"Sign mine, sign mineeee!" Cat squealed as she handed her yearbook to every person in the main hallway.
Nobody refused, the seniors at Hollywood Arts typically got out a week before the rest of the school so they could have graduation rehearsals and get prepared for the big day while the underclassmen were in class. It was now the middle of May, and they would be crossing the stage in a week, so it was the last day of high school for the seniors. It was a day that was sure to be filled with a lot of trips down memory lane, and lots of tears. Each member of the main group of friends had signed each other's yearbooks first. It took a lot more begging to get Jade to sign any of their yearbooks, because she thought it was stupid, but Cat and Beck got her to change her mind.
After getting everyone to leave a short message, Cat joined her friends who were standing near the vending machines, but as soon as she walked up, the bell rang, and their last day as high school students was about to begin.
"Well, here goes nothing…" Tori stated as she put one foot in front of the other to begin to her first class for the final time.
The rest of the group followed her almost silently, because the fact that this was really their last day, was hitting them hard. They walked into Sikowitz's class, and took their seats before the coconut sipping teacher entered through the window.
"Alright children! Given that it is the seniors' last day of class; we will be going around the room and hearing about their plans for the future." Sikowitz began.
The underclassmen were thrilled that it was going to be a pretty relaxed day in class, and most of them were excited to hear about what would happen next for all of the seniors, but they were especially excited to hear from the most popular seniors in class.
"So, starting from the back of the room, each senior will tell us what their plans for after high school are, if they are planning to continue acting, and compare each of their plans now to the ones you wrote me in the letters that were assigned to you at the beginning of the semester." Sikowitz instructed with a smirk.
"We're supposed to remember what we wrote at the beginning of the semester?" Robbie asked, concerned that he didn't recall what he had originally written.
"If you don't remember, however, try your best to guess what you wrote. Now, let's begin. Andre! You're up first." Sikowitz replied.
As each senior spoke, everyone listened attentively until the door opened and all eyes were on the principal, who had just entered the room. She apologized for the interruption before stepping in front of the class to speak.
"Good morning students! I'm just here to make sure each senior knows that your locker must be cleaned out today, and you need to clean off any decorative items that you wish to keep. The janitor will be cleaning them of any unclaimed items for the next week, so take what you want. But most importantly, have a great last day." Helen announced quickly, and then she was on her way to the next classroom.
When class was over, Sikowitz dismissed the students, but called for Andre, Robbie, Beck, Jade, Cat, and Tori to stay behind for a moment. The teenagers obeyed and gathered in a half-circle around their favorite teacher.
"Before you all go, I have something I want to say." Sikowitz began.
They all exchanged looks with each other, because no one ever knew what would come out of Sikowitz's mouth.
"I want to thank each and every one of you for being some of the most incredible students I've ever encountered. Each of you has a special place in my heart, and you are more than welcome to come back and visit Uncle Sikowitz at any time. Now, I know how talented you all are, but now I want you to go out there and show the world what you have to offer. Whatever you become, be a great one, and know that I'll miss seeing each of your faces bright and early every morning." Sikowitz fell silent. He had really bonded with this particular group of students, and he didn't know what would happen now that they wouldn't be in his class next year.
Tori, Cat, and Robbie's eyes filled with tears, while Jade, Andre, and Beck took in their teacher's words. They were incredibly heart filled, and it was nice to see Sikowitz's softer side instead of his eccentric one for a change.
"Aww, Sikowitz. I know we're all going to miss you so much." Tori admitted in a shaky voice that sounded like she was about to cry.
Everyone else nodded in agreement, as well verbally agreeing. After a big group hug—that even Jade participated in—the six seniors exited the classroom they were all so familiar with.
At lunch, everyone decided that they wanted to eat at school, instead of Nozu like they had originally planned. After receiving their food and saying their goodbyes to Festus, they all walked to their usual lunch table for the last time.
"Hey, since we didn't go to Nozu for lunch, why don't we go after graduation rehearsal tonight?" Tori suggested.
"Yeah, I think that would be a good idea. I'm sure we'll be hungry after walking through the whole ceremony a few times." Andre pointed out.
Everyone at the table agreed to meet there after they were out of rehearsal. They continued to eat their lunches while they read through the nice messages everyone had left in their yearbooks. Jade had to scare most people into writing in hers, and no one dare write anything horrible inside, so she too, had kind words from the classmates that were basically strangers to her. Every girl in school begged Beck to write in his, and some even left their phone numbers for him to add to his contacts. He paid no attention to the phone numbers, or flirty messages they left, however, because the only notes ones he cared about were the ones from his four best friends, and beautiful girlfriend. He hoped to one day look back inside and smile at their sweet passages, if they were to ever stop talking or lose contact.
