Stand Up

Chapter 14: Graduation

Clapping from the parents filled the auditorium. Cameras were snapping. I was breathing heavily. I couldn't mess this up. This would be one of the most important moments of my life. What if I stumbled across the stage? What if I tripped in front of all the cameras? I'd be forever humiliated.

"Isabel Star" The principal called. I took a deep breath. I put on a happy smile, then walked across the stage. I looked to the audience for a brief second. There were so many people. I don't usually have stage fright, but now I had it.

I looked ahead and saw my principal. He was mostly bald, with a little gray hair here and there. He had a very round head. His eyes were green. He wore a suit and tie, very fancy. He wanted to look his best for the occasion.

I walked up to him as he reached out for me to shake his hand. I did so and he squeezed my hand really tight. With his other hand he reached out, and gave me my diploma. I gently took it from his hand and walked across to the other side of the stage.

I took a deep breath when I reached the other side. It was more of like a sigh of relief. I managed to relax and listen to the graduation music play in the background as my classmates walked across the stage.

It felt like forever until all the people's names were called. When he'd finished with the last person he turned towards the audience and said, "The graduating class of 2012!" Clapping concluded the ceremony. I smiled and waved at the crowd. I was finally out of high school. The most confusing four years of my life were over.

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I met Kate in the parking lot. I ran up to her and gave her a hug. The cap she was wearing with her cap and gown got in my way though.

"Yay! We graduated!" I cheered. She was happy too, but there was something she was hiding behind that plastered on smile.

"I know right!" She cheered halfheartedly. There still was something wrong with her emotions. What was bothering her?

"Uh, Are you okay?" I asked her bluntly. She looked around nervously.

"Yeah, I'm fine." She didn't sound too sure about it. I was going to find out what was going on.

"I'm your best friend, Kate. You can tell me anything."

"It's just that. . . . . My parents only wanted me to stay until prom. They finally agreed that I could graduate with you, but now, they want me to go back to Minnesota. And not come back for a while. Soon we'll both be going off to college. We'll be going our separate ways. I mean, there's still e-mail and cell phones. We can keep in touch." Her lips quivered as she spoke. I couldn't help but think that she was right.

I gave her a hug. We both were sniffling. I didn't want to see my best friend leave.

"So this is goodbye?" I asked softly. We backed away from the hug.

"No!" She protested. "No." Her voice became quieter. "After all, I'm not good with goodbyes."

With that she got in her car, and drove away.

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 I went back into the cafeteria where I saw Mark, Haley, and Greg. I ran up to them and Haley immediately gave me a high-five.

"We're graduates now!" She cheered. "This is so awesome! No more high school. I'm off to be my own person!" She stood straight when she said that with an independent attitude. I laughed for no reason.

"I'm surprised I even graduated." Mark commented. Haley elbowed him and smiled.

"You knew you were going to graduate. Your just messing with us." She giggled. He grinned and put his arm around her.

"Um . . . Can we have a moment?" Greg pointed to me awkwardly, interrupting the happy, joking moment. We walked away a little and he stood to face me.

"Well, we graduated." He said.

"Yep!" I agreed. "That's kind of what that ceremony was about." He gave an awkward laugh. I couldn't help but join in.

"I'm just not sure how this relationship is going to work out. I mean, we're going to go to different colleges. I don't want you to go to the same school as me, just because I'm there. I can't hold you back from your full potential. I've never had any luck with long distance relationships and. . . ." He was about to continue when I put my hand on his shoulder. He stopped talking completely.

"It'll work out." I almost whispered. "Trust me." I leaned in and gave him a kiss. It wasn't a long perfect prom kiss, but it was still perfect. We backed away and I stared into his green eyes. He nodded his head.

"Okay." He whispered back to me. This relationship would work out. Who knows? Maybe he could be the one, but I don't want to be ahead of myself. Just enjoy the moment.

We rejoined Haley and Mark, who were kissing because Mark had a hint of lipstick on his cheeks. Mark blushed, only making his cheeks even more red.

"It feels weird not graduating with Aaron. He was always there with us. Now he's not." Haley looked down at her shoes.

"Yes he is Haley. His spirit will live on. He could be walking around the room now, in his graduation cap and gown." I knew now, wherever Aaron was, he was smiling widely just like he used to. If he was here, he'd be proud of us.

There was a long moment of silence. It was all very awkward between us. No one knew what to say. No one knew how to say goodbye. Haley gave me a friendly hug, and then hugged Greg.

"Thanks. You're a great friend. We can still text, you know. Keep us both up to date with the college drama." Haley suggested. I nodded my head.

"Well, goodbye Haley. Goodbye Mark." I waved to them both then walked away with tears welling up in my eyes. One salty tear rolled down my cheek slowly. I stopped it and when I opened my eyes, they were greeted with a horrible sight.

"Aww. Does the little crybaby need a tissue?" Ashley said in her mean baby voice. "I'm surprised you even graduated." She was being a total snob. She was talking normally now and she looked back at Mandy and Danielle, who were standing behind her. "Oh look girls. I told you the thing had some brains. You owe me five bucks Danielle." Danielle reluctantly slapped five dollars into Ashley's hands.

They bet on whether or not I would graduate? She called me "the thing". I wasn't going to let it bother me, no matter how hard I wanted to slap her across the face. I wanted to punch her and fight until I won, but I'm not a violent person. I was thinking some really mean thoughts at the moment. I am not very proud of most of them. I am proud that I have the strength to walk away like I did. I wasn't going to see her again. I wasn't going to ever listen to her again. This is my life. I'm gonna live it!

I bid my fellow classmates farewell and left high school. I left the horrible things the popular girls did behind. I left the cliques and the social groups. I left the geeks, the nerds, the cheerleaders, the nobodies, and yes the populars. Sure college might have those, but I hoped not. But most of all, I left the terrible memories of when I was paralyzed.

I know I was paralyzed in the legs. I'm not going to deny it. I know I lived my senior year in a wheelchair. I know that. I know I was teased about it. I know the pain and the sorrow I went through. I know I can't undo all of that, but I don't want to undo it. I can't forget it. I just want to leave it behind. Leave it. Walk away and never look back. Go! Find the college. Find the job. Find myself. Who I am mean't to be.

 I did my best to prove that popularity is just a label. Some may say I achieved it, but others think I failed. I don't care. Ashley can go on being a snob. It won't matter to me. I tried to stand up to her.

What is even more amazing, is that I had the power to stand up to them even when I couldn't stand up.