Page 77 of Forged Forever

After a relaxing bath, I dry and curl my hair and put it up in a ponytail. No way am I leaving it down in the heat and high humidity. Simple waterproof mascara and lip balm are all I’m adorning my face with.

Ray drops Jake off just before lunchtime. He looks handsome in khaki shorts and a short sleeved dress shirt. Ray takes a pic of us with his phone and then waves goodbye. Sue makes us a light lunch of chicken salad, after which Dad takes a million pictures when I put on my robes. I think he has every combination of the five of us, multiple times over.

We arrive at the same time as Troy at the parking lot, and Seb twirls me in a hug as soon as he finds me. “We graduated, Sunshine! No more high school.” He’s bouncing us in a circle, full of excess energy. Laughing, I let him go, and he’s off to hug Sue and Sarah.

Nick gives me a peck on my cheek. He’s in his usual dark colors and man bun today, but he has a short sleeve dress shirt on with shorts. He fist bumps Jake with a nod.

Gabby looks pretty in a yellow sundress, and Dad introduces Sarah to her and Troy. She met the others at the trial last year. Alex, E, and Bay are already here, so we walk around the main building to the track.

Olivia runs over from the track to hug me as soon as she sees us. She’s in a cute pink cotton dress with her hair in two pigtails. She gives everyone a hug as we introduce her to Sarah.

I’m already getting warm, and we haven’t even started yet. I purchased light fabric parasols for me, Gabby, Sarah, and Sue to use today to help with the glare from the sun. Handing them each one, I open mine up. It lowers the temperature a few degrees instantly, which is nice. The women appreciate the idea, too.

There are two canopies set up in school colors behind the building, with teachers sitting underneath checking invites. The rest of our group are waiting on the track when we arrive. After hugs and introductions, we have only a few minutes to talk, as the principal asks the guests to take their seats.

The ceremony requires graduates to sit in alphabetical order, and we practiced on Wednesday morning in the gym. They also gave out awards, grants, and scholarships then.

Benefactors and local businesses provide funding for specific personal qualities or areas of study each year. Monetary values range from $100 to $10,000. Teachers work with them to award the money to the most deserving students. Seb received $3000 for leadership and for enrolling in a humanitarian degree. Bay received $1000 for the engineering program he’ll pursue. E was awarded $500 for culinary arts studies. Alex, the valedictorian, should have received $10,000, but he declined the money and requested it be given to the salutatorian, Kim. She was extremely appreciative, coming from a lower income family and wanting to become a lawyer.

I find my seat quickly. Looking behind me, I spot our group about halfway up the stands. The white parasols are easy to pick out. There are a few other smart people with their own parasols in the stands. I also see a few paper and electronic fans. Jake and Zander wave, so I return one of my own with a smile.

It’s surreal I’m sitting here waiting to cross the stage for my diploma. I always knew I would graduate at some point in the future, but I wasn’t sure I would get here on time after the accident. So many people made today possible, starting with Ray and Jake, followed by Sue, Mal, and Sarah. Then, Zander and the guys entered my life. I gained friends and an extended family here, culminating in Jake waking up. Despite the harrowing circumstances that allowed all these wonderful people to enter my life, I’m blessed.

The principal calls for quiet and begins his speech with the expected words of congratulations and wisdom, and then he calls Alex to the stage. We stand up and clap for him, causing his cheeks to blush red. With a small smile on his lips, he walks up the stairs and settles behind the podium.

His speech is articulate and smart, well thought out and surprisingly funny, earning him a standing ovation from the crowd. As valedictorian, he gets his diploma first. Shaking hands, he takes the padded holder and flips his tassel across his head.

The receptionist wheels a cart forward, carrying all our diplomas as we begin the procession across the stage. I feel unexpectedly calm climbing the stairs when my name's called. Looking towards the stands, our group is standing with big smiles, and I catch the eyes of all my guys. The principal passes me my diploma with a smile permanently gracing his face. I thank him and flip my tassel, pausing at the steps to look over at the stands again. My family is beaming and clapping, and I give them a genuine smile and wave before exiting the stage.

We have a fairly large graduating class, so it takes a while to go through everyone. Once we are all seated and sweaty, we listen to a few closing remarks and then we’re declared graduates. Standing, I throw my hat in the air with all my former classmates. Seb crashes through the crowd, lifting me in the air, all big smiles. “We did it, Hurry.”

“We did Sunshine.” Alex, Bay, and E make their way over to us while Seb holds me hostage in his arms. It’s crowded, so I’m glad he got to me so fast. Although being bumped isn’t as triggering as it used to be, especially when I know it’s going to happen, I don’t love being crowded. The guys surround us as we make our way to the side of the school to wait for our families.

We take group pictures of me and the guys alone and with Nick and Jake, followed by family photos. We have to drop off our gowns in the gym before we leave and pick up our hats. Nick accompanies me and the guys inside, ever the protective guy.

We are having an early dinner all together in Charleston as a celebration, and Steven booked a private room at a riverfront restaurant for us. We all pile into our vehicles to drive there after we leave school.

The restaurant is an old, converted brick building with large windows overlooking the river. Our private room also showcases the same windows where you can see several boats on the water.

Steven taps his glass to get our attention after the drinks and dishes are delivered. “I would like to thank you all for joining me. Congratulations to our graduates. Without a doubt, all of your futures will be brilliant. I, along with your families and friends, look forward to watching your growth and prosperity in the future. Here here!” He raises his glass as we follow, clinking with our seatmates.

The chatter is lively, and the food is delicious. After dinner, the server brings out a cake decorated in the school colors with blue icing that reads, “Congrats Grads”.

We spend several hours talking and laughing together before it’s time to leave. All of us took an overnight bag with us, so we gather those to split between Alex’s SUV and Seb’s Jeep.

Zander pulls me into a hug before we drive away. “I’m so proud of you, darling. Of your accomplishments and to be your dad. Have a wonderful vacation with your friends.”

Stepping back, I smile up at him. “You have a good time too.” Winking, I hug Sarah and Sue before hopping into the back of the Jeep with Jake. Dad and Sarah are dropping Sue off at the airport on their way home.

Waving goodbye, Nick drives us out of the parking lot towards Folly Beach, and Seb cranks up the volume on the radio. “Woo hoo,” he yells, hands thrusting into the air. “We are free at last. Come on, Sunshine, let me hear you roar.”

Shrugging at Jake, I raise my arms over my head into the hot air whipping past the open top of the Jeep. “Yahoo! Whoo-op.”

Jake is laughing, and I catch a smirk on Nick’s face through the rearview mirror. I have a feeling we are going to have an amazing weekend.

Despite arriving after sunset, Jake is impressed by the house. I show him the downstairs and then take him to my room, which he’ll be sharing with me. I open the patio doors as he looks around. “This place is incredible, Sum. I can’t believe we know people who live like this.”

I understand what he’s saying. We both grew up middle class. Jake’s family had more money than we did, but there were no truly rich families in our town besides Jessica's. No mansions or beach homes up there.