The Introvert and the Football Player

Nova's POV:
The gym was full of seniors that were excited for graduation. The noise was everywhere, and the teachers were struggling to quiet them down. I made eye contact with Bo and he waved at me. When I tried to wave back, Chelsea slid in his line of vision. Seeing her openly flirt with him made my vision turn red.

"She's flirting with your guy." I heard Ashton say behind me. I whipped around to face him, and he smirked at me. "He's not my guy. We're just friends." I told him. "Yeah friends who make googly eyes at each other." He said as he made his way to Bo. "Go save him." I said laughing. "Anything for you." Ashton said as he laughed along as well.

"EVERYBODY LISTEN UP!" The principal's voice boomed. I must've jumped about ten feet into the air when he spoke up. "Junior Marshals will go into the auditorium with Mrs. Burke, and seniors I will talk to you." He said, still keeping his voice loud. The five other marshals and I then got up and followed Mrs. Burke out of the gym.

Rehearsal went by extremely slow. The only thing that seemed to make it better was Bo making faces at me every chance he got. I laid back on my bed and fell asleep within minutes. And for the first time in forever, I slept dreamlessly.

Two Weeks Later
Graduation Day
Bo's POV:

"Are you nervous?" Lauren asked me as I tied my tie. "Nah kiddo. I've been waiting for this since I got to that place." I said honestly. She shrugged her shoulders and walked out of my room. My parents came in, and I could tell they had both been crying. "Son we are so proud of you!" My dad told me in his strong voice. My mom opted to just hug me, and I hugged her back tightly. "Is Nova going to be there today?" She asked me. "She's a junior marshal she has to be." I answered. My mom simply nodded and followed my dad out of my room.

After Graduation
Nova's POV:
Junior marshals were allowed substitutes; I learned that today. I missed Bo'a graduation and skipped out on my junior marshal duties because Jerome needed me. "Thank you so much for picking me up Nova. You're a life saver." He had told me as he slid into the passenger seat.

Valerie, Bo, and Ashton were all equally blowing my phone up; asking the same thing: Where the hell were you?

"Why did I miss my boyfriend's graduation to be with you?" I asked him. Bo and I weren't dating but I needed to know why I missed something that important to him. "I got busted today Nova." He told me making sure not to make eye contact. "Busted with what?" I asked. He looked over at me as if to say woman get a clue.

"You need help Jerome Avery Barnes." I said. I called him by his full name to get his attention on how serious I was. "I have to go to rehab tomorrow. My mom said she wanted me clean for my senior year." He told me. "When did you start using so bad?" I asked. I was scared to know the answer, but I needed to know. "Freshman year, after we broke up." Jerome said again not meeting my eyes. I looked over at him sharply. "It's my fault?!" I screeched.

"It's not even like that Nova. I needed a way to get you out of my head. Drugs were the only way I could." He said, shrugging. "So you're leaving again?" I asked. He nodded solemnly and looked out the window. We rode in silence all the way back to Quincy. "Nova I am sorry for how I ended things with you. I told you I cheated on you and that I didn't love you when I didn't cheat and I was still madly in love with you. I thought maybe if I had been cruel to you that you would give me up and stop loving me. I didn't deserve your love so I threw it away. And I'm sorry for it." Jerome said

"I did love you." I told him. "I loved you too." He said as he got out of my car.

I sat in his driveway for a good ten minutes replaying everything he had told me. It was the apology I had always wanted, and now my overthinking had me stuck in the same place I was the last time I saw him. Only this time, Harry wouldn't be around for me to lose myself in him. As I was sitting in Jerome's driveway, I felt an enormous pressure leave me. I felt like Jerome and I finally let go of the past and each other. And for the first time since I found Harry, I felt like I was happy. I could finally let Bo in, and be the happy, supportive girlfriend that he needed me to be. I wouldn't have to worry about him hurting me because I already knew he wouldn't. I was glad I came to Jerome's rescue, but I knew Bo would be angry with me. I had to get back to him, so I could tell him everything.

**
After I finally left Jerome's driveway and got back to Taylor, I went to Bo's. His house was all lit up and his graduation party was still going strong. I could hear New Americana being blasted from where I was parked on the street. His parents must be out of town.

I walked in and everyone seemed to stop. I could feel everyone staring at me, and some began to whisper. But everyone knew what my goal was: Find Bo and get to him; explain everything. When I moved, everyone parted. The music, still pulsing, still hadn't drawn them back in.

I saw Valerie's blonde hair before I saw Bo. "Oh guys look who it is! The girl too good to come to see y'all graduate." She slurred. She's going to have to be pissed at me later. "And now she's too good to talk to anyone." I heard Ashton chime in. I couldn't answer them; I had to find Bo. I already knew he'd be angry if I told him I was with Jerome, but some force seemed to compel me to find him.

I checked outside; he wasn't there. I checked downstairs; he wasn't there. I passed couples sloppily making out, and he wasn't in one of those. I found myself at his bedroom door, but something kept me from checking it as fast as I had everyone else's door.  I opened the door to find Bo and Danni making out; almost about to take things to the next level.

"What the hell?" I screamed. Danni was supposed to be my best friend, and here she was making out with the one guy she knew I liked. "Nova!" She gasped. "No she's not here. We're not good enough to see her." I heard Bo mumble as he tried to take off her pants. "Oh no you idiot! She's really here!" Danni snapped. His head flew up, and fear was all I could see in his eyes. Not guilt, not anger, not affection, but fear. "I think I'm gonna be sick." I said as I turned to leave his house.  I could hear him fumbling behind me, trying to catch me.

"Nova please let me explain!" He begged, grabbing my arm. My reaction was an instinct; I slapped the guy I had come to love as a friend and a boy this year. "DON'T!" I hollered. All he could do was hold onto his cheek; he couldn't even meet my eyes. "Why her? You could've done anyone else at this party and you choose my best friend!" I sobbed.

"She came onto me, and I was angry at you so I didn't fight her." He said. For the first time tonight, I looked at him. I stared into his eyes, and I could see he hadn't been drinking like she had. "You're not drunk." I told him. I felt calmer than I should; I could see it making Bo wary. "Didn't touch one." He said, gauging my reaction to his words.

"I have to go." I told him.  I was already at my car, and all I wanted right now was my mother. "Please Nova don't leave it like this. I leave in the morning." He begged. Surprising him and myself, I felt myself lean forward and kiss him. We both put all of our frustrations with the other into the kiss. It felt good to kiss him again.

"You'll go back in there and enjoy your party. You'll go off to Stanford tomorrow and I'll text you when I wake up like you're still here. But you made your choice tonight." I told him. I moved forward to hug him. "I love you." I said as I climbed into my car, and drove away.