Graduation
It was Friday morning and all three boys were getting ready. Butch and Boomer were fighting over use of the mirror to style their hair, and Brick was in his own bathroom showering. Brick was ecstatic. He couldn't wait to see everyone reaction as he was handed a high school diploma and acknowledgment of his 4.0 GPA. As he stepped out from the steam filled bathroom he changed into his dress shirt, leaving the top button undone and his black slacks. He left his hat on his bed, and opted to let his hair fall over his shoulders and back. When he got to the ceremony he would probably tie it back with a rubber-band he found, but for now let it hang free. He slipped on his brown leather belt, and dark black dress shoes, and walked out of his room.
As he walked out he could hear the squabbling of his two brothers for use of the mirror. He looked in to see Butch smack Boomer in the face with a hand full of hair gel, after Boomer spat on Butch's shirt. "If I ruin my shirt cause I had to beat you both first thing in the morning I will kill you both." He shot a playful glare at his brothers.
"I was in here first!" Boomer called out.
"He was taking forever though, I just wanted to get my hair spiked." Butch defended.
"Just spike your hair and let Boomer finish, he isn't as naturally manly looking like us he needs to spend time in the mirror." Brick said teasing his brother.
"Says the guy with longer hair than Blossom." Boomer said sticking out his tongue. Brick slapped Boomer against the back of his head and walked away laughing.
Butch soon came out and sat on the sofa while they waited for Boomer to finish getting ready. He was wearing a green polo shirt and a nice pair of blue jeans. Black tennis shoes were being slipping on as he spoke to Brick. "So what's gonna happen when you no longer have school, get a job?"
Brick looked over at Butch, "I don't actually know, who knows? Maybe." He said. It was one thing he was worried about. He didn't like having nothing to do, and now that education was done, he saw a big gap in his schedule. "Maybe, I'll just fight crime or something until you both graduate. Then we go become mercinaries." He did have to wonder what was in store for his future after today. Thankfully Boomer came out of the bathroom with his hair parted down the middle with the edges frayed. He was in a blue polo shirt with white horizontal stripes getting wider the further down the shirt they went. He was wearing a lighter pair of blue jeans and had a wallet with a chain sticking out of his back pocket, attached to his black leather belt. White shoes with blue stripes going down the sides vertically were adorned on his feet.
"Alright boys let's get going." He said as they walked through the door. As they entered the streets they heard a car pulling up.
Dr. Langston was pulling up to see the boys before the ceremony "Ah boys, good to see you're all ready." He said stepping out of his car. He took notice of Brick wearing his dress shirt without a tie and handed him a small box. "Here Brick a little gift for you."
Brick took the box and opened it up. Inside was a deep red tie, and a tie tack with a black little jewel on top of it. "Thanks doc," He said popping his collar and fastening his top button. "I've never actually had one of these before." Langston watched as Brick tried to tie the tie but kept ending up with an unattractive ball for a knot.
"Here let me," He said as he showed Brick how to get the proper triangle knot he spoke, "I'm glad to see this day Brick, You've come exceptionally far since the day we met five short years ago. I'm proud to have been witness first hand to your growth." He said as his eyes grew slightly watery.
Brick admired his reflection in the car window, "Thanks for helping me get this far, I probably would have never gotten my diploma without you." He said, and Langston wrapped his arms around Brick in a fatherly hug. Brick was taken aback, but soon returned the gesture. "Well I guess we will see you there." Brick said breaking the hug.
"Why don't I just drive us all." Langston started, but Butch interjected.
"Cause it's faster to fly?"
"True but do you really want to risk getting bug guts all over your face right before your graduation ceremony? Come on not everything is about speed, let me drive you." Langston said opening the passenger car doors.
Brick gave a shrug and all three boys entered the car, with Brick in the front seat. Soon he shifted the car into drive and they all headed to the state college that was hosting the ceremony for the high school
Blossom was up early brushing her hair for the ceremony She put on a simple eyeliner and a light shade of pink lipstick. She enjoyed the silence as she got ready for her day. Her sisters weren't coming, school officially ended earlier in the week on Wednesday, so they were still passed out in their rooms. She pulled out a simple but nice pink dress, white leggings, tied her hair up with her bow, slipped on red heels, and floated down to the kitchen. The professor was drinking coffee at the table reading the paper.
"Morning dad," She said as she floated to get her a glass of juice.
"Morning sweetie," He said never looking up, "Are you excited to give your speech today?"
"I'm mostly nervous." She said. Since the incident the school had been filled with people teasing her for her mistake. Buttercup, had it worse, people made a game of drawing a bus on paper and throwing it as a ball to her. Buttercup showed amazing restraint never retaliating, besides with the last week of school she was more excited than brought down by the games. "But I know you'll be there rooting me on." She said taking a drink from her juice.
"With that, we should get going. It's best to be a little early." He said looking down at his watch, "We can grab a bite on the way." He said grabbing his keys, and both Utoniums were driving to the Ceremony site. She and the Professor grabbed a small sandwich from a nearby deli when they got to the college. He gave her a kiss on the forehead and left to find his seat.
