Patrick Kane and Me
May 22nd 2006: High School Graduation
I woke up on the last day of school my senior year, a month after prom night. Tyler and I aren’t dating any more if you were wondering, he took me out a couple times a week but we decided on a mutual agreement that it wasn’t meant to be, even though I doubt that it was mutual. I was still in love with Pat and he still, didn’t notice me.
Lily ended up going out with Brad and they’ve been inseparable. I’m really happy for her, but honestly I would’ve rather it have been with some guy that I can trust not to break her heart into a million pieces. Brad on the other hand just worries me, he’s had the reputation of having the shortest relationships at our high school and it scares me just thinking about how long Lily will sit in her room for and cry, and it doesn’t help that she’s been into him for the longest time.
“Natalie, come on honey we’re taking pictures next door!” Okay, this is it the day where my adult life begins. I said to myself. I walked down the stairs holding my graduation gown. It was white which made it difficult to find dresses to wear underneath but I ended up finding a basic white dress with think straps. I made my way down the stairs to find my mom standing there with her camera smiling from ear to ear, “You look beautiful honey.” I rolled my eyes, “Thanks mom can we go now?” She nodded her head as we headed next door.
Pictures were taken; Pat stood next to me in our blue and white graduation gowns his hand around my waist. Perfect moments being captured after every flash, picture taking was
never my favorite part of any event, but with him it was everything I’d ever hope for.
<3<3<3<3<3<3
Once we got there everyone got into position and we walked in and sat down. Because my last name is Vaughn and his is Kane we were nowhere near each other. I watched as he walked up and took his diploma from our principal and shook hands with everyone getting cheers from everyone in the crowd that recognized him. Later I would get mine and received less but enough cheers for myself, which included Patrick.
Pat ended up making a speech as the captain of the hockey team his senior year made it short and sweet talking about goals, and careers, and our future. Knowing Pat as well as I do, he did pretty damn well for being a partier. But then I thought to myself You know, his mom probably wrote that. Yeah I’m probably right.
After our caps were thrown into the air and our tassels were switched more pictures were being taken. Girls started crying, guys said goodbye to each other remembering the good memories with handshakes they’d came up with during freshman year. Pat and I took more pictures outsides hugging each other.
“So I don’t know when I’ll be able to see you again.” I gave him a confused look, “I’m going to London, Ontario to play in the juniors, I leave in 2 weeks.” “Wait, so you didn’t tell me this until now?” He looked at his shoes peeking out from his blue gown, “I didn’t want to make you upset, I mean we’ve known each other since 4th grade.”I smiled, “Pat, we could never be apart, I’ll follow you for the rest of my life just so we can remain friends.” I hung out with Lily in a sea of white and blue that stretched on for awhile as the graduating class of 2006.
<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3
That night I went home upstairs into my room and thought about the future. The future can never be exactly planned the way you want it to be. Yes you can plan to go to college, but you never know when you’re going to college. I thought about Pat and me, our relationship, thinking about what I said at graduation. I’ll follow you for the rest of my life just so we can remain friends. It kept replaying in my head. Will I actually risk the rest of my future just for him?
Yeah I guess I would. I guess I could start college somewhere close to him in London. Maybe start out with a major in sports medicine to be even closer? That sounds good, that will work. Of course it will.
<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3
I watched Pat pack up his used car he bought a year ago with all of his hockey gear, his books, clothes, and a microwave for him to survive up there. He ended up giving me the last box to carry down to the car. But clumsy me, couldn’t even handle that. I tripped on the last step and the box fell open and a scrapbook fell open.
There were pictures of us from 4th grade with paint on our faces our arms around each others’ shoulders with teeth missing in the front. We were both wearing matching shirts that read Hockey is For Everyone on them. I remember that day, it was for a fundraiser that Pat’s hockey coach had signed him up for and I ended up wanting to join him to be with him. All we had to do was make the sign but our project turned out to be a huge mess for us to clean up afterwards.
I sat down on the stairs looking at the other pictures. I found one from graduation, from parties we’d go to, Homecoming, and Prom all of them included Pat and me standing next to each other. Tears rolled down my cheeks thinking of the memories we shared together growing up neighbors. Each picture every memory that I remember so vividly it’s like it happened yesterday. 9 years we’d been together and I wasn’t ready to give that up.
“Nat! I’m leaving!” He called as he saw me on the stairs looking at the book. He came and sat down next to me putting his arm around me as I flipped through each page. “This was the scrapbook I made you for your birthday after homecoming.” He laughed, “Yep you came up to me with a book behind your back and forced it at me. And then five minutes later you took it back to add more pictures after graduation.” I smiled, this was 9 years that I’d spent with him, almost a decade. I closed the book and looked at the cover. In big bold letters it read Nat and Pat with hearts and stars, hockey sticks and gymnastics.
“I can’t believe your leaving me.” I said with a sniffle. “I’m not leaving forever, you know maybe you could come visit me up there come to a few of my games just like you used to.” I decided once he said that I couldn’t take it any longer. “Pat what would you say if I said I wanted to do what I told you I would at graduation. You know, follow you wherever you go.” He laughed, “Well I’d say you were a crazy stalker.” I playfully punched him in the arm, “No I’m serious. Just wait, I’ll be up there in London just faster than you can say World Juniors.
