunged towards him. "SHUT THE FUCK UP! SHUT THE FUCK UP." He yelled closing his hands around his  dad's neck. "YOU HAVE TO JUST RUIN EVERYTHING DON'T YOU." His voice cracked as Myles and his mother tried to pull him away. I could hear the tears in his voice. Everyone around was looking at us now. They pushed Chresanto into me. "Just go. Take him away," his mom begged me as I grabbed his hand. I simply nodded and began pulling him away. 

As we walked silently(other than an occasional sniffle from him) to the parking lot, he kept his head down. My heart hurt so bad for him. I took his keys and got in the driver's seat. "Stop Camryn. I can drive." "It's ok. I'll drive." "I said I'll fucking drive Camryn give me the fucking keys." He said quietly. I sighed. "Fine." I got out of the car and went to the passenger's seat. He pulled off quietly. I opened a text from my dad. "You can take him to our house. I don't think we're going to be back for a while." I locked my phone. 

"Can we go to my house?" I asked quietly. I didn't want to make him any angrier than he already was. He nodded.

We arrived at my house and he immediately collapsed on my bed. I sighed. I didn't know what to do. I laid down next to him. 

"It's my graduation. I'm supposed to remember this shit for the rest of my life." He said into the pillow. I rested my hand on his back? "This what I'm supposed to remember?" I sighed. "I'm sorry, Chres."