The second Chance part 11
Newt sat in a folding chair with the rest of the senior class. He wore his long black robe and cap. It was his graduation. Newt knew his parents and sister sat in the endless bleachers behind him, along with Thomas and his parents. The sun was shining just a little too bright and he had been sitting just a little too long. The air was hot and sticky, with no breeze to cool him down.
After what seemed like hours of sitting in the scorching heat, the last speaker finally stepped down from the podium. Next a tall man, whose face resembled a rat, stepped up and read the first name from the list in a calm voice. The student rose from the front row and walked across the healthy grass and onto the stage. As she received her papers the next student was announced and so on. Newt recognized most of the kids as endless names were called to the platform. When the blond heard his name, he made his own way up the steps and to the podium. He was given a large tan envelope with his name sprawled across the front in a glorious font.
Newton Cordell
Newt stared down at the thick envelope. These papers resembled more than just his graduation. They resembled the four years he had spent in this school. Every choice he made. Every good and bad time. Every A he had worked his butt off for was represented in the few papers he held in his hand. This day was not only the beginning of his life outside high school but the end of his life during it. How many of his friends would he be able to keep in touch with? How many of his joyous memories would slip away from him? What would happen with him and Thomas? Newt was snapped out of his daze by the hand of his principle, reaching out for his. The Brit took it and smiled. He made his way across the stage, shaking everyone's hands in the process. Newt reached his seat again and despite the unknown future that lay ahead of him, he grinned widely at his fellow graduates.
When the ceremony was over Newt ran to find his friends and family. He spotted his dad’s tall head in the crowd and dashed towards it. He dodged people hugging, exchanging flowers, and taking pictures. When Newt reached his parents they immediately embraced him in a sweaty bear hug. Thomas’s parents stood to the side and congratulated him. The blond posed long enough to take a few pictures but soon he realized, two very important people were missing.
“Where’s Thomas and Sonya?” The boy asked as he scanned the crowd around him. But he couldn't find them.
“Oh, they went to find you before you showed up!” Thomas’s mom confessed.
“I'll go look for them then. See you latter!” With that Newt slipped into the sweltering mass of people and started his search. He found Minho, Alby, and Teresa but no Thomas or Sonya. Newt’s spirit drooped as he began to think they had left. Just as he was about to give up looking, the boy saw a familiar head bobbing away from him.
“Thomas! Thomas!” The brunette turn at the sound of his name and a smile brightened his handsome face when he saw who called his name. Newt ran up to him and found Sonya by his side.
“Newt we’ve been looking bloody everywhere for you!” His sister punched him in the arm playfully. “Congratulations,” she smiled genuinely at her older brother for the first time in weeks.
“Thanks Sonya. I've been looking for you guys too. Their are so many bugging people around, we should get out of here.” Newt was surprised by Sonya’s sudden turn in attitude towards him, and he treaded cautiously. He could tell something was different about the way she was acting but he couldn't say what had caused the change. She could just be acting nice because it was his graduation, but Newt sensed it was more complicated than that.
“My car’s in the parking lot, let's get out of this sweat-fest.” Thomas chuckled and started walking away in the direction of the school parking lot.
“I'll go find mom and dad, tell them you're leaving,” Sonya said abruptly and she disappeared into the sea of people. Newt let her go and turned to catch up with Thomas, spotting something bright in his hands.
“Hey Tommy, what's that?” Newt questioned, letting his curiosity drive him. He jumped behind Thomas and rested his chin lightly on the younger boy’s shoulder and peered at his hands. Thomas blushed slightly as he turned to face Newt, holding out a bundle of colorful flowers.
“I ah, thought you might like them. Congrats Newt,” Thomas said as Newt took the flowers in his own hands.
“Oh I do like them! Thank you tommy!” Newt grinned full heartedly as a surge of warm energy flashed through his body, and gave the shorter boy a perky kiss on the cheek. They found Thomas’s car and pulled out of the busy parking lot.
“Well, I guess your summer has officially started,” Thomas stated as he drove.
“Oh yeah, you still have two weeks left don't you?” The boy remembered.
“What are you going to do all that time I'm not with you, Angel?” Thomas inquired with a laugh. He glanced at Newt who put on an overly glum face and pouty lip, his blond hair flipping in his eyes.
“I guess I'll just have to sit around and wait for you to get home dear,” Newt fake sighed. The boys instantaneously burst into a laughing fit. After the noise died down Thomas took on a more serious face.
“What are you ever going to do without me Newt?” He asked calmly. Newt immediately knew what Thomas was trying to get at but he played dumb, hoping to avoided the topic for as long as possible.
“What do you mean? School doesn't last all day.” He exaggerated a confused face, but knew it wasn't enough to fool Thomas.
“Come on, you know what I mean Newt. What are we going to do when you go to college?” Thomas probed more clearly, all playfulness gone from his voice.
“Tommy, can we please not talk about this right now? I know it's important but we’ve got all summer to figure it out. I really just don't want to talk about it,” The Brit replied in a soft voice. He shifted his gaze towards the window, not wanting to look at Thomas. Newt didn't want to spoil the great mood he was in. Truthfully he had no idea what he was going to do without Thomas. Not only was he his boyfriend, but Thomas was Newt's oldest, and best friend. He was always able to be there for Newt, but in college… The blond’s train of thought ended when Thomas finally answered.
“Ok fine. But you know we can't just ignore this forever. It's going to happen whether we talk about it or not,” Thomas finally relented. The brunette pulled the car into his driveway and turned the engine off. They walked into Newt’s house to find both their parents sitting at the table. Newt set the flowers down and he walked to the fridge, searching for something good to snack on.
“So Newt, how does it feel to be finally graduated?” His mom questioned.
“I don't know. I don't really feel any different,” he shrugged and gave up on hunting for something to eat. Just then Sonya appeared halfway down the stairs, as if she had been waiting for them to get back.
“Hey Newt, Thomas can I talk to you for a sec?” Without waiting for a reply the blond girl bounded back up the steps. Thomas gave Newt a questioning look, but all he had in response was a shrug. She had practically been giving him the silent treatment ever since she found out about him and Thomas dating. Newt had absolutely no idea what she would want to tell him. They followed her into the upstairs hallway, where she abruptly stopped walking and spun to face the boys.
“Sonya, if this is more nonsense we don't want to hear it,” Thomas sighed and his gaze bore into the younger girl.
“It's not, ok? So just listen to me,” Sonya paused and took a deep breath. “I know I haven't been the most supportive of you guys. But we only have one summer between us and Newt disappearing to college. I don't want to spend the whole time being mad at you two for selfish reasons. You're both really good guys and you deserve to do what you want. I'm not the person to tell you otherwise and no one else is either. I guess what I'm trying to say is sorry for being such an arse,” Sonya said this in a rush and when she finished she looked tired, but extremely relieved.
“Wow. Thank you Sonya,” Thomas smiled as he seemed to be soaking in her words.
“That really means a lot, thanks little sis,” Newt beamed at her. Sonya walked past and down the stairs, not giving them time to say anything more. The boys went into Newt's room and sat for a moment. Newt couldn't describe his feelings with any other word but happy. He was genuinely happy that Sonya had at last come to terms with them and her feelings. He felt a lot better about what was to come knowing his sister was on his side.