Soon she walked to the student area and was greeted by Principal Willards, and Vice Principal Victoria. "Good morning Blossom." Willards said. "We're happy to have you involved today." He said extending a hand to hers which she extended and shook.
Vice Principal Victoria was a short Latin woman, with long raven hair, with cascading curls. She was dressed in a blue dress suit, and black high heels, she spoke with a light voice, "Yes, we have a special graduate today."
"Aren't all the graduates." Willard teased, she lightly jabbed him with her elbow, "She is right," he said rubbing the spot, "after you name the list of the graduates there will be a small stack of note cards. Just read what's on them, and introduce the last graduate."
"Why aren't they on the sheet?" She asked.
"He was a late addition. Don't worry you'll be great." He said ushering them all to the stage. When she took her seat she saw the professor getting a small camera ready, she gave a small wave and he returned it on the other side of his camera. The ceremony guests arrived, including; Miss Bellum, Miss Keane, and this years valedictorian. As the ceremony started Willards took the stage.
"Here we are again, this is by far, my favorite part of this job. Not just because of the amazing after party all us faculty have after," His joke was met with a few laughs as he continued. "But because I get to see all the students growth over the years amount to the men and women they've become. It is always a melancholy emotion to stand here and bid final farewells to most of my wonderful students. Many I have gotten to know very well, and many I wish I knew better, but I chose not to stand in the past and look to the future and encourage all my students to do the same." He took a small pause and looked up, a tear falling from his eyes as he spoke. "So let's get those men and women out here now. Please welcome our school's youngest school president to date, Blossom Utonium who will give a small speech and read off the names of the graduates and hand them their Diplomas." He said as he motioned with his arm to her, and she was met with applause from all directions.
She stood at the microphone, took a small sip of water and spoke. "Thank you Principal Willards. It has been an amazing sophomore year for me, to be elected School President, and to get to know all my peers. My biggest inspirations while leading this school, were from many of the students who I will be naming off today, and I hope they know how proud I am of them. I did have some trouble writing this speech, I kept putting the word 'I' into it. It didn't feel right to me to call this school mine, cause it's not, it's ours. This school exists as a staple to all who wish to learn, and be given the opportunity to be the best possible version of themselves. To the graduates, I wish the best of luck in their future endeavors, and to the people I will be fortunate enough to know in the coming years, both new students and older students, I ask you to join me in making those leaving us today proud in showing we will always be the school they loved. So," She held up a paper, "Without further adieu, The first names to be called are those hard working people on the honor roll, we start with..." The next 20 minutes or so was spent naming off names, and handing them rolled up papers that acted as a substitute for diplomas, most had already received their Diplomas in a hard cover book, and the papers were just for show. As she called out the names she often would take quick sips of water as the applause for each student named made her pause. Finally she handed one last name a paper, and she looked down to the note cards with her name on it.
"I have been asked to read this, we apparently had a late addition to the roster of graduating students so bear with me please," She said removing the top card, a murmur of confusion wafted through the crowd. She looked at the card and read, "This school has always stood by the fact that education is for everyone. No matter what that person feels is holding them from learning we have worked to remove those obstacles. So it is with a happy heart we introduce our final graduate. He was unable to attend school publicly, and was a virtual student, but with the hard work and determination he showed, he quickly earned his diploma at the age of 15. A living staple that anyone, with enough work and dedication can achieve great things, when someone is willing to give them a chance. So please welcome our last graduate with a 4.0 GPA," Blossom moved to the final card only reading a name, "Brick Rowdyruff." She called out into the mic. She had to take a double take to the card to see if she read that right. The audience erupted into applause, she could see two boys in the middle floating and clapping like mad. She looked down and saw the Professor tense up.
Brick hearing his name walked onto the stage in his cap and gown, with his hair tied back, walked up to Blossom, and took the paper she handed him. He walked off the stage and sat in his seat looking up with his arms folded and smirked at Blossom.
She wavered for a second at his staring, but soon spoke back into the mic, "To all graduates, I extend the best wishes in what you do with your lives from here. I ask everyone to join me in wishing them all congratulations." She said and with a count from three everyone in the crowd yelled at the top of their lungs "Congratulations!"
Blossom took her seat, and Vice Principal Victoria introduced Mayor Bellum who gave the following commencement speech. Blossom was an array of emotions, disbelief, anger, confusion, pride, and all sorts of conflicting emotions. As the ceremony moved on and the students moved their tassels, each gave a cheer and launched their hats into the air, many pulling off the tassels with a metal number indicating the year to keep.
As the crowd of students intertwined with the crowd of parents and guests, Blossom soon saw the red Rowdyruff talking to the man she recognized as Dr. Langston. "Anyone give you gruff while you were back there?" He asked Brick.
"Nah, most were talking to their friends or on their phone. No one cared about the quiet ginger kid in the back of the line." Brick replied with a chuckle.
