Graduation day arrived, and the school auditorium was filled with speeches, proud parents and excited graduates beaming in their graduation robes. Ella stood nervously in her gown, adjusting her cap.
Ava nudged her. "Relax, El. We made it!"
"I know... It just feels unreal," Ella admitted.
As they walked onto the stage to receive their certificates, the crowd erupted into applause. Ella spotted her parents in the audience-her mom wiping away tears, her dad smiling proudly.
When the ceremony ended, families gathered outside. That's when Ava's parents and Ella's parents finally met.
Ava's parents, initially hesitant about her friendship with Ella, had no choice but to admit how much they liked the girl their daughter always talked about. Ella's parents, humble and warm, welcomed them with open arms.
"You must be Ella's parents," Ava's mom, a well-dressed woman with an air of elegance, greeted warmly.
"Yes, it's so nice to meet you," Ella's mom responded, shaking her hand.
Ava's dad joined in. "Ava has told us so much about Ella. We're happy she has such a great friend."
"The feeling is mutual," Ella's dad said.
"Your daughter is truly special," Ava's mother told Ella's mother.
"So is yours," Ella's mother replied with a proud smile.
It was a rare, peaceful moment where social status didn't matter-just happiness.
There was no awkwardness, no judgment-just warmth. Even though their backgrounds were different, it didn't matter at that moment.
Ella and Ava exchanged a glance, their silent way of saying, See? They get along.
The Night of Celebration - Clubbing Instead of a Party
Unlike Ryan's grand graduation party, this time, there was no elaborate event. They kept it simple-just the four of them."
Instead of having a big night party, the four friends decided to celebrate in their own way-by hitting the city's hottest club.
The neon lights flashed as music pulsed through the air.
No stress, no drama. Just vibes," Ryan declared as they walked into a club later that night.
And that's exactly what they did. They danced, they laughed, they let loose. Ava and Liam shared their first official dance as a couple. Drevin and Ella, though still wrapped in their unspoken feelings, found themselves drawn to each other again and again throughout the night.
Ryan, meanwhile, had already disappeared into the crowd, probably flirting with someone,That's what he does since he broke up with his girlfriend.
At one point, Ella was about to sit down when Drevin grabbed her hand.
"One dance," he said. "No running away this time."
Drevin leaned in toward her. "You gonna dance or just keep laughing at him?"
Ella smirked. "Maybe both."
Drevin suddenly grabbed her hand, pulling her onto the dance floor.
"Come on, let's make this night unforgettable."
She hesitated for only a second before nodding. As the music played, they moved together-not perfectly, not like professionals-but naturally, like two people who just fit.
the first time in a long while, Ella let go of her worries. She danced, she laughed, and she celebrated the end of an era with the people who had made high school bearable.
At one point, she found herself standing near Drevin at the bar.
"Having fun?" he asked, his voice low over the music.
"Yeah. More than I expected," Ella admitted.
Drevin leaned in slightly. "You should let loose more often. It suits you."
Ella blushed but covered it with a sip of her drink.
And for that night, for that moment, nothing else mattered.
As they left the club in the early hours of the morning, Ella looked around at her friends.
Their high school journey had ended. But their story? That was just beginning.
To be continued....