Roses and Flame

Graduation! - Chapter 44 🎓

- 1 week later - 

Today is graduation! 

I can't believe it! Wow! 

Right now, my mum is driving me to the school and then I'll be up on stage and I'll be going to college soon. 

Time goes by quickly. 

I'm excited but also nervous. 

I'm wearing a cap and gown. The gown is blue and silky which matches the blue, silky hat. 

A few minutes later, we arrived at Oakwood High. 

We walked into the building and to the back of the school, to the field. That's where we're doing the graduation. I notice Sarah right away. And we walk over to her. She smiled. "Hey, Grace!" She said. 

"Hey Sarah! Today is the big day!" I said, while smiling. 

"Grace!" I turned around and saw my dad. Oh my gosh! I didn't think he would show up, but he did? I'm so happy! 

"Dad!" I said and ran up to him and gave him a giant hug. He hugged back even tighter. "Wow, you look so grown up, I'm so proud of you, Grace," he said. "And you will always be our little girl," he said looking at my mum ten back to me. I smiled. "I'll try not to cry until after," I said. He laughed. 

"Everyone please take your seats," Principle Morgan said into the microphone. "You'll do great, make a great speech!" My mum said. Which totally didn't give me a little stress. My mum and dad went to sit with the other parents. Sarah and I sat next to each other. 

I sat down in a chair and noticed Nate looking at me. He winked at me. I smiled at him and he mouthed the words 'Good luck, you got this!' 

I smiled and mouthed back saying: 'Thank you, you too!' 

He smiled back. 

Sarah and I hugged each other before listening to what Principal Morgan had to say. 

"Alright, everyone please settle down, today we are so happy to announce the graduates for this year! But, before I do, I would like to say a few words. This year has been an incredible school year! We have had some good and bad experiences throughout the school year, but we got past them, together. Our school represents a team. Together, we can accomplish anything! Our teachers have worked so incredibly hard to make this school year the best. So without further ado, I present our graduates for this year!" Principle Morgan said. 

Everyone clapped and then Principal Morgan began announcing the graduates to join her up on the stage, make a speech, and collect the rolled-up paper. 

"When you hear your name, please join me on stage, if someone is not here, we will hold onto their stuff and give it to them some other time. Abigail Baker, Amelia Mix, Ashton Beckett, Ben Doberman, Becky Sanchez, Blake Richardson."

When I heard Blake's name, I froze. My eyes started tearing up. Memories started replaying my head. When Blake and I first kissed, when we went on our first date to the movies and then to the beach, and how I felt so safe with him. The way he cared about me, actually hurts. All the thoughts of him, hurt me. Especially the thoughts of him framing me with the trophy's missing, the thoughts of him in the warehouse, the thoughts of him and Josh breaking into my house and of Josh cutting me, the thoughts of him trying to hurt me in school, the thoughts of him getting arrested, then whispering that he'll come for me, and the thoughts of his friend, James cutting my arm. 

I can't stop thinking about the connection that Blake and I had. It was much more than what Josh and I had. But, I can't believe that Blake was the reason that Josh and I even dated in the first place. I still can't believe that Josh cheated on me. It hurt so badly, it still does. It stings me. More than anything. And the way that Josh and Blake bullied me in P.E and just in school, in general, hurts me.