A/N: Last chapter everyone. Aw. The last chapters are always so nice to
finally get to. And sometimes depressing. It's nice though because after
this chapter, I am free to start that unnamed Poolside Interests sequel.
Reviews:
Awtr101fan: Thank you for reading. Yes, last chapter was definitely climatic.
Crazychild15: Yes. Walker is the Creative Writing teacher.
BrownEyedGurl: Well, I'd suggest tipping your hat to Rob Thomas, the original creator of this. I'm just funneling the work of a great author to my own medium.
Chapter 15
~Senior Year~
~Graduation~
This was it. My day. Today, I am graduating high school. Never needing to look back at this school or these people if I don't want to. I'm just elated.
After reading my final chapter, Davis gave me a hug. I've never hugged a teacher/counselor before. He told me that it was a great 100 word essay and I deserved the A.
Dad couldn't make it up for the ceremony and honestly, I am a little upset about it. But, he's getting married in a week. I understand completely. And it's really okay that he isn't here.
I don't have anyone to cheer for seeing as how I have gone into semi-loner state for the last month or so of school. One of the old kids that I would party with came up to me before the precession started though.
"Dave, where'd you disappear to? Haven't seen you at Monday Night Madness in forever!" Tony, you're typical high school party boy. Monday Night Madness was just that. A party on Monday's over at this kid Adam's house.
"Yeah, I just haven't been in the mood." I left the statement open, almost like I would eventually return to the scene. But, I knew that I wouldn't. I was done with that phase of my life now.
"Party tonight. My house. I know you're in the mood tonight." He egged me on.
"Can't. Celebratory dinner with my family." I lied. Well, I might be doing that. I don't really know what is happening after this.
"Yeah, I understand that shit. Just stop by or whatever when you're done." He waved goodbye as he started towards his position in the line.
Davis accomplished so much for me. I owe him a lot. He really changed my life around. If it weren't for him, I would probably have ended up at some community college. A total burn-out. And I probably never would have grown out of my pothead phase.
He knows it too. He knows how much writing that stupid essay helped me.
~Hillridge~
I drove to Hillridge the next day for the pre-wedding week. Considering I was the best man, there was probably some sort of duty I had to do before the big event. An event I knew next to nothing about.
I knew the woman he was marrying. I had met her once or twice at the house before I left. She's nice enough. I never really got to know her that well.
I hadn't returned to Hillridge since the last final of my junior year and I was automatically swept away into Memory Lane driving down the familiar streets and passing by the old hangouts of my youth. It all seemed fake, almost like I was just seeing these cardboard cut-outs of Hillridge. Probably because for the last year, Hillridge has been dead to me.
Seeing Dad again was great. I guess in my own weird way, I missed him. Underneath all the hatred and disdain I had held over his head for so long, he was always there and never backed down. No matter how crude I was to him.
The reception was unlike I'd ever imagine my father to want. He's always been a very traditional man and he's always liked classic things. That's why it surprised me when I found myself, Dad, Janice (his soon-to-be-wife), her parents and my grandparents at a Justice of the Peace instead of an outlandish wedding.
It was a nice ceremony. Nothing too great, but that made it all the more special and memorable.
The following day I found myself in the house. Alone. For the first time in over a year. I felt really awkward in the house because I was used to being out of it by now. I felt like a guest. Which only made me being alone odder. Dad and Janice went on a short trip though to celebrate their marriage and I told them that I could watch the house while they were gone.
It was a nice peaceful day of lounging around, getting reacquainted with the items in the house. As well as the additions. Then, my leisure was interrupted by the doorbell.
"Coming." I yelled towards the door as I made my way over.
And there she was. In all her cheating glory. The one girl I thought I would love to spend the rest of my life with. The one girl who drove me away from my home. The one girl who I felt...nothing for anymore.
She gasped and whispered, "Gordo."
"Hi." I replied. Equally surprised to see her. And to find that I was finally past her.
She stood there for a few minutes just staring at me in bemusement. Her jaw dropped and eyes popping. I finally decided I should say something here.
"What can I do for you?"
"Oh. Uh, well, my mom asked me to bring this over for your dad. A-uh-a sort of a congratulations present for the wedding." Lizzie dumbly handed me a package which I took.
"Thanks." She nodded and her hair shifted to just the right angle. I could see the one thing I'd thought she'd return for money because she was that callous. The necklace I'd bought her on our one year anniversary.
"Well, I should probably get going. I have to be somewhere. Yeah. See you around." She quickly turned around and walked straight to her car, head bowed, never looking back at me.
A/N: I was going to put this in a different chapter, but whatever. I don't want to make another chapter just for the back cover synopsis of Rats Saw God. Let's see if you think I did it justice.
"San Diego, Senior Year: Steve is bummed out, drugged out, flunking out. A no-nonsense counselor says he can graduate if he writes a 100-page paper. And in telling how he got to where he is, Steve discovers how to get to where he wants to be."
