Chapter 21: Graduation

(Graduation Practice)

The day before the actual graduation ceremony, the seniors of Hillridge High School met in their gym to hold their graduation practice. This was a basic run-through of how the ceremony would work so that when they were doing the actual ceremony it would look choreographed and organized. Their graduation was to be held at a college basketball arena. They would enter in two different groups, one from the right and one from the left, based on their last name. Then they would sit on the left or right side so there was an aisle down the center of the gym.

After about a half hour, the seniors had completed the basic run-through one whole time. Now that they didn't need everything explained, they would run through and have the announcers call out their names so that at graduation they would know how to pronounce names. Lizzie and Gordo were on opposite sides of the gym of course because of their last names. Miranda was several rows behind Lizzie. They wouldn't be able to sit together during the ceremony, but of course there would be plenty of time to hang out afterwords. In the coming weeks there would be plenty of graduation parties to attend.

"Well that was hot and boring," Miranda said to her friends after the practice was over.

"Yeah that gym is always hot," Lizzie commented.

"Oh well, that was the last time we'll ever be in it," Gordo smiled.

"True," Miranda smiled too.

"I'm glad we ran through it, even if it was boring, just so we don't look lost when we walk down the stairs and onto the floor," Lizzie said.

"Good point," Miranda agreed.

"Now Lizzie, we're going down a lot of stairs, so don't wear shoes that will make you trip and fall," Gordo teased.

"Shut up," Lizzie stuck her tongue out at him, "and I plan to wear flat shoes. So you just worry about yourself Gordon."

"To be honest," Miranda started, "Lizzie, you are the one who is most likely to fall."

"You guys are so mean to me!" Lizzie said and then pretended to trip and fall.

"Nice one McGuire," Miranda laughed.

"Man, I can't believe high school is finally over," Lizzie sighed.

"It went by so fast," Gordo stated.

"It really did. I mean it seems that just yesterday we were freshmen, wandering around the school lost. Now we're all about to scatter in a ton of different directions. It's kind of scary," Miranda pointed out.

"Yeah, we're really going to be on our own soon," Lizzie said.

"I think we can all handle it. You two are very smart girls and I know you can handle whatever life throws your way," Gordo said honestly.

"Aww Gordo, you're so sweet," Lizzie hugged her fiancee.

(McGuire house - pre-graduation)

"Oh Lizzie, your hair is fine," Jo McGuire insisted to her daughter, " besides, you'll be wearing it under a cap for most of the night anyway."

"Mom, I don't care if it's under a cap MOST of the night. That means for part of the night, it won't be under a cap. And I want it just right. I only get to graduate from high school once," Lizzie fiddled with her hairdo.

"Well you better hurry up and get it fixed, you have to get dressed too. And you need to be leaving in about half an hour," Jo sighed, knowing this was one argument she couldn't win.

"I'm almost finished here Mom," Lizzie examined her hair one last time in the mirror and then ran to her room to get her dress on.

Lizzie got dressed, in a fancy dress. Her mother had insisted that she wear this particular dress. Lizzie didn't think it really mattered what she wore because she'd be wearing her gown over it anyway. She didn't want to fight with her Mom on graduation night though. She grabbed her cap and gown, which her Mom had ironed a couple nights ago. She folded it carefully and placed it in her trunk. She then went inside and made sure her parents knew how to work the digital camera. Then she kissed them goodbye and drove to the college. All the students had to be there two hours prior to the start of the ceremony.

"Lizzie, over here!" Miranda shouted when she spotted her friend.

"Hey Miranda," Lizzie joined her.

"Are you nervous?" Miranda asked, "because I'm starting to get nervous."

"I'm not really nervous," Lizzie said, "but I sure thought I would be."

"I'm glad I didn't eat because I have the feeling if I did and got really nervous I might throw up," Miranda laughed nervously.

"So what exactly are we supposed to be doing before the ceremony starts?" Lizzie wondered aloud.

