2 YEARS LATER
"You ready for this?" My mom asks fixing my tie before we walk to the back of the school.
"I think so…" I smile a little bit. This was the end of it, high school. It was time for the last goodbyes, and tears, and the moment every teenager regrets, but still wants more than anything else. It was graduation day.
"Are you sure?" My mom looks down for a second and then back up at me. Her eyes were filling with tears, and her face red and puffy. The first tear falls down her cheek but she kept smiling. "I'm so proud of you… I really, really am, and I'm sorry you and Cat never worked out, but this end, so don't screw it up. I'm not telling you to get her back, I'm telling you to forgive her and to say goodbye. If you don't, you will always regret it."
She smiles at me then turns around and walks around the corner of the school towards the seats. My dad pats me on the shoulder and gives me a nod before following my mom. I pull on my gown and put on my cap. I pull on the sash that says, "Valedictorian" on it, and walk to the line of people who were waiting to be called.
Jade was standing behind me glaring at the back of my head, so I turn around to talk to her. She looks away, but I wanted to say one more thing to her, so I kept talking.
"I know you hate me. I get it; I hurt your best friend, your sister. But I never meant to… I loved her, I loved her more than anything else in this world, but I understood that we being together hurt her, and I couldn't stand watch her get hurt. I know she didn't mean it when she told me to leave, I know it was a pleading call for me to stay and hold her, but I couldn't. And if you hate me for the rest of your life for this, I understand, but maybe you could push your feelings aside for today. It's the last day of high school, and I would really like it if for just today you forgave me. You can hate me tomorrow, but today's the day we say goodbye…" I sigh knowing she isn't listening to me and I'm just rambling on, but then she turns to me.
"Okay." She nods and walks closer to me before wrapping her arms around me and hogging me tightly. I heard something as she pushed herself into me, and I finally realized she was crying.
"Hey, it's okay…" I rub small circles on her back, letting her cry.
"You're right. This is it. This is the end…I don't want to say goodbye."She tells me softly. I had never in the two years I was here, see Jade cry. It was so weird to hold her as she did, but it made me respect her a little more than I already had.
"I don't either, but I promise you even though today's the end of this, it's just going to get better. Life's a book and tomorrow starts a new chapter… And we have plenty to go…"
"Thanks…" She says stepping back and smiling.
The names start to get called and one by one we all walk onto the stage to shake hands with the Board and get our diplomas. I walk up onto the stage and shake about 12 people's hands before getting the rolled up piece of paper. After the last person was called, the principle looks over at me and smiles.
"Now, we're going to have our Valedictorian up on stage for his speech. Please welcome Mr. Robbie Shapiro." He announces and everyone starts to clap. I walk over towards the podium and put down my papers. I memorized them, but I kept them just in case. I look out over the crowd of people and behind me at all of the board members. Then I decide to start.
(A/N – In the form of a poem.)
"Life is difficult we all know that
It will get harder and harder
It's a proven fact
But today is the day that we
Forget all about that
It's a day to rejoice
And remember every choice
It's a day to say goodbye and flip the page to the next
Life is a book and the next chapter will be best
We grow up and make new friends
Don't cry now because it's not the end
Sometimes we may lose our hold
And sometime we grow stronger with the old
The higher you climb
The farther you fall
But don't be ashamed
Of wanting it all
Because the view from up here
Is better than below
As long as you give it a chance
Take a breath and let go
Life is a lot different than we all expect it to be
Stick true to yourself and follow your dreams
One day you'll look back and say that was the key
Give a little laugh and set yourself free
Free from the past, free from the pain
Free from all of it and maybe you'll gain
Gain something more than you already have
Take a step back and past is the past
Life is full of bright new days
New experiences that might have a haze
Stick to your gut and follow your heart
With that advice an easy life
And a happy life won't be so far apart
So let me tell you one more thing
If you ever get the chance to fall in love
Don't wait too long for your heart to sing
We live to takes risks and to make mistakes
Don't be afraid of getting hurt from heart ache
Sometimes love is just worth the pain
So take that chance, don't make them wait
Because we may not be here another day
So say your goodbyes and your new hellos
Take the time to talk about all the memories
Forgive people, either your friends or your foes
Life isn't always perfect, but it's pretty damn close
So let's end it here, with some pretty high throws…"
With that I take off my cap and hold it out in front of me with everyone else. One the count of three, we all toss the caps in the air, and they float up and down like feathers in the sky. This was the end of it, and I was going to make it a good one.
