Graduation day [Open to the Henrietta bunch as well as friends and family.]

[leylined]

Adam doesn't know exactly what he was expecting when this day came, but there's undoubtedly an air of anticipation and relief as the ceremony goes on. one hundred boys were to graduate this day, and two and a half years of studied dedication to a school that Adam hated upon principle but needed to get where he was going, was finally over. No more trying to scrounge around for pennies just to feed himself. No more tolerating of the privileged upper class that would never truly appreciate the opportunity that was afforded them. And true, while he was trading Ivy League prep for a college that was just shy of being that sort of school in and of itself, he was more likely to find people that actually cared and appreciated what schools like these were opening doors for.

Despite all the drawbacks, Adam remained top of his class and was voted valedictorian near-unanimously by the falculty. It was everything he'd been vying for since first entering Aglionby Academy and now here it was. He finally did it. He laughed and booed during the various speeches and for once felt truly a part of the student body walking today. He only paid partial attention to when they began handing out diplomas, really only caring when Gansey, Ronan, and Kavinsky's names were called, shaking hands as they crossed him on the platform.

After all was said and done, Adam delivered his own speech, a thing he had been slaving over since he first discovered he would be the one to deliver the parting words of the ceremony. The nerves he usually felt when having to deal with such things were only background as he spoke, telling his peers snippets of his own story at Aglionby and of having been a student at public school. He spoke of this place helping him find the best friends he'd ever had, and how those friendships, and the friendships of those in the audience, would always matter. That even though the high school experience was over, the world was still out there to be discovered by them, and how this ending is really the beginning for each and every one of them.

Finally, Adam pauses, looking at each face in turn before him before finally looking at the guests with a wide smile. "And with that, faculty, students, honored guests. I give you the class of 2015." His smile grows wider as he holds his own diploma in the air. "We made it."

Comments

[safe_as_life]

Gansey's phone buzzes as well and he laughs. Kavinsky must be desperate. "Did you know he was going to do that? I had no idea. At least he waited till you were done." He says to Adam, shaking his head with a laugh as Ronan runs off to find Kavinsky.

"That was a damn fine speech, Adam. Congratulations on valedictorian. It was very well earned."

[leylined]

"Yeah," he replies with a small laugh. "Lynch told me it was a possibility after it became official." He scratches the back of his head shyly at the compliment. "Thanks. I'm almost surprised they didn't make you go up there, too."

[fucking_kavinsky]

Kavinsky is hiding behind the fabric that's draping down over the stage, trying to resist the urge to jump out and scare someone each time they walk by the sides of it.

He laughs when he sees Ronan, running over to him to grab his bag and give him a sloppy kiss on the cheek. "Did you see their faces? They're fucking thrilled I'm gonna be gone."

[the_greywaren]

"Pretty sure they're having a party to celebrate, babe." Ronan stands guard while his boyfriend gets dressed. Anytime anyone even poked their head around the corner and saw him standing there glowering they turned right back around.

He gave K's mop of hair a playful pull and smirked. "Mrs. Gansey was staring pretty hard. Think you've got a new fan."

Ronan knew as soon as they were back out there with everyone the chaos would ensue. Hugging and talking and eventually parties. He wasn't sure when he was going to get a moment alone to give K his graduation gift. He dug around in the pocket of his slacks and got out a key chain he had made at the mall that said 'I'm fucking proud of you' with a single key hanging from the end.

"Here. It's a key to the house at The Barns."

[safe_as_life]

Gansey shakes his head. "I'm glad they didn't call me up. Wasn't really my moment." He feels like he had plenty of moments during the year anyway, and its not his time to take it away from anyone, especially Adam.

"We should go celebrate. Corral everyone else together and go for gelato." Or pizza. He wouldn't mind Nino's, even though they always go there anyway.

[leylined]

"Technically it's everyone's moment. I wouldn't have minded." And it's the truth. While Adam's glad he was recognized, he didn't see the need for a speech, but traditions are traditions.

"Sounds like a plan," he replies with a fistbump to Gansey.

[fucking_kavinsky]

Kavinsky yanks his clothes out of the bag and tugs them on. He picked out something extra obnoxious and flashy for the occasion, of course. "A party without me, in Henrietta? Naaaah."

He laughs, peeking over the stage, waggling an eyebrow. "Think she's still here? Can you imagine? I'd be like, Gansey's dad or something." He laughs, because its so ridiculous.

He looks at Ronan again when he holds out the present, his eyebrow raised at first and then he looks at the key with bright eyes. "Holy shit." He takes it from Ronan, letting his fingers brush against his, grinning even bigger when he reads the keychain. "I might get all sentimental on you, sweetheart. Fuck yeah!" He practically jumps on Ronan, wrapping his legs around his waist, kissing him all over the face. "Thank you."

[the_greywaren]

"I'd love to see you charm Mrs. G, actually. Gansey would have a heart attack."

He laughs and catches K as best he can when he jumps him. Laughing his ass off he holds on to him, letting him kiss his face. It's pretty much impossible to stop laughing. Ronan kisses him back a few times. Then shifts his boyfriend around so he is over his shoulder. With his prize dangling like a bag over his shoulder he head back to Parrish and Gansey.

"What's the plan?" He asks as they approach their friends. "First one to say gelato or Nino's is getting punched in the dick I swear to God." Ronan has yet to set Kavinsky down.