Graduation Day

Sophomore Year was in the books.

Exams were finished, everyone had already had their prom night, the evening ending better for some than others, and Maple had finally gained enough courage to make a statement to the police.

Things couldn’t have worked out any better for her. In the coming weeks, Dixon was arrested by police and brought into the station for questioning after Maple’s statement.

It had turned out that there had been another female student who wanted to remain anonymous who had also put in a statement against the college footballer.

Although Mark wasn’t there at the time to watch Dixon leave campus grounds with his hands behind his back in handcuffs, there were plenty of others who were there, pleased to watch.

With his hands cuffed behind his back, he twisted and resisted as two police men directed him out of campus grounds and to their vehicle. Scenes like this didn’t happen ever day so despite the early morning hour, students gathered outside to see what was going down as word got around.

Half way to the vehicle, Dixon stopped resisting and began to accept his fate. Not wanting to drop his head and act ashamed, he looked at other students in the eye as he was led away. One of those students was Ali, who was about to head to class that morning, standing with her books, to the side of the pathway.

Dixon picked her out in the minor crowd of that area and made no illusions about his true feelings of their secret group that had formed solely to bring him down. He mouthed the words, “You’ll regret this, all of you.”

A little afraid of the possibility of Dixon getting off lightly from a sentencing, Ali kept her mouth quiet, not wanting to make a scene.

For now, he was out their hands…

There was also still no sign of Z, who hadn’t been seen by any of the group since the night of Prom, Dixon was still set to end up behind bars, a relief and a celebration for everyone.

***

Graduation Day

A much happier time for all…

Mark and some of the others had gathered for the graduation of the seniors, finally out into the real world in search of jobs and careers. There was no secret who Mark and his friends were here to see. There was clearly a lot of pride and a touch of sadness that they were about to see Tiffany graduate and move on to the next chapter of her life.

Sitting next to Ali as the presentations commence, Mark looked around the crowd, seeing who else he knew was out there.

“Two more years and that’ll be us up there,” Ali said, nudging him lightly on the arm.

Mark chuckled, “I would say that’s ages away but the last two years have flown by.”

Smiling back at him, Ali was dressed up beautifully in a simple but more than attractive black dress. She was seated next to Miranda on her other side, who was presenting herself just as nicely in a violet coloured low cut dress. The busty blonde had surprised everyone by taking out a social nobody to the prom, something that was talked about for weeks to come.

“What about you Miranda?” Mark said, leaning over Ali to speak to the blonde, “One more year for you, getting nervous?”

She shrugged, not showing any signs that she was looking forward to her senior year. Miranda then sighed, “It’d be easier if I was anything like Tiffany, that girl just has everything mapped out, to the ninth degree.”

“Yeah, she sure is one of a kind,” Ali added.

Mark gulped quietly, automatically thinking about how she would be on a plane half way across the world in just two days. One of the biggest influences on his college years so far, about to fly far away, it hadn’t sunk it yet.

The presentations took place and the seniors were gifted their certificates and diplomas, one by one. As Tiffany took centre stage, Mark and his friends all stood up and erupted in cheers. The brunette had an incredible smile on her face as she was up there, proud of her achievements.

Mark couldn’t help but just think about how beautiful she looked in her college graduation hat and gown. The girls next to him saw the look in his eyes as he watched her up on the stage.

He seemed drilled in on her up in front of everyone, not thinking about anything else. It wasn’t until he felt a little nudge into his side again that he was brought back to earth, “You still love her don’t you?” Ali whispered to him.

He didn’t say anything at first but the colour of his cheeks indicated how he felt about that question.

Ali just continued to clap as the other seniors got up and received their rewards. She didn’t mean to embarrass him too much, just a little…

***