The New Girl

Chapter 41

Malik's POV

I looked in the crowd at my daughter who was sitting in Kadience's mom lap then at Emoni. I was nervous as hell, speaking in front of 2000 people. Emoni smiled at me and placed her hand over mine as I spoke into the mic. "My fellow students, we only arrived here four short years ago, and now it's already time to leave. How did it all go so fast? It seems like only yesterday that we were skinny little freshmen fighting with the locks on our lockers, trying to figure out where our next class was, and looking generally clueless to all the upper classmen. Now we are the upperclassmen, the seniors who stand here ready to graduate and move forward in the world. Yet at this seminal moment, we can't help looking back.

How do we measure the time we've spent in high school? In the beginning, we measured it in class periods, counting down the day to eventual freedom. As the days and weeks passed, we measured it in semesters, and later in years as we moved from being those clueless freshmen, to becoming sophisticated sophomores who thought they had it all figured out. By the time we reached our junior year, we were confident that we were prepared to take over for the graduating seniors, and we couldn't wait to "rule the school."

And now here we stand. Our rule is over, and it's up to the next class to step into our shoes and take over. I know that as I look out at all of you, I will measure my time here in a much different way. I will measure it in all the friendships I've enjoyed these last four years. Some were pretty casual and others were much closer, but I'll remember each one fondly, as I'm sure you all will, too. And when many of our high school memories begin to fade, that's how we'll ultimately measure the time we spent here, not in periods or semesters or years, but in the friendships that we made and the times we shared together." I said. People stood to their feet and clapped for me as me and Moni took our seats on stage with the rest of the crew. I held on to Emoni's hand as they began to call names so we could receive our diploma.

Kadience's POV
After graduation I treated the crew to dinner at five star. Even Malik bitch ass joined us. "I think we can all agree that this has been one crazy ass year." I said speaking to everyone.
"Hell yea." Katia ghetto ass said. Making us all laugh.
"I just wanted to say I'm glad I came to SouthWest. I have befriended some beautiful people, not only looks but personality wise too. I met the love of my life." I said looking over at Jayden smirking. "I got a son, I'm about to have a nephew soon." I said looking at Jazmine. "And I have a beautiful niece." I said referring to Lyric and looking at Malik. He gave me a little smirk as I continued. "My bestie came back from Brooklyn and surprised a bitch with all these undiscovered talents and shit." I said making us all laugh. "But I just wanted to say I love each and everyone of and I'm glad I was given the opportunity to get to know you all and we made it."I explained as a tear fell down my cheek.
"Aweee boo don't cry." Jazmine said she gave me a hug and wiped me tears as her belly separated the two of us causing everyone to laugh. We all chilled, laughed and had fun and reminisced on old times until the restaurant closed.
"Babe you never told me about your father." I was laying down on Jayden's chest in our bed at his house and Kaden was asleep in his room.
"My dad wasn't shit to be honest with you. He had a job and he wouldn't give my mother a dime, he only stayed with us because he needed a place to eat, sleep and shit. We didn't have a relationship, he always called me stupid and told me I would never make it but I proved him wrong cause a nigga got his diploma today." He said rubbing my arm and chuckling. "When my mom went missing he did too and I promised myself that if I had a child I would never abandoned him or her and I would always be there and do my job as a father." I smiled and bit my lip when he said that. I began to trace to the tattoo on his chest with my finger as always.
"Well that's good." I said kissing his cheek.
"How so?" He asked licking his sexy ass pink lips.
"Because I'm pregnant."

Malik's POV
"I don't think you know how much you hurt me-" Emoni explained.
"Baby I-"
"Shut up and listen to me." She threw her hand up in my face. I hated that shit, I took a deep breath and rolled my eyes. We were sitting at the airport in the parking lot. It was time for her to go on her Juilliard tour and she still ain't told a nigga where we stand.
"You hurt me to the core. This whole situation really had me weak and broken that you would ever do something to me like this. I love you deeply and you know that We need some time away from each other and I think this tour will help me clear my mind and find out where we stand." She explained.
"So we not together?" I already knew the answer to that.
"Nahh we not, but if you planning on being with other bitches while I'm gone for a week you might as well let me go completely cause that's telling me that you don't care about me or this relationship. I love you I just need time."
"I love you too." I said. She gave me a kiss on the lips then she gave Lyric a kiss on her forehead before getting out the car and walking Into the airport. Damn I really need to get my shit together.