Goodbye, School (Chapter 5)

    The no-longer-seniors were directed out of the auditorium into the outside. More people gathered, hugging and talking to their best friends. Skye eventually found Madeline and began singing to her.

School's out for the summer
School's out forever

    Madeline turned around and grinned at Skye. She squeezed the life out of her.
    "Hey, not without me!" said Andrea as she approached the duo.
    Madeline motioned for her to come over and hug them. "Ugh, aren't you guys still mad at me?" she asked her friends.
    "No way," replied Andrea. "I am an adult now and we need to do good things."
    "Like stop beating people up?" Skye guessed.
    "Uh, I have to rethink that one."
    "Well, I'm glad you guys are not mad at me. I hate it when you guys resent me. I need you in my life."
    All of a sudden, Lizzie came zipping towards Madeline in tears and hugged her like she was going away for a while. She cried harder than she did earlier.
    "There, there, Lizzie," Madeline said, patting Lizzie's head.
    "I see nothing has changed after graduation," said Debra after coming up.
    Lizzie let go of Madeline to hug Debra.
    "I can't believe we aren't high school students anymore," shared Skye.
    "I know," said Madeline. "I loved school."
    "Of course, you did, Margaret Thatcher."
    Madeline cocked her head and pursed her lips. "School was like a refuge to me. Like, what is us without school?"
    "She's got a point," agreed Debra, still holding Lizzie.
    "You guys, I want to go to college but I'm not ready to lose you. That's why, on this day forth, we are going to have the best summer ever. No out's."
    "What if I got to go to summer camp?" asked Andrea.
    "No out's, Andrea. And you would die at summer camp."
    "I'm all in," smiled Debra.
    "Me, too," Lizzie blubbered.
    "Hey, I got nothing better to do," said Skye.
    "Aw!" uttered Madeline. "Group hug!"
    The girls gathered and embraced each other. Lizzie was still crying.
    "Ugh, Lizzie, calm down," Madeline commanded. "You're going to get snot on my gown."
    "It's not like you're gonna wear it again," mentioned Skye.

Goodbye, School (Chapter 4)

Afterwards, one of the staff members went through an alphabetical list of seniors and individually announced each name. The person who heard their name came up on stage and received their high school diploma from the principal. The girls' names were called, along with other friends, boyfriends and familiar faces.

Homer Wakefield Anderson
Skylar Tara Carter
Kevin Cameron Christie
Elizabeth Carmela Duvall
Andrea Rose Melinda Alejandra Martina Jenni Cantina Gonzalez
David James Geraldson
Samantha Annette Harrington
Kent Christopher Hamm
Alexander James "A.J." Hart
Sean Maya Hemingway
DeMarcus Michael Jones
Warren Terrance Kerr
Madeline Louise King
Kari Michelle Lancaster
Calvin Lee Layfield
Debra Shawna Lincoln
Kyle Lin Liu
Randall Cumberbatch Lowe
Pamela Porticia McAdams
Mauricia Nicole Palette
Jeffrey Xavier Parks
Jackson Stanley Payne
Hank Harvey Reynolds
Chrissy Martine Walker
Chad Robert Welch
Denny Benedict Winchester

When every senior received their diploma and were at their seats, the principal let Madeline go back to the podium.
"Alright," she said. "Are you ready for this moment? Everyone, take your tassel and turn it to the other side."
Every senior reached for the tassel hanging from their caps and moved it over from the right side to the left side.
"Congratulations, Class of 2016. You have officially graduated from Laguna Beach High School. Can I get a 'Suck that, world'?"
"Suck that, world!" every student hollered.
"You guys rock." Madeline took off her cap and threw it in the air, prompting everyone to chuck their caps in the air.
Everyone's friends and families stood up and applauded them. After catching their hats, every student either cheered or hugged their neighbors, engaging in merry conversation.

