Southern Belle

Ch. 5 Graduation

"Wooohooo! That's right, Belle! You showed them! You showed them how it's done!"

Remind me never ever to let my family come to another school function again. 

I just finished my valedictorian speech at graduation, and most of the crowd was applauding. The other half was too drunk to notice. And when I said other half, I meant my family. They were the only ones in the entire crowd to be tipsy since they decided to drink excessive amounts of alcohol at a 'pre-graduation party'. Mel, in her drunken state, screamed on top of her lungs, causing all of my classmates to erupt in laughter.

Thanks for ruining my moment.

"Well...thank you for that lovely speech. Now, Belle, would you do the honors and finish off our ceremony?" Ms. Jackson, our petite principal, took the microphone from me and smiled.

I nodded in response since if I tried to speak, nothing would come out of my mouth except for a fit of giggles. Ms. Jackson had been known over the years for her dramatic outfit choices at graduation. This year, she wore a black, peplum dress with "Class of 2012" written down the side. Her matching pumps had feathers sticking out from every angle, so it looked like she was wearing fuzzy slippers. Her makeup must have been done by a three-year-old. Blue eye shadow was unevenly splattered up until her eyebrows, and her bright pink lipstick was smudged under her bottom lip. 

"Yes, I would. Congrats Class of 2012!" I flung my ocean blue cap off of my head, and my whole class followed.

Blue caps covered most of my view, but for some reason, I could faintly see Ash's face grinning at me in the middle of the front row. His blond hair was a little messed up from the cap, but he still looked like a model. His icy blue eyes connected with mine, and instantly, I ran off of the stage.

I didn't know what came over me. Running at lightning speed from the stage, I catapulted myself from the stage steps into Ash's arms (He wholeheartedly hugged me back, so it wasn't like he didn't want a hug from me). We stood there for approximately five seconds —his arms were secured around my waist, and my arms were snaked around his neck. Then, something even crazier happened.

I kissed Ash. 

Now, this wasn't a full on makeout. We were at graduation, and I personally thought sticking my tongue down his throat wouldn't be acceptable. I just lifted my head up and pecked his lips for a few seconds. His lips kinda tasted like apple cinnamon mixed with pomegranate, which was a plus. It was innocent and enjoyable, and when it was over, a grin couldn't help but spread across my features.

"That was a surprising graduation gift," Ash chuckled as his arms held onto my waist even tighter now. He probably was afraid I would run away.

His assumption was correct because if his hands weren't grasped around my torso, I would've ran away so fast that even Usain Bolt wouldn't have been able to catch up.

"Yeah...erm," I stuttered a little. I placed my head in the crook of his neck to hide my reddening cheeks from him. "I didn't know what to get you, and I thought that was suitable." 

I actually got him a new black polo, but I suppose the kiss made him happier than a shirt would have.

As we continued to stay in our position, a shrieking ambulance sound caused me to let go of his neck and to stumble backwards. My forehead crinkling while I wondered why an amulance came to graduation. Was someone hurt? Last time at the graduation ceremony, a mom had to be sent away because she had accidentally tripped over a light fixture and fell headfirst onto the ground.

It was amusing until we realized that the mother had gone unconscious.

"Hee-hee-heeeee! Congrats, guys!" Bailey Storms, a fellow classmate groaned as she was lifted onto a stretcher. Her left arm clutched her protruding stomach as she spoke.