My name had already been called. I made a complete fool of myself on the stage, jumping around and hugging everyone in sight, but it was worth it. I, Jack Bassam Barakat, have officially graduated high school! From there, I screamed for all of my friends. For Ember, I made sure to yell my love for her incredibly loud, and poor Zack's face went pink when he heard the rest of us cheering for him from our seats.


We'd been smart enough to write our names inside of our caps, so when the moment came to toss them in the air with victory, it was easy to find. I couldn't believe it. All these kids that I'd grown up with, kids who loved and supported our music, these were the kids I'd probably never really see again. We were all parting ways. Some were going off to college, some were going to travel the world, some already had jobs lined up and some were taking the year, or years, off. But for the first time in my life, I was one of those kids with a plan, with a future and a loving girl to spend it with.


I was happy.


The medication I've been on has calmed me down a lot, to the extent that I feel like my old self. I'm back to making the same lame jokes, having the same energy I once had and I've been better to everyone around me. My life was falling into place. It was like magic. It was like a dream.


"So, everyone will meet at m house?" Alex asked, gripping his cap in his hand with a huge smile on his face. We'd already posed for pictures, though Ember was a little heart broken that my mom was the only to take hers. Carl had come to the graduation, but he didn't stick around to congratulate his daughter. Though, I did see him cheering for her from my seat. "Remember to have everything you need for tour. This is guys, we're leaving."


The five of us let out a final cheer and hugged each other. We were all holding together pretty well, ready to leave our past in the dust, until Ember went to say her last goodbye to Hayley and Dalton. They all had tears leaking out of their eyes, swearing to stay in touch and to see each other again. Honestly, I didn't doubt that they would. It wouldn't surprise me if we toured with Hayley one day. Or, even Cass. This wasn't goodbye. This was.. until next time.


"This is it," I looked to Ember when everyone had left. We were in the football field, staring down the memories we'd created all over this school. "This is where the journey ends."


"No. This is where high school ends," Ember grinned, getting on her tip-toes to kiss me. "We have our whole lives ahead of us."


"Not if we don't home and pack," I chuckled, bending over to offer my back to Ember. "Come on, shorty, I'll carry you."


Ember squealed and hopped on my back. There was a sadness in my heart as we waved off the kids we knew so we could climb in the car and never look back.


_______________


"I want you to have this," my mom stood in my doorway with tears in her eyes. I knew she and Carl would be able to get back on track so long as Ember and I were gone, but that didn't make it any easier to leave her. "It's something my mother gave me when I graduated."


"I'm not a girl," I grinned, walking over to where she was standing. I wrapped my arms around her body before I even bothered to see what was in her hands. It was a card. "Your passing down a card? That seems personal, mom."


"No, honey, look inside."


I awkwardly shifted my weight but opened the card. Inside, mom had written a letter, explaining how proud she was of me and how she couldn't wait to see my dreams come true. She also explained the meaning of the picture that slid into my hand. Apparently, grandma had given mom a picture to carry with her for the rest of her life - their very first picture together. She'd done the same to me. Blinking back my tears, I wrapped my arms around the woman in front of me and promised the keep the picture with me on tour.


"I love you, mom."


"I love you too, son. You be good out there, okay? And tell Ember that I love her."


"You know I will," I sighed, kissing her cheek. Just as I had made it back to the bed to grab my suitcase, a horn was honking outside. I knew it was Ember. Zack had promised to swing by and pick us both up before we met at Alex's to hit the road. "See you soon?"


"See you soon."


She wiped away her tears before she ruffled my hair and followed me down the stairs. After a bone-crushing mother hug, I was finally free to go. Sadness washed over my body. This house would no longer be my home. Brushing away the feeling, I stuck my hand on the knob and exhaled a deep breath.


"Jack," Carl stopped me, standing in the doorway with mom. "You take care of my daughter out there."


"Always," I forced a smile. "She always comes first."


Carl nodded his head and wrapped his arm around my sobbing mother. I waved to them one last time before leaving the house, running towards the car. Zack's mom would be picking it up later, once we were all gone. It's still so hard to think that we were going to be gone.


"Let's do this thing," Zack smiled, tapping on the gas. "We're going on fucking tour!"


"You ready for this?"


I smiled at Ember, feeling her body sink closer to mind in the backseat. Was I ready for this? Probably not, but this was my life and I'll be damned if I'm not going to live it.


"With you by my side, I can do anything."

Notes

So I've had this written up for two days, but my computer had a freak out and Sunday was my date for the House Party Tour - YAY! If you guys are interested I'll be posting my M&G pictures and experience on my tumblr, which is on my profile. (:

I hope you enjoyed this! I'M SO SAD THAT THEY'RE LEAVING. COME BACKKKKKK!