“you really should go..” you mumbled, pressing a soft kiss to the top of natalie’s head as you spoke. she wriggled in your arms, groaning.

“nooo..” nat whined. “you sound just like jackie.”

well, maybe jackie was right.. natalie was skipping her graduation just to be with you. years of shit in school, fucking behind the bleachers and smoking in the locker rooms and getting shitfaced and screamed at and-

you. you were her peace. a year older than her, so, already in college. with you, natalie didn’t have to worry about anything. the school drama, the soccer pressure.. she just needed to feel herself in your arms.

sure, missing graduation wasn’t ideal.. but her father was dead and her mother was too exhausted and ill to give a shit.

“just- shh.” natalie mumbled, nuzzling into your neck and looking up at you, pressing a soft kiss to your jaw with a little smile.