Skinny

Graduation Day

Chapter Fifty:

I looked around my room and saw the bright red numbers. It was six in the morning. I began to wonder what had stirred me from my dreams. Then I saw the blinking light. I wondered who would call me this early. I looked at my phone and saw that I had missed a call from Jaxon. What? Why would he call me this early after ignoring my phone calls? I looked at the voicemail and pressed the call button.

"You have one new message. From.... Jaxon.... received today at 5:58 a.m......" said the robotic lady. Then Jaxon's voice came over my phone.

"Hey, Raven. Just wanted to tell you congratulations on your graduation. You did it. You're graduating as the most popular girl at Whitmore High School. I hope you have a wonderful summer and sorry I couldn't be there to say so in person. I--," I heard a girl's voice in the background.

"Jaxon, what are you doing out of bed?" He hushed her and returned to his message.

"I have to go and be careful if you wear heels. Don't want you to trip off the stage. Goodbye." Then the message was over.

I couldn't help but feel that his goodbye was one that was permanent. Did he mean to say goodbye for good? The thoughts of never talking to Jaxon again, floated around in my mind. I knew he wouldn't say goodbye to everyone, just me. I knew it for a fact. Mostly, my certainty was attributed to the girl that was sharing a bed with him a week after he confessed his love to me. I just wished I could go back in time and find him first or not give in to Skylar. I cared about Skylar, but I knew that I cared about Jaxon more, much more. Yet again, it was a matter of timing.

Before I knew it, the day had progressed and it was almost time for us to walk across the stage. We took our seats and waited for the principal to say his part in us become adults and going out to make our mark on the world, yada, yada, yada. I ignored him and looked around at my fellow classmates. I would soon be free from high school and be signing with Zeke and becoming a singer, hopefully.

"And now for the valedictorian, Tessa Reynolds," he said. I looked up at Tessa. I hadn't know she was the valedictorian. Wow, you learn something new everyday. What was a smart girl like her doing with Mick?

"TESSA! Will you marry me?" shouted the idiot from near the front. She stood at the podium and looked at Mick. She cleared her throat and looked down at her notes. "I'm serious, Tess," he continued even though he raised no verbal response from her.

"Mick," she said into the mic. "This isn't the time nor the place for that."

"I want you to be my wife," he said, undeterred by her words.

"No, I will not marry you. We aren't together anymore, end of discussion. Now, graduating class and fellow students. We're here to acknowledge our accomplishments. We have succeeded in only the first part of our lives. Adolescence. Though some of us have exceeded that part long ago. Defending others with no regards to her title and taking down bullies with words or a closed fist. Being a bigger person and walking away from a fight. Advising a younger generation to respect themselves." As she spoke these words, photos of me doing everything she was describing flashed on the big white screen behind her.

When did that get there, I thought as she continued, "I would like to take this moment to say that most heroic girl in our class is Raven Garcia and I would like to acknowledge her profound impact on me and the rest of the student council. We came together right before prom and decided to make a special award for her service to the nerd community. I hope to strive to be as kind and decent and caring as her. I hope to be able to put others before myself and to keep my head held high in a tough situation. Raven Garcia, come up here and receive your Hero Award. It was made just for your and your amazing ability to rescue those below your social status, with not a care to how it could effect you."