Unveiling Nautilus

Chapter 2- Graduation

When we arrive at the auditorium where graduation is being held, we are separated and I am forced to sit with my fellow graduates. All of whom are dressed in their best, with hair perfect, and makeup on.

Since my name is rather early in the alphabet I'm in the second row right in front of the podium waiting for the Education Director Mrs. VanZandt to make her speech about what we will do with our lives and for the people who live on our ship. While everyone waits the graduates are busily and eagerly talking to each other about what career they are choosing.

I'm a bit of a people watcher. I enjoy watching the craziness around me, and just enjoy the fact that I'm not involved. I must be very mature for my age, because it seems that most people my age have some sort of public drama going on. So entertainment was something I was never short of in school.

Gloria and June are best friends since they were just babies learning the alphabet, and of course I am the one forced to sit next to them listening to their cheesy conversation.

"Oh Gloria," June says. "are you sure you don't want to be a hairdresser like me? We could be together all day everyday."

"Oh June, I wish I could," Gloria says, "but my parents are making me be a teacher."

"I'm going to miss you." one says

"I'll miss you too." Tears... more tears... hugging with tears...

"We'll still be friends, we'll make time for each other. We'll be friends forever, even when we're old and gray." Tears... more tears... Eye roll.

At this point I just block out anything they're saying. Realistically no one will still be friends after this, unless they are in the same career path. There isn't a lot of time after work to visit and socialize. Most of the time people have friends within their professions. I'll give their friendship 6 months tops.

Throughout my schooling I haven't had a lot of close friends. Elaine and I are pretty good friends. We study together and do group work when we need to, but I haven't really been interested in making friends. My family are the people that I care most about. I focus a lot on my studies, and most of the student population hated me because I look different or wanted to be with me for the same reason. Like I said I do my best to stay out of their little drama's, but occasionally they try to throw me in.

Last year I was sitting in math minding my own business and working on practice questions that were assigned to us, when Aiden Jacobson decided he needed help with his math work and it was me that he wanted help from.

"Hi Laney, I was wondering if you could help me figure out how to solve these equations." Aiden said trying to what, bat his eyelashes at me. I mean he's cute, but that boy has way to many girl problems. I guess he thought the only way I'd agree to help is if I thought he was interested.

Not being the kind of student who refuses to help, plus it makes your teachers really admire you more when you agree to help their struggling students. Yeah I'm a bit of a teachers pet, so what, you never know when you're going to need a teachers recommendation. I, of course said yes to Aiden. He stood there most of the class period as I walked him through several problems.

Well needless to say his new girlfriend Hannah Humble didn't appreciate me trying to help her mathematically challenged boyfriend. "Laney! You better stay away from Aiden! He's mine, so keep away from him you blonde haired freak." I just stared at her while she continued to yell at me. Finally I had enough, "you better tell your boy to stay away from me, because he was the one flirting with me not the other way around. We all know Aiden doesn't stay with anyone longer then 2 weeks. He changes girls like he changes his underwear, and guess what honey, you're just another pair." Her face turned so red you could practically see steam coming out her ears. I just turned around and walked off. Noticing a very red Aiden not to far down the hall I know he heard every word I had said.