⌗ 39
riley ✎ᝰ
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Mason stumbles out of the car as soon we reach the school. There's a generously sized banner hanging above the entrance with Class of 23 written across it in big bold letters.

"Mason stop fiddling with your hair. Leave it be or you're going to ruin it." Clarissa follows us closely with Matteo right behind her. It seems like we're all on a first name basis. My parents lock their car and join us at the entrance.

"Welcome." A student hands us a pamphlet each with information about the day ahead. "The ceremony will be held out on the field." He smiles widely as he motions towards the vast greenery ahead. "Congratulations as well."

Mason and I smile back at him widely. "Ugh. My hair is all tangled." She runs her fingers through her hair as we walk down towards the field. "This is ridiculous how did this even happen..."

I do my best to suppress my laughter. "Baby, you've been fiddling with your hair on the way here. Your mum and I tried to stop you but—"

She turns her face with a cute pout. "I look like a dinosaur." I can't help but laugh. "Do you reckon I'd still be valedictorian looking like this?" I take her hands away from her head. "Riley be honest."

I keep her hands by her sides as we stop for a brief moment. "I'll be honest." I chuckle. "This is graduation not Miss Universe. You'll still be valedictorian even if you had a trash bag on for a dress...even now you look absolutely gorgeous."

Her blank expression turns into a small smile as she tries to hide her face. "Don't lie..." She's turned a faint pink which I find absolutely adorable. "I need to fix my hair. Look—"

Clarissa catches up to us with a grin across her face. "See. You look like a raccoon." I try to bite down on the insides of my cheek to hide my laughter. "I told you not to fiddle around..."

Mason rolls her eyes. "Who said I did..." She's still pouting—only this time, she's got her arms crossed. "I didn't do such a thing!" She turns away hurriedly and starts walking off alone.

"Maisie." I laugh. "Come, I'll fix your hair." I catch up to her and take her hand. "Stop sulking. You look really cute." I admit. Her smile never falters. It just grows bigger and bigger.

Clarissa takes our families to the stands where they'll be watching the ceremony from. They walk off into the distance and start a conversation about our dinner reservation for tonight. I feel my heart burst with excitement. This'll be the very first time our families will be together. They've come to not only celebrate but to also support the two of us for reaching this milestone and to celebrate our relationship.

"Where are we going?" Mason uttered. Our hands are intertwined as I lead her to a faraway place. "I thought we were going to fix my hair?" She points to the bathrooms in the distance.

I nod. "We are." Mason looks at me in disbelief as I guide her towards our next location. "Why are you looking at me like that?" I chuckle.

"I don't believe you." Her gaze shifts around the place like it's unfamiliar. "There's no bathrooms this way. We can go down this way." She points.

I shake my head as I pull her closer. "Baby, trust me. Just let me lead the way." She looks more confused than ever but lets me do it anyway.

"You're not kidnapping me are you? What a scandal. Valedictorian kidnapped before speech!"

I guide her up a flight of stairs before we turn left into the building and into the room on the right. "What if I am kidnapping the valedictorian?" I giggled. "It'll only be for a little while."

I flip the switch that automatically draws the curtains. The room reveals its hidden beauty in almost a flash. "Riley..."

"What is this place?" She continues. "I had no idea we had anything like this...everything here is absolutely stunning." Her jaw drops to the floor.

I watch her take a look around. "This is where I disappear to when I have free periods." I smile. "It used to be an old storage room but they turned it into a little secret room for artists."

"Why did you take me here?"

"I spent a lot of time pondering about my feelings. When I realised I liked you I thought heavily to myself about what it could all mean. I felt really inspired so I painted these..."

I point to the canvases hanging on the wall. There's all kinds of art styles. "These are yours?"

I nod. "I made them for you." I confessed. "You were my muse—still are, of course. I want to give them to you now that we're leaving this place..."

Mason faces me with soft eyes. "For real?!"

I nod once more. "Think of it as my token of gratitude." I chuckle. "For all the memories we've shared and all the memories we'll make in the future. I wouldn't have made it through senior year without you, Maisie. That's the truth."

I reel her in closely and take in her warmth against my skin. "I'm scared." I admit. "Things seem to be happening really fast and—"

She takes me by the waist and shakes her head. "Life will always be. It'll be fast. I guess it can be quite furious too." She chuckled. "But we're in this together. High school might be over but there's a whole new chapter waiting for us."

I feel my eyes well with tears. "I'm honestly scared. University seems quite intimidating."

Mason nods. "I know. I'm scared too." She confessed. "But we're in this together, Riley. We're gonna be together no matter what. Maybe not the same course or the same classes but...we'll be still be together." She kisses my forehead gently and smiles warmly. "We'll be ok."