Chapter 6: Graduating From Hell

The usual schoolyard swarmed with graduates, teachers, family, and friends. Red and gold banners hung over the front door leading into the school, welcoming us. My graduation robe hung on my shoulders, covering my dark purple dress underneath. There was no way I was prepared to parade myself in it since it wasn’t my usual style, but since my parents bought it for me, I had to wear it to please them.

“Dad! Over here!” Luke called out as he waved his hand in the air.

Turning around, I watched the middle-aged man I called my father stroll over to us with two flower bouquets in his hands. I hadn’t seen him in a while and the dark brown hair I had seen last now had gray hairs between them. Still, seeing him made me happy.

“There’s my family! Hold up! Who are you adults? Where are my little kids?” he said as he approached us with a big grin on his face

“I know right? Where did the time go? It feels like just yesterday they were graduating preschool!” Mom replied, as her lips pouted.

“Daddy! I missed you!” Tiptoeing on my toes, I wrapped my arms around his neck and allowed the familiar scent of his cologne to wrap me with a sense of protection.

Dad passed the flowers to Mom and wrapped his arms around me before lifting me up. “Hey there, pumpkin! I missed you too.”

After he lowered me to my feet, he caressed my cheek with his thumb. “I can’t believe my little girl is graduating high school.”

“Ahem!” The sound of someone clearing their throat interrupted our moment.

Dad let out a chuckle and turned away from me to face his jealous child. “Yes, yes, I didn’t forget about you, my boy.”

After exchanging hugs and some small talk, the time soon came for us to move to the main hall. Reluctantly, our parents parted from us to find their seats while Luke and I headed to the seats assigned to graduates. Familiar faces started filling my view and then, my eyes fell on the familiar group of people I was dreading to see. However, before we could take our seats, Luke pulled me aside to the corner of the hall.

“What is it, Luke? We are going to be late!” I retorted, eager to just get the day over with.

My brother let out a long exhale and looked back at Joshua before turning his attention back to me. “Listen, Oli, I haven’t told Mom and Dad yet, but I got the scholarship. I heard about it yesterday.”

“Oh My God! That’s amazing, Lukey! I’m so happy for you. You finally got what you dreamed of.” My arms wrapped around him and I squeezed him in a brief hug.

Luke patted my back before breaking the hug and gripping both my shoulders tightly. “I know I haven’t been a good big brother since you joined high school. I’ve been so selfish and yet you never said anything. I should have protected you or at least told Mom about it. So, I’m sorry.”

“Okay? But, why are you telling me all this now?” I asked curiously.

He swallowed hard. “Because today I am officially allowing you to give them a piece of your mind. I won’t interfere and you have nothing stopping you from finally telling them what you feel.”

“What? Are you insane? There is no way I can stand up to them! You have seen what they are capable of. So, thanks for the thought, but I just can’t!” I retorted as I looked over his shoulder at the vicious group laughing in the distance as usual.

Luke shook me and stared straight at me. “You can, Olivia! It’s the last day you will see them and then you are off to New York. You need to do this, Oli, and finally put all of this behind you. That’s the only way you will feel better. Trust me!”

“Oh really? Where was all this when I was getting humiliated on my birthday, getting treated like trash, and spending each lunch break alone in the corner of the cafeteria? So, now that you got your football scholarship that you ignored me for, you finally care about your little sister, huh, big brother? Gee, thanks.” Nudging him aside, I stormed towards my seat with my clenched fists.

Deep down, I knew Luke was right and he was trying to help me stand up for myself. Still, his efforts weren’t going to erase all the pain, humiliation, and sadness I endured. Life in Westminster High School wasn’t a bed of roses and the disappointment that your big brother couldn’t protect you only made it worse.

Releasing a deep breath of air, I tried to calm myself down as the ceremony began. Soon, I found myself the next person in line to walk the stage. My heart started pounding in my chest and my breathing grew shallow.

