Epilogue
Graduation
From hearing the phrase to love is to lose one”s mind all throughout my life, through different poetry and literature, I always assumed it to be true.
I figured if you found a love so passionate, and so real, there would come a time where you would believe that it is worth it to lose whatever it takes—even your mind—to gain the one you love.
The truth, however, is that you don’t always have to lose one thing to gain another.
I believe this more than ever before as I sit next to my girlfriend at our high school graduation.
The girl who was once my biggest enemy, my biggest rival, is now by my side as we wear ridiculous-looking caps and gowns. Both of us are cloaked in matching NHS stoles, the only difference in our gown accessories is the mass amount of chords Genevieve has draped over her shoulders. I don’t know where she got half of them, but that doesn’t stop the pride from overtaking me.
She’s worked so hard, and I’m happier than I’ve ever been getting to watch it all pay off for her.
“And now, welcoming our two Valedictorians to present to you their hard-earned speech, Genevieve Alderidge and Jameson Beaumont.” Headmaster Whiting says into the microphone up on the stage.
Genevieve and I stand as the applause takes over the stadium.
“I can’t believe he said my name first,” Genevieve whispers as we walk through the isle of people.
“He chose wisely,” I say, holding up her gown for her as we take the steps up to the stage to make sure I don’t step on the bottom of it.
“Are you talking first, or am I?” She asks quietly as we approach the microphone.
All I do is nod at her because she already knows the answer to her question. We’ve rehearsed the speech plenty of times; she’s letting the nerves get to her.
I knew from the moment Genevieve and I seriously started writing this speech that she would be the first and the last to speak, signifying her importance. I want her to be what people remember about this speech, not me.
She is the star of the show here.
“Hi, everyone.” Genevieve smiles into the mic. I feel giddy as I stand behind her, seeing her gorgeous face light up the screens across the stadium full of people. “My name is Genevieve Alderidge, and I am proud to be presenting my speech to you this evening as the first female Valedictorian at Fairwood Prep in twenty-seven years.”
The crowd cheers, but we can especially hear Winnie, Eloise, Logan, and Luke, who are all sitting in the second row, right behind our vacated seats.
“I’d also like to introduce my co-Valedictorian, Jameson Beaumont.” She smiles, waving me toward the mic. “We would like to start by thanking Fairwood Prep Academy for all the amazing experiences that have been brought our way, and the community of friends that feel like family that we were able to build during our time here.”
“As many of you may know, Genevieve and I didn”t quite get along when I first arrived from London at the beginning of the school year,” I say, my voice amplified for thousands of people to hear. “For most of the year, we competed with one another, and that was mainly because of the narrative that Fairwood Prep has been pushing for the past decades.”
Genevieve takes over. “In September, after spending my entire high school career believing I would be the Valedictorian and working impossibly hard to ensure my spot, I was introduced to Jameson. I was then told I would share the position.”
I’m shocked the mic hasn’t been cut yet, but that would be more embarrassing for the school than anything.
“Throughout most of the school year, I had the pleasure of being hated by Genevieve Alderidge,” I continue as I look at her and smile. “And rightfully so, because Fairwood Prep Academy has cheated her out of a title she deserves to represent on her own.” More cheering from the students erupts throughout the crowd.
“This school, one that claims to preach the importance of morals, has been put on a pedestal of immoral standings for as long as it”s existed,” Genevieve says. “Jameson got this position not merely because he deserves it, but also largely because he is a man.”
Parents” reactions vary: some are smiling at our fight for injustice, but most of the men are shaking their heads. However, both the Callaghan and Alderidge families are standing near the back of the stadium, gleaming with pride.
“I wouldn’t change a moment of what I was able to experience in Fairwood this year.” I take the position in front of the podium again. “But that does not mean I believe Genevieve’s success should have ever been discredited in order to showcase mine.”
“Never has a female valedictorian walked this stage unless they were accompanied by a man, and that needs to change. We cannot continue to disservice the further generations by allowing women to believe they are worth less than men,”Genevieve says strongly.
“Women are the future.” I’m going completely off-script now. “And Genevieve Alderidge deserves this position more than any other person in this class, or any class before this one. Her hard work and dedication should not be ignored anymore.”
Genevieve smiles, relishing in my compliments, but I’m not finished.
“Through all the trouble the two of us have gone through together making this speech, there has never been a second I believed anyone to be more deserving than Genevieve Rose Alderidge.” Clapping erupts in support throughout the giant room. “And in honor of that, and my overwhelming love for this girl, I am denouncing myself as Valedictorian.”
Genevieve’s head whips around; she’s already shaking her head at me. I take her hand in mine. “Genevieve Alderidge is one of a kind. We cannot continue to let young women like her be degraded by this patriarchal system, because next time this happens, there may not be anyone strong enough to stand for something greater than a stupid speech.”
“And for those who wonder why I would fight so hard for a speech just to speak out against it…” She pauses before continuing. “Please remember that protecting the women of the future is more important than defending the patriarchal system of the past.”
With that, I pull Genevieve with me off the stage, cutting the speech short, just like we planned.
“We won.” She grins as we reach the bottom of the steps, wrapping her arms around me in a hug. “We won the war.”
I secure my arms around her in a similar fashion. “We really did.” I smile, leading us back to our seats.
A little while later, Genevieve is one of the first to make her way across the stage and receive her diploma. My face lights up while I watch the pure, unfiltered happiness radiate off her as she’s awarded the Valedictorian stole. She watches me deny the same one minutes later.
