Chapter LXXVI – Graduation

"… gathered here in front of your families and friends, to mark this important step of your lives…"

Max had a hard time not to yawn at the long speech the Principal was giving. The time since the Prom had literally flown like the wind and all of them finally ended up gathered on the Football field for their graduation.

It was a grand gathering indeed, with friends and families sitting on folding chairs and bleachers in the back, other years student sitting in perfect rows on the sides, like an honor guard, and the graduating class, in perfect rows too, standing in their robes at the foot of the platform.

Blackwell sure likes its theatricals!

Max was not standing with her classmates though. As a new measure to show Blackwell's commitment into its inclusion of people with disabilities, it had been decided those students would not have to stand for the whole ceremony. Max had been happy to hear that part of the briefing they had been given. She had not been as happy when Principal Wells had added that they would be sitting in rows placed in front of their classmates. Max being the only person qualifying, she would have had to sit on her own right in front of the teachers and member of the school board.

The next news had been even worse. Sure, to her relief, she was not sitting alone and had a fellow classmate with her in the person of Kate Marsh. But in exchange, she had been volunteered into giving a speech.

And of course, they told me only yesterday! Probably so I did not find a way to escape!

And just as every single year, students expected to address the gathering were seated on a corner of the platform, for everyone to see.

Well to be fair, usually it's only 'THE' student expected to speak. Poor Kate, bet she never tries to be the valedictorian ever again!

And so, Max clearly could not let herself yawn while Raymond Wells kept speaking again and again, repeating the same things, again and again, just with different words.

I'm sure some of the people in the back are actually sleeping!

Bored, she began to scan the crowd, watching the same boredom on the face of her friends. She smirked as she spotted Chloe leaning back in her chair with her head hanging back pretending she had fallen asleep from the long speech. Beside her, her parents and Joyce sat with pride on their faces, although her dad looked like he was maybe a few minutes away from joining Chloe's performance. The goof!

What a year! She thought, remembering her adventures, the pain, the hardship, the heartbreaks. Dark thoughts begun to creep into her mind as she remembered that dreadful week, all of Chloe's gruesome deaths, her torture at the hand of that Psychopath, the storm.

Her gaze moved to the people – the old geezers, as Chloe would say – sitting on the platform. They all looked like they enjoyed basking in their importance, although some of them seemed genuine in their pride of seeing another batch of graduate. But one of them stood out.

Sitting on his own, avoided by the others who clearly would have preferred he had not come. A man that Max had come to know all too well, to her great displeasure. Both her and Kate had almost caused an incident when they saw Sean Prescott sitting on his chair. Chloe and Victoria had been the one to do it. Both shouting and asking why he was there instead of in a cell.

Well, Chloe's words had more been along the lines of asking why the man was sitting here instead of on his knees servicing some jail boss.

Unfortunately, and as his lawyers had apparently reminded the school administrators aplenty, until his trial is settled, Sean "the fucker" Prescott was still to be treated as an innocent man and a member of the board. And while they had thought he would have the decency of not showing, they could not kick him out without facing repercussions.

Or as Chloe would say, 'The geezer had their balls weighed, measured and they found them lacking.'

And so the man, sire of a crazy murderer, sponsor of a psychopath rapist, king of the Arcadian bullies, blackmailer and in everyone's mind 'mob boss', had been allowed a seat on the platform.

Probably everyone knows it'll be the last time and they did not want to bother with him. Who knows, maybe the devil inside him could jump over to them!

Chloe had to reluctantly let it go – or to be more exact, had to be dragged by a Caulfield dad who looked like a lumberjack one step away from throwing his axe at the rotten tree sitting in front of him. One had to admire his self-control. The punk still managed to have the last word by telling Sean to "enjoy being able to sit down while he could, for it might be much more painful in the future."

The dismissing and hateful look the man sent them did not really help Max feel comfortable though. Part of her began to suspect some shoe was about to drop.

Kate never thought she would feel hatred or anger toward anyone. It had taken a bit of time for her to realize, but in the end she found out she did not even feel hatred for either Nathan or Mark Jefferson. Pity for the way they lost their soul into darkness, yes. But despite all the hurt they brought to her, she did not feel any hatred for them.

