The day has finally arrived, our graduation from Utopia High School, a dream come true for me and my friends. Grandma made me some coconut pancakes! Those are my favorites, and I can literally eat an entire basket full of them.
Grandma blew a kiss to me as she said, "I'll meet you at school, honey." I returned the kiss and quickly opened the door, hurrying out to catch a taxi to my high school.
Upon reaching there, the ceremony hasn't even started yet. I can spot my best friend Nick in the corner. Nick waved and came right over to me. "You're looking good, Anastasia," he said. I smiled and replied, "You too, Nick," and I started laughing. Nick knew why I was laughing, his tie! I know Nick hates wearing ties, but because of the formal graduation dress code, he had to. Nick rolled his eyes and said, "Cut it out, Anastasia. It's just for a few hours. I'd burn this tie after this." I replied, "What do you mean burn?" I added, "It's just a tie, lol." Nick replied, "Yeah, it makes me look like a kindergarten kid." The laughter continued for me; Nick wasn't impressed at all.
And there was Bianca, her dress dazzling as ever. "Oh, Bianca, you look so good!" I said. Bianca was like, "Stop it, Anastasia, I'm crying. You look way better." A loud voice interrupted everyone, it was Principal James. "Everyone, the event starts now. Make your way to the tent." We all rushed and made our way to the tent.
The event continued with Principal James delivering a welcome speech, and special guest Mayor Hank also delivered a keynote speech emphasizing the importance of education and the role Utopia High School plays in the city of Utopia. The amount of applause and standing ovation Mayor Hank received after delivering his speech was way bigger than that of Principal James. Judging from Principal James' reaction, he didn't like that.
And now the most interesting part was the presenting of the diplomas. Everyone was called and presented with their diplomas. Principal James called, "Anastasia Clarke," and I rushed forward with a big smile as Principal James shook my hand, telling me, "Congratulations."
The event peaked with everyone gathering up and preparing for the prom tonight. "Oh, there they are," said Nick. I looked back and said, "Who?" Nick pointed at the twins. Those guys are literally the most spoiled, rude set of humans I have ever seen. Ever since their dad started running as a candidate for the upcoming mayoral election in Utopia, their shoulders have gone way up above everyone else's level.
They shouted, "The rich twins are here!" in unison. Josh, the elder one, said, "And we are here to lighten things up." People shouted, "Boo!" The younger one, Wayne, said, "Why are you booing my brother?" Josh then said, "Leave them, Wayne. They have such bad taste." Literally everyone seemed disinterested in whatever Josh and Wayne were doing.
A few minutes later, I could literally see them approaching me and Nick. They came to our side, and Josh said, "Hello, Anne." I replied firmly, "It's Anastasia." Wayne interrupted, "Wait, then why does Nick get to call you Anne?" I also replied to Wayne, "Because he qualifies to, and you don't." Both Josh and Wayne then looked at each other and burst out laughing. Josh then said, "Anyways, Anastasia, I would like you to be my date for tonight's prom." I ignored him, and Wayne grabbed my hands and said, "My brother Josh is talking to you." Nick quickly pushed him, and he fell. Everyone watching started laughing as Josh helped Wayne get back up.
Wayne dusted his clothes and said, "You'll regret this, peasant," as he spat on the floor. As they walked a few meters ahead of us, Nick shouted, "You dropped something, brat!" Wayne looked back in fury, and Nick picked up a Rolls Royce car key from the floor and threw it to him. Wayne caught it, and Nick said, "Try not to be careless, brat. Seriously, you don't want to lose your father's car key." Everyone kept on laughing as Nick continued to roast them.
Josh then said, "Well, father's car key, huh?" Josh then took the key from Wayne and raised it up as he said, "Whichever of you ladies agrees to be our date for the prom tonight gets to take this baby." Ladies rushed toward them, and Josh and Wayne looked back at us and said in unison, "Josh and Wayne fury always wins." I couldn't have been happier as they left.
I said to Nick, "Thanks for always having my back." Nick replied, "Nah, it's nothing, Anastasia." Music hit, and we danced a bit. Nick brought up an awesome idea to get ice cream at our favorite spot. The Mintiago Ice Cream Shop is owned by Italians living in Utopia, and they make the best ice cream. Nick and I have been going there since our childhood days, and it would be pretty damn awesome to get one on our graduation.
We left the event, and it wasn't a long walk. The city was vibrant as we received numerous congratulations from people walking on the streets. One particular lady said, "Oh my, you look so good with your boyfriend." Nick was quick to intervene. "No, she is not my girlfriend." The lady then waved her hands and said, "Oops, sorry." I looked at Nick and said, "Well, you didn't have to shout at her like that." Nick said to me, "Sorry, I was just trying to clarify things." I looked Nick in the eye and said, "So you would rather not be my boyfriend than be my boyfriend?" Nick laughed and said, "Well, if I had to choose between being your girlfriend and dying, I'd most likely choose being your girlfriend." I walked past him in anger as I said, "Oh, sorry Nick. I didn't know I was such a bad option you had to bring death into the topic."
Nick ran towards me and said, "Really, Anastasia, you asked a question and I'm just being realistic." I replied, "Well, I'm just being realistic too." Nick sighed, and we both made our way to the Mintiagos.
The Mintiagos was vibrant as usual, with people digging into different flavors of ice cream. Fabio shouted, "I clienti che amo di più sono qui! What can I get you?" Nick and I smiled back, and I said, "The usual vanilla mixed with chocolate." Fabio then said, "Coming right up." Cesare, who is Fabio's younger brother, came to us and greeted, "Happy graduation!" Nick was first to reply, "Thank you, Cesare." I also thanked Cesare. Instantly, we heard a shout from Fabio at the back as he shouted, "Cesare, you bastard! I hope you aren't telling them that crazy shit you were saying earlier. I'll kill you if you drive my customers mad!" Cesare replied, "No, affatto." Fabio then shouted again, "Come and help me here, will you?"
We waited a bit for the ice cream, and it came just how we liked it. Nick got the bill and handed the money to Fabio, but he rejected it, saying, "No, my customers. Today is your graduation, happy graduation, and no payment for you today." I was shocked and said, "Wow, thanks, Fabio!" He replied, "You're welcome." Nick waved at him as we left the Mintiagos.
Just outside, as we were devouring our tasty vanilla chocolate ice cream, I started feeling dizzy, and my ice cream fell. As Nick tried to help me regain control of myself, he fell and started sleeping. I could also feel my eyes starting to close. Before we knew it, we were inside a car. It all happened quickly as someone drove us away while I closed my eyes.