A/N: "Cowboy Boots" by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis is so perfect for this. Check it out while reading this if you can. xoxo


Emotions ran high. No one was ready to let go of each other yet. It seemed that only yesterday they were sixteen and Caitlin just joined their circle of friends. Now they were eighteen with a seventh friend in the group and were set to graduate high school in less than a week.

It was midnight and the seven of them sat on a bench in the park as they reminisced on the great things that they experienced together, not ready to let go just yet. No one wanted to rely on just the memories. They wanted to live with each other in the here and now.

Caitlin spoke the first words said in minutes. "I can't believe we're going to college this fall." She wiped away a few tears. "Why do we have to grow up so fast?"

Sighing heavily, Jen said, "That's just life, Caitlin."

The air was thick with a blend of nostalgia, friendship, and sorrow.

Nikki gazed at her six other friends, holding on to the moment they were in. She gave a sincere chuckle despite trying to keep her eyes from turning red and watering. "Look at us. We're such a sad bunch." Her voice trembled when she uttered, "I'm gonna miss you guys like hell." The tears she tried holding back began to fall.

Sitting beside her, Jonesy and Jen pulled her into a hug. The rest followed suit, creating a big group hug. No verbal response was needed. Just by their actions, it was made clear that they were going to miss each other insanely. On the receiving end of the hug, Nikki nuzzled into Jonesy's warm embrace while also smiling at her closest friend Jen. She smiled back with her teeth so white but her eyes so red from the tears she wept.

No one wanted to let go.