I have no idea how I feel about this chapter. But it's here. Oi ...
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Everett took a deep breath and shook his head to clear it up a bit. Today was the big day. His graduation. He honestly didn't think he would ever hit this point; it seemed almost like a pipe dream considering all that he had to go through. But there he stood, in his cap and gown (that he was told displayed the colors purple and silver) just waiting to be escorted out to collect his diploma.
He felt accomplished. But also a bit worried. What if he tripped and fell? What if something happened and Lizzie wouldn't be able to make it? He really wanted her to be there. Lizzie had been a huge part of his life over the course of several months and he just couldn't stand the thought of her not being there.
Everett wished that he could peek out and find her, to see her grin as he walked across the stage and picked up his diploma. Well, if she even came. Frowning, Everett shook his head and focused instead on listening for his name.
"Proud of you, kid."
Charlie walked up beside Everett, preparing to escort him out to gran that prized piece of paper. Cracking a small smile, Everett replied, "Nice of you to stick with me. I honestly didn't think you'd be back after I punched you in the face that first day."
Charlie let out a bark of laughter and Everett could imagine he shook his head. "Kid, you throwing a left hook at me is what made me want to hang around you in the first place."
Finally, his name was called out and with a gulp, Everett felt Charlie gently nudge him and say, "C'mon Everett, let's go get you all graduated," before they walked out. With just a few nudges here and there, Everett arrived at the center of the stage and was brought to a halt. He held out his hand and felt a rolled up piece of paper held together by a single ribbon placed in his hand.
Everett could feel a bit of pride welling up inside of him. He couldn't believe that this actually happened. Of course, a sense of sorrow overtook him when he realized that he couldn't pursue anything else. The only life he could look forward to contained sitting at that piano.
It didn't feel as inviting and comforting as it used to. He tried to keep in mind the words his father spoke to him the week prior, but couldn't seem to bring himself back up. His breath clogged in his throat and he tried to swallow the enormous lump that grew there in the past twenty seconds.
He felt lost and as much as he tried to not let it ... his weakness drained him of his strength.
In a daze, Everett felt himself being led off the stage and returned to his seat. The ceremony continued, complete with an inspirational speech that Everett felt went over many heads in the crowd. Everett mainly just sat and twiddled his thumbs repeatedly, tapping his foot awkwardly on the ground.
As the entire crowd stood and hats were thrown in the air, Everett stood there in the flurry of excitement with his cap and gown wondering where his life would be headed.
Because at the moment ... he had no idea.
Moments later, Everett's family came up beside him, giving praise and encouragement, letting him know how proud they were. They led him away to a spot where the noise wasn't as overwhelming and the next few minutes were spent taking pictures.
Oh, how his mother loved being behind the lens of a camera.
"Everett!"
The voice coming from behind him completely blanked out the voices of his parents and brother. Upon hearing it, Everett swung his body around faster than he ever had before, completely forgetting his mother was mid-snapshot - only to feel a body slam into him and lock their arms around him. With a smile Everett returned the favor and squeezed the daylights out of Lizzie.
"You actually made it," he muttered, not actually believing it himself. He invited her so carelessly weeks ago, hoping that he didn't sound too excited for her to come. After he analyzed his tone, though, he realized that he could have persuaded her to stay away rather than attend.
The way he asked her didn't exactly scream, 'I want you there!'.
So to hear her voice chattering away, he couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of joy that she actually made an effort to be there for a what Everett considered to be a very special day.
Lizzie let go and playfully whacked his arm. "Well, duh, I made it. I was in the way back and my pictures are a little blurry but I came and I even have a gift for you."
Everett was in awe. He just couldn't help himself. He didn't realize how much it meant to have Lizzie, or anyone for that matter, in his life until she made that effort to befriend him.
It felt good.
It felt like home.
"I haven't seen you in what feels like way too long!" Lizzie gushed and Everett had to agree with her. Now that they were all graduated, with school behind them, it felt like an eternity since they last hung out together.
"It's been so long, in fact, that I didn't even get to tell you my big news!" Everett listened intently and nodded as a signal for her to continue. "My parents got me a car for graduation!" she exclaimed, hopping up and down.
Everett let out a little grin. It was about time that Lizzie got a car; she always rambled on about how she needed one to get around town and how sooner or later, Jesse would get sick of hauling her to different places.
"Hey, Mr. and Mrs. North? Can I drive Everett home?" she asked suddenly. Everett tried to face the same way her body seemed to go and knew his parents had to be there. And then he actually grasped what she said and the reply from his parents. Lizzie wanted to drive him home, something no one but family ever did.
In a way, it was weird that he'd be in the car of someone else. But on the other hand, he couldn't resist.
With both saying goodbye to the North crew, Lizzie happily tugged Everett away from his family. "So I want you to be the first to step inside my car! I couldn't believe my parents actually got me one. I literally flipped out," she babbled, opening the door and guiding Everett inside.
"What color is it?" he asked, feeling the seat below him. His fingers slid back and forth across the soft fabric and he smiled.
Soft things were nice. Who didn't like soft fabrics?
