Chapter 24 – Graduation
Riley sat in her father's classroom for what felt like the last time, graduation was less than an hour away and she wanted to take a moment to remember the last four years, most of which had been spent in that room. He would continue to teach there and hopefully when Auggie started High School he would get the same kind of lessons that she had gotten. She sighed because she wondered if she had left behind a legacy for her brother, and all of the new students that would come long after she had left. The only real legacy she had left at the school was her father and her memories.
"Riles its almost time to line up," Maya said as she walked into the room.
"Maya can you believe it we're graduating today," Riley said smiling.
"I didn't even think I would make it out of middle school, hell I didn't think I would be going to college but I am, and it's all thanks to you."
"Nah you did all the work, you deserve this as much as anyone else does."
"Riley seriously I wouldn't have gotten this far without you, whenever I got lost you brought me back, when I thought about quitting over a failing grade you made she I came back. You're a great friend and leader to us."
"Thank Peaches," Riley said as a tear escaped her eye.
"No crying, your mother wants pictures and you can't look like a mess remember the rules for today."
"I will not cry, I will smile for everyone, I will graduate without tripping and ending up in the hospital."
"Good now let's go line up, Farkle is making the valedictorian speech today and I wanna see if he messes up for once."
Riley smiled at her best friend, her sister in life, and got up taking her hand. They weren't sitting together because they had to be in alphabetical order so she should be with Farkle but since he and Smackle were the top two student they were going to sit on stage with the teachers. Riley was going to be alone for most of the day, but she had made a deal with Lucas that when they finished calling their names she would sneak into his row and sit with him. Maya and Zay were both going to do the same thing because they wanted to live their final moment of high school together.
The ceremony was long and boring but when Farkle walked up to the podium Riley felt proud of her friends for making it this far together.
"Good morning, parents, staff, and our graduating class," he started. "The last four years of our lives have been filled with ups and downs, we've learned together and have grown together, we've learned to love as well as letting go of our hate towards one another. As we enter the next phase of our lives we will go on to make our own histories, some of us will go into higher education knowing where we want to go while other will struggle to find who they want to be, but above all of this we will be surrounded by friends and family. We will learn hard lessons and grow from them and we will become better people with each step. Over the last seven years of my life I've been taught that 'People Change People' and that this is the meaning to life. You have all changed me and I hope that I have changed you as well. Thank you I am Farkle," he finished.
Riley smiled because it had been years since he's used that expression but it was also a reminder of how much he had grown since middle school. The rest of the graduation went by in a blur, Riley tried not to cry when they called her name on the stage but she did. It was her last steps as a high school student, she was going to cry regardless. When she walked towards where her friends had left her an empty seat Maya handed her a tissue and scoffed at her tears.
"What did I tell you," she said. Lucas and Zay laughed as Riley wiped away the last of the tears that had fallen.
"Sorry Maya," she said looking down at her hands.
"Whatever, I knew not to expect too much from you when it comes to your emotions but at least you didn't turn into a puddle on the floor."
"Thanks Peaches," Riley said before turning her attention back to the stage.
It was over, for real this time. As the principal called for the graduating class to stand Riley took Lucas's hand and held him down. He smiled at her trying to reassure her that everything was fine and they were going to be together in the fall going to school for another four years. But Riley had been holding onto something else. She was doubting her life, her friendships, and her relationship with Lucas. She didn't want them to be separated because she didn't know what it would do to her if they were. She thought back to October when they went to Texas and what had happened afterward. She thought back to what happened because she hid her feelings and the fear of losing him took over like it had so many months before.
"Lucas," she said knowing that what she was about to do was crazy. "Will you marry me?"