Five Smiles

Chapter 10: I Won't Miss You, I Will Miss You

Chapter 10

     One day.  Just one more day.  Graduation is finally here.  Noah couldn’t even explain his happiness.  Not that he really had anyone to explain it too...  He took his place in line.  Of course.  He had to be right in front of Nick.  He adjusted his graduation cap as he took a step forward.  Nick shoved him from the back causing him to bump into the person in front of him.

“Sorry,”  He whispered catching his balance again.  He scanned the crowd for his dad.  There he was.  He looked like he had gotten hit by a truck, but he was there none the less.  Brooklynn.  She was moving through the aisle taking the seat next to his dad.  She spotted him, made two okay signs with her hands, flipped them upside and press them against her face.  She mouthed raccoon.  Noah shook his head.  Always one for jokes.  

“Caitlin Tyler.”  The announcer called as the girl in front of him walked stepped onto the stage.  Noah glanced to see Brooklynn introducing herself to his dad.  What was she saying?  His mind wandered, making him not notice the announcer calling his name.

“Noah Valley.”  He felt a shove from behind him.  He stumbled onto the stage, a few laughs surfacing throughout the crowd.

“Raccoon!”  He looked to see Brooklynn standing.  He shook his head with a smile before walking to the middle of the stage to receive his diploma.  He noticed out of the corner of his eye Brooklynn snapping a picture.  

“Nick Walters.”  A giant roar erupted from the crowd.  As Noah exited the stage, Nick walked on, hands in the air working the crowd.  

    He did it.  He graduated.  Once he left this place, there was nothing that was going to make him come back.  As the end of the graduation ceremony finished, the class of 2012 threw their graduation caps in the air.  Noah didn’t bother.  First is was a rental, second he was too excited to see Brooklynn.  

“Raccoon!”  She shrieked running to give him a hug.  “You did great!”  

“Thanks,”  He answered avoiding the bustling crowd.  

“Good job.”  Noah’s dad nodded.  Brooklynn elbowed his side.  He cleared his throat.  “I’m very proud of you.”  

“Thanks dad.”  His dad twitched his mouth, staring at the floor.  

“I’ll see you at home, you have your car right?”  

“Yeah dad.  Thanks for coming.  It meant a lot to me.”  His dad reached over and patted his shoulder.  Then he walked off, clearly overwhelmed by all the buzz.  

“One last trip around the school?”  Brooklynn asked looping her arm through his.

“Yeah, I can take you on a tour of every place I’ve ever gotten beat up around here.”  Noah pulled his graduation robe over his head.  They started to walk towards auditorium doors.  

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    He ran through the hallway running fingers along the row of lockers.  

“Goodbye!”  He yelled echoing through the hallways.  “Won’t miss you, or you...”  He said slamming his fist of three consecutive lockers.  Brooklynn was close behind.  “Won’t miss you boring history teacher, or you, dead end hallway...”  

“I think we get it.  You don’t like this place very much.”  She caught up to Noah.  “So too the dock after your amazing tour is over?”

“Definitely.”  He replied slinging his arm over her shoulder.  Though they never would quite make it too the dock...

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