Part Fifty-Three

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POV: Winston
Saturday, June 14, 2021
11:13am

That night had ended pretty quickly, right after I went back inside the diner, I told Elio that CJ came to talk to me and not him. I dropped Monty off at the end of his street so his dad wouldn't see his son being dropped off by another boy. Monty told me he didn't want his dad to suspect anything.

Fast-forward to today. Me and my entire class sat down in the crowded auditorium dressed in blue gowns and caps. Graduation.

I sat by myself, not knowing anyone sitting next to me. My closest friends were Rafaela, sitting row in front of me, and Monty, sitting rows in front of her. The clamoring of the crowd was steady as parents caught up with each other and teenagers fooled around in the front. The band was sitting left to the stage with their instruments laid down on their laps or on the floor.

"Psstt," I poked Rafaela.

She looked back and smiled, her tassel skimming her nose.

"Did you invite Molly and Elio," I asked her.

She pointed behind me to where the family of the graduates were sitting. Molly and Elio where sat in the crowd just few rows behind next to a grandma with a white handbag and a golden necklace. They waved at me and I waved back.

"No," she replied sarcastically with a wink.

The microphone let out a high pitched noise that rang everyone's ears, followed by a tapping sound, Principal Bolan was standing in front of the podium with a piece of paper in his hand and wearing an all gray suit.

"Good morning students and family of Liberty High!" He said enthusiastically.

The crowd cheered and clapped while some of the jocks hollered and barked.

"Through out the entire school year, I have gotten to know almost if not all of my students," he said, "Some of them were good, some of them were bad, and some...were in my office during our almost weekly meetings about how this school school should be run," He looked at Jessica Davis sitting in the front row. The crowd chuckled along with her.

"I can confidently say that I will never forget this school year and the children that came along with it as long as I live," he fixed his posture and looked down at his paper.

"So...it is with great honor that I present this year's graduating class of 2021!" He announced.

The crowd applauded loudly and cheered with joyful screams and hollers.

I clapped along, smiling cheerfully at Rafaela and Molly and Elio behind me.

"First up," he presented the lady with the diplomas as she walked on to the stage and stood a few feet away from him, "Patrick Abarman."

The crowd clapped for him as he walked on stage, shook the lady's hand and grabbed his diploma.

"Amarowat Anysia Achola," Principal Bolan announced her name as she walked up with her long braided hair behind her.

I caught Monty looking at me while skimming through the crowd. I grinned at him and he grinned back, staring at my face.

I was surprised he hadn't looked away yet.

"CJ Brunelle," Principal Bolan said looking into the crowd.

CJ didn't rise to go meet him at the stage.

"Uhm, CJ Brunelle," he said louder this time.

Everyone looked around to see where he was sitting and searched for him in the crowd. I myself looked all over the crowd of people and saw no sign of CJ.

"Uh," Principal Bolan awkwardly grinned away the silence, "Well, it seems that CJ is not with us at the moment, if anyone know where he is, please contact him, thank you."

"Selena Barcelos," He said followed by cheering.

I thought long before texting CJ, eventhough I wasn't talking to him, I was worried because he was never one to be late to anything, he was usually the first one to anything, always with a smile on his face but this time I was worried since no one had heard from him since that day, he didnt show up to school yesterday or the day before.

W: where r u??
delivered 11:20am

I got no reply from him as Principal Bolan kept announcing more names.

"Jessica Davis."

"Zachary Dempsey."

"Fabiola De Alejandrino."

I didnt want to make him feel like I was worried about him or had suddenly forgave him.

W: ???
11:24am

"Montogomery De La Cruz."

I immediately put my phone down and started clapping, I even let out a small woohoo. His smile was wide as he walked up to the stage. He was walking with pride for the first time in a while. I'm not sure if his happiness was forced or not, but his contagious smile made everyone feel better. He grabbed his diploma and shook the womans hand and as he walked off stage, his eyes met mine for a quick second before he finally walked off.

My phone buzzed in my hand.

C: Wjat di u want
11:26am

W: Where r u??? Bolans called ur name like 3938728 times already r u in the bathroom??
11:26am

C:Bust
11:27am

W: huh
11:27am

C: *Busy
11:27am

W: it's graduation tho...where tf are u?
11:28am

C: Dont twxt me anhmire
11:30

I ignored the spelling errors and assumed that he was just tired or taking a nap. But deep down I knew something was off. I contemplated once again, all of my moments with CJ, my longest friendship that had crumbled so suddenly. I was starting to regret everything I had said to him and how I had treated him. But I kept telling myself to stay mad at him and NEVER talk to him again. I dont think I was even mad about the fact that he exposed that me and him had sex to Rafaela and Elio, its more the fact that I regret what I did with him so much and wish I could take it all back. And no matter what I do, every time I look at his face, it brings me back to that day that I despise and wish would be taken away. I've tried to make my amends with CJ but it never works out. Last time I tried talking to him, he told 2 people, one of which I just met, that we had sex, I still pray that they think they misunderstood his words.

"Winston Williams."

I raised my head with wide eyes, "Yes?" I replied, "Oh," I realized he wasn't calling my name to ask a question but for me to come up and get my diploma and quickly got out of my seat and walked towards the stage. As I walked past Monty, he rubbed me on the back and patted me forward. I was confused at first but turned around and smiled weirdly at him. Why did he do that...infront of his friends. That was the first time he had shown me any sign of love or affection in public.

I kept walking, flustered, and reached for my diploma in the lady's hand and shook the other one. I felt a wave of relief come over me as I knew that I had finally graduated school, a major chapter in my life now closed and onto the new chapter I will call: College.

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