She did not feel any for her mother, either. Even if the woman had decided not to come to her own daughter's graduation, had decided not to even recognize her daughter's achievement. Even her father and sisters, who had sided with her mother in at least the way they had ignored her for most of the year, were sitting in the room, trying hard not to feel ashamed under the gaze from the Chases. In the end, she pitied her mother for not being able to recognize the truth behind the Lord's words. No use being upset about her! I proved myself on my own and now she can't say I owe her anything!

But when Sean Prescott showed up as if he still owned the school, when he looked down at Victoria, the only friend his son probably had, as if she had just been some hindrance, when he looked at Max and Chloe as if they were the real cause behind his troubles instead of his own decisions causing them great hurt and pains? She felt the fire start to burn in her heart.

How could someone who hurt her Victoria so much even dare looking at her and our friends as if they were just bugs to be squashed? I hope they decide to make him fry and drop him in the fire pit of hell!

She tried hard to control her emotions and keep her face blank.

Just forget about him! Concentrate on better things. Like what you might do with Vicky tonight!

Kate's mind began wandering, helped by the droning speech from the Principal, and drifted into areas that would have scandalized her just a year ago. How shocked would be Victoria's parents if they knew their daughter had spent most of her previous weeks' evenings mostly naked with her hands and feet in cat paw like gloves, cat ears attached to her head, and a cat tail butt plug lodged into her delicious rump? They probably would have a suffered a seizure.

Maybe I should just tell mother how I had a cat girl pet begging and licking my feet before I let her eat me into delicious orgasms while I did my homework! I'm sure if I give her a stroke, dad and my sisters would be delighted!

She delighted in the thought for a moment before pondering if she should try some of the other toys Chloe had encouraged her to buy. Kate had not really wanted to envisage the dildos and strap-on. She might still remain a bit prude like that, but the penis shaped toys had still given her pause.

On the other hand, having Victoria kneel with her head on the floor and her hands in her back while she pushed that tail plug into her tight little butt had been surprisingly thrilling, not mentioning the moans her kitten had given back had been satisfying Maybe she should see if Vicky would want to try the others?

She was still thinking, tying to imagine how she would feel using that weird strap-on Chloe had put in her bag on a kitty Victoria when Wells' voice ended its speech.

"And so, I now give the stand to the young woman representing this year's graduate of Blackwell Academy, the Valedictorian of the promotion, Ms. Kate Marsh!"

Dear Lord! I nearly missed that! Would have been embarrassing!

Taking a calming breath and hoping her cheeks had not flushed from the realization of where she had been having those kinds of thoughts, Kate quietly stood, straightening her graduate's robe before she walked quietly toward the podium, applauded by most of the audience.

She stood there for a moment, eyes scanning the gathered crowd with increasing anxiety until they met the gaze of a blonde head beaming at her with so much love. Feeling courage coming back to her, she took another deep breath before she began.

"We learned a lot of things this year, a lot of lessons. We attended a lot of classes, bent over a lot of homework and tests, wrecking our minds in order to reach this important step of our lives. But what we learned isn't restricted to those subjects that we are taught at school.

It seems strangely fated that I be the one talking as the Valedictorian today. It is not like I got the position by far. In fact, had it not been for a single Chemistry laboratory grade, Warren probably would have taken the title by far.

But academics aren't the only things we learn as we live through our High School years. We also learn more about ourselves and the realities of the world. We of course learn about these all along the years we spend growing up, and probably all of our lives. But these three years just before we enter adulthood seemed like the most important of all as we gain independency and begin to build the skills that will define our future.

And if someone learned a lot about those subjects this last year, I certainly feel like it is me. I certainly learned of the harsh realities of the world outside the sheltered life of my parent's home. I also learned about my own self, my own strength, my own weaknesses.

But those lessons I shared with most of you this year. We all learned about the dangers of trust and the risks we take when we don't question the motives of people that have a position above us, like teachers. We all learned about the dangers of prejudices and saw how judging someone on some event, only using our feelings, good or bad, about that person and without questioning as to the reasons of these actions. We all learned the painful lesson of what might happen when violence, pettiness, greed and bullying are left unchecked.

Would one of us, some of us even called friend, have fallen so far as to bring a gun to school and shoot a fellow student had we intervened earlier to bring him back to the right path? Would he have used deadly violence had he been punished for his earlier assault and bullying? Would that person loose his mind as he did had we enforced the rules regulating the uses of substances?

