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

[the_greywaren]

There were dozens of other things he would rather be doing. His posture is a neon sign flashing the words 'I don't want to be here'. Slouched in his chair, head hanging over the back of his seat, he stared at the ceiling. When it gets quiet those sitting close enough to him can hear the very faint crackle of music seeping from the edges of the earbuds jammed in his ears.

He stands when everyone around him stands. When they do that thing with the tassel on their hats he doesn't follow along, because he didn't wear the stupid hat. A nudge to his back prompts him to walk to the stage when it's time.

From the corner of his eye he spots Matthew standing up snapping pictures and Declan perched like a perfectly carved statue beside him. Diploma in hand he glances toward his brothers, the youngest waving at him like he use to when he was tiny, watching the older boys leave to school from the front window.

Back in his seat he resumed slouching in his chair, only this time he did close his eyes.

[fucking_kavinsky]

Kavinsky had been toying with the idea of coming, not coming, about a million times. In the end, the argument about how important this shit is and how he did so well, what an achievement, they all ended up getting to him enough where he put on the robe, wrote a big 'FUCK U' on his cap and headed to graduation with the rest of them.

He made himself promise that he wouldn't look for people in the crowd. His friends were here and that's all that really mattered, even if Ronan was listening to shit on his iPod practically the whole time. Kavinsky tells himself there are far more important things than this, and at least he isn't too dead to enjoy them. He gets his diploma, along with a few dirty looks from the staff and gives the crowd a nice photo op with his middle fingers up.

He even listens to Adam's speech all the way through, so very tempted to get up there now, but he knows this is important to Adam, so he leaves it for the moment. When those final words are spoken though, Kavinsky nudges Ronan to wake up, then puts a finger to his lips and makes sure his cap is on tight, before he scoots out, throws his graduation robe off and runs across the stage, buck ass naked. "Class of 2015, fuckers!"

[leylined]

Adam's surprised, but the well of laughter that comes out when he sees Kavinsky streak makes him laugh even as others watch, scandalized. When Kavinsky makes it offstage, he disembarks, looking for the others in the crowd of people cheering and hugging all over the place.

[safe_as_life]

Gansey is most certainly one of those scandalized people and he puts his hand over his eyes, muttering something completely indecipherable, but even he laughs eventually, shaking his head. "Of course. We should be thankful we got off so lucky."

He chuckles again, then turns to hug Adam, before yanking at Ronan's arm, pulling it up as if he was cheering as well. "We did it. We made it. All of us, together."

[the_greywaren]

When K nudges Ronan he tilts his head to the side and cracks open an eye. The robe goes flying and he reaches out to snatch it up. Wadding it up in his hands he stands up and looks around for the best way out of the crowd before everyone starts getting...

...Touchy.

He almost rolls his eyes at Gansey but really, what did he expect? Pulling his earbuds out he tucked them away. "Huh? What did you say?"

His eyes are scanning the crowd for where ever K had gotten off to.

"Should probably go find K so he can cover up before he ends up on a sex offender list." Eyes drift back to where Declan and Matthew are. Matthew laughing and playing with his phone, most likely loading a picture to some damn website. Declan making that face Ronan doesn't like.

[fucking_kavinsky]

Faculty and staff try to grab him, but Kavinsky is too fast for all of them, running away, then running back to hide behind all the stage, laughing his ass off. He pulls his phone out from his boots and sends a group text to all of them, whoever is closer:

Behind the stage. Send help. /devil emoji

[leylined]

Adam grins wickedly and returns Gansey's hug, shrugging before he grabs Ronan's other arm and pulls him into it as well. He nods emphatically, though, as he pulls back. "Yeah, we did." He lets out a relieved laugh. "We actually did it." His phone buzzes and he looks at the response with a snort before looking back at Ronan.

"That one's all you, Lynch. Go save your man."

[the_greywaren]

"My man-child." Ronan corrects as he puts his phone away. On his way to get the robe to K he grabs a bag out from under his chair with clothes for his boyfriend to put on as well.

He hollers back at Adam and Gansey. "Back in a minute."

On his way several attempts are made to stop him and give congratulations. He nods or rolls his eyes and carries on. Behind the stage he whistles and calls for K.

"I've got clothes you fucking monster."

[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.