Chapter 47: Graduation
The female teen ghost looks into the mirror of the school bathroom. Despite not having a reflection, she tends to imagine how she would actually look like if she had one. This time is no different. She feels pretty nervous and rightfully so. For today, in Elmore High School, is Graduation Day for the seniors.
She lets out a few deep breaths, trying to keep her composure. Her red and white robe hangs down from her shoulders all the way a few inches below her ghost tail, her necklace still in view. She had her plans laid out in front of her, yet she feels unsure that it will all go well. All she could wish for is that time would stop and she would stay young forever (ironic how a ghost would think this) and stay close with her friends.
But alas, that's not in her power to do. She could merely hope to wish the others well on her way.
All this going around in her head and she didn't even realize the door to the girls' bathroom swing open and an amber fox showed up.
"Amber, there you are! We were looking everywhere for you." Kelsey said.
Amber wiped her eyes and faced Kelsey. "Yeah, sorry. Just a little overwhelmed is all."
Kelsey, wearing the same red and white robe accompanied too by a red graduation hat, chuckles and crosses her arms over her robe. "Are you kidding me? It's graduation day, who's not overwhelmed?"
Amber giggled as well at the remark. Kelsey walked up to her and gave her a hug to try and comfort her. "Just relax, we all know how you feel." She pulls back from the hug, holding onto Amber's shoulders, smiling like the sun doesn't shine enough. "Keep your chin up alright? Today's our day, no reason not to be happy."
"Thanks, Kelse. I really needed that."
Kelsey turns away from Amber, patting her on the shoulder as she did. "C'mon, partner, let's not keep the others waiting."
(Auditorium)
The senior class of Elmore High School all gathered at the auditorium to get themselves ready for the graduation ceremony that actually takes place at the football field. They all wore red and white robes, some were wearing their red graduation hats while others didn't exactly bothered to until they get to the ceremony.
The group sat in chairs altogether while they wait for Carrie, Christine and Kelsey come back from looking from Amber.
"You think Amber's doing alright?" Darwin asked Cato.
"Knowing her, she can overthink a lot. This is probably one of those times. I just hope she'll recoup quick." Cato said. He twirls the graduation hat nervously although he's already wearing another one on his head.
From behind them, Carrie and Christine came back from their search without Amber. "Can't find her anywhere." Carrie said as Christine shook her head.
"Well, hope Kelsey can find her. We're about to start moving to the field soon." Anna said. "And I still kinda think this robe is way too big for me." She said as she motions to the big robe for her petite figure. Her hands barely made it out the sleeves and the robe was all the way to the ground.
"You should've seen Anais graduate last year, we had to buy a graduation robe specifically for her because we knew these would be too big for her. One size fits all my ass." Dante said.
The rest spent time looking around at the other seniors. Some were ecstatic, others were kind of nervous.
"Looks like everyone's got their own reaction for graduation." Gumball said.
"Well, it's graduation. It is a big thing for everyone." His twin sister replies. "Some gonna be happy they're finally leave school, some others are gonna be nervous as hell probably not knowing what to do with their lives after."
"Knowing us and Elmore, I don't think that'll be a problem. There's rarely a boring day around here."
"Could say I'm gonna miss that when me and Amber leave." Cato interjects. "Not gonna know what happens out in the northeast."
From behind them, Kelsey and Amber just came into the gym. "We're back."
Cato looked towards them and got up and ran at them as soon as he saw Amber. "Hey, you alright? I got worried a little."
"I'm fine now, thanks." Amber looked at his eyes to reassure him.
Cato handed her the graduation hat he was playing around with. "Here you go, love."
Amber wanted to grab it but Cato pulled his arm back right before she got hold of it. Cato put on the hat on for her and laughed. "You look cute when you get flustered." He said with a smile. Amber, completely embarrassed, looked away to hide her face.
"Alright, you two lovebirds. We still got a graduation ceremony to get to." Ivan said looking over to them.
The three of them walked back to the rest of the group. "It doesn't start till 9 o'clock which is in...30 minutes" Cato said looking at the clock that was at the top of the stage.
"Ever wondered why we don't just do the graduation here? Like why do it under the hot sun of the football field? We got a nice auditorium right here!" Darwin said loudly.
