Aria's pov
As all the students were scattered around the football field, I looked around for Emily or maya. Hanna said that Chloe texted saying they were running a little behind. Pulling my phone out to call her, Emily came running up to us as I felt the tears try to escape, I took a deep breath as she held up her phone.
"We took a selfie entering high school, we should take one as we leave." She said.
I shuffled over by Emily, with Spencer and Hanna behind her. The tears fell as Emily took the picture for me, the girls looked at me as I started sobbing.
"Aria! Stop crying, your eyes are gonna end up puffy and you'll look like a raccoon with your makeup running down your face." Hanna said
"This is our final high school picture together!" I said as Hanna pulled me into a hug.
"I love you girls, more than anyone else in the world." Spencer said as she began crying as well.
Emily wrapped us in a hug and Hanna wiped my tears away. I looked at each of them, I have no idea where I'd without these girls.
"Even though we didn't deserve it, I'm glad we went through the past few years together." I said and Emily wiped a tear.
"The way it should be, the four of us together. From elementary to the day each one of us dies." Emily said.
Hackett came over as we fixed ourselves and motioned for us to find our seats. Spencer followed him onto the stage, I took Hanna's hand as I saw that almost everyone else was sitting down already. Emily had already walked off to find her seat, and I looked at Hanna.
"Together." We both said and walked to find our seats.
...
We all clapped as Spencer made her way to the microphone to deliver her speech. Everyone was shocked that Hackett let Spencer stay valedictorian after everything we had gone through, but she wasn't about to let this be taken from her.
"Welcome friends and family, also the rosewood high faculty. But most importantly, welcome class of two thousand and twelve! After a long 720 days, we finally made it here. Before anyone asks me, I did do the math." Spencer said, getting everyone to laugh.
"NERD!" I yelled as loud as I could with Maya, making Spencer laugh again.
"I've dreamed of this day for so long, graduating with all of you... but most importantly, with my best friends. But now, knowing that after today, I'll be counting the days until I have to say good to them. We all have to say goodbye to our friends, the memories that we've made here. This goodbye may seem permanent, it's only for a little while." Spencer continued.
"We've all started kindergarten together, and now we're all about to start college, along with the rest of our lives. There's only one thing we all have to look forward to now, and that's the future. So no more high school for us, we're in the big world now. And now, class of two thousand and twelve, we finally did it. Remember - once a Rosewood shark, always a Rosewood Shark." Spencer said.
Everyone clapped and whistled as she walked off the stage. Hackett waited until she was in her seat before making his way to the microphone, and Hanna took her hand in mine.
"Please wait until all names of each graduate have been called before clapping or making any noise." He said, even though no one ever listens to that.
...
"Emily Fields, Hollis."
We watched as she made her way across the stage, and I shared a look with Hanna. There was no way that none of us were gonna leave today without crying.
...
"Spencer Hastings, yale."
I knew Toby was having a hard time not to make noise for her, just like I am. Spencer caught my eye and I winked, getting her to laugh.
...
"Hanna marin, fashion uni of tech."
As she shook Hackett's hand, I realized I was next and that the past few years would be officially over.
...
"Aria montgomery. NYU"
Taking a deep breath, I walked across the stage towards Hackett. As I shook his hand, I felt all my tears start coming back.
...
"Maya st. Germain, hollis."
She looked over at us, and we gave her a thumbs up. Her parents couldn't make it today, but she's certain they just didn't want to come. Her brother and Hadley came, saying Maya can live with them during college.
...
"Caleb Rivers, university of california."
Caleb looked around and blew a kiss to Chloe as he made his way to Hackett.
"You can flirt with your girlfriend another time mr. Rivers." Hackett said, receiving boos from almost everyone in the graduating class.
...
"Chloe rohland, hollis." Hackett said and everyone whistled for her.
...
"Congratulations class of two thousand and twelve. Make us at Rosewood high proud out there in the real world." Hackett said.
As the band began to play, we all went silent before throwing our caps in the air and cheering. I pulled Hanna into a hug as everyone started jumping around. Taking my hand in hers, she led us around to find anyone else and we found Maya and Chloe.