Blossom approached the group of boys and their probation officer. "Hey Brick." She said with some uncertainty.
Brick turned around and looked at the girl. "What's up Pinkie?" She saw his eyes were light and full of life this time as apposed to the recent cold dead stares she was on the receiving end. He crossed his arms and smiled at her.
She looked away with one arm rubbing the other, "Can I talk to you for a second?" She looked at his brothers, "Alone."
He didn't say anything but floated up into the skies. She followed suit and they peaked far above the crowd. She took in a deep breath and spoke, "Listen about our last encounter..." she trailed off, but continued, "Look I acted out of haste, it was a mistake to attack you three like that." She said never looking him in the eyes.
"So you're saying you were wrong?" A crooked smile crept on his face. He needed to hear her say those words.
"Yes, I was wrong, but you can't exactly blame me." She said and his smile dropped. "You spent your first five years trying to kill me, so forgive me for thinking you went back to being bad."
"Hey between the two of us; you actually did kill me." He said crossing his arms and looked to the side.
"As a last resort," She began but stopped herself. She shook her head, "Look that's not important. What is, is that I have seen first hand the good your doing for Townsville. You really have changed. This conversation happening proves it." She said with a soft voice at the end.
Brick looked at her and images of her on the gurney with blood stained bandaged on her arms flashed through his mind. "Well then this should teach you about living in the past."
"Whatever," She said and a few moments of silence was shared. "So you graduated early huh?" She said trying to quell the silence.
"Yeah, can't have anyone thinking I'm stupid." he recalled her insults to him upon capturing. She never forgot her words to him, and laughed. "What's so funny." He squinted his eyes at her.
"Did you do this just to beat me?" He was caught but didn't want to give her the satisfaction of an answer.
"I did it for myself, showing you up was a bonus." He said never looking at her.
She remembered reading reports on their actions, they have been on most new sources as of late and each one talked about the brutality they pulled on the villains. She even recalled a look of horror the gangrene gang gave her as she happened to pass them earlier this week, She knew Brick was the reason.
"I've heard about how you've been taking a more brutal way to fighting the crime in the city," She began he was about to interrupt not needing a lecture from her, but she continued. "I can't say it's how I would do things, but I do have to admit it's effective." She flew close to him gave him a small peck on the cheek, "Really though, I'm proud to see you get your diploma and be a good guy. Maybe one day we could hang out." She said as she flew off.
Brick felt many things at the exchange. First disgust, followed by happiness, then anger, more disgust, and finally confusion. "How can she be proud of me?" He raved in his head. "I've been making her life hell, what the hell is she thinking." He floated down with a concerned face.
He walked back to Langston with emotions still storming inside his head. "I see your conversation went well." He gave a smirk to Brick. He looked up to see Langston pointing to his left cheek. Butch and Boomer were chuckling behind him. Langston trying to contain the infectious laughter took a picture of Brick. When he showed it Brick understood what they were talking about. "At least one didn't blow you up." Langston chuckled. In the photo was Bricks confused face, and on his left cheek was the stain of pink lipstick. With a growl he wiped it off with his hand.
"I'm gonna go return my cap and gown. I'll see you at home." He said walking off with a scowl.
"Aren't you hungry? I'll buy." Langston asked as he watched an angry Brick walk off.
"Not particularly no," He said pausing his marching, "I just want to take a flight for a bit, I'll see you at home." And he resumed his trek to return his gown.
"Hey just because he is being a sourpuss doesn't mean we won't take you up on free food." Butch said.
Boomer joined in, "Yeah can we go to Mimi's again?"
Langston laughed his worry over Brick off and took the boys by the shoulders to his car, "Well you two were well behaved. We can all celebrate later."
Brick was standing by a tree looking at the sunlight shining through the leaves. He reached in his pocket and pulled out the worn red bow. He had planned to throw it away after getting his diploma, instead he found himself starring at it. "How is it everything I've done is to spite her, to destroy her, emotionally torture her, and she can just be okay with it?" He rambled in his head.
"She has lived her life," Brick thought, "Despite everything I've done her life doesn't revolve around the actions I've taken against her. Me on the other hand, have become a slave to proving her wrong. What have I done with my life?" Brick was about to Pocket the bow, but instead looked at it with a sorrowful hate. He blasted it with his heat vision and shook the dust free. "Well knowing this, what do I do know?" He wondered aloud. As he took to the skies to get rid of some of the pent up energy he had.
Unknown to Brick while he took to the skies Blossom was lost in her own thoughts. "How can he be a better student and hero than me? I've dedicated my life to fighting crime and my studies. How can he pull of both so effortlessly?" The professor noticed her silence, but figured it was best to leave her be. One last thought invaded Blossoms head like a virus, "Am I even relevant anymore?"
A.N. so both are confused now. I want to create this fic to show the damage, obvious and not, this kind of thinking can bring. Where do you think I will go from here. Or what would you like to see happen. Review or pm me. I would love to hear from more people who like this story.