Goodbye, School (Chapter 3)

"Please welcome our valedictorian -- and my favorite student -- Madeline King!" declared the principal.
Everyone clapped as Madeline got up and walked behind the podium.
"He didn't have to say who's his favorite student," whispered Madeline's friend, Chrissy, to her friend, A.J.
"How is everybody doing?" Madeline asked into the microphone. "Wow, you all look good. You should look good; you're graduating high school. You're becoming somebody different. I'm going to tell you all a little personal story if that's okay with you.
"I was not always the smart one. I was not always the pretty one. I was not always the confident one. Actually, I still have my insecure moments. Am I smart? Am I pretty? Am I confident? But I guess that it's important to have insecurities. We need to be reminded every day that we are human. We are no different than the person you sit next to. Forget about race, gender, sexuality, favorite singer. We are all the same because we're human and we go through a ton of issues.
"I used to think I was perfect. But -- I know this will seem a surprise -- I am not perfect. I grow hair on my legs, I wax my chin, I pop pimples, I will even pass a little gas. But guess what, so do you. So do all of you. And that is totally fine. However, I used to think that was not fine. Do you know who snapped me out of it? My friends.
"Yes, the four girls I hang out with almost every day of my life. And get this: they are all different from me. Usually, girls like me will hang out with... girls like me. But I didn't do that. There was something about each of these girls that made me gravitate towards them. I've known these girls for almost my entire life. The last friend I made, I met one of them during my freshman year. What's interesting is that we all changed at a certain period of time yet we are still friends. They changed me, only for the better. I can't tell the future but I know that we are best friends forever and I believe that.
"Some of you may not have friends like me. Some of you may not have any friends. But know this: your best friend has to be yourself. You have to know yourself before anyone can know you. You have to love yourself before anyone can love you. Your best friend has to be yourself. And I know that sounds selfish but hear me out. If you don't think you have self-worth, who will? You got to believe in yourself in order to achieve your goals. Nobody goes through life moping around and being suicidal. Everyone deserves to live but it is what you do with your life that determines the influence of your presence.
"Now after this, we won't be students of Laguna Beach High anymore. But some of us will still be students. Is that a bad thing? No. What if you don't go to college? That's fine. What if I live with my parents until I'm fifty years old? As long as you're helping them pay rent, you can do no wrong. We all have a future. It is what we do now that affects our future. Whatever your goal is, start now. Not tomorrow, now. If you don't have time today, then start tomorrow. But you can't start any later than tomorrow. You just can't. You want something, go for it. But you have to do good things. When you leave, remember this: do good things. Be a good person. Be a good best friend. Be good to yourself. Just know that you're going to make mistakes along the way. But you know you're giving it a try when you make mistakes. Thank you."
The audiences applauded for Madeline as she started to leave the podium.
"And if anyone finds a sparkly, peach lip gloss anywhere, notify me. I can't find mine."
        Some of the audience members laughed.
        "I'm serious. I need my lip gloss back. It's my only peach one."

Goodbye, School (Chapter 2)

The seniors were later directed from the lobby to the gymnasium. They sat on the bleachers alphabetically for half an hour until they were assembled into a line. That line was directed into a mega auditorium where they were surrounded by their loved ones in the stands. Everyone was cheering, calling out their children's names and taking pictures. The seniors sat down in the chairs in the center and watched the stage where the principal and star students were standing. Madeline happened to be one of the star students.
The principal stood in front of the podium and spoke in the microphone. "Welcome to the 2016 Graduation Ceremony of Laguna Beach High School!"
Everybody cheered like they were at a concert.
"I just want to say that I am proud of my students and the direction that they've decided to take. And I will honestly miss most of them as they go. These students deserve to move on from their lives at Laguna Beach and pursue successful careers that will take them to the greatest heights. Before I let some of my favorite students speak, I want us to loosen up a bit. I feel that it is important for a graduation ceremony to not only be serious but to be fun. So let's get jiggy with it as I'd like to welcome a student band, A New Yesterday!"
The audiences clapped as the spotlight shined beside the stage. There was Skye behind a microphone. Sean and David was on each side of her with their guitars and their own microphones. And Kent was right behind her on the drums. They still had on their caps and gowns but they didn't mind. They were very much prepared.

Paper bags and plastic hearts
All are belongings in shopping carts
It's goodbye...
But we got one more night
Let's have fun and ride around
And make peace with an empty town
We can make it right

The musicians stopped for a second before playing louder. Skye even sang louder when she began the chorus.

