Its 1953... n.h.

Chapter 5

Graduation day- The day every high-school student hopes and reams about until their face is blue. No matter how smart, how rich or how old you are, graduation is the day nobody can wait for. All anyone wants from graduation is out, it's their ticket out of the hell they have been trapped in for 12 years.

As the ceremony ends, I look around and see Marilyn and Betsy off to my right and I see Zayn a few rows in front of me and Harry to my right, seeing at I am "Sta", and he is "Sty".

Niall told me a few days before that he was not walking because he wasn't "about to do that shit." Louis didn't walk because Niall didn't, Liam didn't walk because he was leaving for boot camp then Korea in late July, he didn't make it to his second semester.

I try to scratch my head under my cap and miss the cue to stand up, Harry nudges me with a honey finger since he is too tall to nudge me with an elbow. I jolt up and hear the valedictorian say to turn our tassels and I do so quickly, I would say faster than the rest of the class and we begin to cheer.

Some of us toss our caps into the air, some cry tears of joy and some simply clap. I hug Harry, then anybody else who is willing to hug me. I am thrilled and over joyed that I am out of that hell hole and definitely do not need to return.

My father comes up along with my brother a few minutes later and I inform him I will be going out with the girls tonight, a lie.

"You can go after we go to dinner alright? My daughter just graduated you know," my dad says and pulls me into a bear hug, a scene that is in no way common with my father.

"Thanks dad," I muster and pull myself away and give my brother a genuine hug. He kisses the top of my head and pats my back.

>>>

Later that evening I am sitting around the Flame with Niall and his friends eating burgers and fries and me drinking a milkshake, of course.

"The world is our clam my friend," Harry says slapping Zayn's back and taking a gigantic bite of his burger.

"You mean oyster," Zayn corrects and rubs his temple, "how on Earth did you graduate?"

"His teachers just passed him along, stupid, just like the rest of us," Louis shrugs and crumbles up a napkin.

"And thank God for that," Liam smiles at the group and takes a large gulp of Coke.

"What are our plans, boys? Getting girls tonight and every night for the rest of our natural born lives?" Louis asks with a grin and rubbing his hands together almost menacingly.

"No thanks," Niall says and nudges his empty food basket away form himself.

"That's right because you have a girl," Louis laughs and nudges Niall with a grin still.

"Cut it, Lou," Niall says tiredly.

"You still want to get famous?" Liam asks sincerely.

"I guess," Niall looks at me sideways and shifts awkwardly in his seat.

"What about you, Beth, you want to be on television too?" Louis asks almost sarcastically.

"She's going to college," Niall defends me and I bite my lower lip.

"What for?" asks Zayn with an arched eyebrow.

"My dad is making me, trust me if I had an option I wouldn't be going."

"What would you be doing then?"

"Beauty school to get my license," I respond proudly. They all nod and look at me.

"You're beautiful enough," Harry says with a cocky smile. I giggle but Niall shoots him a death glare so he stops.

"You should just drop out and do whatever you want, Beth," says Liam who leans forward and begins to whisper, "if you'll excuse my language, fuck your dad and do whatever."

"Watch your mouth," Niall corrects harshly. Liam purses his lips and leans back I the seat and taps his fingers on the table top.

"I wish I could, but he's just so over bearing."

"So what? Just do it, go to beauty school," Harry shrubs and finishes the last of his french fries.

"I think she should stay in college," Niall looks at me but continues to talk like he isn't, "it'd would open more doors."

"Since when do you care about doors anyway?" Zayn asks rolling his eyes. He sighs then looks at me, "look, just tell him college isn't what your interested in."

"Look, Zayn, you don't know my dad," I start to explain but he shakes his hand to stop me.

"I do, my parents were that way until I told them I don't want to go to college, I mean working for Walt Disney would get me farther than college would."

"You draw?"

"All the time, I'd love to end up a cartoonist for Disney, but I wouldn't be trying if I hadn't told my parents I wasn't interested in being a doctor," Zayn explains and it really rings a bell. I sit back and think about what he has just said. Of course some of the other guys continue the conversation but now I'm lost in my own world.

That's exactly what I'm going to do. I'm going to tell my dad.

>>>

On the way home, Niall strikes up a conversation.

"So are you going to do what Zayn says?" he asks slowly.

"At dinner tomorrow," I nod and food my hands in my lap.

"I really think you should go to college," he shakes his head and watches the road.

"Are you Niall or my father?"

"I'm concerned," Niall answers sternly. "Yeah it worked for Zayn, but I really think you should at least give college a try."

"Niall, I am telling my father."

"Go ahead, I'm just letting you know I don't approve."

"Good for you, but you don't tell me what to do. We aren't steady or married and nor are you my father."

"I just want you to know my side."

"Well now that I do I just might prefer your friends opinion over yours," I raise my voice in amber. We pull up to my house and as my hand pulls at the cold metal of the handle, Niall mum les something, "what did you say?"

"Nothing, Elizabeth," he throws his right wrist over the steering wheel, shielding himself from me, and looks out the window on his left.

"Oh, I'm Elizabeth now," I put my left fist on my hip and wait for him to repeat what he said. When he doesn't, I huff loudly and begin to exit the car. I get one foot out when he speaks.

"I'd said I'd thought I loved you," Niall yells. Of course I am stopped in my tracks, I slide back onto the seat and look at him, "but I guess not."

"Niall," I begin but he cuts me off by shaking his head roughly.

"I said I guess not," he begins to shift into gear, his foot on the break and clutch, "I'll see you around then."

I open my mouth to speak but my breath catches in my throat and I end up exiting the car and watching Niall speed off.

"I thought I'd loved you too," i say to the empty night and the breeze on my cheeks.