Chapter 49: I'll Let You Go

 

Nae’s P.O.V.

“Last names A-J go to the right of the gym!” One of the teachers told us. I walked over there and spotted Blake talking to some people. I didn’t really care at this point because I needed to talk to her. I walked over there and grabbed her arm, pulling her away from them.

“Hello to you too,” she smirked a little. She acted like she didn’t just change my life completely for the better. She really should give herself much more credit.

“How in the world did you find my mom?” I asked right away. My mom was in rehab and my dad never told me which one. I didn’t even know when she got out.

“I had some connections and after some hard work I found her,” she smiled. What kind of connections did she have? It didn’t really matter because my mom is back.

“Why did you do this? After everything I’ve put you through, why would you do this?” I tried to not get emotional but it was hard. I had no control over myself when I was on drugs and I should’ve listened to her when she told me to stop. I was just too addicted to give them up. Her smile immediately vanished when she saw my face.

“Jaznae you’ve been my best friend for years. I’ve been in love with you for years. If you haven’t noticed yet, no matter what you do to me; I’ll still be in your life. I’ll always love you and I just want you to enjoy life,” she looked down a bit. The fact that she could say that after all I’ve put her through answered any questions that I had.

“I’ll always love you too Blakelynn. Thank you so much for what you’ve done. I don’t even know where to begin in repaying you,” I said but she shook her head.

“Repay me by continuing to get help. Get better and don’t stop okay?” She locked eyes with me. I nodded and she let out a smile. “Come here,” she pulled me into a hug. I’ll miss her after today but it’s nice to know that she’ll always care. “Now let’s go graduate,” she smirked as we grabbed our caps and gowns.

Cassie’s P.O.V.

“Last names S-Z go to the left side of the gym!” Some teacher told us. I walked over there and stood by CeeJay.

“Can you believe that we’re graduating? It feels like just yesterday we were all back in preschool,” I smiled. I can’t believe how fast time flies. I’m going to college and I honestly can’t believe that. My major is dance but I already got a part time job as a model. I went to Paris just to visit the school and I ran into an agent. I’m not sure if I want to be a dancer or a model when I get older but I guess I’ll decide when it comes down to it.

“I know, everything is gonna be so different,” she returned the smile. CeeJay is going to Hawaii to attend college there. That’s where she was born and she wants to return to her roots.

“I’ll miss you Cee,” I’m gonna miss seeing her whenever I wanted. That’s one thing that I’ll have to get used to. I haven’t even told Shad that I was going to Paris. My Mom was way too happy when I told her because I’ll be living close to Kyle.

“I’ll miss you too Cass,” she bumped her shoulder with mine.

“You’re ready for this?” I looked at her.

“Been ready,” she smiled as we grabbed our caps and gowns.

Nicki’s P.O.V.

I stood in the middle of the gym with the K-R last names. “I can’t believe that this is actually happening,” I shook my head in disbelief. Graduating high school was something that I’ve always wanted to come faster but now that it’s here, I wish I could go back.

“I know, it makes me feel so old,” Daven joked. I chuckled while looking at the crowd of kids just waiting to be called to go outside. We were getting into our caps and gowns before going outside. Everyone is out there and I’m excited.

“I’m nervous,” I admitted. I’m always nervous at big events and this is a huge thing.

“Why are you nervous Ms. Valedictorian?” Daven bumped his shoulder against mine. Yeah I’m the valedictorian. I wasn’t too surprised when they told me because I got straight A’s all my life. I’ve always pushed myself and I was taking AP and IB classes that raised my GPA.

“I have to make a speech,” I told him while taking the paper I wrote out of my pocket. I was awake all night trying to write this speech and I still didn’t think that it was good enough. Daven took the paper out of my hands and tore it in half. “Daven!” I hit him. It took me forever to write that and he just rips it up!? He turned and looked down at me.

“Onika speak from your heart. Rehearsing a speech like this isn’t something that you should do. You say some inspirational things when you’re just speaking from your heart. Do that out there and let all of your nerves out,” he rubbed my cheek.

