Work Text:
“Caitlyn Kiramman!”
Caitlyn walks across the stage, counting the steps it takes to reach the dean. With a small smile, she accepts the diploma from the older lady, overly conscious of her sweaty hands and nervous demeanor. She had to admit she was nervous. So nervous. But she did it, and she could walk off that stage with one of her life goals checked off.
She had dreamed of graduating her whole life; being valedictorian, the cheers as she gives her speech, the family gathering, the friend gathering... Speaking of friends, Vi wasn’t there. Caitlyn and Vi had planned for this moment for years, so where was Vi?
Vi was supposed to be the salutatorian, just second to Caitlyn. Despite her quick wit and excellence in math and science, her dyslexia prevented her from getting an A in English in junior year, holding her back from the valedictorian title. It was a good thing Vi never cared about titles.
First’s the worst, second’s the best, third’s the nerd, Vi would say.
Caitlyn snaps back to reality as the feedback from the mic blares into the crowd. She was finally graduating, but she was doing it alone.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
“Now, our valedictorian Caitlyn Kiramman is to give a speech to the graduating class of 2024!”
The speech was one of the minor goals her and Vi had planned within the graduation goal. She stands up from her spot in the crowd and apologizes to every single person she passes, getting pitiful looks from each of them.
This is supposed to be a good day, so why was everybody looking at her like that?
As the principal introduces her, Caitlyn graciously accepts yet another handshake from the man. Her chest tightens, and her notecards almost fall out of her hands from the grip she’s got on them. It’s only fair for her to be nervous at this point because there’s 500 people out there that are going to be hanging on her every words.
She steps up, putting her notecards on the podium. Deep breath in, deep breath out.
“Vi is my best friend, and she has been for seven years.”
She looks over at the salutatorian seat, which is still empty. The stole she was supposed to wear was sitting there in pristine condition. Why didn’t she show up?
“But she’s not here today, and I think we all know why. Um, she, she… passed away. In a car accident. She was driving down on Ninth, and one of our fellow students, who is still here today, hit her car with their car. Um. I’m probably not supposed to say that.”
She pauses again, taking a deep breath and looking down at her notecards.
“But nonetheless, she was my best friend, and her life ended too soon. I’ll never get to see her graduate, I’ll never get to see her fall in love, I’ll never get to see her in college, and I’ll never get to see her… pretty much ever again.”
A few tears slip from her eyes, and she takes a moment to grab a tissue from the principal. She dabs at her eyes knowing she could break down right here, but she has to finish this speech.
“I want to tell you a tale of friendship, love, and loss, so that’s exactly what I’m going to do. Here’s the time we planned this very moment at graduation.”
A slideshow starts to play, and Caitlyn tears up and spills her guts.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
Caitlyn pushes a pushpin into the cork board, making sure everything is perfect and pristine. She’d have to see this vision board for the rest of the year, so she had to do it right the first time. However, Vi, being the person she is, had a different idea.
“Cait, do you think my drawing looks good?” Vi asked, sliding over the cork board to her with a devious smile on her face.
“Violet! Why would you draw directly on the board? That’s gonna stay there forever, you know!” Caitlyn gasped, tracing the outline of the drawing like it would rub off, which it didn’t.
“But is it good?”
“Yes, but that’s not the point. You’re supposed to pin stuff on here, not draw on it.” Caitlyn’s voice softens as the sentence comes out of her mouth. She could never be upset with Vi.
Caitlyn looks up at Vi, with a smile on her face. “Come here, loser.”
She tackles Vi to the carpeted floor, making sure she doesn’t hit her head. A tickle fight ensues, Caitlyn gently tickling Vi’s neck and Vi tickling Caitlyn’s arms. Between the hysterical laughter and flailing arms and kicks, they’re having fun. The taller girl then presses a kiss to the shorter one’s cheek. That was Caitlyn and Vi’s secret code for a tie.
They both lay on the floor, sighing and regaining their breath. They look at each other, then are sent into yet another fit of laughter. Then, Vi sighs, holding Caitlyn close to her. “If we’re not married by 30, would you like to marry me?”
“Wasn’t that the plan back in… 5th grade? I thought that plan still stood.” Caitlyn replied, tracing Vi’s cheekbone with her index finger. “Let’s get through senior year and graduation first.”
“I mean, that was the plan. Just making sure, I guess. But we have other plans that are far more urgent!” Vi says dramatically, like how a kid voices a knight in shining armor.
“Like what?”
“Well, you’re on track to be valedictorian like the nerd you are, so how about that? Are you excited, Caity?” Vi teased, tapping Caitlyn’s nose with a grin.
God, Vi was so endearing. She had this way of making everyone feel like they were the center of attention. She was a true ray of sunshine and a bleeding heart, helping everyone who needed it. Caitlyn was so lucky to be her best friend.
“I am excited, but you should be too! We’re going to sit next to each other at graduation!” Caitlyn shouted with excitement, joy radiating from her entire being.
She sits up and puts the cork board on her criss-crossed lap, pointing out all the things to Vi. She rambles on and on about how thrilled she is for this last year of high school, and Vi simply looks at her like she holds the world in her hands.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
“That’s one of the last times we hung out together.” Caitlyn’s voice breaks as she puts down her last notecard.
“I miss her every day, and I can only hope she’s watching me from down there.” She cracks a joke, getting mostly genuine laughter from the crowd.
“Kidding. She was an angel to everyone she met, and her memory will never truly die. She will never truly die in my heart. At some point during this speech, I realized I loved her more than any person on this planet, but I will never get to say that to her.”
She takes a breath, looking at the last notecard. The only sentence on it is a scribbled “Vi was here!!!!!!!!!!!!”
“Goddamnit, Vi,” she mutters into the microphone, showing it to the crowd who squints to see it. “She stole my last notecard.”
“I just want to end this on a cautionary note. Vi wouldn’t have wanted me to say this in my speech, but she knows I do everything she doesn’t want. So here it is.”
Another deep breath. Then, a determined look on her face.
“Drunk driving as a teenager is not just one crime, it’s two. Hitting another car and driving off is a third crime. A series of ill-informed and nonsensical events took my best friend’s life away, and I want to say so many horrible things to the person who hit her car that day. That person is here today. Everyone knows who it is. Out on bail, by the way. I can only hope you’re eighteen and tried as an adult, because you took so many lives with you. Vi’s, mine, her family’s, her friend’s.”
One more breath, and the conclusion. Let’s go, Caitlyn.
“I loved Vi, and there will never be a day that I don’t think about us fucking around with cork boards, drawing silly things, and having tickle fights. Those are the memories I cherish most, but I will never lose them like I lost her. Thank you.”
Caitlyn exits the stage, and knows Vi was right by her side in spirit, because who would dare say something so bold in front of so many people?
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
She drives out to the cemetery, a silent car ride to what will be the first time she visits Vi’s grave.
She parks, turns off the car, and gets out of the car. She goes over to the passenger side and opens the door, grabbing all the bouquets and flowers she received from the ceremony. Vi deserved them. She did.
She makes the walk to Vi’s grave, searching for her name in the sea of headstones. She finds it, and sits down. She kisses two fingers, then presses them to the cold stone of Vi’s grave. She puts down the flowers, slowly lining them up around her.
“For you. You should’ve given a super awesome speech at graduation, but here we are. I love you, bye.”