✾

I have to admit that these metal chairs are kind of hurting a lot, and I'm not a fan of the ache that starts to form on my rear-end because of it. The graduation cap is really hot under the warm sun and the little cloth tassel looks like it might fall apart any minute now. I have a cute floral dress but it's completely concealed by my dark graduation gown. And the gown feels like it's made out of cheap, thin silk. The two people beside me smell like body odor and ham together, which isn't a great combination since I'm stuck right in the middle of it. Special thanks to the principal, for assorting us by alphabetical order of our last names.

Yet, I'm glad to be here. For most of high school, it was weird thinking I always had the ultimate top rank. But now here I am, sitting with everybody else and watching Amelia sit in the Valedictorian seat. She tries to look confident, I can tell from over here, but with the way her hands are tucked under her sleeves and the way that she's looking around constantly, I can tell that she isn't.

I was happy with myself for letting my grades get a little worse, if you want to know the truth. It made me more appreciative of what I actually had instead of looking like I was desperate over a letter printed on some paper that would end up in the trash anyway. And to be fair, I had bigger problems.

By the time everyone is seated, the teachers give their mini speeches which I don't pay much mind to because of my own nerves. But when Amelia clears her throat, it catches every person's attention.

She smiles, starting off with, "Hi." She flicks some blond hair over behind her shoulder. "As you know because Mr. Bertrand just said, I'm the Valedictorian. And for those of you who don't know, my name is Amelia Foster. Just like he said, I graduated with a 4.666 GPA and I'm heading off to Stanford. But I'm not here to hang it over anyone's head or brag about how I got over all of my struggles. Honestly, when I found out I had to write this speech, I had to sit before a blank page for the longest time. I was considering Googling what to say and writing a basic cookie-cutter speech, but I decided to... tell it as it is more, I guess.

"The truth is, every single student in those chairs over there had some disguise to get through four pretty rough years. I did, too. I had it perfected by my junior year. I don't know what the line is for what I'm supposed to say for a Valedictorian speech, but just laying it all out, we've been through a lot. We've witnessed students kill themselves, students accidentally kill others, and just a bunch of other stuff not even worth mentioning. I mean, my ex went to prison last week." If you think she's talking about Logan, it's because she is. "Not only this, but there's hundreds of Goalmont graduates all sitting down here. That means hundreds of stories that no one really knows, except for that individual. Whether your GPA was fantastic or you barely got your graduation cap, we made it through.

"In the end it's not about how much time you spent studying for a test or how much you actually listened to your physics teacher lecture you at eight in the morning. It's about persistence, because that's the skill you'll need in the real world. It does everything in its power to bring you down but if you're even bold enough to pick yourself up out of bed and drag yourself to work, that's something. That's something right there to show that you're still trying, and as long as you're trying, you're winning.

"And here was the extra fun part — deciding how to end the speech." That got a couple of chuckles. "So I'll just say this with more sincerity than you guys probably know. We have one thing that nobody else has, and that's graduating here and now. We probably still know a lot of things about each other that we're going to try to hide from our next college friends, or we're going to have some reunion when we're middle-aged and have families of our own. And by then we'll be beyond our disguises because we'll remember that these are the people we spent some of the most important - albeit embarrassing - years of our lives with. However you want to look at it, this is just the beginning, and I'm glad to have started it with you guys."

After the whole audience of students, parents, families, and friends all applaud, the graduation moves on with all of its regular traditions at every school. By the end of the graduation when students are finding their fellow friends and families, I find Pierce, Sophie, and Julian.

"They should've made an exception this year," Sophie groans. "I think Iris should've actually been the Valedictorian, who's with me?"

"Sophie," I mumble, shaking my head. "I would've hated it."

"But she didn't even mention how you two defeated a killer. I mean, that's overcoming a real struggle if I've ever heard of one. Much more impressive. And then you guys still pulled through finals week."

I turn to Pierce as Sophie continues to ramble. "Thank goodness we at least got through it."

Suddenly I feel a pair of small arms wrap around my legs, almost making me stumble backwards.

"You're graduated!" Ruby cheers. "And so is Pierce!"

"I... am," I laugh, not bothering to correct Ruby as I pat her head. Her mother is standing a little behind Pierce and she smiles.

"Congratulations," she tells us, before turning to her son. "I'm just glad you graduated and didn't get a GED like I did. Your futures are very bright, kids."

Even my dad comes up and tells me how proud he is. Eventually my dad pulls Pierce aside and Pierce's mother does the same with me.

"I just wanted to tell you how much I'm thankful for you," she tells me. "I know I'm not the best mother but you've done a lot for my kids and I can see it. When Pierce is with you he has a special light in his eye I've never seen him have before. And I just want to wish you two the best."

I nod, clearing my throat and not knowing what to say. "T-thanks," I stutter anxiously, not knowing how to reply.

I have to say that it's weird watching everyone get so happy and bright because of Pierce and I. I'm glad to see how supportive everyone has recently been, when we all realized how close we were because of our back stories and all.

After the graduation is over I go to Pierce's and he stops me on his doorstep before unlocking the door. He puts his hands on my waist and gets serious suddenly, despite the fact we were just making jokes about Sophie and Julian just before.

"Did you know, before I knew your name, that I just referred to you as 'The girl next door?'"

I laugh, feeling my face go pink but not saying anything except for, "'The girl next door,' huh? It has a ring to it."

"That's how it all started," he reminds me.

"Yeah, that is how it all started."

✾