Throw it away
Forget yesterday
We'll make the great escape
But we won't hear a word they say
They won't know us anyway
Watch it burn, let it die
'Cause we are finally free tonight
All of the wasted time
The hours that were left behind
The answers that we'll never find
They don't mean a thing tonight

David started playing an epic guitar solo. Then Skye and David took turns singing.

Throw it away
Forget yesterday
We'll make the great escape
We won't hear a word they say
They don't know us anyway

Skye held a note in the first line of the chorus. Sean and David helped sing the chorus as they strummed their guitars.

Throw it away
Forget yesterday
We'll make the great escape
But we won't hear a word they say
They won't know us anyway
Watch it burn, let it die
'Cause we are finally free tonight

The musicians played quieter for the ending. Kent rapped on the cymbals before Sean stopped playing his bass and David plucked some strings for the outro. When they were done, the seniors gave the band a standing ovation. Skye jumped up and gave David a hug while he spun her around. He then let her down so the band could take a bow before the audiences.

Goodbye, School (Chapter 1)

Today was the day: graduation day. Every senior from Laguna Beach High School was gathered inside a fancy college before attending their ceremony. They were all standing in the lobby in their caps and gowns, waiting for further instructions. Friends talked to friends; lovers talked to lovers. They laughed, smiled and even cried. Actually, it was only Lizzie who was crying.
"What's wrong, Liz'?" asked Andrea.
"I don't want to graduate," answered Lizzie, choked up through sniffles. "I want to... stay at school... forever."
"You're lucky you're even graduating, Liz'," said Skye, almost muttering.
"Hey, don't cry," Madeline said, putting her arm around Lizzie.  "You should be happy. You're becoming an adult."
"I don't want to be an adult," wept Lizzie. "Adults die."
"Kids die, too, Lizzie."
"Kids die all the time," shouted Skye.
"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" asked Lizzie.
"I guess not," said Madeline. "Listen, nothing is going to change. You're gonna go to a new school in a few months. Isn't that exciting?"
Lizzie wiped her nose. "I guess so."
"Right. So you should feel good about that."
"Okay."
"Okay, so stop crying. You're ruining your makeup."
"It's a good thing you guys are going to college," said Skye. "But while you're getting an education, I'll be out rocking." She pretended to play an air guitar.
"While you'll be out rocking, we'll be here knowing... stuff," said Madeline.
"I can't believe your band is going to release your first album," shared Debra.
"Just make sure you pick up a copy," reminded Skye.
"So you're not going to college at all?" questioned Lizzie, wiping her wet cheeks.
"That's correct."
"It's so weird that after we graduate, we'll be completely abandoning each other," said Andrea.
"We're not abandoning each other," said Debra. "We're going to the same school."
"Yeah, except for Madeline and Skye. I'm happy for all of you but can a sister get a warning?"
"Sorry that I'm going to Harvard," Madeline apologized. "But I'm not sorry. We should've already known that we're kinda going to go our separate ways."
"But I feel like we should've discussed it more."
"What is there to discuss? We're going to college. It's not like we're becoming magicians."
"That would be really cool if we were," shared Lizzie.
"We're best friends," mentioned Andrea. "Don't you think the state of our friendship should've been discussed?"
"She's right, Maddie," Debra agreed.
"Don't get mad at me because I'm going to Harvard," said Madeline. "Look, we still have the summer so how about tomorrow we watch a movie like Dirty Dancing?"
"I'm not gonna watch a movie about a pedophile," stated Skye.
"Hey, he was not a pedophile. Baby was seventeen, going on eighteen. And if she were to turn eighteen, she would've looked the same so it was not pedophilia. It was okay."
"Heck, if Kylie and Tyga were allowed to date, then there's nothing wrong with that movie," said Andrea. "Still, you can't bribe me with classics." She marched off and pushed herself through a crowd.
"Geez, there's no need to be upset. This is the present, turning into the future. We were very aware of that."
"Yeah, but you can't leave us without saying goodbye," mentioned Skye. She walked off as well.
"What is this? Walk Away Land? I'm being honest. I'm spitting truth."
"I got to find Kyle," said Debra before walking off, too.
"Oh, that's your excuse?" Madeline looked at Lizzie, who was still standing by.
"I would leave," confessed Lizzie, "but I don't want a bunch of people to see how messed up my makeup is."