The day has finally arrived for Midtrail High Schools senior class. Graduation ceremonies for Midtrail occur after Highland High holds theirs. Everyone was there for Josh when he walked across the stage, graduating third overall in his class. His cheering section was the loudest of anyone else there on his special day. Although, now it's time for him to return the humiliating favor for the others.

He's waiting patiently for the ceremony to kick-off, but he hasn't seen Gwen anywhere.

"Hey Ma, have you seen Gweny or her mom anywhere around here?" Josh asks, trying to get comfortable in the hard plastic seat.

"Can't say that I have son. You know Gwen, always running late, so be patient."

They sit there, ready to pounce once the principal kicks things off with a speech.

"Hello, fellow parents, siblings of students, and everyone in attendance. Today, we gather to pay homage to the passing of the torch for these young men and women behind me. Every year I watch so many students embark on their final year of high school. They are excited to greet the world with a vigorous spirit. It's in their spirit that keeps hope alive in this day and age when so much has changed. These young people will never be the same. Some will be heading off to college while others already finding work and starting families, and to those who will be leaving us to defend this great country; I say unto you, go with pride and honor to know that you are the beacon of light for tomorrow's future."

Momma Cline unnoticeably rolls her eyes over to Josh. She feels helpless, knowing the day will come after he leaves to join the fight if a war breaks out.

Josh does notice something different about Scarlett. He leans in, whispering a question to the mother figure who's watched him grow up.

"Hey Ma, it is me, or has Scarlett put on a little weight?"

"Nah, you just see how tight those robes can be. Scarlett's probably ordered it to be a little tight, you know." She says, trying not to pay attention.

Josh nods his head while he waits to jump up and cheer when they begin calling names to walk across the stage.

"Justin Adamson, Tri-State Bible College," the principal calls out the first name.

"WOOH YEAH, GO JUSTIN GET THAT DIPLOMA SON!" Josh screams, cheering from near the front row. "GO JUSTIN, IT'S YOUR DAY, GO JUSTIN, GO JUSTIN!"

With his diploma in hand, Justin looks over at everyone cheering with a smile and a wave before he turns around and moons the audience.

"Dear sweet Jesus, tell me he did not just do that!" Mrs. Adamson gasps and says, shocked at her son's actions.

The audience and even the principal get a laugh at the antic, as Justin turns blood red when he takes his seat.

Again, the principal begins calling names, and the audience claps. James' name finally gets called to come across the stage.

"James Cline, Cabell County Vocational Career Center."

Once more, Josh gets to his cheering even harder to embarrass James.

"YEAH, THERE HE IS, MY BROTHER OF ANOTHER MOTHER! WOOH YEAH, BABY, MAKE THE WALK, SHAKE THAT THANG JIMMIE BOY! STRUT IT, STRUT IT HARD!"

Momma Cline even gets in on the fun.

"GO JAMES, GO JIMMIE CLINE, YEAH THAT'S MY BOY, OH YEAH SHAKE YOUR GROOVE THING!"

By the time James gets his diploma, he's blood-red from embarrassment from being heckled. He sees the principal trying not to crack up.

Several minutes go by before Scarlett's name is announced, but the commotion isn't as loud for her, given that Josh and Momma Cline suspect her family would be there to support her.

"Scarlett Morrison, St. Joseph College of Nursing and Radiology Technology." The principal calls into the microphone.

They both look around and can't find her parents anywhere. It's a sad moment, but they find it in themselves to give her a boost from the cheering section.

"Yeah, Scarlett, that a girl! Proud of you, sis!" Josh yells.

"You go, girl, make a difference!" Momma C calls out, thrilled that James found a good girl.

More names get called, and Josh still doesn't see Gwen on stage. He's beginning to worry that she's going to miss her chance to go across the stage. When the time arrives and her name is announced, there is something Josh isn't expecting.

"Guinevere Storm, The Ohio State University, not present to come across the stage but best of luck at OSU Miss Storm." The principal says.

Josh finds himself in a state of shock and anger fused. His gut instinct says to get up and leave, but he's brought back down into his chair by Momma C refusing to let him go.

Another half-hour passes by before everyone meets up outside of the civic arena near the fountain.

"Nice butt!" Momma C teases Justin, which forces him to turn red all over again.

"I uh, yeah I, it was just you know, well you know someone always, yeah I got nothing." Justin stammers to say while gingerly rubbing the back of his neck.

Josh stands there in silence with an all too familiar glow in his eyes.

"Scarlett, can I talk to you, please?" He asks, waving her over to talk in private.

"Where is she, and why didn't she tell me that she was going to Ohio State when she told me we would be going to MSC together."

"I was hoping she would've done the right thing, but she handed me this, this morning, and well, it explains everything. Once you're gone for your road trip, I say stop in and talk to her." Scarlett advises rubbing Josh's arm gently after she hands over the note.

He begins to read it silently.

