Graduation Day

"It's been a long, long year I must say. Everyone told me that cherish your last four years of high school because they will be your greatest. They were right because the past four years have been great. Sure there were fights, accidents, fires, divorces, and shootings but when you look at the time you spent with your friends, then every bad thing just melts away. I know that when I look back a few years down the road, I'll remember all the good things and the bad things that happened her and those are the things that have made me the strong person I am today. So whether you're a cheerleader, a jock, a Goth, a nerd, or a pretty girl just remember your friends and all the fun stuff you did while here at Tree Hill High. It's the beginning of the end everyone and I hope you all have a good ride." Everyone clapped and Ariel went and sat down in her spot and listened while they called out everyone's names.

"Brooke Davis" Ariel smiled as her friend collected her award.

"Jake Jelyski."

"Ariel Lennox." She looked out at her parents smiling faces. She looked for Nathan and smiled when she saw him cheering her on. She was sad that he couldn't be up there with them but he got his diploma at the beginning of the ceremony. She was glad he was happier than before, although he wasn't enjoying being in a chair, even though it was only for awhile.

"Peyton Sawyer."

"Lucas and Nathan Scott." Ariel was glad that they mentioned his name in the ceremony. Once throwing there hats they 5 made there way over to where Nathan was sitting. He pulled Ariel into his lap and gave her a kiss.

"So we're graduates from high school now it's on to College!" Brooke laughed at her boyfriend's excitement. Lucas grabbed her into a hug and kissed her.

"So, where is everyone going?" Peyton looked around at everyone.

"Me and Nate are going to Duke. They want Nathan as the assistant coach for the team out there." Peyton smiled and hugged Ariel and Nathan.

"Me and Jake are going to North Carolina School of Arts." Ariel smiled knowing how artsy the two of them were. She was happy for them. The four looked over at Brooke and Lucas waiting for their answer.

"We have decided with Pembroke." Everyone nodded and smiled but the realization hit them fast, they won't all be together when fall came. Brooke started to cry and Lucas hugged her. Peyton leaned into Jake and buried her face, obviously crying. Ariel didn't cry but she smiled.

"You guys, we won't be that far away from each other. I mean me and Nate are 1 ½ away from Brooke and Lucas and 2 from Peyton and Jake and Peyton and Jake are only 1 away from Brooke and Lucas. It'll work out fine, we are all too close to lose touch." The girls nodded and hugged Ariel. It was still sad that they wouldn't see each other everyday but they knew they would make it work.

3 months later

"Nathan Scott, where the hell are you?" Ariel was sitting in her dorm room trying to call her boyfriend. They had been in College for a month already and they both loved it. Ariel always go together on Friday nights with Peyton and Brooke, they would alternate which place they would go. It was still a bit hard though, Ariel missed her best friends.

ARIEL ARE YOU THERE? Ariel looked at the phone and realized that she had spaced out.

"Sorry babe, anyway when are you coming to pick me up? I want to see you!"

"Can't tonight, there's practice tonight." Nathan looked being the assistant coach, although he would rather be playing. He was out of the wheel chair but had to walk with a cane.

"Yeah okay, well I'm going to go and hang out with Marley and Cass. Phone me later." She hung up the phone and walked across the hall into her friend's dorm.

"Hey Ariel, are you hanging out with us again tonight? Where's Nathan been the past little while?" Ariel sighed and sat down on Marley's bed.

"Practice, Practice, Practice." The girls nodded and Cass threw a pillow at her. "HEY!"

"Come on, let's go have some fun and you can help me and Marley find some men." Ariel nodded and they left the dorm room. They walked to the lounge and noticed that there was a party there, so they decided to go. Ariel saw that there were a lot of cute guys there for Marley and Cass, even though most of them were probably jerks. Ariel grabbed a beer off the table and started to drink it. A guy made his way over to her.

"Hey, I'm Gary. What's your name?"

"Ariel, it's nice to meet you!" Gary shook her hand and Ariel watched as he checked her out. Ariel pulled her hand away and smiled. "So, what are you going for?"

