Chapter 76

Chapter 45 I couldn't believe the day was actually here. Graduation. I was graduating from high school and soon enough, I would be at university. I couldn't wait, but at the same time, I was nervous. It was such a huge step, especially because I was moving out. I wouldn't be living with my parents anymore. I couldn't rely on them to get groceries, cook meals, make sure I woke up in time for school. It was nerve wracking. The ceremony was taking place in the gym -how special. There were chairs for the students to be already seated. Row by row would be called up to receive their diplomas. Once everyone was seated, Mrs. Goth got up on the stage that was set up and walked over to the podium. "Welcome, everyone, to this year's graduates," she said with a smile. "You have all worked so hard to get this far and the moment is here." After talking for quite some time, the actual ceremony began. Everyone was seated alphabetically by last name, so when each row was called up, we were already standing in order. Since my last name began with an M, I was about in the middle. My row was called up and we lined up by the stage. Even though all I was receiving was my diploma, my heart was beating really fast. There was nothing to be nervous about right now, but I was. "Poppy McCormick," Mrs. Goth said. Immediately, Grayson stood up from his seat. "Yes! That's my girlfriend!" he shouted, causing some people to chuckle. Mrs. Goth gave Grayson a sharp look. "Mr. Prince, please sit down and be excited for your girlfriend quietly." I looked at Grayson with a look that told him to shut up, but he just winked at me before sitting down. I sighed and shook my head before walking onto the stage. Mrs. Goth handed my diploma and shook my hand. Right before I walked off the stage, Grayson decided to ignore what Mrs. Goth told him earlier and shouted out another thing. "I love you, Flower!" "Mr. Prince," Mrs. Goth said even more sternly than last time. "Be excited for her quietly or you will be receiving a detention after the ceremony." Grayson sat back down again before I got off the stage. He was very interesting. Grayson was in the row behind me since there wasn't that many students with a surname beginning with an N or O. "Grayson Prince," Mrs. Goth said with a bit of irritation in her voice. I didn't blame her. Grayson couldn't just shout out what he wanted at the ceremony. ... Even if it was sweet for me. Grayson received his diploma, looking at me and drawing a heart in the air with his two pointer fingers. He could never take anything seriously. The ceremony continued with speeches made by a few teachers and the valedictorian. Mrs. Goth got back to the podium, telling all the graduates to stand. "I present to year, this year's graduating class!" she announced. And that was our cue to throw our caps in the air. I couldn't believe it. I officially graduated from high school! A pair of arms wrapped around my waist. "We did it!" Grayson said happily. I turned to face him, even though a stupid chair was in the way. However, Grayson moved it and stood in front of me. "By the way, did you hear that I love you?" I rolled my eyes. "Yes, everyone did. Were you trying to piss Mrs. Goth off?" "What? No," Grayson said with a smile. "I just wanted everyone to know that you're mine." "I'm pretty sure they do know," I said. "We won cutest couple in the yearbook. And prom king and queen." Grayson shrugged, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me closer to him. "I'll shout it to the world if I have to," he said. "I love you." "I love you, too," I said before pulling his towards me, pressing my lips on his. This moment, being with the boy I love on graduation day, was absolutely perfect. He pulled away, giving me a smile. "Come on," he said, taking my hand in his. "Your parents probably want to congratulate you." He started leading me to my parents but I stopped, tugging on his hand so he looked at me. "Are you okay?" I asked. Grayson sighed and nodded. "I know my parents aren't here, but I honestly don't care. Gale and Graeme came. That's all that matters." The last time Grayson saw his parents were when they came over for dinner and tried getting Grayson to move back home. He hasn't even talked to them as well. Gale sometimes gave him updates on how his parents are doing, but most of the time, he didn't want to know. His dad never apologized to him and his mom allowed his dad back in his life. Gertrude knew that Gary was the reason Grayson had depression, but she didn't care. Grayson pulled me towards my parents again. They were standing with Tony, Gale, and Graeme. Grayson's siblings gave him a hug as my family gave me one. "Congratulations, Poppy," Mom said. "I'm so proud of you. We all are." "Thank you," I said. "I can't believe I'm finished high school. Time goes by so fast." Mom smiled. "I know. I still remember your first day of kindergarten. You were begging me not to go because you didn't want to leave me. And now, you're moving out next month." "Whoa, what?" Tony asked. "You're moving out? Where?" "Grayson and I are moving into an apartment near MDC," I said. "It's about a twenty minute drive from here." Tony raised an eyebrow. "You're moving out with your boyfriend." "Yes, she is," Dad said. "You know what Grayson's going through and it would be better for them to get an apartment than to have separate dorms." "True," Tony said. "I can't believe my baby sister is moving out." He wrapped his arms around me. "She's growing up so fast." "I'm not your baby sister," I said with a pout. "I'm eighteen. I'm pretty sure that qualifies for me not being a baby." "You'll always be my baby sister," Tony said, pulling away. "Congratulations for graduating. And for getting into MDC. You'll do great there." "Thanks," I said with a smile. Grayson was finished talking with his siblings and he stood beside me, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. My arms went around his waist as I gave him a tight hug. "Oh, look at you two," Mom gushed. "I'm so proud of both of you." "I say we go out to celebrate," Dad said. "Gale, Graeme, care to join us?" "Sure," Gale said with a smile and Graeme nodded in agreement. "Mind if Poppy and I take a quick detour?" Grayson asked. "There's somewhere I want to take her." "Go ahead," Dad said. "Meet us at the regular restaurant we go to." We all headed outside and I followed Grayson into his car. I took off my graduation gown, as did Grayson, and placed it in the backseat, along with our caps and diplomas. I wondered where Grayson wanted to take me, but he didn't tell me. Soon enough, he pulled into a parking lot of a pond that was near my house. He told me that it was where he used to go when he wanted to get away. When we got out of the car, he took my hand in his and led me to the pond. We sat down beside it, keeping our hands intertwined. "Can you believe we're finished high school?" Grayson asked. "It's definitely crazy," I said. "And next month, we're moving out. Our lives are going to change." "Yeah," Grayson said. "But as long as we're together, it will be easy." I smiled, resting my head on his shoulder. I thought about everything that I went through in high school. I was assaulted by my best friend's brother which caused their whole family to hate me. My best friend then got the whole school to turn against me, except for the bad boy of the school who never listened to anyone. I was constantly bullied by my ex-best friend and her boyfriend, which caused the bad boy to stand up for me. We became close friends and soon fell in love. I made amends with my best friend, much to my boyfriend's dismay. Then my boyfriend was diagnosed with depression and tried killing himself. We got in a car crash which led to him being in a coma and me becoming paralyzed later on. He never left my side. We went through so much. Grayson and I belonged together. We were always there for each other, no matter what happened. High school was difficult, but university would be much easier. Or so I thought.