Sex Lessons |z.h.|

41

One year later...

"I can't do it," Niall sighed, leaning against the door frame as he watched the large mob of parents and classmates take up all of the seats in the auditorium. 

"Stop acting like a child. You just have to give out one speech as the President of the Anti Bullying Association. A mini-speech." Harry's slow English voice encourage, making Niall groan before pushing his head in his hands. It was a big day for all of the 12th year students. They were officially going to graduate but for Niall, it was much more than that. Today signified an end to his old life, the shit he had been through and everything else. It signified that he had successfully survived high school despite all the frowns and comments thrown his way. 

"Is he here yet?" Niall whispered suddenly, lifting his head up so his blue eyes could stare directly at Harry.  Over the year, Harry had definitely changed himself. He had gotten a hair cut, getting rid of his long brunette hair and had become more expressive about his sexuality.  Not that he wasn't so earlier but now he just oozed out confidence while doing so. Niall, on the other hand, had changed a lot either. Over the course of 365 days, he had joined the Anti-Bullying Association channeled within the school premises, taking part in spreading awareness about how bullying affects a person and scars them for life. Not only that but he had become a lot more stronger, holding his own place and voicing out his own thoughts, without depending on anyone else to do so. 

"I don't see him but he must be out there somewhere. Don't worry. He isn't going to miss your graduation for anything else in the world." Harry consoled, adjusting his black robe carefully before nudging Niall by the shoulder. "You're on in ten minutes. Straighten yourself up." The brunette whispered, winking encouragingly at the blonde before plopping down the steps and taking his place with the rest of the students by the allotted chairs. He waved at Niall, trying to pass on some sort of positive energy to the blonde just so he wouldn't feel too nervous about delivering a speech in front of a large crowd. The effort made Niall smile. 

Niall searched the crowd for the familiar face, frowning when he couldn't find it anywhere. He briefly heard a bunch of students passing his way and wishing him "All the best" but all he could do was nod and smile, his eyes trained towards the crowd of people. 

"...now I would like to call on stage our brilliant student who has been leading the campaign by Anti Bullying Association, in our school. Niall Horan, please come up on stage." Niall took a deep breath, shuddering in his place before taking a deep breath, plastering a tight smile on his face and walking up on the stage where the Principal stood smiling at him. The blonde smiled back,  reaching a hand forward to shake the Principal's hands before standing behind the podium. 

"Hello." Niall whispered, coughing a bit on the mic before straightening himself out. "This is nerve-wracking. I'm not a very efficient public speaker so please bare with me for a few minutes." the blonde tried smiling, his eyes flickering to the eager faces in the crowd.  Students in black robes looking excited to get the hell out of high school and start a fresh life. Parents who looks both proud and sad to see their kids growing up so quickly. Everything in one place and yet, Niall couldn't find the one face he was missing the most. 

"When I first started with school, I was scared shitless. It was so different from anything I had ever experienced. Everybody looks so mean, that I was scared to approach even a single person. I was quite an introvert, I still am. It was difficult for me to adjust. Just like it is for all of us. In high school, we don't see ourselves as individuals but we try to associate ourselves with a crowd. We've got the cheerleaders, the jocks, the wannabes, the nerds, etc. etc. But in this race of belonging somewhere, we end up losing our own selves. That happened with me. In trying to impress other people, I forgot my own existence and my own likes and dislikes didn't matter as long as other approved of whatever I did. It's funny how all our lives, we keep on telling others to be themselves but we don't ever apply this rule to ourselves. Tell me honestly, how many of you felt truly accepted during the years you spent in school?" He paused for effect, taking a deep breath before resuming. "My point, exactly. I know we had fun. We went crazy with the parties and the endless relationships, with bunking lessons and making fun of teacher - apologies for that by the way - but did we really learn anything other than the bookish knowledge? I feel that almost 8 out of every 10 student here doesn't know what it feels like to be genuinely free. So let's take this as a lesson, shall we? From the life we will start from now on, we won't live for other people or to match somebody's expectations but we'll be ourselves and we'll let others be expressive of themselves as well." Niall smiled.