Chapter 40- Graduation

Chapter 40 - Graduation

Kim's POV

2 Months Later

Graduation was creeping upon us. Days were starting to feel like summer. Joined together, friends met at the beach, dancing on the sandy beach to the loud song of Brokenhearted by Karmin along with shouts of laughter, and screams of pure happiness pierced the dark breezy night. The blazing fire sat in the middle of our beach circle with chairs and towels around. Beer cans and soda bottles in almost all of our hands, enjoying one of the best times in our lives.

Asher's hands laced with mine as he spun me around to the beat of the music throwing his head back, howling with laughter, because I can't dance and neither can he. I jumped up and down, moving my hips, singing along with Asher to the lyrics.

See I've been waiting all day

For you to call me baby

So let's get up, let's get on it

Don't you leave me brokenhearted tonight

Come on that's right

Honest baby I'll do anything you want to

So can we finish what we started

Don't you leave me brokenhearted tonight

Come on, that's right, Cheerio

In three short minutes the song quickly came to an end as everyone sat down on their sandy chairs. Sweet Nothing placed next, but someone had turned the volume down slightly as we all started to settle down. I grabbed two cokes out of the cooler then went to sit down on Asher's lap. I bent my head back kissing his lips smiling up to him. I didn't have to say that three letter word, and I didn't have to hear him say it either, because I could see the love deep in his azure eyes.

"Aw, look, the love doves are having a sappy love moment. Let's all aw at them... aww cute." Teased Tyler, sitting across the fire from us. Katie walked over kissing his lips handing him a beer.

"Aw look the love couple are having a love dove moment. Let's all aw at them... aww cute!" I teased back, Asher awing with me. It was only us three really paying any attention.

"Oh shut up. Way to take my line." Ty snorts, pulling Katie down to sit on his lap.

"Can't believe this is our last day being seniors." Dylan mutters nearby with a pretty brunette sitting by his feet. I'm pretty sure she's a senior, and I'm pretty sure her name is Leah, but I've never talked to her out of the four years of high school together, and I've only seen her at this time with Dylan.

"I guess when we get our diplomas tomorrow we'll be done with the place." Katie adds, looking into the fire.

"Who say we're getting diplomas?" Asher joked making everyone in the circle laugh.

I snorted, looking up at him and then around the fire, "Did we really just pull a High School Musical scene right now?" I chuckle, getting everyone to realize with wide eyes. Or at least the girls did at least, none of the guys knew what I was talking about.

Taking a sip of my soda I looked up at the sky searching all the stars scattered in the dark sky, shining oh-so-beautifully. Stars, it's like they resembled us, spread out, and scattered around the sky, like we were all going to be.

School was coming to an end and everyone was going their separate ways and different collages. Tyler, Asher and I are going to colleges in Boston. Mine different from the boys, you couldn't separate those two. That college is doomed having both Asher and Tyler there. Katie, leaving the state and heading off to North Carolina. As for Spencer well he and Maddi thought they'd be happier off in Florida together. Crazy.

I twined my fingers through Ash's wanting to savor the last moments before we would all turned into graduates. No long students at Jefferson High, or seniors attending high school. Now we were students attending colleges, going for degrease and perusing careers.

"Well, what about you Miss. Valedictorian?" Tyler asks, looking across from the fire.

"What about me?" I ask, with a playful smirk. Yep, it was official. My physics grade was strong enough to keep my position as valedictorian. Thanks to the amazing help of my guys, even Tyler too, how surprising is that.

"Let's hear some of your speech for tomorrow!" He orders, trying to get everyone around the circle riled up.

"No, no. You're just going to have to wait until tomorrow like everyone else." I reply, shaking my head. I spent so much time on that speech, I'm nervous to talk, nervous that people aren't going to like it, I'm nervous that I'll start choking.

"Aw come on! Speech, speech, speech!" The rest of the guys cheered with Ty.

I look up at Asher, hoping he'd help me out here, but he now started chanting along. With a chuckle I shake my head smiling, "Your friends. Not mine."

"Hey!" They whined in unison.

I laugh, "Kidding, kidding. I love you guys and I'm truly going to miss all of you and I promise, Dylan, when you're in jail I'll come spring you out. You've just got to remember my number for your one call." I joked. That's always been our joke, saving one another from jail. Don't know how it ever started.

"I'll get right on that." Dylan laughs, "See, she's a friend guys." He says looking around the circle, "None of you said you'd bail me out."