“You’re right,” I smiled before we lined up. We walked down and they talked for a while. I knew that graduation could be boring but come on.

“Now our valedictorian is a young lady who we call our miracle student. She could be absent for weeks and still get straight A’s and get perfect scores on her SATs. Please give it up for Onika Maraj,” the principal motioned for me to come up. I stood in front of all of my peers and smiled. I’ll miss these people, well some of them.

“Hello Class of 2015 of Lenore High. First off, we made it! We’ve lived through four long years of torture. Through all of the standardized tests, long sleepless nights, and all of the stupid dress code rules,” as soon as I said that, girls started cheering. They made some dumb rules on what we couldn’t wear. “For me and a lot of other people, these years have shown me who I am and who I want to be. I can only continue to grow and learn more about myself. We’re about to go into this world alone and have to learn how to stand on our own two feet as adults,” I smiled into the crowd. I knew that I could do this. I saw Daven shoot me a smile before I continued.

~

“Blakelynn Táchira Avila is attending Miami Dade College in Miami, Florida,” he called out as Blake walked across the stage to grab her diploma.

“Paris Cámia Avila is attending Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana,” Paris stood up and went up there.

“Jaznae Labella Bonilla is attending Stanford University in Stanford, California,” Nae’s going to California to stay close by her Mom. She always kept her grades up even through all that drug mess.

“Onika Tanya Maraj is attending the Performing Arts University of Paris in Paris, France,” I stood up and walked across the stage. I still have to see what’s wrong with my blood work but I’ll check that out later.

“Daven Tyler Martin is attending the Performing Arts University of Paris in Paris, France,” Daven smiled and grabbed his diploma.

“THAT’S MY BABY!” Daven’s mom yelled out. I held in my laugh as he blushed from embarrassment.

“Cenedra Gaia Salazar is attending Hawaii Pacific University in Honolulu, Hawaii,” CeeJay went up and smiled.

“Casandra Elizabeth Ventura is attending the Performing Arts University of Paris in Paris, France,” Cassie went to get her diploma. I looked over and saw the look of shock on Shad’s face. I guess she didn’t tell him that she got accepted there.

“Please give it up for the class of 2015!” We all tossed our caps in the air and smiled.

 

~

“Congrats baby!” Aubrey hugged me as soon as I went over to them. I smiled as he spun me around a couple of times.

“Thank you,” I pecked his lips before turning to my family.

“Good job Mommy!” Mylan hugged as Caiah followed her lead.

“Congrats Nika!” He smiled. I love these too so much that it’s indescribable. I walked over to my Dad and he smiled at me before pulling me into a hug.

“I’m proud of you Onika,” he kissed my head before letting me go.

Nae’s P.O.V.

“Okay Cee, you can let me go now,” I laughed as CeeJay clung onto me. I was leaving for California tonight so this would be the last time we will see each other for a while.

“Alright,” she sighed as she pulled away.

“You know I’ll visit you in Hawaii. I’ve always wanted to go out there anyway,” I chuckled.

“You better,” she hugged me one last time before I went over to Nicki. She turned to me and tried to fight back the tears.

“I don’t need you crying because then I’ll cry,” I playfully rolled my eyes.

“I’m gonna miss you Nae,” she pulled me into a hug.

“I’ll miss you too Nic,” I hugged her back. The distance between California and Paris is 5,525 miles. We searched it together a few nights ago.

“You better call me all the time,” she demanded.

 “Every second I get,” I joked before hugging her one last time. Cassie came over and smiled at me. We’ve put the past behind us and we’ve actually became good friends.

“Bye Nae,” she hugged me.

“Bye Cassie,” I smiled before I went over to my family.

“Nae!” Kelsey jumped into my arms. I picked her up and hugged my siblings.

“Good job Jaznae,” my Dad hugged me before April hugged me. I talked to them for a while before going over to my Mom and her husband. She hugged me and told me how proud she was. I’m proud of myself for getting this far. I looked over and saw Blake talking to her Mom and Paris. I guess they’ve put the past behind them too. I walked over and she smiled once she saw me. Her Mom turned and hugged me.

