4 years later...
I stood in front of the mirror beside Maya.
We looked at each other. It was about one hour away from the ceremony.
We weren't going to be late. Smiles.
We put on each other's togas.
Maya smiles. "I can't believe this is actually happening"
I smile. "I know. Me too."
She looks at me. "We survived high school, Riles"
"Yes we did. We were kings"
"And we will stay kings"
"Even in college"
"And for the rest of our lives"
We smile at each other.
"Thunder"
She clasps her hand with mine.
"Lightning"
"Let's do this" I say, as I place her graduation cap on her head.
❅❅❅❅❅❅❅❅❅❅❅❅❅❅❅❅❅
We sat down beside each other during the ceremony.
They haven't announced who is making the speech.
I can see Maya fidgeting. She looks at me and smiles.
I turn around and see them there too.
Lucas, Farkle, Isadora, and Miles.
Especially Miles.
Zay even came to New York just to watch our graduation.
I spot him in the audience and wave. He waves back.
I suddenly come back to reality as our principal announces the valedictorian.
"And now, please welcome, the valedictorian of Batch 2020, miss Maya Hart"
I scream in joy. Maya smiles back at me.
Oooohhhhhhh. She knew all along.
That's why she was so nervous.
Hahaha.
I was so happy.
Maya stood up and walked up to the podium.
She tapped the mic once to test it, then began her speech.
"Thank you. When I entered Abigail Adams High, I never expected to be valedictorian. I never expected to be part of the top of the class. There was even a point I didn't think I would even graduate. My worry was that this was never going to work. I wouldn't get good grades, I would fail, maybe be expelled." She looks up at me, Lucas, Farkle, Smackle, Miles.
"But my friends got me through. I don't think I would have survived high school without them. They pushed me to be the best that I can be. I was so good I even beat Miss Matthews for the valedictorian spot!"
I laugh. She continues.
"We were kings." She smiles up at us.
I give her a tiny wave. She waves back.
"We're all going to start a new chapter in our lives. We're gonna go to college. Get some jobs. Maybe even get a boyfriend. Maybe some of you will propose to each other right after graduation." Everyone laughs. I glance at my parents. I know where she got that idea from. They're laughing. Of course, that's their story.
I catch Maya giving a look to Miles. Miles is smiling.
Hmmmmm, maybe they're gonna start a relationship. It's been four years after all. Haha. I snap back to reality.
"But no matter what, the friends that we have made through this journey will stay with us forever, I repeat, no matter what."
"We did it Batch 2020! We're free!" She happily says, then throws her cap.
Everyone in the batch stands up and throws their cap.
I throw my own cap too. I catch it just as Maya runs offstage.
We laugh and go to our friends.
We all smile at each other.
Farkle pecks Isadora with a kiss.
Maya runs to Miles and hugs him.
Lucas approaches me. We hug each other.
"We finally did it" I say.
We're all so happy right now.
Maya and Miles may not be together.
Me and Lucas may not be together.
But we all have the best kind of relationship there can be.
Even better than love.
We have friendship.
We're friends.
Nothing more.
Maybe just a little.
But someday.
Maybe.
We just might.