"That's because we'll be in there with you." Asher comments with a faint snicker. It was true though. That trio didn't' even have to try to get themselves in trouble, it just happened from one grand idea to the next.

"By the way I hope your speech doesn't suck as bad as the one you gave in- kidding, kidding." He says, quickly raising his hands up in surrender, seeing the death glare on my face.

"Come on say some of your speech!" Dylan orders, bringing it up again. Damn, just when I thought I passed it.

"Come on, babe, just a little part." Ash begs pouting his lower lip. That's right, not even Asher got to read my speech. I wanted everyone to be surprised.

"Aw come on, you can't say no to that face." Katie points out.

"Can't say no to your boy toy." Tyler adds for laughs.

I look back at Asher's face still seeing him pout. I roll my eyes and sigh, "Fine, fine. I'll say a little something." I say giving in. I grab my phone from my pocket, opening up the notes app. I cleared my throat smiling around the bonfire, pretending this was the real deal.

"Hello, class of 2012. Today, after four years, we come together one last time for our graduation at Jefferson High. Some of us have been waiting a long time for this moment to happen, some of us have been dreading this moment knowing that they'll be leaving their friends behind. Maybe even scared to start the next chapter in our lives and meet new people who will become our new friends. I don't think it's possible to be forgotten, to lose the friends we've made here, and the memories only we can share. We're a pretty unforgettable class, and I know that these teachers, standing with us today, ready to shake our hands one last time as we leave, will never forget us. Even if they were brain washed."

They laughed knowing full well that we are an unforgettable class and that even if the teachers got brain washed it wouldn't be possible to overlook us. We caused a lot of drama and chaos in that school. We've all gotten on their good side and their bad side. Some teachers we've had all four years, some teachers we only needed one year because we left a great impact on them.

"Come on continue." Asher encourages.

(Change of scenery. No long on the beach but at the graduation.)

Overlooking the podium I look out to the rows of red and white robes, and gold tassels, caps of all kinds decorated to express ourselves, all lined up perfectly on the football field; the class of 2012. I paused for a moment finding the one face I needed to comfort me. Finding him I saw him smile, and that's all I needed to help me move on. Looking back down looking at my iPad, continuing with my speech.

"On behalf of the class of 2012 I would like to thank all the teachers. You all have dedicated part of your lives to us, and because of that, because of you, we are here today, so thank you. Thank you for being a great teacher, a friend when we needed it, and someone to help guide us through our education- even through our senioritis. Just how you won't forget us, we won't forget about you.

Class of 2012, we have a lot of great memories together, like the day Tyler King thought it would be funny to set a stink bomb in the chemistry lab. Or when Mr. Brown chased Tyler down the hall when he found out it was him who set the stink bomb in his class. Twin day when Mrs. Allison and Mrs. Jean dress alike because we would always mix their names up, and say they were so identical. When Brittany Messer actually believed it was wacky pajama day on April Fool's wearing ducky slippers and Pooh-Bear clothes. When Mary O'Leary bought confetti poppers and ice cream cakes to celebrate Mrs. Todd's fiftieth birthday and for working with students for twenty-five years. Another Tyler moment, when Mr. Goldburg told him he could not be late to school anymore or he'd be kicked off the football team, so he parked at the front doors and ran to homeroom. Oh, when Brent Garcia started 'courtyard dance battles' during lunch time. When Amanda Olsen brought her puppies in during midterm week for puppy therapy. When we ducked taped Mr. Goldburg to the wall for a fundraiser, which by the way in case you all forgot, we broke the record and raised a thousand dollars for cancer researcher. Be proud of yourselves for that. How about the time last winter when we had fire drills twice a week, every week because of construction? We were evacuation pros. When Mr. Holden dyed his hair green if all his classes handed in their research papers in on time. That time we turned the main lobby into a beach day. Lastly, our senior prank, filling Mr. Goldburg's whole office with balloons, covering the teacher's bathroom floor with cups of water, and I don't know who's idea it was still to fill their sinks with milk and Fruit Loops cereal, but thank you again. As you can see, a lot of great memories that are priceless.

"And to quote Doctor Sues really quick: 'sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.'

