Julian's POV

With a single strike, I launched the kickball out of Tommy's hands and into the air. I dashed forward and caught it, then continued to run across the turf. Tommy, realizing that the ball was no longer in his possession, chased after me with a frightening speed. I was going to need to throw him off. Without warning, I strafed to the side and cut through a crowd of jabbering 8th Graders. Tommy followed. Perfect.

As we pushed through the mob, I strafed to the left a few feet and stopped. As I expected, I saw him shoot through the crowd away from me. I then turned around and strolled out of the crowd. I thought I was in the clear. Unfortunately, there was a factor I hadn't prepared for.

Liam came barreling towards me at lighting speed. I spun around and shot away in the opposite direction. By now, Tommy realized my ploy and was coming at me as well. I turned away and continued running.

As I dashed across the turf, I felt the wind blowing in my hair and the mid-June sun shining on my face. This is what it was like to be alive. This was what it was like to be part of 305.

Sadly, I knew that this was the last day before it came to an end.

The bell rang, and we all shuffled inside the dreary school building. I tossed Tommy his ball. I dodged a hair tousling from Charles. I engaged in a few more hallway shenanigans before entering 305.

There was an air of excitement in the room. After all, it was the last day of school. As we sat down for morning meeting, Mr. Schoenbeck had to count down five times on account of our giddiness.

"Thank you," he says, sounding annoyed. "Now, we're short on time because of our soiree, we are going to have to skip the activity for today and go to the message." This incited a groan from the class. "The quote for today is this: 'You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life,' Steve Jobs."

A silence fell over the class. We all knew why he had picked this particular quote, although none of us wanted to acknowledge it. Thankfully, Mr. Schoenbeck looked at us with a comforting smile.

"I know you guys are nervous. Next year, you all will be split apart for the first time in a very long time. And I understand how that must feel for you. But I know all of you. You all were my students for a sixth of your life. And if I know you as well as I think I do, then I know that no matter what life throws your way, you all will be prepared to handle it. You are a group of intelligent, kind, quirky and caring individuals. You all will be there for each other. And I know that when the time comes, you will be ready."

One sniffle. Then two. Suddenly, almost half the class is in tears. But this time, they weren't sad tears. For the first time since the... erm... attempt at a class meeting, our class had hope.

"And I'm not saying it won't be difficult. In fact, it might be one of your biggest challenges yet. But no matter what you face, I want you all to face it with a smile. Because each and every one of you are going to pass that challenge with flying colors. All of you are going to succeed, and I assure you, all of you are going to be very happy. So when you all start 7th Grade, no matter where you are, I just want you all to remember: We are 305. AND 305 WILL BE VICTORIOUS!!!"

The class was in an uproar. It was a mixture of cheering, sobbing, hugging, and jumping. Everyone surrounded Mr. Schoenbeck in a 305 style giga-group-hug. And in that moment, we knew that no matter what anyone else says, that this was not the end.

And unfortunately, we were right.