Not Just Another Cliché

I wake up to quiet sounds of chatter coming from a distance.

I rub my eyes and then sit up with my eyes half closed.

I look at Casey who's asleep as well as Seth Holly Jamie and Katie. A couple of people are chatting in the distance.

I look around for my phone and when I find it, I check the time. 10:34.

I let out a sigh and then put my hand on Caseys cheek and then remove it and start shaking him gently to wake him up.

His eyes open up gradually and then when he sees me, he jumps up.

"What's wrong?" He asks worriedly.

"Nothing babe. Just its 10:34. We should get ready." I say.

"Oh yeah definitely. I'm just going bathroom. Two seconds."

I stand up and walk over to my bag and when I walk back, I see Holly opening her eyes and she asks me what time it is.

"10:35."

She sighs and then sits up.

"Can I've a brush?" She asks and I dig in my bag and then hand it to her.

She pulls her bun out and starts brushing it then stands up and gets her bag too.

More people are awake now.

Casey comes back and rubs his hand down my arm to highlight this return.

"We have to be out by 11:30 because the school starts then." I explain.

"Why are the others in so late?" Holly questions.

"I'm not sure actually. It might be because of us. The Senior lock in." I shrug not knowing the actual answer.

"I better wake Seth up then. He's a heavy sleeper." Holly says turning around and shaking her boyfriend.

"Seth." No answer.

"Seth baby." Nope.

"Seth." She yells. Nah.

She looks back at us and we nod.

"1,2,3." We all say together.

"Seth." We all yell gathering attention from all the people who were awake and also the freshly woken people but the good news is that Seth is up.

"Thanks guys, I was wondering how we would get everyone up." Melissa chuckles walking in.

By now everyone is awake and everyone is walking around the gym getting their backpacks.

"Principal Jenkins called us a few minutes ago saying at the assembly he forgot to mention who the valedictorian is and the speech must be run past him before it goes to any graduation next week so here it is." Melissa begins.

"Your valedictorian of class 2016 is, Emily Hunter." I freeze.

All eyes turn to me and I sit there in shock.

The gym is silent and then someone from the corner starts clapping and everyone joins in.

"Good job Em." Casey says kissing me on the cheek.

"Way to go Em." Holly and Seth say.

Me? Valedictorian?

********
We all trail out of the car and into the Oceanhill Diner taking a seat at one of the booths with Me, Casey and Jamie on one side and Seth, Holly and Katie on the opposite sides looking at the menu.

After a while of considering our options for breakfast, the waitress arrives and I remember her from the time me and Casey came in here after our race.

You know, the one with the big butt that Casey paid no attention to? Was Marissa her name?

"Hi guys I'm Marissa and I'll be your waitress for today. What would you like for a drink?" She smiles with her long blonde hair tied away from her face highlighting her gorgeous features.

Big blue eyes, long eyelashes and a shining smile. She was perfect.

I feel Casey taking my hand under the table and squeezing it. He knows exactly what I was thinking.

"I'll have coffee." Holly orders with a smile.

"Coffee as well please." Seth Katie Jamie and Casey order.

"And yourself?" Marissa asks knocking me out of my own thought bubble.

"Em?" Casey questions.

"Oh um coffee as well please." I smile.

We order our breakfast and then she collects the menus and disappears.

"So let's ignore the big elephant in the room, shall we?" I smirk looking between Katie and Jamie.

They look at each other and I see Katie blushing and looking down at the ground.

"What do you mean?" Jamie asks acting all oblivious.

"Oh don't start all that now." Holly jokes sitting back in her seat.

"We all know you are playing footsies under the table and your little game of tonsil tennis last night. Don't think it's all going unnoticed." I smirk.

"Okay fine. We found out we are both going to NYU after graduation and we got a little excited." Jamie explains.

I jump up in my seat and look between them.

"You guys are going New York?" I question.

"Yeah. Are you?" Katie asks.

"Um yeah, I got accepted to Julliard."

"Julliard? Congratulations Em." Jamie smiles.

"Thanks."

"At least we can keep in touch." He shrugs and I nod and smile.

"I'd really like that."

"How about you guys. Where are you going?" Katie asks Seth and Holly.

"We are going Illinois State." Holly says putting her hand over Seths.

"Both of you?" Katie question.

Seth turns to Holly and smiles.

"Both of us." He answers and I smile at them and their love and their luckiness.

"And Casey?"

"I had plans of going to Louisville but that went out the window when I was told I'd never walk again." Case explains.

"But you're fine now." Katie points out.

"Scholarships have already been sent out."

"Is there any chance you'll get in?" Seth questions.

"I've the same chance as anybody else."

"But they can't take the chance of having someone who just gained strength in his legs. It's risky." I explain.

