High school is like a big game of would you rather, Brendon Urie has come to realize. It's one thing or the other and most of the time your options are so shitty you could rip your hair out. So when Brendon comes to terms with his inevitable popular...
"I'm impressed with your finals grades, Mr. Urie. The next step is graduation." The guidance counselor smiles happily, extending a hand to me. "And with that, I'll end our final check in. It's been a pleasure." I shake his hand and nod.
"Thank you, sir." Since my encounter with James I've realized something about myself and something about Ryan. It's becoming easier to say his name now, for one thing.
After leaving the club that night, I understood that Ryan remains to be the best thing that had happened to me and his leaving shouldn't change that. So, I straightened out. Picked up my grades and started going out with everyone again.
It makes it easier, surprisingly. Even when someone says his name, I don't even flinch anymore. That's a new update. I simply smile and reminisce with everyone else.
They miss him too. Not as much as me, but they miss him.
Graduation is tomorrow, and since he left, I haven't been able to feel happy about anything, but I'm proud of this. I'm finally getting out of here.
When I leave the office, I see Eden leaning against the wall across from the threshold. She looks at me with question in her eyes. I give her two thumbs up and she lets out a loud squeal, running into my arms.
"Congratulations, B!" The girl kisses my cheek, grinning at me. "I'm so proud of you."
"I'm pretty damn proud of myself. Thanks for kicking my ass into gear." Spencer Smith appears in our space randomly like usual. They're another update. The love birds.
"Yeah, Bren. You know, Edes and I were thinking that maybe as a graduation gift we'd go to France. Maybe see Ry." Spencer says his name like it's nothing and the statement is even more casual. As if he wasn't suggesting that I see the boy I love after it's been over half a year. After I broke his heart...
"No... I couldn't do that Spence. You know that. That's his home, I don't belong there." I shake my head quickly. "I couldn't intrude on him like that."
"I don't think it'd be like that, but we can't force you to do anything. All we're saying is consider it." Spencer wraps his arm around Eden's shoulder and kisses her cheek. If one good thing could've come from this hell hole, it'd be them. We all knew they were meant to be. Now that they're together, the world just seems right.
"Yeah, B." She pauses for a moment before looking at Spencer knowingly. I try not to be bothered too much by the act. "Anyway, off to lunch?" We all agree and go to the cafeteria. The final time we'll eat here. I can't wait.
***
"Oh, honey..." My mom looks at me with teary eyes. "I'm so proud of you!" The woman throws her arms around me and I hold her weight. I see my father over her shoulder. He shakes his head as if he's embarrassed of Mom. Well, fuck him.
"Let's go Grace, the other kids will be waiting at the school for us." Being the youngest of the bunch, I was always Mom's favorite and Father's most resented. I kept him from traveling the country with Mom. As if she'd want to be a mobile bible distributor. Everyone knows that no one likes those guys.
"Okay, okay. I just can't believe my last baby is graduating today." She wipes her cheeks, but then squeezes me tight again. "I just love you so much, honey."
"I love you too, Mom. We're gonna be late though." I laugh and this is enough to urge her towards the door. We end up at the high school ten minutes later and I give my mom one last hug before finding my class. I find Spencer first and we immediately hug each other tightly.
"I can't believe this is it." He says.
"I know, man."
Eden finds us next and she's running towards us, squealing. Even in the unflattering gown, she manages to be the most beautiful girl here. Spencer seems to realizes this too as he watches her so adoringly when she approaches us. She gives each of us a quick hug before focusing on me, eyes bright and full of excitement . "B, I have the best graduation gift for you!"
"Wha-" Before I can finish my sentence, the guidance counselors are ushering us towards the doors for our procession onto the stage. My chest is thrumming with excitement as well as nervousness. After this, I'm going to have to start making my adult life a reality.
I take my seat next to my fellow classmates that have 'U's for last names and I breath in and out. This is it.
Searching for my family in the crowd, I find my father and then my siblings. Next is my mother and then Ryan.
Wait.
My previously excited heart stops. He's here.
I must be imagining this.
"Eden!" I whisper as loud as I can without being disruptive. She responds to her name and just waves at me. "Ryan is here!"
"I know!" Then this crazy girl claps, before focusing her attention on the crowd. She knows?! I focus my eyes on Him again, trying to process this. But God, I can't think of anything. He looks so incredible. He's wearing a suit! This is too much at once, honestly.
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When I push my brain hard enough, I decide though the speeches and name calling that Eden planned this. She and Spencer were probably in cahoots. Shit, what am I going to say to him. I was so caught up in my thoughts that I almost miss them calling my name.
Snapping out of it, I walk up to the superintendent and shake her hand as she hands me my diploma. But I look at Ryan again; how could I help myself? I almost regret it though...
He's smiling at me. I feel like the winds been knocked out of me.
He's smiling at me all shinny white teeth and beautiful sparkling eyes. Like he's looking at his one true love.