"Blue. Like, a really cool blue color. I honestly have no idea how to describe it. It's just ... so amazing. And the inside color is a cool grey," she replied, buckling herself in and turning the key in the ignition.
Similar to the car Jesse owned, the engine in this one rumbled as well. Everett couldn't help but smile a little; it felt like home.
Everett realized that as of late, a lot of things involving Lizzie felt comfortable and like home. It was hard to believe that he, at one point in time, hated her with every fiber of his being.
But now? The reversal in his attitude still punched him in the gut. Now he enjoyed her presence , the sense of calm that followed her everywhere. Contrasting how he used to tense when she came near, now he relaxed. Even when they were silent, not speaking a word, it never felt awkward. It surprised him considering he still had awkward moments with his family, even though he had been working on that more recently.
"Well, I think I like it," Everett announced as he reclined, moving his shoulders back and forth on the seat. Sighing loudly, he closed his eyes and lightly tapped his foot to the beat on the radio. His mind wandered off into a little corner, the comfortable silence in the car making the corners of his mouth turn up.
"Are you excited for tomorrow?" Lizzie suddenly asked, her voice serious.
Everett blinked several times before asking, "What's tomorrow?"
He felt a hand smack his arm playfully. "The party! Remember? I told you we were all going to have one big party. You, me and Jesse," she explained.
Everett found that memory locked away and his jaw dropped before he began to sputter out, "But ... but I thought you were kidding! You can't seriously expect me to go to a party, right?"
Everett felt the car come to a stop and assumed they were back at his place; the engine ceasing to run also dropped a not so subtle hint. He opened his door just the same as Lizzie and she came around the car to link her arm with his.
"Oh, come on. This is going to be so much fun," she exclaimed, leading him up to the door of his home. "And don't worry, I'm not going to leave you alone. Yeah, I saw that look, buddy!" Lizzie chuckled when she saw Everett's face contort into an uncomfortable expression.
They stopped on his front porch and Everett felt his body being turned. Lizzie's hands rested on his shoulders and she said, "I promise you'll have fun, Everett. It's gonna be low key, fairly small. Music will be loud, but not overwhelming. You don't have to worry about it being one of those ragers you hear about in the movies."
Everett forced an assuring smile on his face, but Lizzie saw through it. Poking him in the cheek, she stepped away. "Put your party shirt on, buddy. We're going to have a blast tomorrow. Anyone who says otherwise shall be immediately discharged from the gathering!"
"It's gonna be the lamest party ever and I will probably die of boredom," Everett dead panned, hand grasping the door handle.
"Nice try!" Lizzie shouted back, her car door slamming right after.
Everett shook his head as the sound of her engine faded and turned the knob of the door, stepping inside his home.
"Everett! Good, you're back. Ready for a celebratory dinner?" Out of nowhere, though that seemed like a broad horizon for Everett,
Nodding his head, Everett tugged on his graduation gown and said, "Just let me take this off and hang it up." He slowly made his way down the hall and into his room. Slipping off the silky graduation gown, Everett fumbled for a few seconds to find a hanger somewhere in his closet. He realized a little too late that his cap still sat in the seat of Lizzie's car.
"Oh, well ..." he muttered, sliding his gown across the hanger and slipping it back in the closet. Leaving his bedroom, Everett grabbed the jacket hanging on the back of his door before shutting it securely behind him.
"Ready when you guys are," he said as his feet entered the kitchen not sure if anyone heard him, but unwilling to say it again any louder.
Footsteps entered the kitchen from his left and by the squeak, he recognized it to be Jesse. "Hey." Everett made himself busy getting a can of soda from the fridge and cracked it open.
Jesse made some noise of recognition, something like a grunt, and it made Everett frown. While he and Jesse had a lovely heart to heart a couple days ago, Jesse seemed ... tense. At least when Everett was around. Everett didn't know if it continued while Jesse hung out with others, but didn't feel it his place to ask.
Though he did feel a twinge of curiosity as to why his normally relaxed and collected younger brother seemed on edge. Everett rolled his bottom lip into his mouth and chewed on it momentarily before releasing it and trying to shake off all the thoughts. Maybe Jesse was just stressed about the party.
Yeah, that's it, Everett thought, feeling proud that he arrived at a proper conclusion instead of being all negative and bitter. Lizzie would be happy to know that, as well.
"Okay, boys. Let's get out of here and go celebrate!" Denise said excitedly, her hand resting on Everett's shoulder. A month and a half ago, this would have bothered him. Having someone else, even family, in his personal spaced set him on edge. But the relationship he shared with his family somehow became less strained and they acted like a normal family. Well, most of the time.
Cole came squealing in the room next, most likely being carried by Peter and after doing a final check up on everyone, Denise deemed it acceptable for them to leave the house.
"Finally. I'm so starved ..." Jesse muttered from beside Everett.
Everett let his younger brother pass him and then half smiled at the thought that ran through his head as listened to the rest of the clan.
Man, I love my family.
Again, not entirely certain what made me write this chapter this way. I keep getting these ideas and I'm like, GOOD GRIEF CAN I JUST GET TO THE GOOD STUFF ALREADY?! I don't want you guys to get bored hahahahaha don't forget to VOTE COMMENT SHARE TWEET!!!