"Don't you remember who the principal is? Endo is always that mysterious... or he's just one of those people who wanna torture us one last time before he's got no control over us as the principal." Dante said. "Now that I think about it, probably the latter."
Lexy turned from Dante to Christine who was sitting nearby. "What do you think, CJ?"
However, Christine wasn't even paying attention to them, instead paying attention to her phone, smiling widely at whatever's on screen.
Lexy tried to take a peek at what she was smiling at but Christine hid her phone immediately. "What you smiling at?"
Christine, whose face is now turning red a little, tried to think of an answer. "Uhh...it's just a funny video I found. Nothing to worry about."
The pink feline gave a smirk and remarked in a sarcastic tone. "Sure, you were. Totally not talking to some guy on the phone." The comment caught Christine off guard as if she's been caught red-handed and her face gave it away. "So I was right! Who is it? What's he like?"
"Shhh, keep it down. I don't wanna talk about it in public."
"What you two talking about?" Kelsey asked popping in from behind their seats.
Lexy gave a quick look to Christine before answering Kelsey. "It's nothing. Just a video of a handsome dude Christine found online."
Christine's cheeks were boiling red when she heard that and looked at Lexy with a face saying 'Shut up!'. "Ooohh, lookin' for hotties, I see." Kelsey said jokingly with an elbow nudge. "Mind if I take a peek?"
"Maybe another time, she's a bit wanting to fantasize on this man and get all over him." Lexy said as she snickered.
"I hate you, Lexy." Christine remarked at her friend's poor attempt at a cover-up.
"Love you too, sister." Lexy replied with an innocent smile.
"Well, if that's what you say. Don't forget we should be getting a move on anytime soon, so try not to drool all over your clothes in the process." Kelsey said with a smirk before turning back to the others.
Christine covered her face with her hands to hide her embarrassment. Lexy noticed this and let out a little laugh. "Hey, relax. We're just messing around. It's nice that you found someone you like. So, tell me already! What's he like? Where's he from? C'mon I wanna know!" Lexy said playfully as she grabbed Christine by her shoulders and shook her back and forth.
"He's pretty nice although at first glance he looks like a normal jock Chad. Ironically, he's not all that boasting and he has a way with his words." Christine said describing the guy she was talking to. "And about where he's from...he's actually foreign."
"Whoooo girl, how did you get someone exotic all of the sudden?"
Christine started getting worried because Lexy was starting to get too hyped up and loud for her albeit she tried to keep it as secretive as possible. "Can we talk about this when we're NOT in the presence of other people?" She said gritting her teeth as she nodded her head towards her friends.
Lexy took the sign and nodded. "Lips are sealed." But Christine didn't trust that one bit due to her reaction when she found out in the first place. She's probably gonna tell the others.
After a little while longer of waiting, Mr. Baxwell finally walked through the doors and called out for the students. "Okay, kids. Time to get to the field, the ceremony is about to start." The graduates started getting up and walked out of the auditorium to the nearby doors to the football field. Some were getting nervous, others were itching to get that piece of paper and never walk these halls ever again.
But if it's one thing that matters, this ceremony is to mark the end of their school lives.
Everyone was seated on chairs arranged on the field while all the families sat on the bleachers behind them. In front of them, in the middle of the field, is a stage bigger than the one at the auditorium. The sun was not being too kind as Darwin predicted since the sun was pretty hot that particular day where lots of students were wearing graduation clothing. Endo gave his speech as the principal of the school before handing out the diplomas to the students; wearing his favorite suit and tie.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to witness the graduation of these young students full of potential. For a few years, they have studied in this school and these students have made it through trial and tribulation to get here. I, as the high school of Elmore High, congratulate you on this day and wish you good luck for the days to come." Endo spoke. The crowed roared with cheer and clapped their hands.
"Let it be known, this is may mark the end of your days in high school. But this also marks the beginning of a new chapter in your life. You may go off to pursue a higher degree of education, you may already be thinking of working. No matter the case, you kids will soon no longer be kids. You will be young adults and you will choose your own path from here on out. And whatever choice you may take, I will say this: I am honored to be your principal. Congratulations and best of luck to you."
And with that, the graduates were being called up one by one to get their diplomas. Most of the students were being polite, go up the stage, get their diplomas, come down. While there are still some who just can't hold back their excitement when they got it. Gumball immediately screamed with joy as soon as he got his diploma and started doing a dance until Endo slapped him in the back of the head to get him back down to Earth.
