Olive's P.O.V.
Olive: You're coming to my graduation, right?
#1 Best Friend: I wouldn't miss it for the world.
Ian's reply made me feel better. He and I hadn't spoken much since Christmas. I know he meant it when he said we were still friends, but he needed time to get over me. We text every now and then but it wasn't daily like it had been before Christmas. It made me a bit sad, but I know it's for the best.
Hailey on the other hand, texts and calls multiple times a day and drops by every other day with something new. Yesterday it was a little red bracelet that looked like it was made of yarn. I'm meant to put this on our child when she's born. Hailey made me swear, so I did.
"I've been thinking a lot about what we should name our little Rose bud," Lucas said, as he rubbed his hands over my growing baby bump. He'd been reading my junior year journal of college. He's just a couple of journals away from the one he's been desperately wanting to read...his journal.
"Okay, what have you come up with?" We'd been thinking of names for a couple of months now, but nothing has felt right.
"Abi," he said and my eyed instantly watered. My pregnancy hormones have been wild, causing the craziest mood swings.
I cry so easily now, over everything and anything. Yesterday I cried because I forgot I had eaten the last peach and really wanted another one. Lucas ran to the store and got me 5 more right away. He's been so patient and understanding with me. I swear he's the perfect man.
"Are you sure?" I asked, feeling like maybe we should honor his mother in some way too.
"Yes, I'm sure. Abi Rose Porter. What do you think?"
"It's perfect." I nodded my head, shedding overly emotional tears.
Lucas held me close as he rubbed my arms. He placed his hand over my baby bump and began to talk to our baby girl...to our Abi.
"You hear that? You've got a name, Abi. Do you like it? Kick once for yes and twice for no."
I smiled at his antics, loving it when he spoke to her. She kicked at his hand just once, making us both smile widely.
"She's a genius already," Lucas said with the biggest smile yet.
"She is your daughter."
"Our daughter. Rose you're so damn intelligent. You're about to graduate top of your class from Colombia with a hard ass degree, miss aerospace engineer. If Abi gets her intelligence from anyone, it would be you." Lucas always lifts me up, and refuses to let me be modest. He says I need to know my worth more.
We spent the afternoon cuddling while we finished making our wedding plans. We had our cake, our colors, our catering menu and our venue. I have the dress I want already picked out, just need to get the right size after I have Abi. All that's left is to ask our best friends an important question. Hailey will be my maid of honor and Leo will be Lucas' best man. We just need to find a cute way of asking each of them.
"I can't wait to marry you, Rose. You're doing so amazing with everything. I don't know how you manage it all. Just 3 more weeks till you graduate, 2 and a half months until Abi's here and 4 and a half months until you become my wife." He kissed my nose, my cheeks and my forehead as he spoke, leaving my lips for last.
I found myself hornier than usual now that I'm pregnant, but it's also so much more uncomfortable to have Lucas inside me. He's been so patient and kind with sex. He knows how uncomfortable I get when he's inside me so instead he's brought me pleasure with his tongue or his fingers multiple times. I always feel guilty after, but he tells me not to. He means it too, he really doesn't care about his sexual needs being met right now. He promises to ravish me on our wedding night.
I can't wait.
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The warm may air, and hot sun, mixed with the black cap and gown were not a fun way to spend a few hours. At least the seats were cushioned and comfy as we listened to the dean give his speech. I was graduating, and I couldn't be more excited. I had worked hard for 4 years, keeping my grades up and my gpa at a 4.0. College has taught me so much.
These last 4 years have been an experience of a life time, and not just on campus and in class. I learned how to live, how to pop out of my shell. I met Hailey, followed by Davis and Carter. I made the mistake of dating Julius, but that led me to Lucas. I met Leo on campus and because of it got to see Lucas again. I reunited with Mom, suffered her loss, stood up to dad, and discovered what really happened with Ian. Now I sit here waiting to be called in a ceremonious way to show that I had done what I set out to do. The accomplishment I felt was beyond the moon.
I stood to the side of the stage until my name was called with my many accomplishments. I heard the cheers from the crowd, seeing Lucas standing alongside Ian amidst our group of friends who clapped like normal people. I blushed, but I loved the way they cheered for me.
"Liv!' Hailey waved me down as she pushed past the crowd that had now formed on the lawn.
Our graduation ceremony finally finished, flushing everyone out to meet with their graduates. It was a prong of people maneuvering around one another in an effort to find their people. Thankfully, because of my pregnant state, people parted for me without much effort. I walked hurriedly towards Hailey, who took me to the rest of the group.
"Congratulations!" Sarah said as she handed me a bouquet of large flowers. She seemed like a proud mother, making me almost cry again.
"Thank you." I smiled at her.
"You did it, Red! I knew you would." Ian hugged me tightly with that wide tooth grin of his. He held me for a moment, until Abi kicked against him. He let me go with wide eyes as he looked down at my swollen stomach.
"She likes to kick when she feels something pressed against my bump," I explained with a loving smile as I rubbed my belly.
"She's going to be a fighter, like you." Ian's words hit me hard. I hope she never has to fight.
"I'm so proud of you, Rose." Lucas was next to congratulate me. He pulled me into his tight embrace as he kissed my lips passionately. He was full of love and radiating such happiness. I think we both were.
Hailey was surrounded by her own family who was congratulating her. She smiled at me as she noticed me watching, then she and her whole family walked over to us.
"Can you believe it? We're all done. No more lunch at the commons, or coffee at the little cafe. No more late night studying, or early morning classes to race to. We've done it, Liv." Hailey seemed so emotional as she spoke.
She was right. I hadn't thought about how graduating meant we wouldn't be seeing this place much. It was odd to think about. I'd grown quite accustomed to the campus, and life inside it. Now it's time to venture out into my career field and put this degree to use.
"We'll still meet up for lunch every Sunday and catch up on life, right?" I asked, not wanting to lose touch with her now that we won't see each other every day on campus.
"Of course, Liv! I wouldn't miss our dates for the world." She smiled that bright smile of hers.
We hugged each other for a while, feeling an overwhelming bittersweet feeling. Why are graduations actually kind of sad?