Chapter Text
True to Lincoln's word after valentines day time seemed to fly past. College applications sent off, final exams looming closer day by day, still with everyone counting down to them they still somehow managed to come too fast leaving even the brightest of them pulling out there hair and screaming into the abyss trying to remember everything they would need.
Classes slowly dwindled as they ticked of exams leaving every buzzing excitedly waiting for the last day of school. Murphy however wasn't all too bothered not one to get too sentimental about something like the end of school. At least that's what he thought until he was sitting in the last class.
Murphy figured he should probably be listening to Mrs Griffin considering it was the last ever class he would have in the school, but then he'd never listened before so why break his streak on the last day. Looking around the class it seemed to settle In that it really was the end, once the bell rung they would be off out of the doors to enjoy the rest of their lives. Waiting for their final grades, his eyes settled on each person, trying to think about what they would be, surprisingly enough there were people in the class he didn't know the names of, despite all the hours he'd spent in the room he hadn't even known all of their names.
There was of Bellamy, on the far left had corner, so different from when Murphy had first met him yet still a pain in the ass, Murphy guessed he'd probably become a history teacher, something nerdy like that, next to him a girl everyone called Fox. Murphy could imagine her as a vet. There was Octavia, Murphy had no clue what she'd be, but he knew whatever it was it would be bad ass, she'd find a way to be the best. Monty, well Monty would be Miller's husband, Murphy's genius brother In law. Murphy wasn't sure what he'd do, something with computers, he knew he wanted to do computer science in college. Jasper..Jasper could just as easily find himself dead in a ditch as he could do something great. Clarke was set to be great no matter what she did, but she'd probably become a doctor, or maybe an artist.
Murphy could picture Wells in the police, working underneath David and probably fighting hard to keep kids like Murphy out of trouble.
Murphy's eyes settled on Miller, trying to think of what his brother would be. Apart from married to Monty, he could picture him following David's lead and working for the police, or perhaps social services, he'd always been good at sorting out Murphy's shit, Murphy didn't doubt he could do the same for other kids, although there was a good chance he'd just end up adopting hundreds of children because he didn't want to leave them alone in the foster homes.
Murphy tried to think of what he'd be but came up blank, he never really expected himself to even make it this far, to be about to graduate (if he got the grades.)
“Mr Murphy.” Mrs Griffins voice cut into Murphy's mind, tearing him from his thoughts. Murphy realised the whole room was silent, unusually so, eyes flickering between him and Mrs Griffin.
One last time Murphy thought, pulling a smirk onto his face and looking at Mrs Griffin.
“Mitochondria is the powerhouse of a cell.” Murphy said, the silence hung in the air for a moment and then came a single clap from Mrs Griffin.
“Correct.” She said, smiling slightly as the words settled into Murphy's mind. It seemed to hit everyone else faster. Miller suddenly cheering far too loudly, throwing an arm around Murphy's shoulders. Then the whole class was cheering. Jasper pulling out confetti from god knows where and launching it over Murphy.
“Finally!” Bellamy shouted, meeting what seemed to be the whole class around Murphy's desk.
“It was his answer for like 5 years, it had to work at some point.” Octavia said, rolling her eyes despite the smile on her face. Even Wells was smiling, leaning back on his chair and looking over to Murphy with an amused glint in his eye.
“Settle down.” Mrs Griffin said after a few moment's, Murphy's class mates finding their seats again and turning to the teacher. “Now, we only have a few minutes left so I just wanted to say good luck in your lives and I wish you all the best.”
“Even Murphy?” Monty asked making the class snigger.
“Even Murphy.” She agreed.
“You looking forward to next year? When we're all finally gone?” Octavia said.
“This is my last day actually. I'm going to go back to--”
“YES” Murphy yelled. “TIME MILLER!”
“2.59pm” Miller said easily.
“I DID IT! I told you didn't I! I told you she'd quit before I went to college.”
“He means good luck in whatever you're going to do next.” Miller said calmly. Mrs Griffin just rolling her eyes, a moment later the bell was ringing, cutting through the classroom, leaving everyone silent.
“Go on then.” Mrs Griffin said, nodding to the door.
“We're free!” Octavia bellowed, the first up and out of the door, the rest of the class rushing after her.