"Medicine, I either want to be a surgeon or a gynecologist." Ariel gave him a weird look and he laughed. "I'm kidding, I want to be a surgeon. How about you?"

"Education, I want to be a kindergarten teacher." Gary smiled and nodded. "Is this your first year?"

"Nope my third, I'm guessing it's your first right?" Ariel nodded. "So that makes you what 18?"
"Yup just turned 18 this summer, so are you like 21?" Gary nodded and passed her another beer after noticing she was done her other one.

"So do you have a boyfriend?" Ariel nodded and Gary looks disappointed. "Does he go here?"

"Yup, he's the assistant coach for the basketball team." Gary nodded realizing who her boyfriend was.

"I play on the basketball team. Nathan Scott, wow, I heard about him being a wicked basketball player. Too bad about what happened to him." Ariel nodded and remembered that he said he was on the team.

"How come you aren't at practice tonight?" Gary gave her a confused look. "What?"

"There isn't practice tonight." Ariel felt like someone punched her in the stomach, Nathan had lied to her. "Are you okay?"

"I have to go." Ariel ran out of the building and stood on the steps outside. She got out her phone and dialed Nathan's number. After 3 rings he picked up.

Hey babe, I can't take right now.

"Too busy practicing, right?" Nathan heard the anger in her voice.

Hey what's wrong?

"You lied to me, there's no practice tonight. I talked to one of the basketball players."

Listen Ariel-

"No, I understand you don't want to be with me anymore, you obviously found someone new. So whatever, have a nice life." Ariel hung up her phone and went back into the party. Gary saw her and walked over to her, handing her another beer.

"You alright?" Ariel nodded and chugged her beer. Grabbing herself another one, she and Gary went and sat down on the couch with a few other guys. Their names were Chad, Tom, and Al and they all played on the basketball team. By 12:00am Ariel was very drunk and had lost Marley and Cass. She walked outside the dorm, not noticing that Gary was following her. She stumbled down the last step and Gary caught her.

"Tanks Gaaaaaaareeee, you are sooooooo sahweet!" Gary smiled at her slurred words and helped her to her feet. "I lost my fahrends."

"Do you want me to walk you to your dorm?" Ariel shook her head.

"I fine, I find Natey poo." Ariel walked down the path a little ways, stumbling all over. Gary was still following her but Ariel had no clue. She made it to his dorm and forgot that she didn't have a key. She saw someone on the steps and went to ask them to open the door for her. When she got closer she realized it was Nathan, Gary must have to because he grabbed her and kissed her.

"Get off!" She pushed him away but he just grabbed her again. Nathan made his way over to them and pulled Gary off her. He was about to punch him when Ariel grabbed his arm. "Natey poo I find you."

"Ariel, are you drunk?" Ariel giggled and nodded. "C'mon I'll take you home."

"NO! I just want to seeeeeee you. You're so pretty but you don't love me. You love some new whore. K I go bye Natey poo." She turned to walk away and fell over her feet. Nathan got her and lifted her up. He took her into his dorm and into his room. He laid her down on the bed. Her eyes were closed but he knew she was still half awake.

"Ariel, I'm not cheating on you." Ariel opened her eyes and stared at him.

"Then why did you blow me off?"

"I don't really know. I just thought that maybe you'd like to hang out with your friends and have some fun." Ariel sat up and grabbed his face.

"But I have fun with you. I like spending time with you. I love you." Nathan nodded and kissed her on the lips. Ariel looked at him and smiled. "Some guy kissed me tonight."

"Yes I know I watched." Ariel gave him a disgusted look and he laughed.

"He sucked, I only like your kisses. You're the only one for me Nathan Scott."

"And you're the only one for me Ariel Lennox." Ariel shook her head in disagreement.

"So not true because you were married before, remember!" Nathan nodded and looked at the ground.

"Truthfully, even when I was with Haley, you were always the one I wanted. I just never realized because I thought I was in love with her but really I was and still am in love with you." Ariel smiled and kissed his forehead. "Let me take you back to your room."

"Okay!" He helped her up and they walked down the hall towards Ariel's dorm. He opened the door for her and helped her put on some different clothes. Then he kissed her goodnight and left.