okay, so this is a scene from evie and veronica's graduation. this is about four months from the last chapter of the book.

i know in the epilogue evie reveals she didn't graduate with veronica because she had already moved to paris. but, i've already had this scene written and so it's kind of a "what-if" scenario :)

also writing this made me a bit sad since my college graduation will have to be virtual this year :( fuck you covid

• • •

here, sitting in the huge crowd of other NYU graduates that fill the stands of Yankee Stadium. My heart is practically in my stomach at this point, my hands a sweaty mess as the loud chatter of the people around me seem to completely drown out my thoughts.

I don't even try to see if I can spot my mom, Axel, Luke, Miles, Talia, and Olivia in the sea of people, though Luke had sent me a picture of the six of them outside of the stadium right before we'd all been let in. It makes me feel even more nervous to know that they are all sitting together, possibly having caught sight of me already.

I feel a nudge in my side, and look over to see Veronica staring at me, the yellow tassel from her cap blowing in her face. Thankfully, I'd managed to snag a seat next to her, which is probably not allowed since we are supposed to be sitting my majors, and Veronica is most definitely a business major whilst I am photography, but I know I wouldn't have been able to survive if I was sitting alone in the row of people I don't even know.

"You look pale as fuck," Veronica comments.

"Yeah, I'm just extremely nervous," I mumble halfheartedly, chewing intently on my bottom lip.

"Honestly, me too." I snap my gaze to Veronica, who is staring straight ahead. I wouldn't have even guessed she is feeling any inkling of nerves, but then again, that's Veronica and her ability to skillfully hid her emotions.

She notices me staring, lifting her eyebrows at me in question. "What?"

"You being nervous at something like this—just shocks me, that's all," I honestly say. Veronica shrugs, adjusting the cap on her head.

"I mean, after today, everything is going to change. You, me, Talia. We're all done with college. What if we don't have anything in common anymore? What if our friendship was only supposed to last through high school and college? What if–"

"Ronnie," I interrupt her quickly. She blinks at me, as if not even realizing she'd been going on a complete tangent. I'm smiling though, despite her very grim questions. "You think we've been through all of this shit to just stop being friends? Nope, you're stuck with me. Sorry to burst your bubble."

The uneasy expression completely vanishes from Veronica's face as she laughs, shoving my shoulder with her own.

It's then that the music that has been playing from the speakers set up on stage began to stop, and the surrounding chatter ceases. I turn slightly in my seat, my eyes moving through the crowd above us as if I will be able to spot my family for a second time.

It's useless though as I turn back around, deciding I'll just see them once the ceremony was over.

Veronica's aunt and uncle are situated right in the front row, where I can see them now, snapping photos of Veronica and me, smiling and waving much to Veronica's annoyance. I was surprised to hear that Veronica's family was going to come see her graduate. But apparently, her aunt and uncle are extremely cool, and nothing like Veronica's parents.

"God," Veronica groans, trying to duck behind her brown hair. "Could they get any more embarrassing?"

I chuckle, flashing Veronica's aunt a thumbs up as I see the flash of her phone go off. Veronica lets out another groan of protest, tugging on my graduation gown in agony. "I think it's cute."

She huffs in response, but thankfully, the president of NYU, Andrew Hamilton, rises to the microphone in the center of the stage, successfully giving Veronica's aunt and uncle something to do besides taking pictures and embarrassing their only niece.

"Welcome graduates, faculty, parents, and friends," Andrew Hamilton says into the mic. Everyone claps respectfully, and I feel the nerves bubble up again in my stomach. This is it. The last chapter of my life before adulthood. I have no idea what is going to happen once I walk across that stage to grab my diploma, but I feel Veronica squeeze my hand, giving me some reassurance. I know I won't be going through any of this alone.

• • •

The ceremony ends as fast as it had begun.

My name had been called, and I'd strutted across that stage as fast as I could, praying to the heavens that I wouldn't trip and take a dive in front of thousands of people. I could hear Veronica screeching my name from our seats as I smiled, shaking Andrew Hamilton's hand as I posed for a photo with him. Looking out towards the crowd of graduates for a split second before I walked off the stage, the only feeling I had in my chest was gratitude.

"I'm so proud of you guys!" Is the first thing I hear once Veronica and I had found the entire group. Talia barrels towards us, her body catapulting into ours as she squeezes the life out of us.

I laugh as I hug her back, not even finding it annoying since that was pretty much the same reaction Veronica and I had after watching Talia graduate last week.

We all pull away, and I move around my friends as they talk, noticing Veronica's aunt and uncle walking toward us, with equal smiles of happiness on their faces.

"My baby," Mom gushes, kissing me all over my face before pulling away. Her eyes shine with unshed tears and I grin at her. "I'm so unbelievably proud of you, Eves." Axel squeezes my shoulder, a similar look of pride on his face as well. That makes me feel warm, especially considering I've grown considerably closer to him over the last few months.

Luke punches my shoulder as I approach him, smirking a little when I glare at him.

"Why couldn't you just give me a hug like everyone else?" I question, rubbing the spot on my shoulder. Luke laughs, pulling me in for a hug then, his hair tickling my nose as he crushes me to his chest uncharacteristically hard.

"There, happy now?" I wrinkle my nose, shoving him away from me as we both laugh.

Miles is last with a bouquet of roses in his hands. My expression softens as he smiles at me, dimples and all. I throw myself at him without a second thought, and I feel him stagger back a little before wrapping his arms around me.

"These are gorgeous, thank you!" I exclaim, pulling away to look at the roses. They are fresh, and the smell of the flowers makes me smile even wider.

"I'm so fucking proud of you, Eves," Miles says, flicking the tassel of my graduation cap with a gleam in his eyes. "I know you've heard it a lot today, but I just wanted to add on."

My cheeks practically hurt from how hard I'm smiling, and I don't care that we are in the middle of a sea of other people. I gently grab the back of Miles' head, pulling him down so my lips brush against his.

I feel his fingers tighten on my waist, and I can't help the grin that is on my face as I feel my feet leave the ground as Miles hoists me up a little, spinning around as the laughs escape me.

"If you guys are done." We both pull away to see everyone watching us, all with similar kinds of smiles although it's Luke who spoke, his nose wrinkled in disgust that I know is fake since I can spot the slight tilt of his lips. "We're all starving."

Mom shoves Luke, and we all laugh as he stumbles a little before glaring at her.

"Don't ruin the moment," she snaps playfully.

Miles brushes his nose against the side of my face, and I melt into his arms. "Don't think that's possible," he whispers against my skin.

"Alright," Luke claps, walking over to Miles and me and inserting himself between us, one arm around each of our shoulders. "Can we please go eat before I vomit at the sight of you two?" I pinch Luke's side and he yelps in surprise.

"Seriously?!" he complains. "What is it with everyone hurting me today?"

"Because you're an idiot," Mom and I say in unison. Luke grumbles under his breath, falling into step beside Miles and Axel as we walk towards the parking lot.

I'm not too certain about my future, but as I watch the most important people in my life walking ahead of me, I realize it doesn't truly matter where my life took me, as long as I have my family, my friends, and Miles, I know I'll be okay.