"Dear Josh, hey baby, I know you're probably more than pissed by now but let me explain. I fought with my mom for like ever to convince her to let us stay here so I can go to college with you here, but she says staying with you is a toxic relationship for me. I don't even want to go, but I can't afford school loans, and well, you know how bad I want to have my own high-rise office as a lawyer. I didn't have the heart to tell you in person, so here I am at three in the morning writing this pouring the tears as I do. I love you so much, and I can't breathe when you're not around; don't take this as good-bye forever, but rather see you later. Love now and forever, Gwen Storm-Bradshaw P.S. Yes, I do see us getting there in time if you ever forgive me."

Crushing the note in his hand Josh lets it fall to the ground and walks away without saying anything. He makes his way over to his car, pulling out to make a mistake from the past right. He finds his way back to Teays Valley and pulls up to Short Street, parked along the curb.

He gets out, marching up to the door, tapping on it. No one answers, so he knocks again, only louder, and continues to wait-same results. No one comes to the door. He stands there in the heat of the sun until a neighbor stops by the gate.

"Can I help you, young man?"

"Oh yeah, I'm looking for Nikki Katua. Do you know if she'll be home anytime soon?"

The neighbor delivers even more bad news that doesn't play in Josh's favor.

"Not for at least another week or two, kid. They went to visit her sister in Tennessee, and then they're off to South Carolina to visit her brother in the service." The neighbor walks away after they deliver up the news, which leaves Josh crushed.

Defeat won't conquer his day. He decides to go ahead and get a jump start to his road trip. The money for the adventure came from the day he received his high school diploma. His step-dad waited for him outside of the civic arena with a check large enough to cover all expenses.

"Fuck it, I ain't leaving in a week. I'm hauling out of here as of today!" He tells himself, picking up speed to merge back on the interstate.

He pulls into the driveway, but rather than make his way through the front door. He darts around, back going into his bedroom from the backyard. He rushes to pack without even taking his time to select his clothes. Josh keeps tossing anything and everything into his bag until it's full. He flings the bag over his shoulder, then goes upstairs, blowing by the party to get his toothbrush and make the announcement that he's leaving.

"Hey! Kill the music for a minute." Josh calls out to Justin.

"I know I'm not supposed to leave for another week, but well after learning about everything today, I am hitting the road in just a few minutes. I don't know how long I will be gone or where I am going to visit. I just wanted to say goodbye and enjoy the summer. Alex, I'll wait for you to get your bag, and we're on the road, my friend."

"Already ahead of you, dude. I figured I'd pack in case things went badly, and boy has it ever. I'm ready to bounce whenever you are, brother dude."

Josh goes over, giving Momma C a hug and a bro hug to Justin and James.

"Bye, momma, I'll do my best to stay out of trouble, I promise. Thank you for everything and for letting me stay here. You are the mother I always wanted. I'll be back before you know it. So, keep the porch light on for me, please." He whispers to her.

"You guys behave, and I'll be ready to raise some hell when I get home. Hold down the fort, little brother." He tells James with a look of content in his eyes.

"Alright, my Godly brother, do what you do best and pray for safe travels. I'm sorry for what all I got you into in the past. Just remember I am proud of the man you became because of it." He says quietly to Justin before they release the bro hug.

Momma C sniffles a bit with a frown on her face.

"You be careful out there and stay safe. I am glad you're taking someone with you. I want pictures, and you two come home safe and sound. Even though you ain't technically mine, I still love you anyway." She stops to say to Josh, making him maintain an eye to eye contact with her.

He gives her a nod and meets Alex, who rushed over to get his stuff. Josh pops the hatch and tosses in his bag in the back. Alex throws it in after Josh, and the hatch shuts with a hard slam.

Alex climbs into his seat while Josh stops after popping open his door. He looks up to see them all standing there and gives them a wave and a quick salute before he gets into his seat, buckling the seatbelt.

"Ready to see what the open road has to offer?" Josh asks, firing up his GT Probe.

"More than you know, man, let's kick this trip off in style," Alex states as both boys cover their eyes with sunglasses.

"Miami, here we come!" Josh yells, backing out of the driveway to light up his tires as smoke rolls from the road leaving tire marks for several feet.

James and Justin stand there on the steps feeling like a piece of their lives is missing already.

"You know this is the first time the three of us will be apart longer than any other time in like more than ten years," Justin mentions with his mind traveling back through all the memories shared with his two best friends.

"Damn, you're right, dawg, but in a way, it's a preview to the rest of our lives. We can't stay together like this forever. Time doesn't stand still for anyone. I found that out not long ago, and well, things have to change, and they're going to keep changing." James replies, thinking about the monumental leaps about to come his way.

Up the road, Josh and Alex feel the excitement waiting for them on the open road. Quickly they race downtown, jumping onto I-64 to head for Florida.

"So, where are we going after Miami?" Alex wonders out loud.

"We'll figure that out when the time comes, my friend. I just need to get the hell away from here for a while. I need to get my head and life in a better direction. The way I see it when we arrive, it'll be boobs, butts, parties, and a good time waiting for us to discover at the beach!"

With no expectations, the terrible twosome heads off to forget about home while the winds of change get set in motion that no one sees coming for the long haul. How things will change no one will be able to predict, but the impact will shift the way they lead their lives.