THIS CHAPTER IS HORRIBLE I AM SO SORRY. I WANTED TO GET THIS UPLOADED TO CELEBRATE TRENCH AND I WAS ONLY HALF CONCENTRATING BECAUSE I'M LISTENING TO THE ALBUM. I PROMISE, I KNOW MORE WHERE I WANT TO GO WITH THE LAST TWO CHAPTERS. UNTIL THEN, STAY ALIVE!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, @KateAnn21

Tyler

Graduation hits us faster than I hit Brendon that night at prom, who we haven't seen since I'm grateful to say. I think he'll leave us alone for good after the beating Josh and I gave him.

I exhale loudly as I adjust my cap in the mirror. Where has time gone? I'm pretty sure I was starting Kindergarten just last week.

Wow, I didn't think you'd make it this far, to be honest.

I raise my eyebrows in the mirror. That was the closest thing to a compliment the voice has given me.

My phone pings before I can say something in response.

Jenna: You almost ready?

Me: Yes.

Jenna: K. See you soon :)

I look in the mirror one last time, then walk upstairs, grabbing my car keys resting on the piano in the living room. Jenna and I are going in early for graduation practice. It was only nine-something when I checked the clock last, and the actual ceremony doesn't start until twelve. I guess it's better to be early than late for your own graduation, though.

I hop into my car and stick the key into the ignition. The route to Jenna's house is so familiar that I'm pretty sure I could drive it in my sleep. I wouldn't really do that, though. That may end badly.

Jenna is waiting on her front porch when I pull up. She can even make a bland, red graduation robe look good. I smile as she hurries toward the car, taking off her cap so it won't brush the ceiling when she climbs inside.

I glance at the cap in her lap. She's decorated it with a modgepodged photo collage of her, Josh, Mark, and me. Halloween pictures. Christmas pictures. Pictures from our first date. Pictures of me singing.

I smile. "Gosh, I wish I was as creative as you."

She looks at me like I've grown a second head. "Says the person who gets up on stage and performs songs that he's written all throughout high school!"

"Yeah, but you're a different kind of creative...."

She slugs me in the arm. "Shut up! Your kind of creative is equally as amazing as mine! That's part of why I love you! Now shut up and drive!"

"Yes, ma'am," I reply obediently, chuckling at the same time. I back out of her driveway and start driving to the school.

"My little boy has grown up so fast," Josh says as we meet him in the doorway of the auditorium, wiping away an invisible tear. Mark stands behind him, rolling his eyes. Jenna and I join in.

Josh glances at Jenna. "Don't think I forgot about you. Our little Bon Queesha has grown up, too."

"She's only been the same age that she's always been," she replies.

"Shh....," he says. We laugh.

"Cool cap," Mark compliments, staring at the pictures that she modgepodged onto the silky fabric.

"Thanks," she responds. Her eyes drift to his, which is decorated with movie reels and slides. "Yours is pretty cool, too."

"What about me?" Josh tilts his head down to reveal a lime-green alien face glued onto black fabric.

"That's sick!" she exclaims. We laugh.

"Mine is just really plain," I say, removing my cap from my head.

She grins. "I can fix that. We have time before practice."

"Where are you going to get supplies to spruce up my hat?" I ask.

Jenna wiggles her eyebrows. "Follow me."

"Dude, I can't believe we're breaking into the art room for supplies," I state, walking through the doorway and into the dark classroom.

"Yeah. I feel so rebellious," Josh agrees jokingly.

"It's literally graduation. What are they gonna do?" Jenna asks, flipping on the light.

"Uh....not let us walk the stage?" Mark ventures.

"I swear if we get busted for this..." Josh trails off.

Jenna opens a drawer in the corner by the art teacher's desk, pulling out a stack of sticker sheets. She rifles through the pile until stopping and removing a sheet, flashing it at me. The sheet is full of music notes, staves, treble clefs, and instruments. It's not the cheesy kind of stickers that you'd put on a first grader's A honor roll paper. No, these are the kinds of stickers that you'd put in scrapbooks.

My girlfriend grins wildly, waving the sheet around before gesturing for my cap. I take it off and hand it to her, and she turns her back to me so I can't see what she's sticking on it. She whips around about a minute later.

