"And now," said Mrs. Johnson, " I will call each student up one by one to come and receive their diploma."
Mrs. Johnson's outfit was horrible. So was her hat. It was white with blue floral print. What made it worse was that it had a blue flower sticking out on top and a blue satin ribbon to tie the whole thing off.
"First up is Hannah Getmin!" she said into the mic. Hannah came up with a bashful smile on her face and took her diploma. She and the principal shook hands wile Mrs. Johnson also muttered some things to her. Everyone cheered.
Just wait, thought Cass. This is going to get oober boring, and by the time this is done you'll never want to cheer again. Or at least she knew she wouldn't.
"How do you suppose we'll make it through this whole thing?" asked Yo-Yoji, still not looking at her with eye contact.
"I'm not sure, but just think. When it's all over, we get to go to high school!"
Max-Ernest turned to them, smoothing his hair, even though it always popped right back up again.
"Dude, give your hair a break," said Yo-Yoji.
"I can't!" he said.
"Yeah, I know, your hair must look perfect at all times..."
"Gosh, you would think that would be me considering I'm the girl here," said Cass. "But I don't really care that much. It's always in braids anyway."
"Excuse me," said Mrs. Johnson," But we are not supposed to be talking."
Why me?! thought Cass. Everyone else was talking, so why just pick out her? Mrs. Johnson really did hate her.
"Max-Ernest," she said. Max-Ernest got up while Cass and Yo-Yoji cheered him on. They both watched him receive his diploma and before they knew it, his turn was over.
"Amber," she said. Everyone looked over to Amber's seat.
"Where is she?" asked Max-Ernest.
"How would we know?" said Cass.
"Has anyone seen Amber?" Mrs. Johnson asked. Not even Veronica or Naomi could tell where she was.
"You don't think she.."
"No, Cass," said Max-Ernest. "I mean, she was only helping the Midnight Sun because she knew the Skelton Sisters were there. Like she would do it again."
"But what about all those things she did to you while I was in a coma?"
"Well, that's just your basic Amber."
"Dudes, I agree with Cass," said Yo-Yoji.
"Of course you do," said Glob at the seat right next to his. Daniel-Not-Danielle was laughing with his hand over his mouth, trying not to show it. Cass and Yo-Yoji turned matching colors of scarlet. Glob just had to make fun of everything didn't he? Unlike Yo-Yoji though, Cass was assertive.
"Shut it," she said. " You and me have bigger things to worry about right now, Daniel. I mean, way bigger."
Daniel's face turned serious again. Just like Yo-Yoji and Cass, Daneil's dad and Cass' mom had their pinkies interlocked. Of course, their parents still had their pinkies interlocked, and Cass and Yo-Yoji had let go after a few moments.
"What's going on?" asked Yo-Yoji.
"Nothing,"said Cass.
"Come on, I wanna know!"
"Know what?" chimed in Max-Ernest.
O. , thought Cass.
"It's really nothing guys," she said, turning to Daniel for help.
"Lay off guys," he said.
Cass would thank him later.
"Okay, then," said Mrs. Johnson. "We'll move onto the next person. Cassandra!"
Cass was startled to hear her name. But she got up anyway and walked over to Mrs. Johnson. Mrs. Johnson, who was always polite, had to pretend that she liked Cass in front of everyone. Cass hated her for that. She'd rather have every hated her than her stupid annoying pretend game. Mrs. Johnso shook her hand firmly and handed her her diploma. Cass thanked her, only because Mrs. Johnso would have made her if she hadn't.
"You're very welcome, Cassandra," she said in a voice that was hard not to roll your eyes at. Cass walked back to her seat while Yo-Yoji and Max-Ernest patted her on the back.
"Cass,' said Daniel in a whisper.
"What?" she aked, whispering back.
"Look," he said pointing. There were their parents not only interlocking pinkies now, but all of their fingers. Yes. They were holding hands. Holding hands! Cass tried not to puke. Something about a parent in love was just, well, gross. REALLY gross. All of a sudden, someone tugged on her hair.
"What?" she asked, turning around to find Yo-Yoji.
"Is it your mom? I see it too."
Cass sighed. "Yes, it's my mom. She's with Albert 3-D. Me and Daniel don't know what's happening with them yet. We'll have to see after graduation."
"Kay, then," he said.
"I still don't know what's happening," said M-E.
"Max-Ernest," said Cass," You've seen your parents in love a lot, right?"