Review. Just one final time. I'll see you all in a little bit with the opening of the unnamed story. Have a happy and safe Halloween!
Reviews:
Awtr101fan: Thank you for reading. Yes, last chapter was definitely climatic.
Crazychild15: Yes. Walker is the Creative Writing teacher.
BrownEyedGurl: Well, I'd suggest tipping your hat to Rob Thomas, the original creator of this. I'm just funneling the work of a great author to my own medium.
Chapter 15
~Senior Year~
~Graduation~
This was it. My day. Today, I am graduating high school. Never needing to look back at this school or these people if I don't want to. I'm just elated.
After reading my final chapter, Davis gave me a hug. I've never hugged a teacher/counselor before. He told me that it was a great 100 word essay and I deserved the A.
Dad couldn't make it up for the ceremony and honestly, I am a little upset about it. But, he's getting married in a week. I understand completely. And it's really okay that he isn't here.
I don't have anyone to cheer for seeing as how I have gone into semi-loner state for the last month or so of school. One of the old kids that I would party with came up to me before the precession started though.
"Dave, where'd you disappear to? Haven't seen you at Monday Night Madness in forever!" Tony, you're typical high school party boy. Monday Night Madness was just that. A party on Monday's over at this kid Adam's house.
"Yeah, I just haven't been in the mood." I left the statement open, almost like I would eventually return to the scene. But, I knew that I wouldn't. I was done with that phase of my life now.
"Party tonight. My house. I know you're in the mood tonight." He egged me on.
"Can't. Celebratory dinner with my family." I lied. Well, I might be doing that. I don't really know what is happening after this.
"Yeah, I understand that shit. Just stop by or whatever when you're done." He waved goodbye as he started towards his position in the line.
Davis accomplished so much for me. I owe him a lot. He really changed my life around. If it weren't for him, I would probably have ended up at some community college. A total burn-out. And I probably never would have grown out of my pothead phase.
He knows it too. He knows how much writing that stupid essay helped me.
~Hillridge~
I drove to Hillridge the next day for the pre-wedding week. Considering I was the best man, there was probably some sort of duty I had to do before the big event. An event I knew next to nothing about.
I knew the woman he was marrying. I had met her once or twice at the house before I left. She's nice enough. I never really got to know her that well.
I hadn't returned to Hillridge since the last final of my junior year and I was automatically swept away into Memory Lane driving down the familiar streets and passing by the old hangouts of my youth. It all seemed fake, almost like I was just seeing these cardboard cut-outs of Hillridge. Probably because for the last year, Hillridge has been dead to me.
Seeing Dad again was great. I guess in my own weird way, I missed him. Underneath all the hatred and disdain I had held over his head for so long, he was always there and never backed down. No matter how crude I was to him.
The reception was unlike I'd ever imagine my father to want. He's always been a very traditional man and he's always liked classic things. That's why it surprised me when I found myself, Dad, Janice (his soon-to-be-wife), her parents and my grandparents at a Justice of the Peace instead of an outlandish wedding.
It was a nice ceremony. Nothing too great, but that made it all the more special and memorable.
The following day I found myself in the house. Alone. For the first time in over a year. I felt really awkward in the house because I was used to being out of it by now. I felt like a guest. Which only made me being alone odder. Dad and Janice went on a short trip though to celebrate their marriage and I told them that I could watch the house while they were gone.
It was a nice peaceful day of lounging around, getting reacquainted with the items in the house. As well as the additions. Then, my leisure was interrupted by the doorbell.
"Coming." I yelled towards the door as I made my way over.
And there she was. In all her cheating glory. The one girl I thought I would love to spend the rest of my life with. The one girl who drove me away from my home. The one girl who I felt...nothing for anymore.
She gasped and whispered, "Gordo."
"Hi." I replied. Equally surprised to see her. And to find that I was finally past her.
She stood there for a few minutes just staring at me in bemusement. Her jaw dropped and eyes popping. I finally decided I should say something here.
"What can I do for you?"
"Oh. Uh, well, my mom asked me to bring this over for your dad. A-uh-a sort of a congratulations present for the wedding." Lizzie dumbly handed me a package which I took.
"Thanks." She nodded and her hair shifted to just the right angle. I could see the one thing I'd thought she'd return for money because she was that callous. The necklace I'd bought her on our one year anniversary.
"Well, I should probably get going. I have to be somewhere. Yeah. See you around." She quickly turned around and walked straight to her car, head bowed, never looking back at me.
A/N: I was going to put this in a different chapter, but whatever. I don't want to make another chapter just for the back cover synopsis of Rats Saw God. Let's see if you think I did it justice.
"San Diego, Senior Year: Steve is bummed out, drugged out, flunking out. A no-nonsense counselor says he can graduate if he writes a 100-page paper. And in telling how he got to where he is, Steve discovers how to get to where he wants to be."
Review. Just one final time. I'll see you all in a little bit with the opening of the unnamed story. Have a happy and safe Halloween!