Catherine screamed the whole way out, but laughed and apologizing for her friends "professeur desole pour mes amis fous, (Professor, sorry for my crazy friends) ha see the rest of you at the ceremony." I stayed in front leading the way to my car and Nicks truck that were parked right next to one another. "Alright boys drop her in my front seat and follow us..." I said as I jumped in the driver’s seat and started the engine locking the doors and holding on to Catherine's arm as I put up the top of my challenger. "Damn it Catherine Anne... I'm not playing this game with you today... You have me fucking getting pissed off now, so you are going to tell me what the fuck happened from the time we left my house until fuck a few mins later when you did all this...." "You know what I really am not ready to tell you so can we please just follow the boys to wherever they are going? We can do this later when we both have a little more courage or shit at least me" Catherine cut me off gripping my forearm tight with the look in her eyes being that of burning flames. I let her go and she stayed in her seat but put the top back down needing the heat from the sun to warm her. I did what she had asked and followed the boys in the truck that was almost too high even with me being 6'2 toned but not skin and bone. Catherine stayed watching out her side of the car and at times would look at me and smile her shy smile that told me whatever it was she had to say was something seriously important.
After arriving at our favorite hideout in the woods we had hung out making sure not to get to dirty before needing to go get freshened up at Catherine’s and before heading off to graduation. “Just think we are about to be real adults and have real adult problems..” Nicholas says as he lays his head in Jose’s lap. Jose smiled down at him “Yes, but we have all summer together and you and all of us together you know we will have a lifetime to grow and see where this thing goes. Most importantly though….our love for one another will only get stronger I promise you that!” he says before leaning down and kisses his man. Catherine watches our two best male gay friends canoodling while I enjoy the sun on my face and the music playing softly around us. “This is going to be the best summer ever…. I can’t wait to see what the next 2 months holds for us all and better yet this night as we go from high school to pre-college students with the whole world at our finger-tips!” I said as I roll over when my phone chimes. Catherine groans when I reach for my phone to tell us that it’s time to go even though I don’t even need to say it. “NO…..I do not want to go yet…I am valedictorian as you know and I say we stay longer they can’t do it without me anyways!” she said refusing to get up. We all chuckle as we slide off the benches and the blankets, we had put down on them.
15 mins later Catherine and I were bound for her house while the men were headed their way since they were living with Nicholas’s parents for the time being. We were taking our time making sure to have our outfits perfect and I wanted to be sure that I didn’t need to run home to change. Catherine’s whistle was perfect as she made it long and appreciating “Well now that is what I’d call eye candy and well good thing you’re single. I’m pretty sure you’d be in big trouble if you were not!” she said causing me to chuckle as I finished fastening all my earrings and bracelet. I smile back through the mirror appreciating her full outfit “You look beautiful as well Cat, now we should probably get going before we are truly late” I said as we are already running late, and my phone had dinged a good 4 times. Catherine’s parents had already left the house 15mins prior to us and warned us we’d be late. They knew we hated being late, but Catherine had also, gave them the same speech she had given me and the guys earlier. “I know, I know, but it’s like once we actually make it official and show up…it’s really the end of our time in this town together and school where we ruled the place. I am just not quite ready to give it up yet!” she said looking at me as I turned around to face her.
After arriving at the school with people still showing up and trying to find their seats to watch their children graduate Catherine and I were rushing to get to our seats on the floor and up on stage. “You got this babe… you are made for great things, and you are going to rock the real world too. I love you and you are my best friend. Now go show these punks and the rest of everyone else just how much we ruled this place and what kind of impact you’re going to truly make on this world once you hit the ground running!” I reminded her as I give her the biggest hug on the planet. Catherine hugged me back quickly doing her best not to cry before turning around and running towards the stage to find her place with the faculty. I couldn’t be prouder of her as she took her place sitting next to the principle and the other teachers on the board. I finally found my seat and over the next few hours we were all laughing and some of us even crying by the time the whole thing was over.
Catherine had done such a great job with her speech, and I knew she would do such great things in the world and prayed that whatever she had to tell me later wouldn’t break us or put a strain in our friendship for any reason. After we all got our diploma’s and were able to disperse to our families to head home. Catherine, Jose, Nicholas and I met up outside for pictures and to let our families know that we’d all be having a small get together over at my house. “So, your parents’ are ok with this going on?” Catherine’s mother Amber asked. I smiled and nodded “Yes and it’s just the 4 of us since I’ll be on vacation with my family for the summer as you know as Cat is coming and we’ll be leaving in the morning. The guys just want to hang with us 2 girls tonight so we can talk girl stuff and have a last night just the 4 of us. You know mom and since we still have no idea what we’ll be doing for the next 4-8 years of our lives we want to make sure we spend whatever time is left…together!” I said honestly giving her my best sob story.
Amber had smiled and knowing me so well laughed and gave in knowing there was no way she could even tell me no anyways. “I never could tell this one no or you for that matter….so you 4 have a good time…and please stay out of trouble…and hey…no drinking and driving you know the rules!” she said lowering her voice to a whisper. We finally walked towards the waiting vehicle with my parents standing on opposite sides of the planet if I ever saw two people. Catherine kissed her mother and father before the 4 of us got into the SUV with my parents who would take us to the house, before heading out a day earlier than Catherine and, I for our family vacation. “Ok let’s get going…Mia I expect the 4 of you to be on your best behavior and no one else at the house please” my father Ethan said firmly. I nodded and we all answered “Not to worry no one else has been invited and we all know the rules”, “Oh, yes Mr. Ribbonowski no one else has been invited and I would not ever disrespect you in that manner!” Jose said in that Hispanic tone that always made my heart swoon. My parents both smile at us all knowing that they could trust us, and yet knew it was senior year and expected for us to break some type of rules of some sort or another.