This is New Orleans. The stadium of Oxford University is filled up with the graduating classes from 2018- 2024.
This kind of celebration happens once in five years.
Damien's POV
" No, it can not be her, after all these years". This is not possible" he lamented.
" What is not possible and who is she not, dude are you okay?". His friend asked while searching around looking for who he is referring to.
While the girl in question turned around searching for someone, he dodged. " It is her" he said incredulously. " What is she doing here and why today of all days" he groaned in pain.
"Bro, I can not help with what I do not have any single clue about". His friend reminded. He saw his friend face , saw the pain, bitterness and agony in between before he masked it and he felt it all.
" I can not let it show that I recognize her" he said " I have to pretend " . He decided and walked away from her angle of recognition.
Jessica POV
" My God, it has been five years since that unforgettable incident took place. "Where I found my first love" she said with a sad smile and then she encouraged herself " I would not break. I came to cheer and I will cheer ". Saying that , she walked into the closet, changed her clothes to her favorite jeans and halter top. She adorned her face with a mask and then " I'm ready" . With that resolve, she walked into the atmosphere. Not sure of what is going to happen next.
"Jesse" Jessica's friend cried out ecstatically, when she spotted her best friend. " I thought you said you would not be able to make it" she said as she hugged Jessica out of pure joy and happiness.
"Okay, okay, let us calm down, we are too excited ". Jessica complained childishly. Then she took a good look at her friend, turned her three – sixty , and commented " My God, Kelsie, you look amazing ".
"Thanks bestie, you look gorgeous yourself " Kelsie complimented while blushing and smiling. "Oh, I'm so glad you made it, I thought I was gonna stay here all by myself and cheer alone". " Thanks for coming for me ". Kelsie said happily.
" Of course, I could not leave here on your own, looking like that. One of us has to stay sane and simple ". Jessica said jokingly and giggled.
"Idiot" Kelsie retorted " who told you ,that you are sane and simple, silly girl ". On their way to the cotton candy machine, Kelsie saw someone then remembered something " Ehm, Jesse, on your way here did you see anyone". She asked curiously.
Jessica turned her attention from the cotton candy machine and stared at her friend. "Should I be looking for anyone in particular and what should the person look like". She asked innocently, while turning her head left to right, not knowing who her bestie was referring to but becoming much interested in ensuring that she finds whomever her friends attention got locked to.
Kelsie saw her turning her head as if looking for someone and as if her mind had conjured that particular person up. The person strolled into their line of view, ducked and ruffled a child's hair, straightened up and started looking around as though he was searching for someone. Out of panic, Kelsie held her bestie's head in one firm spot while Jessica recoiled.
"Wow, Kelsie. My neck hurts, and besides I am just helping you look out for whom caught your attention. Can I not do that for my friend again" Jessica complained as soon as Kelsie retracted her hands and apologized. " I am so sorry ".
"No if course, you should look out for me. We are sisters after all." Kelsie chided. Jessica snorted and elbowed her friend " well sisters do not try to wring your neck off, they soothe it with massages"
"Ha, ha, ha" Kelsie laughed". "I will give you a massage when we get home. Now if you have gotten the cotton candy, can we go sit." Kelsie said and promised her best friend a massage while dragging her to their assigned seats.
Kelsie saw Jessica looking around and unceremoniously they both sighed and said" Man , did we have fun times here. We had great times and good memories here". They looked at each other and laughed not surprised at how they both said the same thing.
"But….. not all memories are good though, I had some pretty grueling and bad memories here and I did not form them out of habit". Jessica said as the emotional burden she thought she had locked up bustled out of her and she wiped a tear out of her eyes.
Kelsie saw and comforted her bestie while hugging her and tapping at her and chanting this close to her bestie's ear to remind her that" I will always be here for you and that's on period. That is how much I love you, Jesse".
"I love you too, Kels, so much" Jessica replied and consoled herself. Not wanting to spoil the mood, she smiled and said to her bestie as well as to herself " I'm much better now, it's okay. Let's just enjoy ourselves and then find out way back to Los Angeles to continue our happy life together".
Are you sure it is a happy life for you dear bestie, Kelsie thought. You do not have to bottle everything up and die in silence, I will wait patiently until you tell me what happened five years ago. And I will always stay with you. But she did not say anything out, she just relaxed back in her seat and stared at her friend.
Damien looked around and did not see Jessica. He drew his best friend closer and asked" Buddy, did you see that girl I was telling you about. I have searched everywhere but I can not find her".
"What girl". His best friend, Richard commented, then out of curiosity said" you mean the girl that you were screaming, it can not be her but did not care to show me the particular girl in question".
Richard was spared from Damien's answer by the announcer climbing the stage and calling out to those, not seated, outside the venue, still in the closet and to those discussing.
"All right everyone, welcome to the New Orleans five year anniversary for our best graduating student of 2018-2019. We celebrate our best students that graduated with the most pleasant certificates. Each of them owning their personal different business, a different enterprise, a different source of income and are all blooming in their various perspectives of career choices . Can we all please celebrate the young man that made this all possible the course rep of the 2018-2019 best graduating student edition, Mr. Damien Hamilton. Can we please cheer him up as he comes on stage to give his speech of gratitude, support, encouragement and advice to the next graduating class. Everyone, Mr Damien Hamilton".
Fortunately, for Kelsie, Jessica had her earphones plugged in so she didn't hear the name that was just announced. So as soon as the figure of the person climbing the stage and going into the spotlight to give his speech, Jessica froze, with conflicting emotions showing resolutely on her face.
Kelsie saw all this and got anxious while trying her best to subdue the fear she is currently feeling.
Jessica's mind was screaming at her "No, absolutely no way. This is so not possible, it….it just…. It just can not be him. How.... My God, how did this happen".
Damien looked up from the podium, his eyes searching reverently for that one girl his heart belongs to. He cleared his throat to use it to pass time a little bit as his eyes kept on roaming the faces of the crowd.