Chapter Text
Marcys phone violently vibrates on her dresser. She finished sticking a Bobbi pin in her long hair, and picked it up. “Marcy!” An excited voice screamed from the phone. “Anna banana! What’s going on?” Marcy asked, smiling. “What’s going on Is your graduating tonight!” Anne answered excitedly. Marcy blushed, flicking some of her hair off from over her eye.
“I uh, didn’t know if you’d remember that.” She replied. “Of course I’d remember! Just because you live in the Midwest now does not mean I won’t pay attention to your texts.” Anne responded. Marcy laughed. “I know, I mailed you guys an invitation like two months ago, and I figured you and Sasha would be focused on your own lives.” Marcy answered.
“Oh you mean this Invitation?” Anne ducked her head and pointed up to the paper hanging on the wall behind her. “I’m super sorry I can’t be there in-person. I would be if I could, you know that right?” Anne asked. “I know.” Marcy replied, as she sat her phone down against her desk.
Marcy continued working on her hair, carefully placing more Bobbi pins in. “I’m watching the live stream though! I’ve got Sasha coming over to.” Anne said happily. It took Marcy a moment to respond, as she was focused on her hair. “It starts at 7:00, you know that’s 5:00 In L.A. right?” Marcy questioned.
“Marcy, please. I’m a senior In high school, of course I knew that. It’s In like an hour and a half.” Anne responded with a laugh. “Ok. Did my Mom send you the link?”she asked, now rummaging through her makeup bag.
“Yup, I pestered your parents Into sending the link like a week ago. I’ve been anticipating this since I got the invite.” Anne smiled. Marcy laughed. “Im glad you’re so excited about it.” She replied, grabbing for her mascara.
Another noise came from her phone. The smile on Marcy’s face grew wider, as she clicked it. “Hey,” Sasha’s voice came from the phone. “Hey Sash.” Marcy said, carefully applying eyeshadow.
“I just wanted to say good luck on your speech tonight.” Sasha said smiling. “Yeah, it’s not everyday one of friends graduates as valedictorian.” Anne added. “Thanks you guys.” Marcy exclaimed, moving on to eyeliner.
“Marcy we leave in fifteen minutes!” Her moms voice yelled from another room. Anne and Sasha could hear, only muffled through the phone. “Stop wasting time on the phone and get ready!” She added. “I am getting ready mom! Just on the phone with Anne and Sasha! I’ll be done in a few minutes!” Marcy yelled back.
“Anyway, good luck tonight Marcy. We’ll call you after.” Sasha said. “Yup. Sounds good. I am going out with a couple of friends after so I can’t promise I’ll be able to answer right away though.” Marcy replied, Finishing up her lipstick.
“How are you two feeling about your graduation next week?” Marcy asked, popping her lips to smooth out the lip stick. “Tonight’s about your graduation. Not ours.” Sasha responded. “Ok. I guess I better go. I’ll see you later.” Marcy replied. “Bye Marbles, see ya.” Anne said, waving with a smile. “Bye Marce, can’t wait to watch tonight.” Sasha added. As they hung up the call.
The night went by relatively quickly. Sasha had come over to Anne’s about ten minutes before the graduation ceremony started. Anne had hooked her phone up to the TV so that they could watch on a larger screen. Mr. And Mrs. Boonchuy ended up joining them. Anne tried super hard to wait patiently.
“Thank you to the 2025 class president for your wise words. Now our final speaker, class of 2025 valedictorian, Marcy Wu.” Marcy took in a deep breath. It wasn’t a big deal right? She had Anne’s voice on replay in her mind, singing no big deal like they were still 13 in Amphibia. She slowly walked up to the black box stage that had been temporarily set up for this.
She took one wore deep breath, just before moving in front of the mic stand. “Hi, I’m Marcy. Um… you probably don’t personally know me.” She knew she sounded slightly nervous, but as she continued the nerves faded. “A lot of people probably know who I am, or more what you’ve heard about me. Anyway, I’m here to talk about high school and graduating and all that. Our Class President did a fantastic job talking about it before me, that’s definitely hard to follow. Moving on from High school is a huge step. I think by now so many people are ready to get away. Away from the classes they don’t want to take and the people they don’t like and maybe even the just everything about it. Personally, I am kind If excited to leave.
Sure I like learning, but I’ll never stop learning. I’ve made connections here. I’m going to miss walking down the hallway with my best friends and lunch together everyday. I’m gonna miss Friday nights being how they are. I know I’m not the only person here who has some close friends or connections to people, relationships that are Important to me. Show of hands, who’s going to collage out of state” Marcy slightly raised her hand along with about half the senior student body. “Keep your hands up. How many of you are going to collage in state but outside of this city?” Half of the people remaining raised their hands, while the others kept their hands up.
