Aphrodite // H.S. (Mature)

XXIV

I've been hiding out at Lucas' house ever since the Joan incident. Harry's been trying to get ahold of me but I've been ignoring him again. Does he actually think I would hit her unless she did something to me first? I'm not even violent I just hope that if I ever needed to fight I'd be able to. Plus I know we were there for work, I wouldn't ever mess around and do something that could hurt his job. I didn't approach Joan, I didn't search for her to start a fight. I can't believe he took her side over mine.

"Joan's a fuckin bitch. And shes crazy." Lucas said as we were walking home from school. "Tell me about it." I reply. "What if she actually is though, you know? There's no way someone not crazy would do all that shit and not feel embarrassed or anything." He says. "True, she probably is." It'd make sense why she just wouldn't give up. I don't know I'm just so over her.

"Aren't you excited though?!" Lucas asks. "About what?" I look up at him. "The last day of school!" He practically yells. "I've been ready for this day since freshman year." I tell him. "You and me both." He says. "Goodbye shitty small town, hello big city." He sighs. "Not quite yet, we still got a couple months." I laugh. "I need out of this place! I'm going Joan!" He yells. "Same here my friend." I pat his back and pull out my camera to take a few pictures of his 'going Joan' face.

"While you have that out you might as well take a new pic for the gram." He says and looks stoically at my lens.
...

Finally the last day of school has come and I'm no longer a prisoner. All I have to do is walk across the stage at graduation and I'm 100% done. As of today though I'm only 99% done. It's crazy to think that this year has gone by so quickly. Glad though because I honesty don't think I could take another week here.

"You got all your stuff from your locker and whatever?" Lauren asks. "Yup, I took it all home about a week ago." I say. "Me too." She laughs. "You know, as happy as I am to be leaving this place it's not gonna be the same without you." She says wrapping an arm around my shoulder. "Sure we've grown apart a little but we're getting older, it happens. Doesn't mean you're not my best friend anymore." Lauren says sounding close to crying. "You'll be off in Chicago and I'm going to New York. Oh wait, did I tell you? I got accepted into NYU, crazy right?" I gasp and look at her teary eyes. "You're going to NYU!?" I exclaim. "I am!" She cries happily and then hugged me. "Oh my god congratulations! I'm so happy for you!" I come close to crying but I've always told myself, when I'd see seniors crying on the last day of school that I wouldn't be one of them because I was so happy to be getting out of here.

"Thank you." She cries into my shoulder even harder making me start to cry. "You're making me cry." I laugh as I feel the tears start to fall. We embrace a little bit longer and then pull away.

"Where has the time gone?" She asks. "I'm wondering the same thing." I tell her. "We'll have to make plans to visit each other." She says. "Definitely. When you're all set up in New York and know where all the cool restaurants and clubs are I can come visit."

"And when I can make it out to Chicago you'll have to show me that bean thing. I know how much you've been wanting to take pictures of it." She says as I nod my head trying not to cry.

"Well.. I should get going, last class of the day." She laughs while wiping her eyes. "Me too.. I'll talk to you later." I start walking away wiping my own eyes hoping they didn't get too puffy and red.

As I walk down the hall wiping my eyes I notice a few younger classmates staring at me like I'm 'Joan' for crying on the last day. I'm not crying because I'm sad to go because trust me I'm not but as much as Lauren did always seem to get on my nerves, I'm really going to miss seeing her all the time.
...

"Sucks to be you! I'm done bitches! Wooooo!" Lucas screams at underclassmen as we walk down the halls for the last time. Taking it all in feels so bittersweet, more sweet than bitter. Just as we walk out the doors I get a call from Harry so I ignore it. As we're walking I see a familiar Range Rover parked in the student parking lot. What is he thinking!?