The Sun, The Moon, and Their Stars

33 : Ending

Benjamin

Frederick announces that it's their last song. The people in front and some from the sides sound upset, and I don't blame them. I surprisingly find myself one with them, anticipating more from none other than Ten Cents Short. But I see Kim on my right, and she looks like her batteries are draining. So, I reach for her hand and take her away from the crowd.

The round tables and chairs are still there, but they already cleared the long ones. I lead her into the farthest table on the side of the wisdom area, on a strategic angle that will have our backs to the crowd and to the people when they start leaving the gym. I pull a chair facing the black-cloth-covered bleachers and let her sit down. I pull another and place it in front of her, so she can stretch her legs and rest her feet.

I turn around, and there's a box of mineral water on a table two rows away. I go there and grab one. I twist the cap and offer it to her. She receives it with a tired smile and thanks me.

I place a chair next to hers and sit on it. Then I take out my phone. "What time is your father picking you up?" I ask.

"Ten-thirty. Ish," she replies, reaching over the table to put the water bottle, which I take from her hand and do so myself.

"Okay," I say when I sit back. "It's eighteen minutes before that." Then I hide the phone in my pocket.

She sits there staring blankly ahead, moving her lips along with the words of the song. I sit back and listen too. I don't usually like it when ordinary people cover songs from my favorite bands, but I have to admit, our classmates didn't disappoint.

The song ends, and I hear clapping, cheering, and whistling far from our backs.

"That's a clever way to end the program," Kim says, pointing her thumb back to the crowd and the stage.

"I underestimated those guys," I say with a laugh.

She laughs as well. "I know," she says, facing me, "but at least they didn't murder that one."

"Yeah," I nod, "at least."

I can now hear footsteps and voices from people walking, going about, and leaving. They turn the party lights off, and the soft white lights of the gym are now on. A Blink-182 song plays on the sound system, the volume's a little toned down now.

Kim starts to laugh. "I can't believe I'm saying this," she says. "But I'm going to miss this place."

"Me too. I like this school," I say with a nod. "This was our second home for a decade."

"And there's something about the old hallways, the walkways, the fields, and the rooms. I hope they stay the same way for a very long time." She glances at the side where our batchmates are heading out of the venue. "Maybe I'll even miss some of the people too," she quietly adds as she turns her head back.

I lean forward, put my arms on my thighs, hold my fingers together, turn sideways, and face her. "Then it's a good thing we're going to the same university," I say.

She scoffs. "And why is that?"

"Because you won't miss me."

She smirks and tilts her head. "But what if I get tired of you?" She narrows her eyes a little. And I know she's playing along.

"Something tells me, you won't." And I'm very serious.

We don't break eye contact, but she blinks a few times.

"And you know that I won't either," I add.

She smiles and bites her bottom lip. And my gaze is instantly drawn to that part of her face. The music fades, and I can still feel the beat, but it comes from somewhere inside me.