ayla's pov | graduation day
"I can't wait to escape today without any sort of drama between Jonah and Daniel." I was getting my curls done by Christina while Maya did her makeup. "Hey, at least you got 2 super cute boys swooning over you," Maya threw, completely forgetting that I only loved one of them as my boyfriend.
"Whatever. I just hope-"
Suddenly there was a soft knocking on the door. Jonah's head popped in. "Speak of the devil," Maya mumbled under her breath. Chuckling nervously, Jonah politely excused me saying, "Can I talk to Ayla for a second?" I glanced at Christina and she just shrugged her shoulders, so I followed him outside my room. "Hey, can you be quick? We have a lot of things to get done. You have 5 minutes." I crossed my arms in front of my chest and waited for him to speak.
"Listen. I just wanted to know that I am so, so, so truly sorry for everything I did in the past. You and Daniel belong together and I shouldn't have tried getting in the way of that. I'm sorry for being a dick most of the time and I just really hope you can forgive me."
I stood there not knowing what to say, until, "No hard feelings, Jonah. We're good," stumbled out. Jonah smiled and happily nodded. Quickly adding, "But that doesn't change the fact that I'm still madly in love with you." Then walked off. I sighed. Going back into my room. "Well?" Christina poked, preparing another curl. "He apologized. I forgave him. That's about it." Then I dropped the conversation. Maya put on Why Don't We music, including their exclusive song, 'Trust Fund Baby' that hasn't been released yet. (😉) When out of nowhere, Carter burst through the door, "Daddy is calling you."
I quickly turned down the music and listened for my dad. "Ayla! Campbell is downstairs asking for you!" My heart instantly dropped. I didn't even feel the heat of the iron when Christina accidentally burned me. "Ayla, do you need us?" I shook my head and silently shuffled downstairs, wearing shorts and one of my dads plaid shirts. My head was now full of voluminous curls that bounced each time I hit a step.
Finally, I was facing him. The boy who had harassed me.
"What do you want." I shot at him, staying close behind the door that I refused to open anymore than a crack. He sneered, "That's not very polite." Chuckling to himself, I rolled my eyes at him as he continued to speak, "I just came to wish you luck today. You'll need it." Clicking his tongue, he jumped at me, giving me no time to react as he grabbed my butt and held me close to him. I could feel his cold breath on my neck as he began kissing it, "You tell anyone, this won't end and I'll get someone to do it to that little brother of yours." I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins, before I heard him.
"Hey! Man! What the hell are you doing? Get off of her!" Jonah was shouting at Campbell who wouldn't let go of me. Jonah began to come faster, raising his fists, "Campbell, get the fuck away from her." Yet Cam stood his ground. Angry, I managed to knee him in the balls and break from his grip. He groaned and protected his area. I backed away. Slamming the door on him. I didn't think to check on Jonah.
Locking the door, I was breathing hard and pulled myself together before I got back to the girls.
"What the fuck was that." Maya snarled coming back from the window. Tears were burning my eyes, "Please. Don't say anything."
"Are we gonna ignore the fact that Jonah saved your ass?" Christina spoke, looking out the window, I adverted my eyes to see Jonah beating Campbell up outside on my front yard. "He knows what he's doing," I sighed, sitting back down to let Christina finish her job.
-
I began walking towards the rows of chairs on our football field. Seeing my dad and Carter sitting in the bleachers before us. The soft ruffle of my purple graduation gown running past my fingers. I looked behind me, pushing my soft curls in front of my shoulder. I looked at Daniel, who was in line right behind me. He sent me a smirk as I sat down, flattening my light dress. "Ready to give that speech, Miss Valedictorian?" I heard Daniels low voice whistle into my ear. I turned and gave him a soft kiss. Nodding, "Ready than I'll ever be," I spoke waiting anxiously for the moment.
Soon, our principal gracefully walked up the stage stairs, her short bob cut dancing in the wind. "Before we begin our ceremony, I'd like to welcome our class valedictorian, Ayla Gray Santos, up to the stage to present her speech. Ayla?" Smiling, I slowly arose from my seat, Daniel gave me a thumbs up and wink as I trotted towards the stage. I glanced down at the paper I had typed into my laptop on the plane ride here. Beginning to recite each word.
"Hey guys. So, I'd like to start off saying; We made it!" With that, several of my classmates clapped, cheering for the rest of my speech. Grinning, I continued.