Lily ended up going out with Brad and they’ve been inseparable. I’m really happy for her, but honestly I would’ve rather it have been with some guy that I can trust not to break her heart into a million pieces. Brad on the other hand just worries me, he’s had the reputation of having the shortest relationships at our high school and it scares me just thinking about how long Lily will sit in her room for and cry, and it doesn’t help that she’s been into him for the longest time.
“Natalie, come on honey we’re taking pictures next door!” Okay, this is it the day where my adult life begins. I said to myself. I walked down the stairs holding my graduation gown. It was white which made it difficult to find dresses to wear underneath but I ended up finding a basic white dress with think straps. I made my way down the stairs to find my mom standing there with her camera smiling from ear to ear, “You look beautiful honey.” I rolled my eyes, “Thanks mom can we go now?” She nodded her head as we headed next door.
Pictures were taken; Pat stood next to me in our blue and white graduation gowns his hand around my waist. Perfect moments being captured after every flash, picture taking was
never my favorite part of any event, but with him it was everything I’d ever hope for.
<3<3<3<3<3<3
Once we got there everyone got into position and we walked in and sat down. Because my last name is Vaughn and his is Kane we were nowhere near each other. I watched as he walked up and took his diploma from our principal and shook hands with everyone getting cheers from everyone in the crowd that recognized him. Later I would get mine and received less but enough cheers for myself, which included Patrick.
Pat ended up making a speech as the captain of the hockey team his senior year made it short and sweet talking about goals, and careers, and our future. Knowing Pat as well as I do, he did pretty damn well for being a partier. But then I thought to myself You know, his mom probably wrote that. Yeah I’m probably right.
After our caps were thrown into the air and our tassels were switched more pictures were being taken. Girls started crying, guys said goodbye to each other remembering the good memories with handshakes they’d came up with during freshman year. Pat and I took more pictures outsides hugging each other.
“So I don’t know when I’ll be able to see you again.” I gave him a confused look, “I’m going to London, Ontario to play in the juniors, I leave in 2 weeks.” “Wait, so you didn’t tell me this until now?” He looked at his shoes peeking out from his blue gown, “I didn’t want to make you upset, I mean we’ve known each other since 4th grade.”I smiled, “Pat, we could never be apart, I’ll follow you for the rest of my life just so we can remain friends.” I hung out with Lily in a sea of white and blue that stretched on for awhile as the graduating class of 2006.
<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3
That night I went home upstairs into my room and thought about the future. The future can never be exactly planned the way you want it to be. Yes you can plan to go to college, but you never know when you’re going to college. I thought about Pat and me, our relationship, thinking about what I said at graduation. I’ll follow you for the rest of my life just so we can remain friends. It kept replaying in my head. Will I actually risk the rest of my future just for him?
Yeah I guess I would. I guess I could start college somewhere close to him in London. Maybe start out with a major in sports medicine to be even closer? That sounds good, that will work. Of course it will.
<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3
I watched Pat pack up his used car he bought a year ago with all of his hockey gear, his books, clothes, and a microwave for him to survive up there. He ended up giving me the last box to carry down to the car. But clumsy me, couldn’t even handle that. I tripped on the last step and the box fell open and a scrapbook fell open.
There were pictures of us from 4th grade with paint on our faces our arms around each others’ shoulders with teeth missing in the front. We were both wearing matching shirts that read Hockey is For Everyone on them. I remember that day, it was for a fundraiser that Pat’s hockey coach had signed him up for and I ended up wanting to join him to be with him. All we had to do was make the sign but our project turned out to be a huge mess for us to clean up afterwards.
I sat down on the stairs looking at the other pictures. I found one from graduation, from parties we’d go to, Homecoming, and Prom all of them included Pat and me standing next to each other. Tears rolled down my cheeks thinking of the memories we shared together growing up neighbors. Each picture every memory that I remember so vividly it’s like it happened yesterday. 9 years we’d been together and I wasn’t ready to give that up.
“Nat! I’m leaving!” He called as he saw me on the stairs looking at the book. He came and sat down next to me putting his arm around me as I flipped through each page. “This was the scrapbook I made you for your birthday after homecoming.” He laughed, “Yep you came up to me with a book behind your back and forced it at me. And then five minutes later you took it back to add more pictures after graduation.” I smiled, this was 9 years that I’d spent with him, almost a decade. I closed the book and looked at the cover. In big bold letters it read Nat and Pat with hearts and stars, hockey sticks and gymnastics.
“I can’t believe your leaving me.” I said with a sniffle. “I’m not leaving forever, you know maybe you could come visit me up there come to a few of my games just like you used to.” I decided once he said that I couldn’t take it any longer. “Pat what would you say if I said I wanted to do what I told you I would at graduation. You know, follow you wherever you go.” He laughed, “Well I’d say you were a crazy stalker.” I playfully punched him in the arm, “No I’m serious. Just wait, I’ll be up there in London just faster than you can say World Juniors.
