𝚍𝚊𝚢𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚖 • 𝚐𝚕𝚎𝚎

𝚅𝙸𝙸𝙸

The next few weeks felt good. I walked around the school, more confident then ever. I felt better than I normally did. Of course, the school year was coming to a close and I had less and less time time to talk to Finn or Lexie or Scarlett. They were all busy trying to get their lives together before they went off to college.

"Are you guys okay? You look a little nervous." I said to Lexie and Scarlett as I walked into the choir room. "We have our Juliard auditions today. Kinda nerve wracking." I nodded. "Don't be nervous. You'll crush your auditions."

Mr. Shue walked in and looked at all of us. "Alright, since we are national champs, we don't have any more competitions. So, since most of you graduate in a month or so, I thought that this week could be dedicated to you—the seniors. I want all of you juniors or younger to find a song to sing to the seniors." I raised my hand. "A.J?"

"I already have a song I wanna sing." I said to him before walking down to sit at the piano. They all stared at me. "What? I play piano. It was the one thing I asked for for Christmas when I was six. I took them up until I was ten. It's not that surprising, honestly. A lot of people have hidden talents." I sighed and started playing the music.

The song I played was Mirrors by Justin Timberlake. There was a part in the song where the lyrics say I don't wanna lose you now. I'm lookin' right at the other half of me. And, of course, I looked at Finn. It was true. I was loosing the one person who knew the most about me in the world.

When the song finished, they all just stared at me. "That was...amazing, A.J. You only learned how to play like that in four years?" I nodded. "It's pretty simple, really. Once you learn the basics, of course." I stood up. "Right, well, someone else go. I'm done." And so, most people continued singing songs and putting on shows for the seniors.

This lesson went more then a week. Hell, it went all the way to graduation.

**

I stood in the bathroom, finishing my hair. "A.J! Come on! We're gonna be late!" I sighed. "I'll be down in a minute, mom!" I called from the bathroom. I quickly finished and ran down the stairs. I was surprised at what I saw at the foot of the steps. My mom was readjusting his collar on the white shirt that he wore under neath of his graduation gown.

"Woah."

"What? Is it to...fancy?" I shook my head. "No...it looks amazing. It looks...grown. You're really graduating. Wow." I took a deep breath. "Don't cry." I scoffed and behind the tears I practically whispered, "I'm not gonna cry. I am gonna miss you...like crazy."

I turned to go grab my purse from off the coat rack. I turned. "Oh, how did Lexie and Scarlett's auditions go? Did they get their letters yet?" He nodded. "Yeah...they both got in..." I smiled, momentarily. "And, right after graduation, I'm dropping them off at the train station to go to New York." Then, the smile faded.

"Alright...um...I'm fine. And, when you graduate and you get your diploma, I'm gonna be the loudest one clapping in that auditorium. I'm gonna be the brightest smile in there. Then, you are going to go to the military and make something of the Hudson name. I mean, that whole thing with dad...that's...something. And I will see you on holidays. Now, you go get your high school diploma."

And with that we left the house and went off to the graduation.

**

The actually graduation ceremony was long. Everyone got their diplomas. My best friends—my family—all stood up on that stage. In their red caps and gowns. Lexie and Scarlett and Finn. All up there, smiling at me. I smiled back and watched as they all ran off the stage. "Mom, my car is in the parking lot, but I will see you at home, okay?" She nodded. I ran out of the auditorium to the parking lot and got into the car.

Finn pulled out in front of me and I followed him to the train station. When we got there, the platform was filled with everyone that we had known our entire high school lives. We all walked up to the platform. Finn had Lexie's suitcase  and Scarlett had her own. Before the two stepped onto the train, I stopped in front of them. "Alright, when you get to New York, you're gonna call me? And then, when you get to your dorm room, you're gonna call me, okay?" Lexie and Scarlett both laughed a little and nodded. They both boarded the train.

The train started to pull away and Finn went to chase after it. I grabbed him by the arm. "Don't chase the train, Finn." He looked at me. "But.."

"I know. I'm gonna miss 'em too." I looked up at him. "I want a letter every other week. Alright? No excuses. And I will not hesitate to come up to that military base and beat the hell out of you, do you fret to send me a letter." He smiled. He pulled me into a hug. "I love you, big brother." I felt the warmth of his heart during the hug. "I love you too, little sister."

And with that, he walked away to the parking lot to drive to god knows where.