To Kiss Kate

7. the graduate

Jackson Michael's Point of View:

I didn't know if it was weird to go to this graduation ceremony, but Brad and Ashton had left for the week and I had nothing better to do on a Wednesday night. Hendricks has encouraged me to come with Landon, who I was meeting up with soon, so I figured it was fine. I pulled into the parking lot of Johnson High School. Landon had suggested carpooling, but I turned him down, not realizing how far away Rocky Harbor was.

The parking lot was busy full of parents and I headed towards the doors to wait for Landon. It wasn't a huge high school, but I had no idea what to expect. I had graduated from a private high school with a graduating class of 250. But that was in the city. This was Hamilton.

I scrolled through my phone until I heard Landon call my name and looked up.

"Sup man?" He said, pulling my arm into a bro hug that seemed to be much more popular here than at home. I was relieved to see he was dressed similarly to me in jeans and a button down.

"I didn't know how far away this school was. We could've drove together, my bad." I told him. He shrugged.

"Made this drive everyday for four years. No biggie." He smiled and we walked through the doors. He tried pretty hard to not get caught too long talking to anyone, which I appreciated since I had to do the awkward silent stand next to him. We found a seat in the gym and I scanned my surroundings. I noticed Kate instantly. She was sitting on the front stage with a few other people I didn't recognize.

"Is that Kate?" I asked Landon. He gave me a knowing glance before he spoke.

"Yeah. She's the valedictorian." I nodded slowly in return. "You don't like her do you? Bad idea man... not worth it." He said. It was the first time someone had really brought it up to me. I shrugged.

"She seems different." Was all I could manage.

"She is. That's why I'm telling you it's not a good idea. Jason fucked her up pretty bad. And he's pissed about it. He's not giving her up, dude." I didn't reply, not knowing how to. I understood that things were more complicated than I knew, and that I was a new kid around here. But I knew that I wanted her. "Didn't he already try to fight you about her?" He asked. "Last weekend?" I let out a breathy laugh. That was the last time I had talked to or seen Kate.

"Yeah. That was a misunderstanding. He apologized to me." Landon looked shocked.

"He apologized to you? Damn. He really isn't gonna let it go." I looked at him confusedly. This was the first real information I had gotten about Kate and Jason, and I was appreciative.

"Jason is a hard guy. He doesn't just apologize for shit. Kate obviously told him to." He glanced at the stage and then at the line of students filing into the gym.

"So you think it's messy?" I asked, starting to understand.

"I know it's messy, Jack. I truly believe it's best not to get involved. Especially since you're friends with Hendricks. That kid would die for her. Don't complicate things."

"Thanks." I said, not really meaning it and not really wanting to take his advice. We both turned towards the stage, where a man was starting the ceremony. I prepared myself for a boring next couple of hours and sat silently, only making comments every so often along with Landon.

When the ceremony was over, Landon suggested we go outside to say hello and then head back to Hamilton. He said there was a party tonight that everyone would go to around 10. Parties started earlier here, and it was odd to me how different things only a few hours away from the city.

"Landon! Jack! Hell yeah." I looked up to see Hendricks and Genny smiling wide. I returned the smile and quickly looked around for Kate. I participated in conversation for a few seconds before spotting her with who I assumed to be her dad and a couple kids I didn't know. I felt crazy for obsessing over her, but ever since I saw her for the first time I just couldn't stop.