Chapter One

Chapter 1
“I Nikki Prescott stand here before you as your valedictorian for the class of 2016. Growing up we are told that our senior year of high school is supposed to be the best year of our lives. It’s our last chance to let loose and be free before we have to get serious about life and go off to college or start working. We should have fun; go to parties, act like children, go to prom, and so on. We all want to believe that it will be. But to be honest deep down I think we all knew that it wouldn’t be. Some had a better time than others this year but we all had to face something or several things that we didn’t want to. I realized this as the school year started. It wasn’t a good start at all for me or anyone involved during that night. I learned though that no matter what happens we have to work through it and make the best of it. No, we don’t always want to but we have to so one day we can have the life we want. Going to college or to work isn’t going to be any easier than high school was but I learned that to make it through life you have to surround yourself with good people that love and care about you. People that will support you at all times and be there for you at your worst. So in closing be someone that you would want to surround yourself with so you can make it through whatever your plan is and come out on top where you want to be in life. Maybe come out even higher. High school is rough and more rough times will come but we just have to make the best of it. So here is to the class of 2016; WE DID IT!”. I scream out and everyone cheers along.
I go and take my seat on the stage with the rest of my class next to my best friend, Alice Reed. She winks at me and mouths ‘That was amazing’. She has her black hair curled and is about the same height as me 4’10”. She has been my rock since elementary school. We have gone through everything together and have always been there for each other. That’s why I’m so thankful that she is going to be my roomie in college.
I never thought that I would be valedictorian. I never got good grades until this year. Everyone just thought I was the most popular girl with a pretty face, but after what I went through I decided to buckle down and get serious. So that I could get far away from here and never look back. I don’t think many people thought that I could do it and make something of myself, but I will prove them wrong. I need a fresh start and that’s what me and my best friend are going to do.
“Class of 2016 please stand.” Says Principal Oliver Wesley. We all stand up and he continues, “Now move your tassels to the right. You all officially the graduated class of 2016.”
Almost everyone throws their hat. I do but I don’t throw it too high so I can reclaim my own hat. Looking around I know they are all pleased that we finally graduated high school and can get on with our lives. People are hugging one another, laughing, and taking pictures. I’m so lost in thought that I don’t realize that Alice wants me to take a picture with her.
“Sorry I zoned out.” I say while I pull out my phone so we both can take a picture. We hug each other and she takes the first picture on her phone. Then we resituate so I can take one.
“Ohh look at how cute we are.” Alice exclaims.
I love her to death but she gets excited over the littlest things. I used to be like that too. But I changed and I’m glad that she was able to hold onto that piece of herself. It is one of her best qualities and I would never change that about her.
The crowd has already started to die down. Everyone just wanted to hurry up and graduate so they could go party. Which is the good thing about graduation. It gives us a reason to party even though we don’t really need a reason to.