Determination (Sequel to Innocence)

Chapter 2

            I shake my head at the teacher as I walk up to the stage and everyone continues to clap. I shake Mrs. Russell’s hand and I stand in front of the podium staring and smiling at everyone until they sit back in their seats.

            “Thank you, Teachers, Principal… everyone. It is true that I in fact had bad grades until 8th grade. I decided to change my grades because I knew that if I didn’t I wouldn’t have a good life. Wow I feel like I’m a celebrity winning an award.” I laugh so does everyone else.

            “But again thank you, it means a lot to me. Oh and all other females that were trying to get this award… I congratulate you myself. I know all of you worked hard and I appreciate that you did because you have a long life ahead of you and you chose to live it good.” I smile looking at the entire girl’s I knew were working hard to get this award.

            “Thank you.” I walk away from the podium getting off of the stage and I sit back down.

            I put all of my awards under the seat. It’s finally time for everyone to get their diploma’s, this is the time where my family is literally going to take pictures non-stop.

            I watch as everyone walks on and off the stage receiving their diploma and I smile clapping until it’s my turn to get in line. I start getting butterflies again and I stare over at my family spreaded around the football field holding their camera’s up just like every other parent or family members for other seniors.

            “Aubrey Johnson.”

            I smile as they call my name and I walk up the steps. I grab my diploma slowly shaking the principal’s hand.

            “Good job.” He smiles.

            I look at my family smiling until they take my pictures and I walk off the stage returning to my seat. Soon everyone will be throwing off their hats and I don’t want to. I want to keep mine. I’ll end up throwing it though and watching where it goes.

            I’m feeling a little emotional because this is literally our time.

            And the moment… has come to an end…

            “Ladies and Gentlemen, this is… Class of 2011!” The principal says and claps.

            Everyone rises from their seats screaming as loud as they can and throw their hats in the hair. I throw mine in the air of course watching it and I catch it.

            Sarah and Erica immediately run over to me hugging me as tight as they can. We all cry and wipe each other’s tears away like dorks. Our family and parents come over to us taking our pictures.

            Syanne walks over to me and hugs me. I see my family stare at her and I shake my head at them so they don’t get pissed off. I rub Syanne’s back slowly

            “So this is it huh?” Syanne says pulling back keeping her hands on my back.

            “Yeah I guess so….”

            I stare in her eyes and I smile a little. I take my hands off of her body.

            “We’re going to the same college… so will you keep in touch with me often?” She asks

            “Please…” she says with her puppy dog face.

            I chuckle a little. “Yeah sure.”

            “Okay… I’ll talk to you later…”

            “Bye Syanne…”

            She smiles and starts to walk away. I watch her walk away and the memory of when I watched her walk away out of my hospital room hit me. I can feel my heart starting to hurt and I hold my forehead feeling sick.

            “Sissy are you okay?” Melon asks.

            I take a deep breath moving my hand from my forehead and I give Melon a smile.

            “Yeah, I’ll be right back”

            I walk away to talk to people one last time before I head off to college. I tell them to have a good life and all of that. I go back to my family who seem to be having fun talking to other families. I ask if their all ready to go and we start to head out.

            Traditionally our family has always fixed a big dinner when someone has graduated from high school or college. So we’re now back at the house fixing dinner. The women in my family are at least and they keep telling me not to cook because I graduated. I demand differently and I cook anyways.

            We all eat dinner afterwards and I get a lot of toasts from my family. They all coo over my baby pictures and childhood pictures. I just roll my eyes at them watching them laugh at my pictures.

            After 17 years of living I can finally say no more elementary, middle, and high school. The only thing I can say is college. But I’m excited… it’ll be hard I know… I can make it… I made it through the most devastating thing in my life last year… I can make through anything…