"Today, we are recognizing the booger-picking strangers from kindergarten that soon became our loving, caring, best friends.The people who we've hated and loved since the first day we met them. The kids who we watched grow up. Kids who made bad decisions. Kids who have been kind souls since the beginning. Kids who were born to be known to the world. Today, we say our goodbye to our classmates whom we once promised we'd never leave. We're moving on from our high school dramas and fantasies and onto the real world. Where we will be sure to face real problems. We all have the ability to go out and do something in this world. And I promise you, that if you truly believe you can do it and you work your hardest for it, you will. Trust me. I used to believe that I couldn't make it in the music industry. Someone turned me down and I thought it was the end of that. I put my love for music aside and focused on more important things like school. But secretly, I'd still practice my guitar. I'd still write music and dream of what would happen if I could really accomplish my goal. It was my little secret. Now, the right people," I locked eyes with Daniel, "helped me realize that I could do anything I set my mind to. I didn't think I had enough talent, but there were people right of front of me, screaming, "You're an idiot. You know why? Because you have a gift and you won't go use it." I mean, look where it's gotten me. Next week, The producers of The Voice are letting me know whether or not I can be on the show. Sometimes we really have to take risks and see where they lead us. The point is, you're all capable of doing what you love. You just have to work for it. I know each and every one of you can do whatever your hearts desire. We've been here for each other since the start. I can't wait to see what God has in store for us all. I know some of us will never speak to each other again. Others may keep in touch but soon drift apart. But there will also be some of us that will never let go of each other. Some of us will really do anything we can to stay together. No matter what the world throws at us. Some things were meant to be. And what matters is: we all knew each other at one point. Whether it was a quick glance in the hallways or a full on relationship, we will never forget this class. We will never forget each other. One day, we'll look back into an old yearbook and show our kids what we were like. You'll point at someone and immediately recall an entire story. "Oh, Jack Avery is a worldwide musician." and "Oh my gosh, I remember Maya, she's a model now." Of course not all of us will be know around the globe. But we don't need to be. Sometimes it's just a "Spencer Matthews? He wasn't really popular, but I can tell you, he had the softest heart and the brightest eyes," "Emily Love was one of the most stunning poet I'd ever heard, I wonder where she is today." Because all these memories that we made together are finally gonna mean something to us. Even though they should've the entire time.
Thank you all for being the people I have been given the chance to grow with. I couldn't ask for a better class. I know we can change the world with our minds and we will. After all, this is only the beginning. Thank you."
Getting a standing ovation, I just smiled my way back to my seat next to Daniel. "Ayla, that was amazing." He gave me a peck on the cheek as my classmates from in front and behind me congratulated me. It felt great. That feeling. Then I just sat there, whispering with Daniel. Awaiting for us to fully become high school graduates.
"Now, let us begin students..."
-
"Jack Avery." Jacks curls flew up as he bounced up the stage with pride. He wasn't the brightest flower in the field, so he was very ecstatic about graduating. As he walked up there, he looked out into the crowd, seeing Ava, Isla and Sydnie wildly cheering for him, along with his mother who had made a poster that read, 'You did it, Jack!' I could see him hold back a tear of joy as he accepted his diploma.
Before he walked off, he did a quick dab, earning a laugh from all the families.
"Corbyn Besson." Corbs giddily trotted his way up there, looking back at Christina who was holding her hands by her heart. He politely shook hands and took his diploma, he threw his arms up and mouthed, 'Yes!' followed by Ashley's and Jordan's shouts. Suddenly as he walked off, Christina screamed, "That's my fucking boyfriend!! Whooo!!" I swear, Corbyn couldn't stop smiling. Echoes from the crowd, bursting with laughter.
"Jonah Frantzich," He didn't seem excited, he just casually walked up there, looking up at his parents, Svea and Esther. They were too shy to cheer, so Daniel, Christina, Maya and the boys did it for him as part of my plan, "Woohoo! Go Jonah!" He smiled, at us. I did see him glance my way, then quickly ignore it. I finally heard Esther call a very loud "Whoop!"
Once he walked off, he just gave the class a sly grin and held his diploma up in the air.
"Zachary Herron," Zach having no filter, sprinted up to the principal, jaw open with happiness but slowed down so he could shake her hand and bring her into a hug. She smiled at him, giving him his slip. Ryan and Reese were screaming at the top of their lungs. So were Myta and Maya, he smirked and screamed 'Wayhoo!!!' before running off and back to his seat.
"Maya Rose," She walked up like a boss. Her parents hollering for her. I screamed, "YES THAS MY BFF GO MAYA!!" And she looked back and held a peace sign for us to see. As she walked back, Zach shouted, "That's my girl!"
"Ayla Santos," I took a deep breath and listened to Dad and Carter shout, "Go Ayla!" for me. Maya shouted, "THATS MY BEST FRIEND BITCHES!" Christina and Daniels screams followed. Relaxing, I grinned ear to ear as I glanced back at Daniel whose eyes were bright and full.
"Congratulations, Miss Santos, I can't wait to see what your future holds," Mrs. Lilies, our principal, informed me as she shook my hand. Handing me my diploma, I began making my way off. When I stopped. I threw one hand in the air and 'Whooed' at the very top of my lungs. Everyone cheered as I made my way back to my seat.
Then there was Daniel. "Daniel Seavey," He softly grabbed my face and planted a kiss on my lips before jogging up and shaking and receiving his diploma. Anna, Tyler and Chris all whooping along with Jeff and Keri. He happily jumped in the air, "High School Musical Style" and jogged off.
I didn't stop cheering until he got to his seat, where I hugged him tight.
After a few more names, Mrs. Lilies finally announced, "Alright, you may now flip your tassels. Now, congratulations to the class of 2018!"
There was a massive wave of purple caps flying, along with Daniel picking me up and kissing me passionately. Maya and Zach and Corbyn and Christina made their way to each other and did the same. It was a great time. Jonah caught my eye though. He was glaring at us. Then smiled.
"Are you ready for the dinner?" Daniel asked as we tried finding our parents. I nodded assuringly when I spotted Carter and he started running towards me leaping into my arms. I thought it was of joy but he seemed terrified. Then I saw her.
-
ha. i'm back.
3/17/18