(Ana'ѕ POV)
Мay 20тн, 2016.
"Gradυaтιon ιѕ тнe ғιnal ѕтep ғor мoѕт people тo grow υp. Тнe day yoυ gradυaтe proveѕ нow нard yoυ worĸed, and everyone ιѕ eqυal. Мany ѕay gradυaтιon ιѕ jυѕт a ѕтeppιng ѕтone on тнe way тo college. Нoneѕтly? Gradυaтιon ιѕ тнe тraмpolιne тнaт нυrlѕ yoυ ιnтo тнe real world, ғυll oғ тragedιeѕ, love, danger and advenтυre. Enjoy ιт wнιle yoυ can." - ELҒ
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The school was decorated with reds and golds, our school's colors. People were huddled in groups, we were all wearing our ridiculous gowns and caps. Honestly, we look like we are wearing big puffy pillowcases.
Gigi and Emma ran up to me and pulled me into a hug. "Oh em geeeeee!! It's finally time to get out of this hell hole!!!!" Emma squealed, twirling me around.
I giggled. "I agree. I can't believe we all got into the same college!!! Even Louis!! I do think he might've bribed some people....." I whispered, laughing loudly when Louis shoved me playfully.
"Bribe? Pshhh! My charm is all I need!" He laughed, making me roll my eyes.
"Whatevs!!!" Emma said, pulling me to my old locker. I had emptied it the day before.
"Open it!!" Gigi encouraged me.
I looked at them suspiciously, what were they doing? I slowly put in the combination. 20, 45, 8. Click. I opened the steel door and smiled. Four big presents sat there. I spun around.
"I said no presents!!" I laughed. Of course, so did they, but that didn't stop me from getting them stuff. It was all in my car.
Lucas just rolled his eyes. "Open mine first!!" Gigi squealed, handing me a purple box. I slowly peeled off the wrapping paper. Another box was underneath.
I pulled the lid off and gasped. It was a small statue of Gigi and Me hugging!! On it was engraved, To my best friend on our graduation day! I love ya!! Don't forget me when ur super rich and more famous than now!!! - Gigi Garza, May 20th, 2016
The present was beautiful!!! I hugged her. "Thank you, babe!!!!" I whispered.
She smiled and Emma handed me the next gift. I opened it and laughed. It was a quilt of all the shirts we had bought when we went on a road trip across the states last summer! I picked it up and pulled Emma into a big hug.
"I love it Em!" I giggled. She giggled too and Louis gave me his present.
I removed the paper and my jaw dropped. It was one of the dresses I had had my eyes on ever since Scarlett started filming. It was the one she wears when- oops! I can't tell ya!!!
It is a long flowy pale pink dress that trails out behind me. It came with a silver cloak type thing and a fur cardigan. I jumped up and hugged him with a laugh. Wait, who was the other gift from?
Emma saw me eyeing it, and smiled. "This one's' from all of us! Curiously, I opened it. It's a big book? I opened the first page and almost died laughing. No, it was a scrapbook of all of our friendships!!
On the first page was when I only knew Emma, and we had glued our teacher's butt to his seat because he called us spoiled brats. That was in third grade!!! I flipped through the pages and laughed and the amusing pictures.
I placed my arms around them, to the best of my ability, and pulled them into a hug.
Choking noises came from behind us. "Uh- uh, disgusting! In choking on your lovey crap. You all disgust me!" Melinda laughed. Oh yeah, apparently she didn't care who I was.
"Back off Melinda, nobody cares what you think." I snarled.
She just rolled her eyes and pulled Josh down the hall. I refused to look at him. "I should beat the crap out of him!!" Emma spat.
"No, you shouldn't!" I argued.
"Yes, I should."
"No, you shouldn't."
"Yes."
"No."
"Ye-"
"Would all senior students please report to the gymnasium immediately." My aunts' voice said, over the speaker comm.
We immediately quit messing about and I put my stuff in the big bag I had brought with me. Aunt Lacy stood by the door and took the bag from me with a hug. "I'm so proud of you." She whispered as we went in. I smiled and walked to the Ls.
Lucas was upfront, Emma was behind me, and Gigi was behind Lucas. All the students took their designated spots and got ready to start. In the audience, I saw my family, smiling and waving. I giggled quietly and waved back.
The joyous look on mums' face made me happy. They're proud of me, and that makes me feel good. People ahead of me were called and I screamed loudly when I heard Lucas and Gigi's names. Finally, it was my turn.
"Ana Lars." The whole place lit up with yells. I smiled shyly and went up to my aunt who winked and handed me my diploma we took a silly picture and I went and found Louis and Gigi. Emma was called and we yelled loudly.
