Don't You Dare

2~L.A. Baby

PEYTON'S P.O.V

I stood on the stage and looked out into the pool of students dressed in their white caps and gowns.  Jackie gave me a thumbs up from the front row (because she had given a speech before me) and I could see Ivy and Kourtney’s bright smiles from the back of the crowd.  I cleared my throat, took a deep breath, and stared into the crowd, giving them a warm smile.  Some returned the gesture, but most were just looking at me.  They were probably still in shock from my little outburst to Ashton this morning.  Well guess what?  The little bitch deserved it.

“Good afternoon and may I start by welcoming my class, the class of 2014, to their final day as seniors,” I started my speech off, which for some reason I was chosen to give.  The gymnasium filled with applause as I took as quick glance at my notecards.  When the clapping died down, I continued my speech.

“So some of you may know me, but some of you may not, so nice to meet you.  My name is Peyton Zimmer and I am your class Valedictorian.”  Cue the clapping again.

“Now I want to ask you all, my fellow classmates, a simple question.  Who are you?”  I paused for dramatic effect.

“I want you to think big on this question.  Not just ‘Well my name’s John Smith.’  Your name doesn’t define who you are.  You need to look at your actions or your words or what you’re doing.  The high school chapter of our lives is just about closed, so none of us can say that we’re students any longer.  As our future progresses, we’ll be able to say that we’re a chef, or an astronaut, or even a famous musician.”  I smiled at the thought, as did Jackie, Kourtney, and Ivy.

“But just because this chapter is ending doesn’t mean that we can’t look back on it.  I want you all to be able to look back and figure out who you were throughout high school.  Were you an honor roll student?  Were you an award winning athlete?  Were you a bully?”  My eyes locked with Ashton’s when I spoke the last sentence.  His deep blue eyes were staring into my soul, but he didn’t look pissed.  He just kind of looked like he was lost in thought.

I saw Jackie give Trey a death glare since she was sitting right beside him, which he returned, and Kourtney and Ivy make eye contact with Mason and Bradyn.  I couldn’t help but chuckle a little bit at the awkwardness of the moment between those six.

“But just know that your past doesn’t define you either.  Just because you were an award winning athlete doesn’t mean that you have to play sports in college.  Just because you were an honor roll student doesn’t mean that you have to go to college at all.  Just because you were a bully, doesn’t mean you have to live up to that reputation in the years to come.”  Ashton bit his lip and put his head down.  He probably just wanted this to all end.

Graduation I mean.

He’s never going to change.

“Maybe you don’t know who you are yet, but that’s okay.  Some people take a while to find out who they truly are.  For example, I didn’t even know who I was until this morning.  I found out that I’m a girl who from now on is going to stand up for herself.  I am my own person.  And as long as I have my friends by my side, everything’s going to be alright.”  Kourtney covered her mouth with her hand and I saw a tear fall down Jackie’s cheek.  Ivy playfully rolled her eyes at me before sending me a smile.

“So, when we’ve all left this school for the final time in a few short hours, I want you to be able to walk out of those doors knowing who you were throughout high school and who you are going to become.  I wish you all the best of luck wherever it is you end up, and I can’t wait to see you all again at our high school reunions.  Congrats class of 2014.”  I finished my speech and make my way to the seat beside Jackie as the applause rang through the gymnasium.

“What a wonderful speech Miss Zimmer,” the principal spoke into the microphone.  I could feel the pride in my face at his words.

It’s finally over.

~~~~

JACKIE'S P.O.V

“Are you sure we grabbed everything?”  Peyton asked as she pulled a box labelled “Peyton’s Memories” out of the moving van.  We had just arrived in L.A and our house was huge.  Thank God Ivy’s parents were rich and bought us this house to live in.  Kourtney was putting the boxes into groups based on whose it was, Peyton was taking the boxes out of the van, I was gathering our bags from the car, and Ivy was still passed out in the backseat.

“Yeah I’m positive.  If we left anything in Ohio I’m going to cry,” I laughed as I placed a bag over my shoulder.

I heard a thud on the ground and turned to see Ivy lying on the sidewalk with her butt in the air.  “Morning guys,” she muttered, still half asleep.

“Oh great you’re awake.  Here are your boxes, so you can set up your room,” Kourtney said, placing Ivy’s boxes beside her.

Ivy immediately sat up and ran into the house.  “I want a big room!” she called, Peyton following behind her with boxes in hand.

I shook my head at her randomness and stepped foot inside the large wooden door.  Before me was a gigantic living room and a staircase that lead up to a loft, where the rooms were.  To my right was a bathroom and to my left was the dining room and kitchen.  I made my way up the stairs and found that the rooms had already been assigned, which was no big deal because we all had a giant window and our own bathrooms.

I found the room that was painted dark blue, my favorite color, and set my stuff on my mattress, which was the only thing in my room.  I went straight across the mini hall into a room with purple walls which was Peyton’s.  She already had her hammock hung up and her bed made in her black and white fancy bedspread and memory foam pillow.  She was in the middle of putting up a picture of all of us when we all started Infinity on her wall when I knocked on her doorframe and she spun her head toward me, sending me a smile.

“Hey I have your bag.  I think you have some food in here and some drawing and writing stuff,” I said, placing the bag on her dark hardwood floor.

“Okay thanks,” she replied, adjusting the picture.  I walked over to her and observed the photo.  We were all in Kourtney’s basement and all of us looked totally different.  Kourtney had neon green braces, Ivy’s hair was cut to her shoulders, Peyton was three times shorter than the rest of us, and my hair color was like a red brown color.

I laughed at the memory of taking that picture.  It took about 15 minutes, because one of us either sneezed or had our eyes closes or weren’t ready.  We were all so dysfunctional.

Before I knew it, Ivy and Kourtney had joined Peyton and me in just looking at that one picture.  I heard a sniff and turned to see Kourtney with a tear falling down her face.

“Oh my gosh Kourt are you crying?” I asked her.  She nodded and rubbed her nose with the sleeve of her Victoria’s Secret PINK sweatshirt.

“Yeah I mean that was our beginning.  That’s the first time we all became friends and even knew each other.  And you guys caused me to be who I am today.  I don’t know where I’d be without you,” she said, wiping her tears.

I heard an “aww” come from Ivy as we all embraced in a giant group hug.

“Guys, can we all promise now, that no matter if we make it or not, and no matter what happens to us in the time to come, we will always be friends?” I asked as I felt everyone nod and pull away from the hug.

Peyton put her pinky out and we all linked our pinkies together.  “Infinity forever,” she said.

“Infinity forever,” we all repeated.

A/N Heyyy there guys.  I really hope you're enjoying this story so far.  I know I am for sure!  

So you got to see Jackie's point of view today.  Don't worry, this story will take place from everyone's points of view so you'll get a different perspective of the story or the different dramas that each character is facing.

So please please please pleaseeee tell me what you guys think of this story!  Even if you hate it, let me know.  It's still feedback.

So I love you all, rock on and see ya next time.

~Taylor