“I’m proud of you Jaznae,” she smiled.

“Thank you Mama Naira,” I returned the smile before she walked off with Paris. “So I guess this is it,” I knew that she would do great in Florida. That was always her dream to go off to Florida.

“Have a good life Jaznae,” she hugged me.

“You too Blakelynn,” I hugged her back before pulling away. This is closing a chapter and starting a new one.

Blake’s P.O.V.

“I’m proud of you two,” my Dad wrapped me and Paris in his arms.

“Thanks Dad,” I smiled. It’s nice to have him in my life. I’m even working to forgive my Mom because it’s not good to hold onto grudges. I let him go and Colton, Ciara, and Carly wrapped their arms around me and Paris. When I finally got through them, Shad hugged me.

“Proud of you lil sis,” he said.

“Thanks Shad,” I hugged him back before I got to the person that I was waiting for.

“Congrats baby,” Mere pulled me into a hug.

“Thank you,” I hugged her back before kissing her.

“So are you ready to officially move on from high school?” She asked. High school has been a rollercoaster for me but I can say when I moved here, I had a lot more fun. I used to hate school but I didn’t mind Lenore High.

“Yeah, I think I am,” I smiled before wrapping my arms around her. I’m so ready for Florida.

Cassie’s P.O.V.

“Congratulations Casandra,” my Mom hugged me and my Dad followed her lead. My parents have been more attentive to me to me ever since I got into the school in Paris. They thought I was finally turning my life around which in some ways I am.

“You’re gonna kill it in Paris,” Kyle hugged me.

“So are you,” I hugged him back. He’s going to a school that’s only thirty minutes away from my school. I finally pulled away and went to find Shad. I know that he’s gonna be mad about the Paris thing. I found him hugging Paris before he finally looked up at me. He walked over to me and just stared.

“You told me that you were going to NYU,” he stated. No hug or congratulations Cassie. All he cares about is that stupid school.

“I was until I found out about Paris,” I sighed. I was gonna stay in New York but going to Paris gives me so many opportunities that I can’t pass up.

“You could’ve told me,” he was honestly annoying me right now. I just graduated and this is what he cares about the most.

“I didn’t think it was that big of a deal. We could make this long distance thing work,” I shrugged.

“Naw, I don’t do long distance,” he shook his head. I scrunched up my eyebrows at him. What is he trying to say?

“So you want to break up just because I’m going to college in Paris?” I crossed my arms.

“Look, it’s either me or Paris,” he gave me an ultimatum. I cannot believe he’s pulling this shit on my graduation day.

“Well I guess this is bye,” I rolled my eyes before walking away. Fuck him then.

Nicki’s P.O.V.

“I can’t believe that I’m officially done with high school,” I told Aubrey as we laid in his bed. It was surreal to think about. I’m supposed to move to Paris about three weeks from now. I signed up for a summer program that will help me ease into the routines there.

“I can’t believe it either,” he shook his head before kissing me.

“So are you sure that you’re not mad that I’m going to Paris?” I really didn’t want to hurt him. Paris was my dream but Aubrey was my future and I didn’t want to lose him over this.

“We’ll call, text, and Skype whenever we have the chance. I got a private jet from all the money that I make from my company. I’ll visit you and My whenever I have time off,” he kissed me.

“I love you,” I smiled.

“I love you too,” he pecked my lips before I got up to go back to my Dad’s house. When I got there it was quiet so I knew that everyone was asleep. I stayed downstairs and called back the blood work place to see what was wrong with my blood work.

“It seems that you’ve been taking drugs Ms. Maraj,” I scrunched up my eyebrows at that statement.

“I’m not on any type of drugs. Can you tell me what drug you found?” I truly didn’t know how that was possible.

When she told me what it was, all I saw was red. The only person who had that was Daven. He told me that he had no problem with me going to Paris and he does shit like this!? Then again maybe he just didn’t want me to go so he wouldn’t have any distractions. All I know is that I’m gonna kick his ass tomorrow.