That was my moment, the exact moment I had been waiting for, the moment that I looked forward to every time I was bullied. When my name was finally called, my feet moved by themselves toward the principal in the middle of the stage. After receiving my scroll and having my cap tassel moved from the right to the left, I walked to the end of the stage and descended the stairs. The minute my foot touched the ground, tears flooded my eyes and poured down my cheeks silently.

“You did it, Olivia. You survived,” I told myself under my breath.

A couple of hours later and hundreds of photographs later, the graduates mingled in the hallway as the guests left to head outside. To be honest, I was relieved that the day had ended well and that I was just minutes away from walking out of the school forever. Unfortunately, fate had never been fair to me and I was a fool to think that it ever chose to be kind to me.

“Well, well, little Olive finally graduated! Who betted that she would last till graduation? Joshua? Lionel? Maisy?” Breanna said as she and the group approached me when I was emptying out my locker.

Ever since Joshua and Breanna got together, their posse had doubled consisting of jocks and cheerleaders. Silently sighing, I turned around to leave, not wanting them to spoil my day.

Joshua scoffed. “Oh, look, she’s running away to her Mommy and Daddy already! That’s what happens when you let little girls join high school.”

My feet stopped and I froze in place as his annoying voice and insulting words filled my veins with annoyance. Luke’s words echoed in my mind and I took a second to think about the consequences.

“You know what? F*ck it!” I muttered under my breath.

“What was that Outcast Olive? Are you crying already?” Breanna mocked, followed by laughter from the group.

Turning around, my eyes narrowed at them. “No, I said f*ck it!”

A flash of surprise went across their faces before they exchanged looks of shock with one another. After all, it was probably the first time most of them were hearing my voice. But, I didn’t care. Luke was right, it was time I gave them a piece of my mind.

“Did you not hear me? Or is your laughter still echoing in your ears? I’ve had it with you guys! So, leave me the f*ck alone!” I yelled, clenching my jaw.

Joshua stepped forward and stomped the ground with his shoe. “What? You suddenly grew a spine once you graduated? Do you think you’re an adult now? Please. You will always be the timid Olive. So, save this tough act for when you talk to yourself in front of the mirror.”

“At least I am not a liar nor a cheat! Yes, I’m looking at you, Breanna! You parade this whole perfect couple charade but you all are sick! I saw you sucking face with Louis and so did Joshua. Yet, you act like nothing ever happened and started a rumor that I was the school sl*t!” I replied, my voice turning rougher with each word I spat out at them.

Breanna’s face turned red and she stormed towards me. “Shut up, b*tch!”

“Don’t you dare take another step or else, I will keep revealing your dirty secrets, Breanna! Don’t tempt me!” I responded as my eyes glared at her.

Joshua’s jaw clenched and he took a step in front of Breanna, who had turned surprisingly silent. “Watch your mouth, Olive! You’re going too far and if you keep going, you are going to regret it.”

“And you, Joshua Taylor, I tried to help you and you repaid me by agreeing with the rumor? With portraying me as a desperate sl*t?” I demanded, his threats not affecting me at all.

Joshua scoffed. “That is not my problem. If that’s who you are, then who am I to change it?”

“You have made my life absolute hell and it sickens me to even breathe the same air you are breathing!” I screamed in his face, as I tried to make myself taller against his towering body.

He narrowed his eyes at me as they filled with absolute hatred. “Then stop breathing my air, loser.”

“F*ck you, Joshua Taylor! Don’t ever show me your pathetic face ever again!” I yelled in his face before turning around.

Slamming my locker shut, I stormed off towards the exit but not before raising my hands and flashing all of them both my middle fingers without turning around. At that moment, everything I had ever endured flowed through my fingers, and told them everything I ever wanted to, for that was what they deserved.

Once I stepped outside of the school, I turned around and tilted my head up to see the big board with the school name on it. The same board I dreaded to see every morning as I contemplated skipping school to avoid getting bullied. Standing in front of it, I gave it a final glance and channeled all my emotions into an angry salute.

“Goodbye, Westminster High! I hope to never step foot here again!”