“Last day of school! Last day of school! Forever!” Hayley screamed as we walked in.
“I know! I can't believe it. High school is over.”
“And soon you'll be leaving me to go on tour with your boyfriend and buddies.” She faked a tear. “What will I ever do?”
“I'll call, I promise.” I laughed as we made it to the gym. Today was basically a free, fun day for seniors. All our finals were done, and we had nothing to do. They were going to give us our grades at the end of the day.
“You better call me too.” We both turned to find Dalton had showed up.
“Yes sir!” I chuckled, and we hugged. He gave Hayley a hug too and we went off to find everyone else.

We passed girls crying with their friends, couples making out, people playing some of the games. Lots of hugging and cheering was going on. It was just...so amazing. It was almost unreal that this was all happening. We finally found the famous four all huddling around the dunk tank where our poor principal was already soaking wet. They weren't looking, so naturally, I ran up and jumped on Jack's back.

“Gah!” He yelled and I laughed.
“Hey baby.”
“Oh my God, you fucking scared me.” He chuckled, hooking his hands under my legs, holding me on his back.
“I'm not sorry.” I stated. “Can you guys believe it? It's our last day here, for like....ever.”
“You haven't even been going here that long.” Alex laughed. “But yeah, I might miss this place.”
“I will for sure.” Rian said.
“Nerd!” We teased, making him pout.
“Hey where's Cass? I need to make sure she knows I'll be calling her all the time on tour.” I asked. Everyone started walking around to the games and such. I was still getting a piggy back ride though.
“She's somewhere. I don't know.” he shrugged. Alex suddenly jumped on Zack.
“Why does Ember not get to walk!? Zaaaaaack, carry meeeee.”
“Do you see what you cause?” Zack said, shooting a glare at me.
“Oh oh oh, know what we should do? Go outside, I heard there's races going on back there.” Hayley suggested.
“Yes!!”

We found the races, there was relays, three-legged, anything really. There was also food stands out here that took the token you won. We all competed, ate, talked. Cass joined us later too.

It wasn't till it was time for us to go get our grades did it really hit us that we wouldn't ever be back in this building for school again. We had about an hour left of school. Cass, Hayley, and I all got a little emotional, hugging and whining about being separated. We made plans to have a girls day when I got back from my touring adventures with All Time Low. I gave Dalton a good bye hug too, and we all decided to split once we got out report cards. Alex and Zck left together, to go check out more booths. Cass and Rian ran off to compare grades, Hayley wanted to do more races taking Dalton with her, which left Jack and I alone together.

“Wanna just go?” I asked, and Jack nodded.
“We can walk to a park or something.”
“Sounds like a plan.” I smiled, taking his hand and leaving the school.

The walk itself was quiet, neither of us saying a word. We just walked down the street together, swaying our arms. I looked up towards the sky, just thinking about everything. How my dad got married, forcing me to live with a stubborn boy I didn't know. How I fell in love with aid boy. How we went through hell and back together. And most importantly, how we survived it all. I smiled, thinking how lucky I was, and even thought about my mom.

“Hey Jack.” I called, and he looked at me.
“Yeah?”
“I never told you about my mom...did I?”
“No...”
“Well, do you wanna know about her?” I asked, and he nodded slowly. “Okay, let's just get to the park.”

We found one, and sat on the swings together. I took a moment to gather my thoughts before speaking.

“My mom was the one who named me Ember.” I started. “I don't know if you know, but embers are hot coals or anything really after a fire. She always told me she saw a spark in me and that's why she called me that. I guess I was always a crazy, spitfire of a kid. She was short, much like am but still taller. I got my eyes from her, and my skin tone. We both laughed the same, and smiled the same way.” I explained, looking down at the ground. “She loved to read me adventure books when I was around six up until I was ten. Her and dad got divorced when I was fourteen. It wasn't too bad, they really just...weren't for each other I guess. I always saw it, they were close but not...in love close, ya know? Sometimes I think they only stayed married because of me. I was born only a year and a half into their marriage.”

“My mom...was diagnosed with leukemia cancer a little over a year after that. She tried every thing to get better. Radiation, medicines, possible new treatments they were working on. But, she never got better, not really. It was...kinda like watching her fade away right in front of me. I was in school when I got called into the office. My dad was there, looking upset and I just....I knew. She was gone.”


I sniffled, realizing I was crying. Wiping away my tears, I went on.

“And a year later, your mom and my dad got married. At first, I wasn't very happy about it. I thought he got over it too quickly, and expected me to just let some other woman take her place. Now, I absolutely love Joyce, but that's why I was so hesitant to accept her.”

I stopped talking, finished. Jack grabbed my chin and made me look at him. He wiped away my tears before pulling me in for a kiss.

“I'm glad you told me...I'm sorry you had to go through that.” He said once we parted.
“It's okay...at least...I got to meet you.” I said, smiling through my tears. “And soon, we'll be on the road together. Never apart.”
“I can't believe we actually got that deal.” Jack admitted, laughing.
“I can, like I said, you guys are amaizng.” I looked at him, smiling widely. “You're amazing. I love you, so much.”
“I love you too, and I have something I want to ask you.”
“Yeah?” Jack grabbed my hands, facing me completely.
“Ember Marie Meadows, will you promise to one day be mine forever?”
“Are you...” I gasped. “Are you asking me to marry you?”
“Not now...not in the near future, but one day.” He dug into his pocket and got out a little box. My heart started to pound as he opened in, revealing a simple, silver promise ring. “Will you?”
“Are you kidding? Fuck yes!” I jumped out of my swing to hug him as tightly as I could. “I would love to marry you one day, Jack Bassam Barakat.”

We really were going to make it.

Notes

OH HOT DAMN.