�We sure did!� Alyson squeezed her back, �I�m so proud!�
�No, I�m proud. I loved your speech, I cried!� Siobhan said, excitedly.
�Aww, I know, I saw. But thanks, honey.� Alyson said. They turned their gowns in and received the actual diploma, because first they�d just received a blank black book. Soon, Kennedi and Tara found them.
�Aly! Syvanni!� Tara squealed before hugging them both.
�You were awesome!� Kennedi cried, hugging Alyson after Tara was finished.
�I�m so proud! Thank you for mentioning us!� Tara cried.
�Thanks.� Alyson blushed.
�Maddi better get here soon, so we can go out with all our families. Can you believe my mom agreed to take everyone out for dinner?� Siobhan asked.
�I think she�s happy that we all made it in one piece.� Tara said.
�Yeah.� Siobhan hugged Tara out of the blue, and Tara squeezed her back.
Alyson searched the crowds, which were getting heavier by the minute, �Hurry up, Maddi!� she said, impatiently.
�Patience is a virtue, Aly.� Kennedi reminded her friend.
�My mom says she should�ve named me Patience so she could yell �Patience!�� Alyson giggled.
Madison crept up behind her then, �Hey, Aly, you were great!� she exclaimed.
�Aww, thanks Maddi-bear.� Alyson hugged her friend, �You all set?� she asked.
�Yep, they�re meeting us out by where Siobhan�s parents parked, right?� Madison asked.
�Yeah. Let�s go before the rush.� Tara said, as she noticed a lot of people there, but not so many leaving just yet.
�All right.� Kennedi said, and they headed out of the gym into the hallway, which was pretty much deserted still.
�Hey stop for a second.� Alyson said, suddenly as they walked.
�What?� Siobhan asked.
�Look around.� Alyson said.
�It looks the same.� Madison shrugged.
�It�s not so scary anymore is it?� Alyson grinned.
Kennedi grinned widely, �Nope!�
�Not at all!� Tara agreed.
�What, high school, scary? Naaaaah.� Siobhan said.
�When you walk into college for the first time, just remember that. How high school felt on the first day and how it feels now.� Alyson said.
Tara grinned, �We will.� The others nodded, smiling.
�Now come on, people are waiting.� Kennedi said, and led them out of the school building.
* * * * * * *
�Oh, I am so tired.� Kennedi groaned as they walked into Tara�s house after dinner with their families.
�Me too. It�s almost eleven, so we�ve been up for....� Madison stopped to count.
�Seventeen hours. Well, almost.� Alyson supplied.
�Wow! I�m glad we decided not to go to the all-night party.� Tara said, as she opened her door and flipped on the light. She and her friends filed in, Tara, Alyson and Kennedi sitting on the bed, Madison on the floor, and Siobhan in the desk chair.
�Me too, we would have left at like 1 AM and had no dignity left.� Alyson said, smiling.
�So true. Do you guys want to get in our PJs and watch a movie until we fall asleep?� Siobhan asked.
�Definitely. I love it when we do that.� Madison said, and everyone sought out their PJs, the sleepover guests getting them from the bags they�d brought over before the ceremony.
�Which movie?� Tara asked, being done first. She walked over to her small collection and looked it over.
�You can pick, it�s your house.� Kennedi offered.
�I pick....Ice Age! Gotta love that movie!� Tara said.
�Yay! I like your choice!� Madison cheered.
The five girls crowded onto the foot of Tara�s double bed, some on top of others. Tara started the movie and they all settled in.
�Can you believe we did it? We survived!� Siobhan said, suddenly.
�We certainly did.� Kennedi grinned.
�I�m proud of you guys.� Madison said.
�I�m proud of you too!� Tara chimed in.
�No one�s prouder than me!� Alyson said.
�I am!� Kennedi said.
�No I am.� Siobhan stuck out her tongue. The girls bantered for awhile before the ads finished and the movie began. They grew quiet as Scrat hopped his way across the screen. Siobhan realized she felt like Scrat, kind of. She was hopping to a new beginning, but wanted something, the acorn, to hold her in her place.
THE END, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS STORY
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