HE LOVED ME LAST

Chapter 61

Alice’s POV*

Graduation.

The one day we’d all been waiting for. The day that meant freedom, the end of routines, uniforms, endless tests—and, in some ways, the end of pretending.

The school hall was dressed in gold and navy. Banners hung proudly: *“Class of the Year. A New Beginning.”*

Everyone buzzed with energy. Families filled the seats, phones in hand, flowers ready. Students lined up in their caps and gowns, grinning for photos, hugging like they hadn't just spent six years together arguing in the hallways.

I stood quietly near the edge of the crowd.

Noah waved at me from a few rows away and gestured toward an empty seat beside him. I smiled politely, shook my head. I wasn’t ready to talk yet—not even to him.

Because last night wouldn’t leave my mind.

Lucas.

On that stage beside me.

How he didn’t look at me once.

How he smiled only once, and not for me.

I thought pushing him away would protect me. That staying distant would make it easier to forget. But it didn’t.

It just made it worse.

Because now, every little glance he used to throw my way… was gone. And I missed it more than I ever thought I would.

“Students, take your seats, please!” a teacher called out.

I shuffled into the row with the rest of my classmates. My heart was a mess of nerves—about the future, about goodbyes… and about one boy who sat two rows behind me, silent and unreadable.

As the ceremony began, I clapped with everyone else. Listened to speeches. Took my certificate. Smiled at the camera.

But every moment felt incomplete.

Because Lucas didn’t say a word.

He didn’t look for me.

And I was beginning to wonder…

Was he really gone this time?

The ceremony ended in a blur of applause and camera flashes.

Everyone stood, tossing caps in the air. There were cheers, group hugs, teary-eyed teachers, and proud parents snapping endless photos.

I tried to blend into the chaos.

But I felt his presence before I saw him.

Lucas.

I turned slowly. He was walking toward me—no blazer, tie loosened, cap tucked under his arm. His expression was serious. Calm.

My heart picked up speed.

He stopped just in front of me, quiet for a second as if choosing the right words.

“Hey,” he said finally, voice low.

I nodded. “Hey.”

He looked around, then back at me. “So… we made it.”

“Yeah. Barely,” I teased softly, managing a small smile.

He smiled too—just a little.

Then his gaze dropped, and when he spoke again, his voice cracked just slightly. “I, um… I know things got weird between us. Complicated. And maybe I messed up a lot along the way.”

I didn’t speak. Just let him talk.

“I just wanted to say…” He met my eyes. “Thank you. For everything. The arguments. The competition. The library nights. Even the times you couldn’t stand me.”

I swallowed hard, blinking quickly. “Why are you talking like this is goodbye forever?”

He gave a soft laugh, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Because maybe it is. We’re heading different ways now. New places, new people…”

I looked down. “Yeah. Maybe.”

He stepped a little closer. “But before that happens, would you—” He hesitated, his voice gentler now. “Would you take a picture with me?”

I looked up, surprised.

His face was open. Honest. No sarcasm. No teasing.

Just *him.*

I nodded. “Yeah. I’d like that.”

We stood side by side as a student offered to snap the photo. Lucas leaned in a little, and for the first time in weeks, I let myself relax beside him.

The camera clicked.

And for a moment… it felt like maybe this wasn’t an ending after all.

Maybe, just maybe, it was something else.