As Time Passed By (A Josh And Maya Fanfic)

As Time Passed By: Chapter Twenty-Six

A/N: Play the song on the side. Perfect graduation/goodbye song. :")
*****

Today's the day.

Today's the day we finally leave high school. Today's the day we're each going our separate ways. Today is the day we graduate high school.

Like in the previous years, graduation was being held in the school's auditorium. It's no surprise who our valedictorian was. Farkle was of course chosen. No doubt about that. Our salutatorian was Smackle. And surprisingly, Riley, Lucas and I graduated with honors. Oh and Zay passed as we all knew he would.

Since we were in the honor role, we were seated at the front row. I could see everyone from my family there. Mrs. Matthews, Mom, Auggie, Dad, Angela, Mr. Moore, and even Josh. Riley is his niece.

And now, let's hear the valedictory speech from Mr. Farkle Minkus.

This is it.

Farkle walks us to the podium and take a deep breath. "I stand before all of you today, happy to be finally out of high school and terrified to be out of what we considered home for the last four years. For the first time, we'll have to learn how to fly on our own - or to fly with a different flock. Different is good. Change is good. But change can also be scary, that's why I'm here on behalf of all my friends to thank all my teachers , for making sure we are ready to fly on our own. Thank you. For everything." He finishes. And by the end of that, I could see a whole lot of people tearing up-Lucas, Riley and myself included. This is really it.

Awards and cerftificates were given. Teacher and students shook hands. Parents cried. And before we knew it, we were all leaving the school's gymnasium. For the last time.

All in all the ceremony ended nearly at six.

We all remained quiet as we leave the gym and make for the school's entrance. Our family went ahead of us, save for Josh. He walked beside me, and I pretended not to notice.

"This is it." Smackle nervously says gripping Farkle's hand so tight, her knuckles were turning white. But he too was gripping her as tightly.

"Once we step through the door," Lucas says taking a hold of Riley's hand who in turn says, "We'll finally be out of this place for good."

"Oh would you four stop it? Here. Let me and Josh go through first." I say taking hold of his hand. We walk through the door and down the steps of John Quincy Adams High. I quickly let go of his hand once we reach the last step.

"See? It wasn't so bad." I say. They all look at each other and slowly descent the stairs.

"Yeah. Not bad at all." Farkle says, an unseasy smile on his face. Smackle was still clutching his hand, and it was the same for him.

I look at the gang and then the school. I couldn't help but tear up. I blink away the tears. Josh was the first to notice what I was doing and asked, "Maya are you alright?"

"Yeah why wouldn't I be." I say sniffling.

"Are you crying?" Lucas asks, a slight snigger to his tone.

I rub my eyes and say, "No I'm not. The wind just blew something into my eyes."

Riley looks at me, tears already streaming down her face. "Maya..." And one by one they start enveloping me in a group hug. I can see our parents in the distance smiling fondly at us. Probably reminiscing 'the old days.'

"Hey, why don't we all sleep over at my place tonight?" Riley says as she brushes away any stray tears. Lucas's arm was around her, and I couldn't help but feel a pang in my heart. Am I ever gonna have that?