"Ta-da!" she exclaims, holding the cap up. I look at the piano keys, treble clefs, eighth notes, and staves scattered thoughtfully across the red fabric.

I smile. "Where would I be without you?" I murmur. That's when the realization hits me--when it hits all of us, creating an awkward silence. Without her, I'd be at the bottom of a cliff, drown in a river. I'd just be another name on a grave.

I shake my head. "We'd better get to the auditorium before we're late for rehearsal."

"Yeah," Josh replies awkwardly. "Good idea."

Great job, Tyler, the voice says sarcastically as we make our way to practice. Way to depress everyone's big day and make it all about you.

You are not ruining my day, I reply to myself. I will make this ceremony worthwhile.

"I'll be the first to graduate!" Jenna brags as we sit in the auditorium seats during a break from practice.

"Well, I'm sorry my last name isn't Black," I tease.

"At least I won't be too far behind you," Josh says to Jenna.

"Same," Mark agrees. He plays with his cap in his hands, picking at a piece of movie reel coming unglued.

Jenna sighs, resting her chin in her hand. "Where has time gone?"

"Like really," Josh replies.

"We're going too fast," I add.

"So...where is everyone going to college?" she asks.

Josh, Mark, and I exchange glances.

"Um, well...gee, I guess I never really thought about that," Josh says. "I was just planning to stick with the band. I don't really have a Plan B."

"I'm planning to go to some kind of college that specializes in film and videography," Mark states.

My girlfriend raises her eyebrows at me. "And you?"

"Um...well, I still don't know. I guess I need to be making up my mind about that soon," I stutter.

"What are you planning to go to college for, Jenna?" Josh asks.

She grins and pulls her shoulders back, giving a confident answer. "I have applied to California College of the Arts for a photography major. I really hope I get accepted."

Mark and Josh clap, while a black hole settles in my stomach. California? Jenna and I will be so far apart if she goes to college out there. How will that affect our relationship?

I look up as I see various families file in through the auditorium doors.

"Uh...I think we need to go find out seats," I state.

Jenna nods her heads as she scans the groups of people filing in. "Yeah."

"Well, I guess I won't talk to you guys until after I graduate," Josh states solemnly.

The three of us roll our eyes and stand up.

I hug Jenna and kiss her on the cheek. "I'll cheer for you as you walk the stage."

She grins. "I know. You're my number one fan."

I smile back. "Dang right I am. And you better remember that." I boop her on the nose with my finger. It scrunches up as she giggles.

"Bye," she says. We hug one last time before separating and walking to the group of chairs set up on the stage.

I gaze out over the auditorium quickly filling with a sea of people and see the Duns sitting near the front. My family should be joining them soon. I spot Debby sitting next to Ashley, her eyes sweeping the soon-to-be graduates, most likely looking for Josh. She sees me first and waves. Iwave back in reply, then nod in Josh's direction. She grins and gives me a thumbs-up.

I glance at Jenna sitting three rows in front of me, her head turned as she talks to the girl beside her.

My eyes become unfocused as my mind reflects on this past school year. There was late July when I first met Jenna and asked her out on a date. Then school started in August, and we got a gig not too long afterward. Then there was Halloween, which is when the whole haunted house incident took place. After that was my surprise birthday party and Brendon driving around outside of Jenna's house. Then the new year started, along with the nightmare of Jenna getting kidnapped, Brendon stealing my car radio, and me almost killing myself. Yeah, this school year will be one to remember for a long time.

I snap back to the real world as the principal clears his throat at the podium. I look out into the audience to see almost all of the seats filled. I look over to where the Duns are sitting to see that both Jenna's and my family have joined them. How long was I lost in my thoughts?

The principal adjusts the microphone and starts speaking, talking about the good school year and the promise this generation holds for the future. Is it bad that I kind of zone out? I only zone back in when the valedictorian starts speaking, then zone back out again. I finally ground myself for good when the principal steps back up the podium and starts announcing names. Everyone from the first row rises and stands beside the podium until their names are called.

"Jenna Black."

Jenna's eyes meet mine as she walks over to shake the principal's hand. I smile and give her a thumbs up. She grins back at me, blushing. My eyes follow her as she receives her diploma and walks back to the line of graduates. They circle around and take their seats as the next row gets up. Jenna and I clap and cheer for Josh and Mark as they receive their diplomas.