I ignored Josh's name and continued to laugh. At the end, Emma, the Valedictorian was called up. She had a whole speech planned.
"You know what? Fuck it! I had a whole speech planned, but I'm just gonna say my mind. We're all here guys, time to get out of this pit of hell! We have had our troubles and suffered through our differences, but today we put it all aside and stand as one to get the hell out!" She yelled and all the students cheered.
"Gradυaтιon ιѕ тнe ғιnal ѕтep ғor мoѕт people тo grow υp. Тнe day yoυ gradυaтe proveѕ нow нard yoυ worĸed, and everyone ιѕ eqυal. Мany ѕay gradυaтιon ιѕ jυѕт a ѕтeppιng ѕтone on тнe way тo college. Нoneѕтly? Gradυaтιon ιѕ тнe тraмpolιne тнaт нυrlѕ yoυ ιnтo тнe real world, ғυll oғ тragedιeѕ, love, danger and advenтυre. Enjoy ιт wнιle yoυ can."
Everyone applauded and Aunt Lacy walked up onto the stage. "Congratulations class of 2016! You are out of here!" She yelled.
We screamed and tossed our hats in the air. I pulled off my gown to show the dress I had on underneath. My friends all took their gowns off and we ran out the door with the school behind us. There was going to be a party at a downtown club, for all of us seniors and my model friends. I organized it.
I got in my car with my friends behind me. Before I hit the gas, I gave them their presents. "Open them now!" I giggled as I drive down the road.
Emma's scream came first. "OH MY GOD!! ANA!!" I had gotten her the really fancy jewelry set she had wanted for two years. I had engraved the words: Congrats Bestie- Ana on it. Gigi yelled next. I had gotten her the glass dog sculpture that she had wanted.
Louis laughed when he opened his. I had seen him eyeing a watch, original I know, but I had also gotten him a bar of 'Heaven'. An inside joke that you wouldn't understand. Finally, I gave them all a big box, while driving. Yeah, kind of stupid.....
Emma opened it and screamed so loud that I jerked the wheel. Oh, I had gotten everyone tickets to my big fashion show, AND tickets to the opening show of Scarlett in Hollywood, even though it wouldn't actually happen until September. Gigi laughed and held up three necklaces and a bracelet.
I had gotten all of us, even Louis, matching best friend jewelry. Emma and Gigi immediately put theirs on, and after peer pressure, Louis did too. When I parked the car, I put my necklace on.
We all linked arms and walked inside the club. Welcome to freedom.
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(Josh's POV)
Melinda was going on about something when I watched them walk past. Ana and her friends. They looked so happy. I thought I'd be happy, leaving this hell hole, but I guess not.
Ana opened her locker and saw a bunch of presents. I heard her laugh as she opened them. She was smiling so happily. When she pulled all of them into a hug, Melinda noticed me staring at them. She scoffed and dragged me to them.
"Uh- uh, disgusting! In choking on your lovey crap. You all disgust me!" Melinda laughed, fake choking. I acted along, but couldn't help feel bad. Ana was about to reply when the intercom came on and we were all told to come to the gym.
Melinda dragged me away and kissed me on the cheek before going to the J section. I went to T and watched for Ana. Her smile was contagious, but I didn't let it show.
I felt like a stalker, but I can't help it. I like it when she smiles. She looked in my direction, and I froze before I realized that she was looking into the audience. She lifted her hand and waved to someone. Probably her family, who hate me now.
I bounced on my feet impatiently. Why was this taking so long? Finally, the first people started being called, and I watched as Ana cheered really loudly when her friends went up.
"Ana Lars." I couldn't help but clap as well, as Ana strolled across the stage like she owned it, which she probably did.
The principal, who I figured out was her Aunt, posed silly with Ana and sent her off. "Drew Tal." Was called up. Next, it was me.
"Josh Thomson." All of my friends burst out with enthusiastic cheers, and I could hear my dad and Andrew yelling out. I couldn't help but feel disappointed when I noticed that Ana didn't do anything, not even smile.
I walked off the stage and Travis grabbed me in a chokehold. I almost flipped him over and returned the favor. He glared up at me while I laughed. We all stopped talking when the Principal started talking.
"And now I would like to introduce our class of 2016 valedictorian, Emma Manas!" I watched as Ana's friend walked onto the stage.
"You know what? Fuck it! I had a whole speech planned, but I'm just gonna say my mind. We're all here guys, time to get out of this pit of hell! We have had our troubles and suffered through our differences, but today we put it all aside and stand as one to get the hell out!" She yelled and all the students cheered.
