The Betrayal Within

Chapter Ten

Song of the Chapter: Here's to Never Growing Up by Avril Lavigne

Recap (Francisco's POV):

Twenty minutes later, everyone in that grass was now the graduating class of 2014.

I was extremely happy and I'd embraced everyone that was around me. Adam ran to me and hugged the the shit out of me.

“We made it, Cisco!” He exclaimed.

“Yeah,” I said softly.

“Why aren't you happy?”

“I am, but I haven't told her.” The minute my name was called, I saw her and Paulene leaving.

“I'm sorry, but you had your chance,” Adam said. “I told you multiple times to do and now, she's gone. I'm sorry I had to be heartless for a second.”

“It's fine. I wish I could've told her.”
I had so many chances. So many chances since last year and now, I may not see her again. What if I move to a different state or country? What if I serve for this nation?

I'll miss you, Jasmine.

A year later...

Jasmine's POV

June 15th, 2015.

The day that right now, I'm graduating high school.

At seventeen, I'd learned a lot. I'd learned that when I'm in college, I'm going to have to study until I die because I haven't learned anything at Nixon.

There were fights and drama. Some classes I'd studied and some I didn't because it was that easy.

I made some close relationships with my teachers and I had so many recommendations by them.

The kids, on the other hand, I knew that I wasn't going to contact them anymore. It's always the fact that they say, “Oh, we should keep in touch!”

They aren't going to.

But there's some that they're going to be here for a while.

Paulene and I were accepted to Lakefield University, one of the top colleges in Pennsylvania. But, it's also the most expensive.

Paulene had a full scholarship, while I had a half scholarship. I'm glad there's financial aid.

We both decided that we were going to move out and get an apartment with the money we'd saved from our jobs. Our parents weren't so thrilled about it, just because we were still seventeen and not legal.

In my parents’ eyes, they think I'm a little kid. In Paulene’s parents’ eyes, they think she might not handle all the pressure of living on her own.

Having the ‘college experience’ is too far-fetched with teenagers. That's why I want to focus on my studies.

The last thing I'd learned was guys. I was talking to guys constantly since my senior year of high school and I'd regretted it. Most of the them were assholes and some of the them had children of their own already.

Yeah, I'm not going to be a stepmother. 

I didn't see Paulene, but I did see Isaac doing the “Shmoney” dance with his friends. A lot of my friends cried and I sort of teared up when I saw Dad waving at me and Mom was screaming to her lungs. My family were there to support me.

I felt so loved.

After twenty minutes of all three hundred forty five seniors sat down, the principal finally said the phrase that we were all waiting for.