Just before I take a step away, on my way to Cat, Mr. Downey gets up and stops me. He walks me over to the podium, and starts to speak.
"This young gentleman here has been through a lot in the past two years. But it all started with a song. A few chords and some lyrics. But that's what this school is about, learning to express yourself through the Arts. He met a girl, and I made them sing together in vocal class. It sparked a relationship, that I was almost positive would never fail. But, like all people sometimes, I was wrong. It was quite a shame when it happened, because they were great for each other and great together. So, if it all started with a song, maybe we can spark that thing again… I want Miss Cat Valentine up here please." He says turning around and pointing to her. He waved his hand, motioning her to come, and surprisingly she did.
"What's he doing?" She whispers to me when she gets to me.
"I don't know…"
Mr. Downey comes back with a guitar, and a microphone. He hands me the instrument, and Cat the mic because I had one in front of me. Then he takes me mic.
"This song is called Fighting Gravity." He hands me back the mic quickly.
I look over at Cat and she nods. The entire audience was silent, just waiting.
(A/N –Bold is Robbie. Italics is Cat. Both is the both of them.)
(Cat)
Sorry if I'm speaking out of line,
But I don't want this night to be over,
I don't want it to end.
'Cause it seems like when our worlds collide
It just don't feel right not to hold you,
It's getting hard to be friends.
Do you feel what I feel the closer that we get?
It's almost like there's a force that we can't resist.
(Both)
Baby, tell me why, why you wanna stop
What's happening inside it's bigger than you and me,
It's like we're fighting gravity.
Even if we run we'll be like a shadow
Running from the sun, something you can't escape.
It's gonna pull you back to me.
You'll be fighting, fighting, fighting gravity,
Fighting, fighting, fighting gravity,
Fighting, fighting, fighting, fighting gravity.
(Robbie)
Baby, look up at the universe,
Some things attract to each other,
Like the planets and stars.
Even though I can't read your mind
You know you think about it all the time,
So what's keeping us apart?
I look at her, dead in the eyes, asking that question to her. What was it that kept us apart? Why didn't we ever try again? Why for two years, did I have to regret losing her?
Do you feel what I feel the closer that we get
It's almost like there's a force that we can't resist.
(Both)
Baby, tell me why, why you wanna stop
What's happening inside it's bigger than you and me,
It's like we're fighting gravity.
Even if we run we'll be like a shadow
Running from the sun, something you can't escape.
It's gonna pull you back to me.
You'll be fighting, fighting, fighting gravity,
Fighting, fighting, fighting gravity,
Fighting, fighting, fighting, fighting gravity.
Cat was stepping close and closer to me. That look was back in her eyes. The same one that was there on the first day we met. That tension was there. And it felt amazing to have again.
(Robbie)
You gotta hold, you gotta hold, you gotta hold on me,
You gotta hold, you gotta hold, you gotta hold on me,
(Cat)
You gotta hold, you gotta hold, you gotta hold on me,
You gotta hold, you gotta hold, you gotta hold, like gravity.
(Both)
Baby, tell me why, why you wanna stop
What's happening inside it's bigger than you and me,
It's like we're fighting gravity.
Even if we run we'll be like a shadow
Running from the sun, something you can't escape.
It's gonna pull you back to me.
You'll be fighting, fighting, fighting gravity,
Fighting, fighting, fighting gravity,
Fighting, fighting, fighting, fighting gravity
She was inches away from me, as we both spoke the last words. The crowd was cheering and whistling and Screaming, but I didn't hear any of it. I was too focused on her. To focused on that feeling between us right now.
I throw the guitar around me shoulder and step that 6 inches close, so our bodies were touching. I give her a small smile, and she laughs.
"I missed you…" She says softly.
"I know…I can't tell you how sorry I am for not turning around and refusing to leave that day. I don't know what I was thinking."
"Can you shut up and do me a favor?" She says sweetly. It took me back for a second with the whole shut up thing, but I agreed
"Sure anything." I nod.
She leans closer to my ear, and as soft and sensual as possible, whispers, "Kiss me."
And I do.
Well, that's a wrap. Still don't know why I say that, but I hope you liked it… I promised I would make it up to you. I gave you a happy ending. No main character died, no tragic accidents, none of it. And we can say that Gabriella gets hit by a bus on the way to her car after graduation, okay?
Thanks for being so patient. I really appreciate that! Thanks for reading and I hope you liked it!
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