After Party

Nathan stands in the middle of his room, scrolling through recent Snapchat stories from his friends. Standing there after his shower with just a towel around his waist, he can't help but smile seeing all the pictures and stories from graduation. He even catches himself in a few. Thirteen years of pointless tests, monotonous papers, early morning soccer practice, relationships, relationship drama, and everything in between culminated into one night. One moment. To walk across a stage in front of all your peers, family, and people you've never met and receive a piece of paper that says you did it. You've completed your mandatory schooling. Your life is now officially yours to do with what you please. Nathan doesn't know what happened to his diploma after he gave it to his parents. It'll turn up eventually, he thinks. Although it was only a couple hours ago the entire ceremony is a blur. The morning run through followed by the graduation breakfast, getting his hair cut then finding some way to occupy himself while his mom obsessed over what he would wear. She insisted he wear a tie. Nathan knew not to argue with her today. He left for the school shortly after his dad got home from work. The administration constantly reminded them to be at the school an hour and half before the ceremony, just to make sure everyone would be accounted for. Nathan sat and chatted with friends until they were told to line up. Pomp and Circumstance played as they marched out. Cameras flashed from the audience taking photos no one would probably look at again. People gave speeches; Principal Meyers, the guidance counselor Nathan never went to see, some guest speaker, the Salutatorian, and the Valedictorian. Finally, it was time to receive their diplomas. Ladies first, of course. After going through the nearly 200 girls in his class it was finally the boys' turn. He tried to find his family in the sea of people but couldn't. His sister was texting him jokes about people during the ceremony so he knew they were out there somewhere. Finally, it was his turn. "Nathaniel Joseph Iverson." Nathan walks to Principal Meyers, grabs his outstretched hand with his right and the empty diploma case his left, just like they were instructed to do during practice. "Look at the camera and smile" Principal Meyers whispered in his ear. Nathan turned and smiles at the photographer he had just noticed was standing on the stage. There was a blinding flash and he had to find his way off the stage with stars in his eyes. "Nathan, you suck!" His sister's soccer voice could be heard over the audience. Most people laughed. His mom and dad would be on her case without a doubt. He made it back to his seat and waited for everyone else to finish. Once all the boys walked across the stage, Principal Meyers gave another speech about the beginning of a journey, a brave new world, and other clichéd things. They performed the iconic cap toss and the ceremony ended. Then came the pictures. So many pictures. Nathan felt like he was being grabbed in every direction for pictures. He was able to get a few with his best friends Darius and Ant so he was fine with the rest.

It took another twenty minutes to get out of the parking lot even with the police directing traffic. His extended family was waiting for him at home with a smorgasbord of food. He entertained his family while everyone gave him graduation gifts, mostly money, and told stories about him when he was younger. Ant was texting him constantly the entire time asking when he could come over. Nathan just kept stalling until his family left. He finally gave him the okay to come over right before he got in the shower. Ant would probably run over so Nathan had only had a few minutes before Ant came bursting through the door. By some miracle, Nathan finished his shower before Ant arrived, which gave him a few minutes to himself. Now, standing in his room scrolling through Snapchat, it's time to get ready for what most considered the real event of the night; Nicole's graduation party. The doorbell rang. Ant is here. Nathan puts on some pants before Ant invites himself into his room while he is still naked.

"Yo Nate! You ready yet?" Nathan walks out of his room and into the living room to find Ant and his sister taking jabs at each other while his parents put away leftover food from the party. Ant's face dropped when he saw Nathan without a shirt on. "Dude, you're not dressed yet? We're going to be late!"