Soaring Bird

Today was the day. Graduation. Chantel was going to walk across that stage and get her diploma that she worked hard for, forced herself to stay in school for through all the bullying. She had her white dress on (have to wear white or pastel under the gown) and her red gown and cap hanging on the door waiting for her to take with her when she left. She took one final look in the mirror, and was pleased with the strong person she saw. She grabbed her cap and gown and headed downstairs where her parents and godparents waited with cameras already flashing and she smiled at her goofy family.
"You guys, I'm not even walking across the stage yet." she smiles as shes hugged by her mother who is crying and her father who hugs her just a little bit tighter.
"We know that, but we are so proud of you." Her mother says through the tears
"You'll be even prouder once Im holding my actual diploma."
They give her more hugs and she leaves to get ready for this special day...

She shows up at the school and when she gets out she sees everybody walking in getting ready before the ceremony. Then she feels a pair of arms wrap around her. She knows these arms, this embrace, but she doesn't want it. She turns around and comes face to face with Amy. The joy that was originally on her face is gone when she sees Chantel could care less about her hug. Amy just looks at the ground,
"So, its graduation. final day here. Are we okay? Are we going to talk?"
"Yes it is, and idk, and idk." is all Chantel says when she turns away and walks inside.
Chantel knows how unreasonable she is being, but she can't help it, she just doesn't feel anything anymore when she looks at Amy, and she doesn't know why but something feels different.
"Hey Chantel!"
Chantel freezes as she recognizes that voice....
"Hey, can we talk?" James asks.
"Um..... sure?" Why the fuck did everybody want to talk today and what could he possibly have to say?
"Look, its the last day here," and WHY DOES EVERYBODY KEEP POINTING THAT OUT! UGH! "I uh, just want to say sorry."
WHAT?
"I'm sorry for being mean to you, I'm sorry for continuing the bullying that my dad did to your mom. I have been trying to say this all year ever since I found out but I never had the courage or time, but I figured since I will probably never see you again, I need to say it now. So you know that I did a lot of thinking this year and realized what I dick I actually was..."
"Are you being serious? This is crazy. I mean I appreciate your apology, but this is out of nowhere." Chantel can not believe what is happening
"I know, and I know it probably sounds phoney because its the last day, but its real. I even wrote a bunch of sorry letters to you, Amy said she would deliver them, but..."
"What? Amy never gave me any letters."
"Well I gave..."
Chantel walked away and went inside. What the hell?
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"Chantel Purdy." is all Chantel hears before the screams and cheers of her whole family.
There is a beam of sunlight shining through the window of the gymnasium that has broken through the clouds. She knew what that meant and she smiled as she whispered...
"Thank you aunt Jessica."
She grabbed her diploma and walked off the stage. Then she heard...
"Congratulations class of 2034!"
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When graduation is over she heads outside to be surrounded by family and hugged too much.
"I can't believe you wont be here anymore to help me." Axel says to his cousin, who was his role model.
"I showed you the ropes and how to get around, you'll be fine. Besides in a couple years you'll be teaching Jaxon here the same thing." Chantel says while giving her little cousin a noogie.
"Chantel?"
Everyone turns and sees Rex standing in the parking lot. A few people in her family are confused, including Chantel.
"Rex? Hey, what are you doing here?" Chantel eventually asks
"Celebrating you graduating. Congratulations." Rex says while hugging her just as Allen, Eric, and Amy walk over, "Hey man, congrats."
Allen accepts and they all awkwardly stand there before Neveah says
"So everybody is coming over tonight right? Amy? Eric?, " they nod and Neveah doesn't see it but Chantel rolls her eyes, "Rex would you like to join?"
"No thank you maam, this is a family celebration, I shall not intrude. Chantel, Allen, studio tomorrow?"
They nod and Rex takes his leave...
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Back at the house Chantel is showered with love from all her aunts and uncles. When she excuses herself and her friends they end up in her room.
"So babe hows the album?" Amy asks
"Amy stop. We still aren't together, and we do need to talk, about something I found out today." Chantel stays strong.
Allen and Eric look up from their spot on the bean bag,
"What?"
"Did James give you letters to give to me?"
"Wait what? When did you hear this and from who?" Allen perks up now
"Today. From James. He came up to me and apologized and said he wrote me many letters and that he gave them to you to give to me."
"I don't know what hes talking about." Amy says, but her nose scrunches up
"You're lying."
"Are you really going to believe some no good meat head jock bully over me, your girlfriend?"
"When the 'no good meat head jock bully' sounds sincere and hurt, and when your tell of lying appeared on your face just now yea I will believe him over you, my not gf right now!"
"Fuck you Chantel, you are supposed to trust me."
"Don't talk to her like that! You have no right" Eric shouts
"Stay out of this Eric...." a warning tone and fear in her voice
"Enough!"
.......

Notes

Uh oh....