…
After school, each senior was at their locker collecting their things. It was a sad occasion for all; even the underclassmen were upset to see their older friends go. As soon as the last—very unique—bell rang, tears were being shed all over campus. The usually upbeat school and its students were now crying and hugging. Cat was the first of her friends to finish cleaning out her locker. She walked to Jade and Robbie's lockers carrying a bag full of stuffed animals and pink fluff she had padded the inside of her locker with, along with a few notebooks that she would no longer need, and a purple binder. Robbie was collecting all the bottle nipples from the outside of his locker, while Jade peeled off every last pair of scissors from the exterior of hers.
"You guys, I'm sad." Cat cried.
"Why? Because the year is over?" Robbie stroked her shoulder.
"Yeah. I really love this scho—" Cat was interrupted by the tears streaming down her cheeks along with her sobs. She immediately fell into Robbie's chest and cried.
Just then, Beck walked up with only a few binders and notebooks, along with Andre who had the keyboard he had played so many times and had on the outside of his locker. Beck had almost nothing, because his locker door was transparent, and there was really nothing to gather other than the inner contents. Cat lifted her head and wiped of her tears, and Jade and Robbie finished with their lockers, so everybody decided to walk over to the other side of the hallway to Tori's locker, where she was staring at the door she decorated.
"Did you clean everything out from the inside already?" Beck asked as they all walked up with their individual belongings.
"Yeah, I'm just about done. I only have one thing left to do…" Tori began. She then shut her locker, slid her hand down the outside of it, and pressed the red button on the bottom right corner.
"I made it dim." Tori announced in a soft voice. She had done it once before, but quickly got to turn it back on, because she didn't really have to leave the school even though she had thought so. But this time was different. This time it was really the last time she would see the locker that had the words 'Make It Shine' on it. Andre rubbed her back to soothe her, before they all walked out to the parking lot as a group for the final time.
…
"Good evening everyone! Can you believe rehearsal is finally here? You know what that means? It means that graduation is only a week away!" Mr. Bates announced.
Rehearsal was held in the exact location the actual ceremony would be happening in seven days. It was the same theater in which Tori had sang at even before she was technically a Hollywood Arts student. The big showcase was held in this particular theater annually, and it not only meant something special to Jade, Cat, Robbie, Beck, and Andre, but it especially brought back great memories for Tori because of what it represented. Rehearsal seemed to drag on because of all the students and constant repetition of what would happen. They practiced lining up, sitting down, how to walk down the aisle to where Helen would hand them their diplomas, and even how to shake her hand when she did so. After a couple of long hours, the students were reminded when the next rehearsal was, then finally released.
"Are you guys still feeling up for Nozu?" Tori asked.
"Yeah I'm up for it. Are you guys?" Andre agreed, before turning to the rest of the group to ask for their opinions.
They all decided to go have Nozu. This next week was sure to be busy, so they didn't know when they would have time to go eat at their favorite sushi restaurant again. All of them hopped in their cars, and Tori got a ride from Andre, then they were off to Nozu.
When they arrived, Mrs. Lee passed them menus to look at, even though they had all pretty much memorized each platter on it. They enjoyed their night together by reflecting not only on their day, but on the last few years as well. Beck and Jade laughed about the day they became an official couple, Cat recalled her first audition, Andre laughed at the insanity that Sikowitz had brought to his school life, and Tori—although she hadn't been at the school as long as the rest of her friends—thought back on how much she had learned. After they were all finished, they all walked back to their cars and Tori waited for Trina to pick her up. She was home for a week to see Tori and some of her old classmates graduate. Her parents begged her not to stay local for college, so she was attending a community college in Florida that actually tolerated Trina's 'talents'. On the drive home, each of the friends thought some more about how much Hollywood Arts truly meant to them. The past few years had taught them a lot about who they were, not only as actors and musicians, but as people. Graduation would simply validate that they were ready for the real world.
Author's Note: As some of you may know, I went to a performing arts high school JUST like HA. So this chapter was based on my last day there. Fun fact: I actually cried while typing this, so if your eyes were tear-filled, just know you aren't alone. I hope you all have enjoyed hearing about their last day though! Please let me know your thoughts about this chapter in a review(: