Forever Roses {Harry Styles AU}

[Part 2] Chapter 8: Secondary School Graduation

Chapter 8: Secondary School Graduation – July 15, 2012

Eight months.

It’s been eight months since I asked out April, and it’s been eight months that she’s acted like it was no big deal.

It was a big deal to me.

Our friendship wasn’t ruined because April was just like, emotionally unable to cut off our friendship because I had “little” feelings for her. She’s not that type of person. When I got home that afternoon, I went straight to my room and cried – nobody was home as it was about one o’clock, so it worked out for me that I got to be by myself. I mean, I had been practically obsessing over this girl, became really good friends with her, and finally found courage to ask somebody out, and I had screw it up by forgetting about her feelings and her situation.

No wonder she said no, anyway.

April didn’t make a fiasco over it. I mean, she must’ve told Caitlin and Emma, and I told Graham, but no one else ever mentioned it to me. In fact, none of the people I just listed mentioned it to me. It was probably part of April’s master plan to make it look like it was nothing and that we can all go on being friends like we were before.

And I’m okay.

I didn’t try again because think about it: first time gathering the balls to ask out a girl, and it fails. You’re not really the first to volunteer to ask out another girl, or the same girl again, now are you? No, you are most certainly not.

This way, anyway, maybe April just thought I wasn’t into her anymore.

It might work out for the better.

For her.

Because I’m definitely still not better.

I’m definitely still severely fancying her, that’s for sure.

And Graham can definitely tell, especially right now when I’m thinking all of these things while absentmindedly staring at April who’s completely obliviously positively adorable.

“Mate, you need to get over her,” Graham tells me, nudging me and getting me out of my April Trance.

“It’s not as easy as you think,” I reply.

Graham shrugs. “There are plenty of fish in the sea.”

“But I like this fish.”

He rolls his eyes. “Just find another girl. Caitlin looked like she was crushing on you awhile back.”

I twitch in surprise. “What?”

“I dunno,” Graham says, sitting down beside me on the bench. We’re outside of the building where graduation is being held, and there are people wandering all around us to congratulate graduates and all that while we die of both heat and embarrassment in our ridiculous gowns. “It just kind of seemed that way. I mean, she just seemed to dig you is all.”

“That I did not foresee.”

“I could be wrong. But my point is, there are other girls who would be willing to hook up with you. Don’t just have eyes for only one girl, Harry.”

“I guess you’re right,” I trail off, unconvinced. I know that what he’s saying is true, but I just can’t let her go.

“Yeah, sure.” Graham sees right through me.

And if Graham can, April probably can too….

“Just get over her,” Graham adds as his final word before leaving me sitting by myself.

Three hours later, I’m done with secondary school and running out the door back into the hot, flaring sun. Families are crowded all around, so I try to pick out mine. Instead, I spot April’s.

Why is everything in my life always about April? Like, I can’t even try to get over her because it will follow me around EVERYWHERE.

“Hey, little brother,” Gemma greets me – and also scaring me – from behind. “Congratulations! You’re now as qualified as me.”

“Whatever,” I say, hugging her. My mum and stepdad come up in the meantime and join the group hug.

In the midst of it, I catch April’s eye. She smiles from her family’s circle and motions to me. I totally forgot! On graduation day, we find out where everybody else is going to school!

“Listen, I’m going to go chat to some of my friends.” I break away from my family. “See you later.”

My mum looks at me with such a wide smile, but she’s crying at the same time. Happy tears, I guess? But I give her an extra hug anyway before running off.

“Sheffield Hallam University, just like Gemma!” I announce excitedly, practically bouncing up and down.

“Me too!” April practically screams. It isn’t unusual though; kids all around us are doing the exact same thing.

Graham runs up, panting like he’s spent so long looking for us. “Birmingham!” he booms.

We both shake our heads and have sympathetic faces, but apparently Graham doesn’t much mind that we aren’t going there. He’s incredibly friendly anyway, so I have no doubt that he won’t have any trouble there even if nobody else he’s remotely friends with is going.

Next, we run around until we find Emma and Caitlin.

“Edinburgh?” Emma asks hopefully.

When we shake our heads, Emma turns around and jogs off to find an Edinburgh buddy.

“Sheffield?” Caitlin questions.

“Yes!” I reply like I’m the happiest person in the universe.

“Yes!” April says right after I do.

All three of us are like hyper three-year-olds, bouncing around like this is the best day of our life.

And actually, so far it is.

I turn my face to look at April’s. She’s laughing so happily with rosy, cute cheeks like it’s the best day of her life too. She’s so beautiful. So perfect. She’s not mine – but I still have even more hope that we’ll have a chance, now that we’re going to be in the same place for the next few years.

My heart, who’s been pathetically trying to jump up and catch flight for the past eight months, finally found a pair of wings to at least take it a little further. Just a little.

~.~

A/N: 

*NOT EDITED because I still suck? Idk I usually edit right before I post but I'm really too busy*

This is the first chapter of part 2! WE ARE LIKE HALFWAY THROUGH THE STORY MAN. And since Harry doesn't have a graduation picture I just used the one of him at Gemma's to the side haha xD

Me gusta feedback. Feedback por favor? -Stephanie.:)