Finally, it was Alan's turn to give out his speech. His presence on the stage was met with the cheers of the students. Alan cleared his throat (?) before giving his speech. "My dearest friends, today we came in through the front doors of the schools as students but leave with a diploma in hand as graduates. We have had a fantastic number of years in this school, some better than others. But sadly some of us will part ways once this is over. There is much more to see than just Elmore, some of us would stay, some of us will leave to move on with better things."
Cato took a glance at Amber, wishing that he could hold her hand to tell her that he's with her till the end. Amber gave a quick side-eye and smiled at him. "To those who are, I wish you all the best in your journeys and may we cross paths once again in this small, small world. To all our teachers, thank you for taking the time to teach us despite some of us being quite the nuisance. To my friends, thank you for giving each other the support and cooperation we needed, all the good memories we have made together, the lessons we've learnt along the way, thank you all for helping each other out." The graduates cheered on.
"May your days be as prosperous as they are glorious today and in the future. I wish you all the best and I will miss you all. Thank you." Alan finished with the graduates clapping and still cheering, some giving standing ovations. Ivan whistled and Gumball, Dante, Kelsey were visibly ecstatic from the speech. After a brief word from Endo, the graduates jumped up from their seats and threw their hats straight in the air, now moving to the next step.
After the ceremony concluded, Gumball and his friends wanted to take photos around the school one last time. Their families let them stay for awhile so that they could have their fun and went home first. They started at the cafeteria first and took a photo of them at the lunch table. Then at the hallways running since no one's there to stop them kind of.
At the swimming pool, they wanted to just take a photo at the very bottom of the stands until they realized something. "Uhm, where's Gumball?" Darwin asked.
Thankfully, his question was answered, only in the form of Gumball yelling out from the very top diving board. "The swan dive of eternal beauty!"
"Oh no." Darwin said before Gumball made it to the pool, causing the water to hit most of the others. Ivan smirked as he got a perfect shot of all that from the side.
Gumball emerged from the pool with a mark all over his front. "Still stings."
"At least you're clothes are still intact. You're gonna be walking around drenched now." Darwin added.
"Are you kidding me?" Gumball climbed out of the pool and shook his body to get rid of the water, making his fur a little bit puffy. "There, easy."
"C'mon, you idiot. We're gonna take a photo still." Carrie said, inviting him to sit next to her.
After taking more photos around the school, they finally decided to go their separate ways. The Wattersons went back to their home, Jake and Kelsey walked back together with Anna in tow, Ivan teleported home, Cato, Amber and Carrie walked home as well. Christine was in a hurry, looking at her phone the entire time texting someone.
(Wattersons' residence)
The Wattersons kids got home before the sun got down. They looked drained and looking for some shut eyes.
"I call dibs on the bathroom, I wanna take a nap so bad." Gumball said.
Dante immediately sat on the couch before Lexy sat on it as well. "I'll be here, watching TV." He noticed that Richard was also lazing away on the couch next to him with a bowl of popcorn. "Gimme some of that." Dante said as he took a handful of popcorn.
Darwin and Nicole was still at the doorway looking at everyone dispersing as if it was a normal day in the house. "Looks like everyone's back to doing what they normally do." Darwin said.
"I'm going to order some pizza for dinner to celebrate! My children are all grown up!" Nicole said to herself, walking to the telephone. Darwin shrugged it off and went up to his room. Yup, just another day in Elmore all over again. "I wonder what we're gonna be doing when summer rolls around."
Heyyo, it's me again! I'm really sorry I haven't been uploading at all recently. College is really taking a toll on me and my motivation to keep going with this. But I wanna finish this up either way as best as I could so that I can stop my guilty conscience from telling me I haven't finished my story. I feel like I'm losing my touch since I kinda lost my notes of where I wanna bring the "Summer Arc" but I'm not giving it up. I'll do the best I can to give you guys a proper end and try not to rush it. And by the way, I'm very sorry if my depiction of graduation is completely wrong, mine didn't exactly happen this way but I wanted to make it seem exciting (Yeah, good job on that one, me). But hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, lemme know what you think and I'll see you guys in the next chapter!
Peace out!