"A lot of great moments in our lives are because of Jefferson High School. JHS changed us, and molded us all into outstanding citizens, hardworking students, and remarkable human beings. Today when we all place our tassels on the left side of our caps, together, we won't be doing it as friends, but doing it together as a family. I consider us all as one big family for all the things we've been through. As Coach Phil has always reminded us, once you're an eagle, you're always an eagle. So class of 2012, when our first class reunion comes around faster than we think, we're going to show this school and all the teachers how great we became and all we've achieved. I'm proud today to be up here and honored to be Valedictorian. I would like to thank all of my teacher, parents, friends, and family for pushing me to do my best so I could reach this goal today. We're not going to say goodbye today, no, for now, we'll just be saying see you soon. Behind those goodbyes, though, and see you laters, will always be our unforgettable memories that only we will know. Class of 2012... WE'RE GRADUATING!"

My speech was a success like I hoped it would be, the crowd roared with laughter, and cheered at the end. It was so far, the most satisfying moment of my life. As I walked down from the podium and sat down on the chair next to the principle with all the other high achievementees. The principle went up and gave her speech and dismissed all the other students on the stage to join our class.

"Now the unforgettable Class of 2012." Principal Monroe shouted through the mic getting our attention. "I would all like you to move your tassels from the right to the left."

In unison we moved our tassels and listened to the rest of her speech. "Parents, family's guardians, and staff of JHS I would formal like to introduce to you Jefferson High's Class of 2012!"

All at once a wave of caps were thrown in the air, and came falling down like rain. I grabbed my cap, speechless and shocked in the moment, looking at my class, hugging and congratulating each other. We were done. High school was over. For good.

"KIMMY!" I heard a female voice scream over the crowd. Katie, came running to me in embrace, squealing and tearing up. "That was the most beautiful speech I've ever heard. I laughed, I cried, and, and, I can't believe I'm saying this but I don't want this to end." She cries, wiping the tears on the brim of her eyelids.

"I'm going to actually miss this too." I stuttered, trying not to cry, but it was no use. I started crying with her, "College. Oh my God. We have to promise to FaceTime every Friday night for weekly updates. Every Friday, seven at night, no exceptions unless there's a long apology call." I reminded her, trying to smile through my tears.

"Promise, promise, promise." She shouts hugging me tightly, "And you're coming over my house right after the parties and you're sleeping over! We're going to have sleep overs every night this summer."

"And in two weeks we're going on that road trip with the boys." I added. We both laughed lightly, hugging each other tightly. "I love you so much. You're the greatest friend a girl can have." I tell her, my lips pressed against her ear so we were drowned out by the band and loud people around us.

"I love you too Kimmy kins. You're my best friend for life." She vows back, "This isn't good bye. Not yet!"

"Of course not! Never!" I shout back at her.

"KIM!" Another female voice shouted over the crowed. It was Brittany, one of Katie's best friend's, "I can't believe you added me into your speech! That was go precious of you." She said hugging me.

"No problem, it was too important and funny to leave out." I joke, hugging her back. Glad it was alright I brought that up, I forgot to ask her. Whoops!

"I hope you have an amazing experience at college. Facebook me some time, doll." She says, running off quickly to see more people.

"I will and you too." I shout to her as she went on talking to Katie. I talked to some other people who were congratulating me and telling me that my speech made the night even better. It was far more interesting that Principle Monroe's speech, I got that a lot.

Suddenly I was lifted off my feet from the back. I laugh, kicking around my feet and trying to squirm to face him. I knew it was him, "That speech was amazing, Kimmy!" He tells me honestly, kissing me with a passion.

"I'm glad you like it." I smile, pecking his lips.

"Liked it? I love it! And I love you, Kimmy." He said kissing me again.

"I love you too, Ash." I whisper against his lips, the smile on my face not faltering at the slightest.

"Where's my hug?!" Both Ty and Dylan shouted opening their arms wide open.

"Oh guys, I'm going to miss you too!" I yell, hugging them at the same time, "Good luck in college, guys."

As Asher set off to go say good bye to the rest of the football team and coaches, I went off looking for more people to say good bye too. Some of my teachers gave me compliments on my speech, other students that I've never talked to even came up to me to say it was amazing. Even Eugene Prescott said that I did a better job than he would have.

"Kim!" Maddi hollered, waving her hand in the air over the crowd. I stop for a moment, smiling as I waited for her to catch up, "Oh my God, Kim, your speech was astounding. That was really something. I was laughing, crying, and awing at everything." She compliments, hugging me the whole time.

"Thanks Maddi." I tell her gratefully, "It was nice getting to know you. We may have had our up and down, but I'm glad we made it past that."