It might be sounding accusatory from me, Nathan after all chose on his own, but did we not help him by not stopping him?

One important lesson for our future lives. To question our actions, our decisions, and that of others. To pause before acting and ask ourselves 'Am I doing the right thing?' 'Is he or she acting as one should?' 'Why is he or she not acting as usual?'"

Kate paused, looking around. She knew her speech would darken the mood. But after going through that year, she felt she had to voice these lessons and not let them be forgotten.

"To me, asking myself these questions taught me that a Church and its doctrines isn't the only way of living, that Love, no matter the gender, the age, the social or geographic origins, is the most beautiful thing that we may find in this world. It also taught me that when times are dark and everything seem doomed and it feels like everyone is turning unfairly against you and letting you down, everything isn't completely lost and true friends will be there to support you, that you need to find these true friends, support them, open up to them, before it's too late.

To some of you, not asking yourselves these questions taught you that things may not look like they are, that maybe the usually shy girl who look drunk at a party, kissing boys one after another, might not be only drunk but a victim of a rapist slipping some drugs in her drink. That the bullying that we do and might look fun to us, may in fact bring so much hurt to others that it might drive them to suicide, or murder, making us regret our actions for the rest of our lives."

She tried to keep her tone flat and emotionless as she reminded them of their wrongdoing. She could see several with their head down, looking at their toes in shame.

"Today marks our last day as classmates. We all will be following our own ways, live our own lives. Some of us, we won't see ever again. But please, do not forget the lessons we all shared this year, the one thing that binds us all together. Do not forget how you felt when you heard Max got shot. Don't forget how you felt when you learned the truth of what happened to me. Don't forget the courage and solidarity you showed when you rose and came to put yourself between two hurt students and the relentless harassment of reporters.

Strive to make the world better by thinking not only about yourself but also about others. Study and work while remembering to relax and share time with your friends, to see if maybe they may need some support or if maybe they could give you the support you did not thought, or did not want to admit, you need.

And most importantly, no matter how hard your life is; no matter how good it might feel to make life harder for someone else; please live your lives thinking at all time about the regrets you may open yourselves up to.

And when we meet again in the years far and far away, let us all say proudly and strongly 'I lived a life with no regrets!'"

She pulled back from the podium and smiled. "Thank you for listening."

Max was the first, well maybe a close second after Victoria, clapping her hands at the end of Kate's speech. It took a while for the words to sink in and the crowd joined in the applause. Although, one man did not join in the congratulations.

Asshole to the end, eh Mr. Asscott?

Principal Wells walked toward the podium again and nodded somberly. "Important lessons indeed, thank you Ms Kate for reminding us of them. And what a perfect way to connect with our next student. I know it is unusual to have two student's address at a graduation, but this student was the first who showed how strongly she had retained this important lesson on life. By putting her own life on the line so as to save another, she reflects with her heroism and her example on every one of us. We hope we never have to follow in her steps, but also hope we shall be able to act as she did if we have to.

Ladies and Gentlemen, please show your welcome to Blackwell Academy's very own hero, Ms. Maxine Caulfield."

Max slowly stood, using her cane for support, as students and parents clapped their hands loudly. Once again Sean Prescott just huffed and turned his head away, but Max had not expected him to cheer the one who put the light on his wrongdoing.

She walked toward the podium, trying not to limp too much as her bad leg still trailed, when someone whooed and whistled loud enough to make everyone laugh.

Of course Chloe had to act like a goof!

She stopped by the podium, leaning on it for slight support, and waited for the crowd to quiet down.

"Please call me Max… never Maxine." Max began, causing a collective giggle from the graduating students, Chloe and her families.

She shook her head with a smile as Principal Wells rolled his eyes, then let her face return to seriousness.

"The truth is… I'm no hero. I never really understood why people insist in calling me that. Is it because I got shot trying to protect someone else?

Despite many thinking otherwise, it wasn't a selfless sacrifice on my part. The person I protected wasn't some stranger I did not know. She was just, and still is, the most important person in my life. A person I would not be able to live without, anyway." She looked down for a moment. "Honestly, when I did it, it was more a way of committing suicide and dying with the one I love than offering my life for hers, not that I would not do it."