"I don't really know," Miranda said," I guess we have time to go explore the gym and stuff. I know we aren't supposed to leave the stadium, and that's about all I know."

"Well this sucks, we are supposed to just wander around aimlessly for a couple hours. I wonder when Gordo's going to get here. I hope he's here soon," Lizzie scanned the crowd for Gordo.

"He'll be here, don't worry Liz," Miranda assured her.

"Oh there he is now," Lizzie gestured toward Gordo who was coming their way.

"Hey girls," Gordo looked uncomfortable in the suit he was wearing, "before you say a word, my parents made me wear this."

"Mine made me wear this too," Lizzie winked at him.

"And mine made me wear this," Miranda smiled, "I think they feel it's one of their last chances to control us."

Lizzie laughed, "Probably."

"You know they love to have control over us," Gordo adjusted his tie, "I hate ties."

(Half an hour before ceremony begins)

"Seniors! Time to get in your lines to enter to the gym!" a loud voice announced.

The seniors slowly began finding the signs telling them where to stand. The lines began to form. After only ten minutes, they were done and all standing around again. They had to wait for "Pomp and Circumstance" as their cue to enter. Teachers began popping up, all dressed nicely, talking to their favorite students. Then someone started passing out gold medals. They said Hillridge High Class of 2007 on them.

"Okay seniors, put on your medals. Have someone standing next to you make sure you have your cap and gown on correctly. We have a few more minutes to wait for the ceremony to start. They are still seating your parents. No matter how tempting it is to look around for your parents when we get in there, please keep your eyes to the stage at all times. It looks nicer that way so you're not all looking in different directions," the assistant principal directed.

Lizzie took a deep breath. She was finally feeling a little nervous. She just hoped she could make it through the ceremony without crying. She didn't want to lose it in front of all those people. First thing is to make it down the stairs without tripping, Lizzie told herself. She closed her eyes for a second and then opened them when the music began playing. It was time to start.

The Class of 2007 descended to the main floor. They filed in to their seats and waited until everyone was down there to be seated. Then they had to stand back up a minute later for the Star Spangled Banner. They sat back down afterward and the speakers came up to do their speaches. After six speakers, it was time for the actual graduation procession. The rows stood up one at a time and went to have their name called and receive their diplomas.

Gordo was watching to see if he would get the chance to watch Lizzie receive her diploma. Since she was in the middle of the alphabet, she was one of the first people to go on her side. He watched as she strode proudly across the stage and accepted her diploma gracefully. Gordo could not help but smile at her because she was beautiful.

Lizzie was proud of herself for not tripping and falling as she accepted her diploma. She smiled as she went back to her seat as that thought hit her. She sat back down and waited to see her friends walk across the platform. Gordo looked handsome, as usual. Miranda looked very pretty, the color of the gown seemed to really suit her. Lizzie watched as her entire class finished high school. This was truly their last night together. After this, they would all be off on their own, in hundreds of different directions. Yet Lizzie retained her composure. She didn't break down crying as she thought she might. She was just very happy and proud of herself, her friends and her class as a whole.

The last pair of students walked the line and then it was time for the closing speech. Everyone was getting very excited because they all looked forward to tossing their caps up in the air. That was truly the end of their high school careers. They would have their diplomas and that would be their final celebration. Then it was time for everyone to go out and party or go home to dinner with their families visiting from out of state.

"Congratulations Class of 2007, you have completed high school!"

Everyone tossed their caps into the air and shouted with glee. High school was over.

A/N: This story is now complete. I hope that you have enjoyed reading it as much I have enjoyed writing it. I can still do a sequel if anyone is interested in reading one, but it might be a little while before that story is up and running. I am in college and with midterms coming up sooner than I'd like, I will be spending tons of time studying. Thank you to everyone who has read or reviewed this story, I really appreciate all of you.

P.S. Sorry, I forgot I had this written. It would have been posted sooner had I not been scatterbrained and forgotten it.