"Me too! You are the nicest girlfriend or ex-girlfriend- whatever. I would have been a bitch to you if it was the other way around and I thought you were stealing my man." She laughed, making me think about it weirdly, but I laughing anyways. She didn't think I acted like a bitch? Huh.

"Yeah well, I know I was a bitch to you at the time. I'm sorry, but I'm really happy for you now! I'm glad you and Spencer are back together. Every time he talked about you it was like he was talking about an angel. He really loves you Maddi." I tell her.

"Thanks Kim. He loved you too you know. Every time he talked about you he did truly care about you. He still does you know. He was worried about you all last week, wondering how you were stressing over your speech. I was even jealous." She tells me with a small laugh.

"He's a sweet guy." I say truthfully, pouting my lips and awing in my head, "I guess it just wasn't meant to be you know, but we have some nice memories together too." I shrug, brushing it off. The past is the past.

"Well I'm, happy for you and Asher. I know for sure that you're going to be in great protective hands with him. He really, really loves you, and I told you! I TOLD YOU! I told you he loves you remember!" she yelled, pointing a finger at me smiling widely.

I rolled my eyes, not able to resist a smile, "Yeah, yeah, you told me. You were right."

"Yes I was." she said smugly, rubbing it in, "A guy and a girl can be best friends, but all it takes is time for the one of them to fall in love." she winks. I blushed smiling, she always had the right things to say.

"My two favorite girls!" Spencer shouts behind us, squeezing us into a hug, "By the way you killed that speech, oh my. I didn't have any doubts that you wouldn't do anything but great, but you really did exceed my expectation. I didn't think you were going to be that funny." He tells me, pulling me in for a hug first.

"You should know that I am a hoot." I tease him, squeezing him tightly as well, "Promise we'll hang out this summer. You can't leave without hanging out with me. And you two better come with us on that road trip, we're counting on you." I tell them both as a reminder.

"You know we'll be there with you guys." Spencer nods his head determinedly, "You're going to do phenomenal in college, not doubt about it, and if you ever decided to transfer or visit Florida you hit us up."

"Most definitely. Thank you Spencer, for everything." I tell him, giving him one last hug and a kiss on the cheek, "You're going to go far." Hugging Maddi one last time too I forgot to tell her, "Don't forget what I told you." I shout to her with a wink, looking over at Spencer.

"What did she tell you?" I heard Spencer ask.

"You don't need to know." She cooes, wrapping her arms around his hips, reaching up to peck his lips.

I smile at them walking away, straight into the arms of Asher, "Hello gorgeous."

"Hello handsome." I giggle, quickly pecking his lips, "Ready to go? I told my parents I would meet them in the parking lot so they don't have to get mixed up in this crowd."

"Mine too. But before we go to the party I want to bring you somewhere." He tells me, holding my hand to lead me out.

"Where?"

"It's a surprise. You'll see."

When we got to the parking lot squeals of joy and delight came from the Taylors and the Knights. Being tackled into hugs, kisses, and praises. Kelly and Scott gave me flattering compliments about my speech and so did my parents. They were proud of both of us and told us that they'd bring us both to dinner or breakfast tomorrow. Our choice, but they knew we'd want to go out with our friends to the party, so we choose breakfast tomorrow.

Asher pulled me into the car driving away still in our caps and gowns, not even telling me where we were going, "Ash where are we going?" I laugh lightly throwing the cap in the back seat.

"A quick stop before the party." He winks

~~~~~

Asher's POV

"No you didn't!" Kimmy shouts on the top of her lungs. I didn't know if the shouting was her being horrified or excited, but I got out of the car anyways. I took the keys out of the engine as it stayed stationary far back on the cliff.

"I did. Come on." I started getting out of the car. I unzipped the gown and threw it in the back seat, unbuttoning my checkered shirt. Peeking over I looked at the ocean, the waves crashing on the rocks spraying sea foam higher up. It's a beautiful evening to cliff jump again, Kimmy did promise she'd do it in the summer.

"Asher no way, I just did my hair for the party, and my make-up-"

"Kimmy I know you, you probably put water proof make-up on and no one is going to care about how your hair looks. To be honest I like it when it's naturally wavy like that." I said seriously.

"Asher..." She hesitated.

"Come on! I even brought you extra clothes just in case. It's all in the trunk, this time I came prepared." I comforted her. She balanced her weight from one leg to the other thinking about it. A small smile tugged on the side of her lips as she slipped off the gown.

"Fine then. But I'm jumping first."

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