"Gradυaтιon ιѕ тнe ғιnal ѕтep ғor мoѕт people тo grow υp. Тнe day yoυ gradυaтe proveѕ нow нard yoυ worĸed, and everyone ιѕ eqυal. Мany ѕay gradυaтιon ιѕ jυѕт a ѕтeppιng ѕтone on тнe way тo college. Нoneѕтly? Gradυaтιon ιѕ тнe тraмpolιne тнaт нυrlѕ yoυ ιnтo тнe real world, ғυll oғ тragedιeѕ, love, danger and advenтυre. Enjoy ιт wнιle yoυ can."
The principal took the mike with a laugh. "Congrats class of 2016! You are out of here!" We all cheered and tossed our hats in the air. I pulled my gown off. I was wearing nicer clothes underneath because Melinda and I were apparently crashing Ana's party.
Melinda found me and I split from my friends with a wince. They laughed at my melancholy state. Melinda shoved me into my own car and told me to start driving.
"So, what did you get me for my graduation present?" She asked.
Oh crap! I didn't get her one. "I'll show you when we get to my house!" I lied.
She giggled, believing me. I sighed through my nose. I found myself behind Ana's car, coincidentally of course. She jerked the car at one point, and I could see her laughing with all of her friends. It made my heart tug.
We finally reached the club where the party was being held and I jumped out with Melinda behind me. We walked in and I noticed Ana greeting a bunch of her model friends. Melinda just rolled her eyes. I seriously don't understand her problem.
I noticed the bar was open. Ana does realize we are all only eighteen, right? Oh well, you only live once. I ordered a beer and Melinda asked for whiskey. This would be good, Melinda can't stand whiskey. She took one sip and ended up spitting all over the poor guy.
"Eh, I forgot how nasty this stuff was." She stated, running over to the bathroom. The bartender looked at me.
"Sorry man, she's crazy." He just laughed. More students came pouring in, and I soon found Travis and Aaron.
We all took shots and they went off to find some poor drunk girl to grind on. Melinda came back and ordered a water. She eventually pulled me onto the dance floor and attempted to dance sexily. I held back a laugh. What did, and do I see in her?
Maybe an hour or two passed when Melinda got bored and forced me to drive home. I was forced to deal with her cat-like singing in the car. I considered jumping out while the car was moving.
When we reached my house, Melinda pulled me upstairs. Just when we got in, I heard a knock on the door. Melinda stormed over to it and slammed it open. It was Drew.
"Josh, can I talk to-" He began.
"Scram kid! Don't you see we're busy you little brat!" I saw the hurt look on Drew's face, and decided enough was enough. I grabbed Melinda and pulled her downstairs.
"Where are we going?" She giggled.
"You are going home and not coming back." I demanded.
She looked furious. "What are you talking about?"
"We are done now get out of here!"
"But I don't have my car and I live five minutes away!" She whined, putting in the hurt look.
"Not my problem. Better get walking." I snarled, slamming the door shut.
Drew was in his room. "Sorry bud, you won't be seeing her again." I said.
"What happened?" He asked.
"Well, I kicked her out and-"
"NO! Not with Melinda! What happened with you and Ana? When you were with her, you actually cared about me! You talked to me! I like Ana!!" He yelled, tears filling his eyes.
"I don't know bud, I can't exactly remember that night, all I know is that I supposedly cheated on her." I admitted.
"Leave me alone Josh." Drew said, curling up in his bed.
"Drew-"
"LEAVE ME ALONE!" He choked out, throwing a pillow at me. I walked out and shut the door behind me. I screw up everything, with my family and with the girl I love. I walked into my room and punched the wall, creating a hole. Yet another thug I have to fix.
I grabbed my stuff and went to our gym, beating the cap out of the bag. I almost broke it off when my dad's voice stopped me.
"Josh, what is going on with you?" He asked.
I put my head on the bag. "I keep screwing up dad. With Drew and Ana, with everyone!" I said, slamming the bag again.
"So you think punching a bag will help you with that?" He mocked.
I glared at him. "Josh, go to the college you got in, finish the movie, continue your modeling, do what you want. Stop your old habits. Talk to us more. Staying the same won't help you get better." He told me. I looked up at him. He was right.
"I know I need to change dad. I do, it's just-"
"It doesn't feel right?" He guessed.
I nodded. "Well, get over it, or you will be miserable for the rest of your life."
With that, he left. I closed my eyes and reopened them. Why do I keep screwing up? I put my head in my hands. It's time to change. I grabbed my bag and walked downstairs to the mail. My college acceptance letter stared at me.
Rosewood College, here I come.
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