"Are you sure you'll be okay for a year?" Maya asked Chloe as we walked up to them.
"What's going on?" Hanna asked.
"Emily and I are going to take a gap year and travel a bit, then go back to Haiti then Columbia to build more houses." Maya said and Chloe wrapped her in a hug.
"I'll be fine! I love you guys, and you better bring me back a souvenir from one of the places you go!" She said as Spencer ran up.
"We finally did it!" She said as Hanna and I wrapped an arm around her.
First, we were finally free of 'A' and now we're about to have one final summer together before separating for college and starting the rest of our lives. As long as I have these girls in my life, everything will be okay.
...
September 1st
I stared at the last box of mine that I finished packing. This was it, I'm leaving for NYU tomorrow and starting the next four years of my life. Everyone keeps telling me these years will fly by, but I can't see it happening.
"You all packed up?" I looked up and nodded at Ezra, as he came in from the bathroom.
"Yeah, just finished this last box." I said.
Luckily, dad and Toby have been helping me bring stuff to the apartment throughout the summer. Malcolm helped me pick out some of the furniture, since Ezra had been slowly starting to give me space when it comes to NYU. Even though I wanted to stay for our anniversary Tuesday, Ezra said that I need time to adjust in the apartment and to New York. The girls and I already said our goodbyes to each other, since everyone left already.
"You can't say it tomorrow." I said looking up at him.
"Say what?" He asked as I got up from my spot on the floor.
"You know what I'm talking about." I said.
Without saying another word, he walked over to me and rested his forehead on mine. As I cupped his face, he brushed his lips against mine and pulled me closer to him. I pulled at his shirt up and he pulled it off. As he slowly led me to our bed, he started planting kisses down my neck and slid my skirt down. He lifted me up and gently laid me down on the bed, brushing his lips against my collar bone.
"Shh, these years will fly by." He whispered, wiping a tear from my eyes.
As our lips met once more, I tried undoing his belt and he chuckled before taking over it for me.
...
Next morning
Malcolm helped me carry the last boxes to my car as Ezra changed Oliver's diaper before I hit the road. Opening the trunk for him, I helled him put the box in
"I love you babes, I'm gonna call you every night before bed okay?" I said and he nodded.
"I'll tell you about my school if you tell me about yours." He said as I shut my trunk.
Kneeling down in front of him, I kissed his forehead and nodded.
"Deal."
Ezra came out, holding both Oliver's hands as they walked. Lately, Oliver has been refusing to walk unless we hold both his hands. Ella had to reassure me multiple times that it's probably just a phase. As they got off the porch, Oliver looked over at Malcolm.
"Up!" He said, Malcolm went to go pick him up and Ezra came over by me.
"Take care of Chloe for me." I said softly and he nodded.
"Pretty sure you're tired of hearing this, but these years will fly by so fast." He whispered, caressing my face.
Lifting my chin, he brushed his lips against mine. I cupped his face, savoring each second of our last kiss.
"I love you, go make your own memories." He said, pulling away.
Taking Oliver from Malcolm, I kissed both their heads before placing Oliver into his car seat. Taking a deep breath as I buckled him in, I held back the tears. I cannot cry in front of Malcolm or Ezra, neither of them would be able to console me anyway.
"I'll call when we get there." I said and they nodded.
I kissed the top of Malcolm's head before Ezra helped me into the car. As I placed my purse on the passenger seat, he leaned in and kissed my cheek.
"Drive safe, I'll talk to you later." He said and shut my door.
Starting my car, I pulled out onto the driveway and held the tears. As I drove off, I could see Malcolm and Ezra waving in the front yard and I let the tears fall. This will be good for me, my relationship with Ezra will get stronger from this. I'm finally headed to New York and start the next chapter of my life.
AN - And that completes Life with Oliver! Now Aria is headed to New York for the next four years. I'm not sure when I'll start posting the third story, because I want to have a certain amount of chapters already done before I start posting. And I'm hoping to make myself a steady schedule of when I upload the new chapters.
All I can say about the next story is that it starts at the end of Aria's senior year at NYU.