One of our teachers gestures for our row to stand up and follow her to the podium.

"Tyler Joseph."

I walk forward, stumbling over my own feet a little before regaining balance. I go to shake the principal's hand when I hear my name echo through the quiet auditorium.

"YEAH TYLER!"

"YOU GOT THIS, TYLER!"

"WAY TO GO, BABE!"

I blush and turn to see Josh, Mark, and Jenna all standing and cheering for me, teachers rushing to their rows to silence them. You only have one shot, I guess.

I turn back around and shake the principal's hand, then shake the other administrator's hands and receive my diploma. I then proceed to feign disappointment at Jenna, Josh, and Mark's behavior. They make innocent, "what-did-I-do?" faces back at me, causing me to laugh. My friends are the greatest.

"Okay everyone, look this way and smile!" Mrs. Black says with her camera raised for a picture. Jenna and Mark are the only ones who actually look normal. Josh and I smile cheekily. Mrs. Black rolls her eyes, then lets my mom step and up get pictures of us.

While Jenna's family gather around her to talk and get pictures, Mom turns to me. "We were thinking about going with the Duns, Blacks, and Eshlemans to eat dinner. How does that sound?"

I nod. "Sounds cool. Where are we eating at?"

"I still need to talk to Laura and the others more about it. I was just letting you know what was going on."

I nod. "Okay." I tense when she unexpectedly pulls me into a hug, then relax.

"I'm so proud of you, Tyler. You will go on to do amazing things." She kisses me on the head.

I smile. "Thanks, Mom."

Dad finishes a conversation with Josh's dad and walks over, clapping me on the shoulder. "You guys ready to get some grub?"

"Oh yyyyeaaaHHHHHHH!" Josh yells.

I smirk. "Josh, you're not you when you're hungry." We all laugh.

"Well, I guess you guys can go home and get changed, and then you can meet us at the restaurant," Dad states.

I nod. "Okay." I look at Jenna. "Ready to go?"

"Yes," she replies, grabbing my hand. I squeeze it as we run away from the group and out to my car. 

   "So, California, eh?" I ask Jenna as we drive home from dinner.

"Well, it's not definite yet, but I really want to get accepted."

I smile at her sadly. "I'd miss you a ton."

"Maybe you could move out there with me or something. It may help your music career."

I shrug. "I don't know. I kind of want to stay here or go to New York."

She gives me a puzzling look. "Why New York?"

"Fueled by Ramen headquarters is there."

"The noodle company??? I swear, you're obsessed with the weirdest stuff."

I laugh so hard that I pound the steering wheel, which probably isn't the safest thing to do while driving. "No Jenna, I am not obsessed with Ramen Noodles. That would be Josh. Fueled by Ramen is an alternative record label that has made a lot of bands recognized and famous. If I want my music to be heard and inspire others, that record label would help me do it."

She pauses for a moment. "Ohhhhhhhh. That makes more sense now."

"I love you, Jenna," I say, laughing.

She smiles. "I love you, too."

I pull into her driveway and park, the cab filling with silence for a moment.

"From the moment I saw you, I wanted to be known by you," I say, blushing.

Jenna grins. "I hate to say it--and please don't get offended--but the first time I saw you, I wanted to avoid you and only fight you if I had to."

I laugh. "That's okay. I still feel bad for creeping you out like that."

"At least we still managed to get together," I reply.

"Yeah." It's silent for another moment.

"I'm so glad I made it through this school year. You have showed me what it's like to live; that life is worth it. And I thank you for that." I stare straight ahead, looking at a cracked piece of porch rail, then meet Jenna's eyes.

She smiles shyly. "You're welcome. I'm glad we made it."

We both get out of the car. I take her hand and walk her to her door. "No matter if you get into the California college or not, I will be supporting you one hundred percent and be with you every step of the way." I kiss her on the cheek.

"Thank you," she replies.

I walk back down the porch steps. An idea comes to my mind.

"Hey Jen?"

She opens the door that she was in the process of closing. "Yes?"

"Do you want to go on another date with me? At the park maybe?"

She smiles. "Always."

"Have a good night, my love," I reply, smiling. She closes the door as I turn away and walk back to my car. Life is good.

Do I write in Tyler or Jenna's point of view better?