Everything Changes Now

XXV

Taylor's P.O.V

When Nate comes into my room to tell me it's time to go, I sigh and walk out with him. The car ride was silent. We all knew that this was the last time we would step inside this school. We took separate cars and I rode with Nate since we hadn't spent time alone together.

About halfway through the drive, Nate grabs my hand and kisses the back of my hand. He looks at me with concern on his face.

"What's wrong?" He asks.

"What do you think?" I give him a dry look. "We graduate in less than 2 hours. Then college in less than 4 months," I rant. He squeezes my hand, looking at me for a moment before putting his eyes back on the road.

"I know. I know." He says and I turn on the radio and listen to whatever is playing. After a few minutes of listening to songs, Counting Stars by One Republic came on and I started singing the loudest I could. I started dancing along as well and I turn to look at Nate to see him lip-syncing along and laughing at me.

When we got to the school, we have to option to look around the school one last time before we graduate. All four of us go room by room, recalling all the memories we had through the four years we spent here. I laugh a little remembering when we were in Mrs. Philips' class.

"I remember when we were in Philips' class and after Hanna got up to turn a paper in, she didn't move the chair back all the way and when she came back, she slipped off the edge of the chair and onto the ground," I recall making the others laugh as well.

"That was pretty funny," Nate says.

"No it wasn't," Hanna says and Jake puts an arm around him saying,

"Come on Han. It was kinda funny," Jake says putting an arm around her, pulling her closer to him. She starts to smile and we are all waiting for her to say something.

"Fine. It was kinda funny," She says putting emphasis on kinda. We all laugh a little then it slowly goes away. We stand there in silence for a few minutes just looking around. My eyes start to tear up from all the memories I made here. Nate notices and pulls me closer to him, kissing the top of my head.

"Taylor, stop crying or you'll make me cry," Hanna starts to say, her eyes tearing up. I let go of Nate and went over to Hanna, embracing her in my arms. I see Jake's hand over her head as he lowers her cap on. I step back to look at her with a smile.

"You look beautiful," I say smiling. She just rolls her eyes at me and turns to Jake. I feel Nate's hand on my shoulders as he turns me around to face him. Looking into his hazel eyes, I remember why I fell in love with him in the first place. The adoration shows in his eyes when he looks at me, the way he doesn't let me go when he holds me close to his chest as he hugs me, then kisses my forehead.

As we start walking, I think about everything that had happened and everything the future might bring. I start to slow my walk then stop, looking around the hall and at every locker. I stop when I see my locker and just look at it. I see Nate's next to it and smile at all the times we mess with each other when we would get our books out. I feel someone stand beside me and I know it's Hanna.

"Han, I'm not ready to leave this place," I let out a small laugh to try to keep the tears from falling from my eyes. I turn to see Jake and Nate behind us, shaking their heads in agreement.

"Come on," Nate says, grabbing my hand as we start to walk toward the auditorium, with Hanna and Jake in front of us. No matter how happy I was to be graduating, I couldn't believe it came this fast and was now over.

"Guys?" Hanna says questionable. We all look at her, not knowing where this was going.

"What's up princess?" Jake says looking down at her, seeing the look she was giving me I took her hand and pulled her into a hug and full waterworks flowed down my back. Jake gave me a sympathetic look, pleading me to take her to the bathroom, I nod and pull her into the girls' bathroom.