Lost in your grip

Chapter 34 | Graduation

I told Vi to not tell anyone about my scars. I didn't want anyone to worry about me. I'm not important. Besides, I've dealt with depression before...especially when mom died. When dad left, and I learned the truth. I'm not perfect.

I got out of bed and put the dress I wore to prom, on. I brushed my teeth and put my hair up. I put my cap and gown on. I looked at myself in the mirror. I sighed.

This is it. My friends are going to college and I probably won't see them again. I'll be living with Louis going to Ericson University.

I teared up. I looked at myself again. Louis walked into the bathroom with his cap and gown on. "What's wrong?" He asked. I hugged him. "Just happy." I said with a fake smile. I wish I didn't lie to him but if he knew the truth about me...he'd leave... "Ready to officially graduate?" He asked. I nodded. "We are taking my car today." I said as I grabbed my keys. We got to school and I saw everyone. "Hey Clem. Hey Lou." Marlon said. "Hey Marlon." I said. I hugged him. "Hey bestie." Brody said. She gave me a hug. Vi pulled me a side. "How are you holding up?" She asked. "I'm fine." I said. "Clem, stop lying because it's not going to work on me." She said. "I just want to give up Vi, if Lou saw the scars, he'll leave me." I said. "Hey, I told you, he fucking loves you." She said. I sighed. Graduation started and we all finally sat down. "We are brought here today to celebrate the graduation of the Class of 2020. To start today off, we have our best student to say her speech. She is didn't have the best behavior but the best grades, please give a hand for Clementine Everett." The principal said. I got up as everyone cheered. I walked to the poduim. I took a deep breath. "Hello friends and families. It's an honor to be up here today." I said with a smile. "We have made it through high school. It's time for us to make a difference in this world. You can beat the war this country has started, you can be the greatest version of yourself, you can walk straight through hell with a smile. I hated school but, the only reason why I'm here is because I wanted to make my family proud. This year was crazy for us, a lot of things have happened, people have come and gone but you are your hero and enemy, be a leader. Make sure that you let the world know your name. Through our 4 years of high school, I always told myself, what makes life valuable is that it doesn't last forever. What makes it precious is that it ends. I know that now more than ever." I got flashbacks of the fight between Marlon and I. I looked at Marlon. "I say it because it's to remind us that time is luck. So don't waste it, trying to be someone else, to hang with the wrong people. Make yours count for something. Fight for you and for what means the world to you, no matter what. Even in the end...you always keep finding something worth fighting for. Now I understand that you feel hope and happiness today, we're graduating but, there are dark days too." I looked at Vi. "There will be days where you feel all alone and that is when hope is needed the most. No matter how hard it gets, how lost you feel." I looked at Louis. "Promise me, that you will hold on to that hope. Keep it alive and going. Keep pushing. Keep on fighting." I looked around my group of friends and gave a smile. "I know this feels like the end but, we all have a piece of each other to take with us, wherever we go. We are who we are and we'll become who we are meant to be. It's time for your legacy to begin." I said. I finished my speech and everyone cheered. I had to shake everyone's hand when they came up so I backed up from the podium. The principal started calling people's names. Soon Marlon was called up. I gave him a hug. After a few classmates, Vi came up. Vi and I did our bestfriend hand shake we made up in middle school. Brody and Minnie gave me a hug. Sophie came up. I gripped her hand hard. "We need to talk after this." She said. I nodded and let go of her hand. Mitch, Omar, Asaim, and Ruby shook my hand. Soon Louis came up. He grabbed me and kissed me. It was a long kiss and everyone cheered. He let go of me. He winked and I smiled.

***

Graduation was over. I walked up to my parents and hugged them. "I'm so proud of you honey." Mom said. I started to cry. "Your mother would be so proud of you Clementine." Dad said. "I did this for her, for you guys. You took me in, you didn't have to but you did so, thank you." I said. AJ pulled on my gown. I looked down at the 6 year old. I picked him up like I did when he was 3. He held onto me. "I love you Clem." He said. "I love you too kiddo." I said as I put him down. My friends walked over. "Oh everyone get close, I need to take a picture!" Mom shouted. I rolled my eyes. Louis got next to me and placed his hand around my waist. Vi and Brody stood on my left. Marlon was next to Louis. Mitch, Omar, Asaim, and Duck were behind us. Ruby, Mari and Minnie stood in front of us. We all did funny faces and poses. "You guys are going to last forever." Mom said with a smile. I looked at Louis and he smiled down at me. "I'll be back okay." I said as I walked to Sophie. "Clem, what are you doing?" He asked. "Just gonna have a chat." I said. Sophie saw me and headed towards me. We looked each other in the eyes. "Clem...I wanted to apologize for my actions yesterday...I just got really upset. I shouldn't have looked at Louis like that. Gabe is an asshole and I'm just sorry." She said. I looked down. Then I looked at her and smiled. I hugged her. She hugged me back. "I forgive you." I said. "See you around?" She asked. I nodded as I turned around and headed back to Louis. We left and as I was driving he grabbed my wrist. I jumped. "Fuck Louis, don't scare me like that, I'm driving." I said. I got nervous. "Pull over." He said. Shit...he saw my scar... I sighed. "We're almost home Louis." I said. "Pull over Clementine." He said. He's serious... I looked at him. I sighed and pulled over. He lifted my arm and rubbed my arm. "Ow, fuck dude, chill." I whined. "What's this?" He asked as he whipped away the make up I used to cover the scar. He lifted my arm and pointed at it. I looked down and started to tear up. "Clem." He said. He sounded somewhat angry. "It's....a scar....Louis.." I mumbled. "Who did this to you?" He asked with anger in his eyes. "I did..." I sighed. His face changed. His eyes widen. I broke down. He leaned over and hugged me. "Do you wanna talk about it? I'm here for you, you know that." He said as his hands went through my hair. I continued to cry. He started humming a song. I started to calm down. "You're gonna be okay. Find that hope Clem." He said. I remembered my speech. I smiled a little. "C'mon, let's go home." He said. "We have a graduation party tomorrow." He said. He let go of me and I wiped my tears and drove home.

I don't know if Louis felt my pain. I mean he probably does, his dad was a dick. We both had it hard but we gotta keep finding something worth fighting for and he's worth fighting for.

(I hope you enjoyed their graduation, this story is not over yet. They can finally start their future together. ~Cameron)