“Ok and how many of you are staying in here, rather you’re going to collage or not.” Everyone left raised their hands. “Look around you, now everyone here has their hand up. You can take your hands down now, by the way. That whole thing may have seemed stupid but, each and every person who had their hand up is leaving. Even if your literally staying here in the Midwest. We’re all leaving something behind. Rather Its our school, our home, family, friends, or even just our old selves.” Marcy paused to take a breath before continuing.
“That’s the thing about friends isn’t it, the more you love them, the more it hurts when they go. I would be afraid that everything’s going to change. I’d be afraid that everything’s ruined and that I’ll never see the people who are closest to me again. But I’m not. I’m not afraid for everything to change, because even if it does it’ll still be the same. Your friends never really go. The memories don’t change, and even then some things will be the same.
Someone I care very much about told me once that they didn’t want to loose me. I’ve heard from a couple people now that family always finds each other. I think that’s a good thing to remember now. Because even though we’re leaving here tonight as high school graduates and are all going our separate ways, we’ll still find each other. I have proof of that. If you really know me, you know I moved here Sopomore year. I left my old life, my old school, friends. But we still talk. They ares still the people I’m closest with In life. Even After I moved, we still manage to find eachother “ Marcy took one last breath, “oh and, I just want to acknowledge, before I go. that I don’t care if you call me a weird girl, cuz let’s be honest, I am a weird girl. thank you.” She said as she made her way back to her seat. The crowd applauded, as was expected. Anne and Sasha clapped especially hard and loud, though they were miles and miles away where no one would hear.
“She did so great!” Anne exclaimed, bouncing up and down with excitement. “She’s still our Marcy.” Sasha replied, wrapping her arms around Anne. Sasha pulled out her phone typing a text to Marcy. “Marcy you absolutely rocked it. To think you were nervous is insane. You did amazing!” Anne grabbed her phone and sent a message as well. “You are such an inspiration. I’m so lucky to know you. Sending virtual hugs. Have fun with your friends tonight!”
***
Anne looked down at her dark grey gown. She adjusted her long hair, tucking the blue streaks under. Anne looked around whatever kind of line this formation was. She turned back. Anne glanced around for Sasha behind her. There were at least 310 of the 317 students In between. Sasha, however, didn’t make it hard to find her. She frantically waved stepping slightly out of line. Sasha was pretty close to the back. Anne smiled and waved back. Anne glanced back at the door in front of them. The hallway to the football field had never felt smaller.
There wasn’t long to wait now. Of course this was nerve wrecking, but in an exciting way. A noise came from outside, stifling the loud chattering that had emanated through the open hall doors. The students waiting, hidden by the hallway, silenced themselves. “Now, Saint James High School presents, the 2025 graduating class” the odd shaped line of soon to be graduates began to walk forward and out onto the field. This felt insane and surreal, but it was real. The band immediately began playing an upbeat song loudly. The band was composed of the same people as before, just minus we the seniors.
Sasha watched her heels click against the ground as they walked with the group down the hall, then the concrete. She looked up when she saw the turn Inches away. The clicking of her heels ceased once she’d stepped onto It. There wasn’t far to walk once they’d reached the turf. A Cheering crowd was spread across the bleachers. The crowd was composed of the families of the seniors. There were two rectangular sections (approximately 160 on each side) of metal folding chairs to the far end of the field, a path left in between them.
The seniors reached the chairs and split off as formerly practiced. The principle opened by saying a few words and then there was the guest speaker. After that the class president, Veronica Angilman, gave her speech. It seemed to go by rather quickly. There was only one speech left, the valedictorian.
The graduation ceremony proceeded as the principle called each student up to receive their diplomas, in alphabetical order. Each student took their diploma, and shook hands with each of the principles and counselors on the way back to their seats. It seemed to go by so fast. It was dark by the time It had ended, so In reality it had been at least two hours. Immediately after, the three girls ran to find each other.
Sasha ran off immediately, in search of people she knew. Both of her parents were there, which meant a lot to her. Knowing Sasha, she say anything though. She didn’t want to waist time grabbing her phone to text. “Sash!” A voice came from behind her. Sasha spun around quickly. Marcy ran towards her, wrapping her arms around her. “Marcy I’m so glad you’re here! I’m so glad I got to see you! I missed you so much!” Sasha spun her around.
“Now, let’s go find Anne.” She continued. Marcy proceeded to hop up onto a metal folding chair. Sasha didn’t worry whatsoever about it. “There” she pointed across toward the back of the field. “Let’s go.” Sasha responded, grabbing Marcy’s hand and sprinting over with her. Marcy jumped up onto Anne’s back from behind, almost knocking her over. Anne went along with It, as usual. “What are we, freshman before homecoming?” Anne laughed, putting Marcy down. Anne tightly embraced her, clearly overjoyed to see her. Sasha smiled. “No, because what did we just do?” Marcy and Anne exchanged excited glances, before screaming “We graduated High School!”