She shook her head, dismissing the dark thought. "But I don't think I'd do it for anyone. Those who know me, know I'm just a shy, awkward girl, not even able to really stand for myself against bullies – at least not most of the time – and for all the concern I may have for my friends, I did not have enough courage to stand tall and overtly protect one of them from those taking their kicks in passing her for the slut she isn't.

And this is why I don't think I deserve to be called a hero. All I did was protect someone I love, like a mother protects her child or one protects her or his lover. Sure I'd give up my legs, my freedom, my life for Chloe, but seeing I failed to protect one of my best friends, I fail to see how I'd sacrifice my life for someone I don't know."

She waved a hand toward Kate. "I'm not like Kate, able to dismiss my own depression, my own pain so as to pray and take care of other wounded persons and victims, able to choose following her dreams even at the cost of being disowned by her own mother. Able to overcome the ugliness of bullying to see the beauty hidden deep down in her bullies, and love that beauty."

She frowned, staring at Kate's parents. "Able to become the Valedictorian of this school while having to work just to feed herself, because those who should have had her back had abandoned her and condemned her for something she had been a victim of."

She shook her head. "I'm not like Chloe. A girl, grieved by the loss of her father and best friend, bullied for daring having earned her place in this very Academy, punished by this institution for standing her ground against the bullies. A girl who despite all that, sacrificed the prospect of a bright future filled with the sciences she loved so as to save one of her friend from losing her dream of acting in the school play. A girl often belittled and dismissed as nothing more than a fuck up and delinquent by nearly everyone in this room and in this town, hiding her pain behind a rebellious and angry punkish attitude, but who, given the choice, would give her own live to save every of yours without any hesitation; not caring if you deserved it or not."

She let her words sink in for a moment. "So why do you call me a hero? Was it the shock of the incident? Was it because unlike Kate's, my sacrifice is clearly visible because of this?" She raised her cane.

"Is it because you know the pain I suffered, the visible scars on my body; all of those are just visible proofs of your failure? Is it because each and every one of you realized that what you thought was just harmless teasing you could laugh and slap each other's back over, that the money taken to remove the history of incidents caused by the entitled son of a rich man, were not just as victimless as you thought?"

She let her eyes moved around and she saw her words had hit home with many.

"If you want to call anyone a Hero, then name instead all the little people, those who actually earned what they have. Those who got a place at a prestigious school through a scholarship, or the smaller house and unbranded clothes they wear; all of it through long hours of hard study, through saving every penny of working as Janitor, Security Guard or even waitressing at a small town's diner.

It wasn't the rich students, the so called Vortex Club, or the so called model citizens who saved me in that bathroom. It wasn't the Vortex Club or the so called model citizens who charged into a room a gunshot had been fired in. No… It was a man, often sneered at by those of the Vortex Club, a man who after risking his life serving his country, and while still struggling with his PTSD, walked into a gunfight again, protecting those who actually belittled him, for such a small wage some of the students who sneer at him on daily basis would rebel if it was the only allowance their parents gave them.

On the other hand, it was those same students who nearly pushed Kate into wanting to commit suicide; it was those same students and model citizens who drove a wonderful girl to give up her dreams and drop out of school. It was the same so called model student who roofied and raped girls, brought a gun to school, and shot me.

In the end, isn't the reason you call me a hero just a way for you to hide your own pettiness and failure? Isn't it a 'It's not we who are the bad, it's her who is so good!' kind of situation?

Well, I'm not that good. I'm not better than those you hurt. I haven't shown any extraordinary reactions. I did not rise from the ashes of a drop out life people had pushed me into to become a successful tattoo artist. I did not rise above being bullied, raped, abandoned and disowned to become the valedictorian of a prestigious school. I just did what any living being would do on instinct, protect what she loves. I only did what anyone's instinct would command to.

How is that heroic?"

She shook her head. "I'll give you the answer. It's not me being heroic. It's just you trying not to look as shitty as you are. And guess what. I don't want you to hide your flaws behind me, I'm much too small for that anyway. I'd rather that you fucking struggle to correct those flaws like some of the graduates did!"

She paused, the silence in the room blistering. "So, thank you for calling me a hero, but no thank you."

She was taking a step back from the podium when a whistling buzz followed by the shock wave of a projectile moving faster than the sound rang through the stadium, accompanying the moment she fell unconscious, like a lifeless doll on the wood of the stand, blood quickly spreading around her head.