"So if you get in Casey, you'll be 12 hours away from each other." Katie says and my stomach drops.

"Yeah, but we can do it." Casey says squeezing my hand making me look at him and peck him on the lips just as Marissa comes back with the food.

"Here y'all go." She says handing us our dishes.

"I knew you two were a thing." Marissa adds with a smirk.

"Only recently." I add.

"I was buying that whole best friend act anyway. You two are meant for each other." She says and walks off.

"The waitress doesn't lie." Holly says and I put my head into Caseys neck smiling.

We quickly finish our breakfast and then I suggest paying of course everyone argued but I just walked up to the counter anyway.

I sit down at the counter and hand Marissa the money.

I'm in my own little world when I hear Marissa talking.

"I meant what I said back there." She says and I look at her with confusion.

"About you and your boyfriend being perfect for each other." She says handing me the change.

"Yeah well, now I'm not so sure." I breath under my breath.

"What do you mean?"

"We are graduating soon and we are both going to different colleges and I don't know if we can do long distance."

She puts her elbow on the table and her chin in her hand.

"Where are the unis?" Marissa questions.

"New York and Louisville."

"I believe in you guys. I remember last time you were here. He asked you for something and even though you liked him and had feelings for him, you said no not caring about the consequences. You're a strong individual and couple. You can get through this. I know you can. And I'm always right."

"That's easy for you to say. You're gorgeous. Nobody would ever break up with you."

"And you're not? You are gorgeous. With tanned skin, big brown eyes and dark hair and clearly smart and talented to get into Julliard. Besides, this didn't just happen. I had braces, contacts, glasses, tanning lotion and just pretty good shampoo. You are a natural beauty. And the way he looks at you, he won't break up with you. He's in it for the win."

She stands away from the counter and walks away leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I gather myself and meet the guys at the door then drive home with the rest.

We make it to our houses and I walk in Caseys with him.

"Emily, I was looking up other football colleges in New York and there's Columbia Univeristy. It's in Manhattan. It's better than Louisville though right?" Casey says before opening the front door.

"No Casey. Kentucky is your dream school and nobody, not even me, should stop you from reaching that dream. If you get into Kentucky, we will see each other every second weekend, every holiday and FaceTime every day." I sigh taking his hands in mine and guiding him to the porch steps where we sit down.

"We have been through so many obstacles. Amber, our friendship, Amber, our relationship, Amber, you're accident, Amber and now this. But compared to everything else, including Amber, this is nothing. We can beat it and in 4 years, we can say we survived long distance. Give me one couple that can say that. Just believe." I whisper.

Casey brings his lips to mine and then we stand up and walk inside.

"I'm home." Caseys yells throwing our bags inside the door.

We walk further into the house and soon enough, Caseys mom meets us in the hall holding a piece of paper.

"What's that?" Casey questions.

"A letter from Kentucky." Zoey says fighting off her grin.

Casey snatches it from her hands and stares at it.

"No matter what's inside, we are going to be okay." I say taking his hand in mine by his side.

He breaks our hands to open the envelope and I take a deep breath.

He begins reading down and then a smile appears on his face making me and Zoey smile too.

"I got in." He says and I jump into his arms and wrap my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck.

"I love you Em." He says kissing my jawline.

"I love you too Casey."

I jump down and take the letter off Casey and begin reading it.

"Dear Mr St Cloud, I am thrilled to inform you that you have been accepted into Kentucky State University by scholarship.

Despite your football accident, we have heard of your recovery and are willing to take a chance considering your strength but we have no doubt you will be in perfect shape for the start of the season. Your package will be sent out tomorrow.

Yours sincerely,
Dean of Admissions,
Thomas Benson." I call out.

"Congratulations Casey baby." Zoey says giving him a hug.

"I should call dad." He says taking his phone out and walking into his kitchen to call Andrew.

We look at him and smile then Zoey turns her attention to me.

"You're a great girlfriend Emily. I heard what you said to him outside. You put his feelings ahead of yours. You are very selfless and even when he was in the chair, you stood by him and didn't even have to think about it. You guys will make it." Zoey says rubbing her arm down my arm making me smile.

"Thank you. It never even crossed my mind to leave him. I wouldn't think of it." I smile.

She brings me in for a hug and sighs.

"I'm so happy you guys are together. You have no idea how frustrated me and Rachel we're seeing Casey with Ashley."

"Amber." I correct.

"Hate her." Zoey says and I laugh.

"I'm not a fan either."

********
Filler.
Senior camp next yay!
Who do you ship in NJAC?
Cemily (Casey and Emily)
Evaya (Evan and Maya)
Solly  (Seth and Holly)
Jatie (Jamie and Katie)
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-Madison🤘🏻🤘🏻