If I were to have thought about this moment months ago when I was just arriving in Fairwood, I probably would have imagined myself to be a sore loser.
But I can’t even revel in the feelings of loss, because now that I have Genevieve, I know deep in my heart that we are both winners.
To love or to lose?There isn’t a question. I’m choosing love every time because Genevieve Alderidge is mine, which makes me the ultimate winner.
“I can’t believe we’re going to college,” Genevieve sighs as she leans back against me.
We’re sitting in lawn chairs surrounding the fire that burns on the Callaghan’s back patio. Genevieve is sitting in my lap while we watch the rest of our friends make poor attempts at roasting marshmallows.
“That isn’t for another few months,” I remind her, picking up a roasting stick. “Do you want one?” I ask, pulling a marshmallow out of the bag from the table in front of us.
“Yeah, I can make my own.” She takes the marshmallow from my hand, securing it onto her stick while I grab one for myself.
She leans back again once she has the handle of the stick stabilized against the table with her marshmallow over the fire. “I can’t believe you’re going back to London soon,” she groans.
She thinks I’m going home for a couple of weeks at the end of the summer, and then starting the semester at the University of Oxford.
“About that,” I start, grabbing her stick when it almost falls in the fire. “I’m not going to Oxford.”
She shakes her head, laughing like she doesn’t believe me. “What?”
“I’m not going to Oxford.” This is a secret I’ve been keeping from her since the beginning of the month. “I’m going to Columbia.”
“No.” She stands from where she’s still with me, managing to knock her stick over so her marshmallow is completely engulfed in the fire. “You’re going to Oxford.”
“I’m staying here, Genevieve.” Here being the states—with her.
“Jameson, I would have never asked you to do that,” she sighs, raking a hand down her face, “Oxford was your dream.”
“Columbia was always a contender,” I say in an attempt to ease her concerns. I know she would never want me to choose a university solely based on where she’s going. “Even more so when you decided on going there.”
She’s pacing in front of the chair I’m sitting in. “I want to tell you how happy I am that you’re going to the same college as me, but I can’t until I understand why.”
“Genevieve.” I grab her by the wrist, pulling her back down into the empty chair next to me, “I only ever dreamed of going to Oxford when I dreamt of going home.”
“You have to be one hundred percent sure that you’re not going solely because of me,” she says, grabbing my arms so I’m forced to turn toward her.
“I can see my future for the first time, one that involves more than school. I promise you that just because I’m altering my plans to align better with yours, doesn’t mean I’m giving up on my own aspirations.” My words sear deep through the both of us, and somehow no one else around the fire breaks from their own conversations to notice.
She finally lets out a lengthy sigh. “You’re going to Columbia.”
I nod, pulling her back over to my lap. “We’re going to Columbia.”
She smiles at the thought, probably imagining all that is still to come.“Wait,” she says, holding up a hand. “Who else knows?”
“You’re the first,” I tell her.
“Everyone,” Genevieve says, grabbing the attention of our friends. “Jameson’s going to Columbia!” Everyone gasps, already standing.
“What?” Logan laughs, already bounding toward us. “You’re going to be in New York?”
I nod as Genevieve and I both stand.
It’s ironic how we all ended up somewhat together. Genevieve and I are going to Columbia, Logan, Luke, and Winnifred are going to NYU, and Eloise decided on Yale. Out of all the schools in the entire country, we all chose ones within two hours of each other.
It takes everyone quite a while to settle from that fact, but once we’re all back inside is when it really hits.
“We’re never going to be in high school again,” Winnifred sighs into the couch.
Genevieve sits on the ottoman in the center of the room. “I’m glad it’s over.”
“Ready to be in New York City with me?” I ask teasingly.
She kicks me in the shin from where I’m sitting across from her on the couch. “I hope we don’t have a single class together,” she states.
“We both know that’s far from the truth,” I reply, causing her to glare at me.
“You’re right,” she amends, making my brows pinch together, confused, “If we have classes together, I will relish the fact that I’m still better than you after every assignment.”
I grab her ankle, yanking her until she almost falls all the way off the ottoman. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
She hums like she’s debating the statement. “Remember that calculus test? The one you thought you did so much better than me?”
Her question is rhetorical because she knows I know exactly what test she’s talking about.I gloated before we even got our scores back, and she ended up acing it while I got a measly eighty-five percent.
“You can admit it, you’re just excited to have someone to compete against in University.” I smirk.
She shrugs. “I never denied that.”
“I won’t deny the fact, either.” Part of the reason I chose Columbia in the first place was because I knew of the competition that would be there; it helps that the competition is my girlfriend.
“Remember when you came up with the analogy of the metaphorical heart?” She asks, standing from the ottoman and joining me on the larger sectional.
“Of course.” I pull her closer. “I remember everything.”
“How does yours feel right now?” She asks, resting her hand on my chest—right where my heart lies.
“In my head, you are my biggest competitor,” I tell her honestly. “But in my heart?” My lips press to her temple. “You’re my greatest love.”
A rivalry that turned into true, unyielding love; there was nothing more I could ask for.
I am prepared for Genevieve and I to last forever—no matter where life takes us, no matter what competitions we are forced to face. Because now, we’ll face them together.
Whether we win or lose, it doesn’t matter, because the thing about our love?
It always wins.