Being Friends With A Bully ✔ (REWRITING & EDITING)

21: Graduating High School

Chapter 21: Graduating High School

Today was the official day of being a Senior in high school. Everyone wasn't doing their assignments in class since it was the last day for us Senior's. I stayed close with my one and only best friend, Rose. Her and Harry were going to move in right after school has ended. They both found a college to attend and yet still live in the house together. We all agreed that we were going to be friends forever and not slowly drift apart. Niall and I planned everything out for our future. Even though were were still young, we made a bucket list on what were going to do before we reach 21. 

- Move in together

- Adopt a pet

- Have a paint ball fight

- Get drunk together and hopefully not burn down the city

- Last, but not least, get married maybe..

As I was sitting down in math, my last subject, everyone in the classroom got up from their seats. It was the last 5 minutes of class and everyone got excited, running around, hugging each other, tears came streaming down. It's where we are finally adults and friendships become drifting apart. As for Rose and I, we promised to keep in touch with each other at least every month. 

The school bell rang, excusing everyone from their classes. Everyone in my class threw their papers high up in the air and rushed out the door within seconds. As me being polite and sweet, I greeted my teacher a goodbye. Rose rolled her eyes and waited next to me by the door, whispering to me to hurry up. My teacher greeted me and wished me a grateful future, giving me a small box. I thanked her and walked my way out.

Rose eyed the box and my eyes up and down. I shrugged and placed it inside my backpack, zipping it up slowly. Hand's were placed in front of my eyes, making my vision black. I felt a warm breath tingle down my neck as I rised up from the ground. 

"Niall?" He laughed making it obvious. He turned me around, brushing his soft pink lips on mine. Rose made a gagging noise as we started to make out. Later on, we had to come back to school in our graduating gowns and receive our diploma. 

"You know we have to go change right, love birds?" Rose whispered. We nodded and parted away slowly. Rose took my hand and we rushed out the school, running to my house. I gasped for air as we continued to run home. 

We headed inside, greeting my Mum as she was reading her magazines as usual. We headed upstairs to my room and changed quickly into our blue and yellow gowns. We did our makeup, applied our nail polishes while time was ticking away. I glanced at the clock and saw that were doing our business for a few hours. 

"It's time Rose." I whispered nervously. She looked up at me, nodding her head slowly. She slipped on her cute, adorable flats as I did the same. We all got in the car, Mum in the front next to Dad, and leaving Max next to Rose and I in the back. He was a bit squished, but he didn't complain. He was a nice guy that didn't talk much. 

"So how are you ladies?" Dad asked serious. I glanced at Rose and laughed. He looked at us and smiled. We both gave him a thumbs up as a response. He took it as an answer and changed his position back to the road. 

We all got out the car nervously. I was shaking a bit, while Rose was extemely happy and jumpy. The ceremony was outside in the field. All chairs were already placed, putting bleachers out for the parents and other guests. Rose and I sat down on the chairs, waiting for other peoples arrivals. I glanced around, looking for Niall. Nope, nowhere to be seen. My legs started shaking. I was a bit scared. 

"Calm down, he'll be here soon." Rose whispered. I nodded, taking a deep breath. A few moments later, the field was packed with graduating seniors. The seats around were filled by random people instead of Niall. I looked at Rose with sadness in my eyes. She took a deep breath, texting someone on her phone. 

The whole school ground field was filled with students, grandparents, parents, friends. The principal came to the stage and started giving out speeches, saying how good our careers will be and to always believe in yourself. Muisc started playing and there was the secretary passing out the diploma's. They excused us by letting us go row by row. Rose and I were sitting in the very last row, so it would take a bit of time for us to get to the stage. 

The row in front of us recieved their diploma's sitting down in their seats. It was finally Rose and I's turn. Our row stood up, walking slowly to the stage. We recieved our diploma's walking back to our seats. Next to me was a guy, hiding his face with his blue hat. I looked at weird and noticed a blonde haired kid. I smiled and hugged his side. It was Niall. 

"What took you so long to get here?" I whispered. He smiled and me and pointed at his Mum and Dad, they were smiling at us, probably hoping to meet me. Niall already met my parents obviously, but I didn't meet his. Today was a great day to finally meet them with my parents as well.

"I had to pick them up from the airport. Sorry it took so long." He whispered. We sat down hand and hand, listening to our principal marking out his final words. As soon as he was done with this his final speech, we all rose up and tossed our hats in the air. I glanced at Mum and Dad and noticed that Mum was leaning on Dad's shoulder crying up some tears. I smiled at them, shredding some tears as well. 

Our parents ran down from the bleachers and hugged us all tightly. My Mum broke my heart to pieces seeing her cry because of me. Niall was with his parents, pointing at my direction. Max played on his phone, but friends of mine kept pinching his cheeks and ruffling their knuckles through his hair. He got pretty annoyed, but for a ten year old, he was kind of flirting with them..Awkward.

"You must be Ashley?" Niall's Mum, Maura asked. I nodded while she spreaded her arms wide for a Horan hug. 

"It's nice to finally meet you Mrs.Horan!" I said. She shook her head and told me to call her Maura, with Niall's dad, Bobby. Once she saw my little brother, she pinched his cheeks and pulled up his pants since, they were hanging low a bit. We all laughed at him, while Max was blushing madly, pink. 

My Mom and Maura had a talk with each other, while Dad and Bobby were doing the same as well. He was thinking of sending Niall to the military, but the fact of what happened to Dad, he changed his mind. Thank you Dad. I would never want Niall to go away from me from miles and miles away. 

Mom tugged on my gown and pulled me to the side away from the big crowd. She guided me over to the grassy field for a small talk. 

"Your growing up so fast Ashley." She whispered. She started crying, but quickly wiped them away. We sat down on the grass next to each other. I leaned my head on her shoulder, while she layed her head on top of mine. 

"I'll always be your little girl, Mum. I'll always be there for you, dad and Max." I whispered. She played with the grass, picking them out and throwing them everywhere. I patted her back, while she kissed the top of my forehead and took a deep breath. 

"Since your finally 18, you may move out of the house if you want. Dad and I will help you out with bills and stuff." She took a deep breath in between those words, but she was happy for me. I hugged her tightly, crying on her shoulder. 

"I love you." I said. She whispered I love you too, and gave me another hug. We both rose up from the grass and walked back to the crowd. I walked over to Niall and told him the news. He suggested that we could live together. That was now crossed off of our bucket list. 

Today was one of the best days of my life. Sadly, it was still the worst since your parting away from your friends and attending different colleges. Harry, Niall, Rose, Louis, Liam, Zayn and I agreed that we would all attend the same college and keep our friendship strong. We were known as the seven musketeers.