*
Graduation was something Murphy would have rather missed. Standing in a robe glaring at the stage listening to Jaha drone on about god knows what made him ready to rip out his hair. There were very few things that kept him stuck in his chair. Especially when Wells got up to make a speech. One being that Murphy wasn't entirely sure he wouldn't trip over his gown on his race for freedom, another being, despite not caring about it himself he wanted to watch Miller walk across the stage. The other reason was David. The man had booked the day off work to come and watch them graduate. After everything David had done for him Murphy could at least stick around to walk across a stage.
Bellamy and Octavia were called all to quickly. Bellamy marched onto the stage with his head held high. Polite clapping from parents following him while Murphy and the others cheered obnoxiously loud. Octavia no different, a beaming smile on her face as she took her diploma and turned to face the crowd.
“WE DID IT BITCHES!” She roared, the classes erupting in cheering.
Monty was the next out of people Murphy cared about to walk onto the stage. His cheeks flushing as people cheered. Miller whooping loudly and wolf whistling. Next was Jasper, stumbling across the stage, dopey grin in place, goggles almost falling off his head as he gave an over dramatic bow to the crowd.
Before long the M's were reached. Murphy cheering the second 'Nathan Miller' slipped past Jaha's lips and thumping Miller on the back.
“See you on the other side.” Miller said with a wink before he was jogging up on stage, pausing only for a split second, long enough for David to snap a photo before he was rushing off again. A few more M's were called before Murphy finally heard his name.
Murphy strutted up onto the stage. Eyes flickering to the crowd noting David standing amongst the rows of people. Cheering loudly a camera in his hand. Murphy couldn't help the wide grin that stretched across his face. It only grew when he looked to the other side of the stage and he saw Miller and everyone cheering for him.
The rest of the ceremony went quickly, people flowing on and off the stage before they were all cheering, parents finally rushing forwards to find there children, friends dragging each other into hugs.
Miller was straight on his feet. Darting for Monty and tugging the boy in for a kiss. Murphy rolled his eyes despite the grin on his face.
“So do I get a kiss?” Bellamy drawled, one arm thrown over Octavia's shoulders.
“Not likely.” Murphy said. “Congratulations O.” Murphy continued, quickly pulling the girl away from her brother and wrapping her in a rare Murphy hug.
“I'm still surprised you actually graduated.” Octavia snarked, pulling away. “I mean, did you actually learn anything?”
“Well I learnt that-”
“If you say mitochondria is the powerhouse of a cell I will kill you.” Octavia said making Murphy pause.
“I learnt that your brother gives really good head.”
“Dude.” Bellamy growled.
“Gross.” Octavia groaned. “I'm going to find Lincoln.” and with that Octavia was disappearing into the crowd. Bellamy glaring at him.
“What?” Murphy asked innocently.
“You're a dick and I hate you.” Bellamy rumbled.
“Yeah, I hate you too.” Murphy said easily. Bellamy grinned before he was reaching out, grabbing the front of Murphy's robe, Murphy stumbling forwards as Bellamy tugged him, interrupted from his indignant squawk by Bellamy kissing him.
“Dude, lets go find dad.” Miller said, grabbing the back of Murphy's robe and tearing him away from Bellamy. David was easy to find, already standing watching with a smile as the two slipped through the crowd to get to him.
“I'm so proud of you both.” David said, hauling the boys in for a hug. Murphy rolled his eyes at Miller over David's shoulder. “And you only got arrested once, have to say I was expecting a lot worse.” David said, letting the two boys step back.
“Don't worry, I'm sure we'll be calling you to bail us out plenty of times during college.” Murphy said.
The next half hour of Murphy's life was spent being rounded up for photo's, Murphy would never admit that he was planning on putting some up in his dorm in the next year. It seemed to all pass in a blur, the photo's, being shuffled around parents and loved ones, getting dragged to a dinner with the whole group and their parents. The waiters had to put a frankly ridiculous amount of tables together to make it work. The congratulations and pats on the back flowed easily, misty eyed speeches were made by the proud adults while the teens rolled their eyes and pretend they weren't feeling the end of school like a strange hole in the chest.
It wasn't that they weren't happy to be free, they were, high school being over felt like a dream come true, but it also felt like being woken up by a bucket of ice cold water being thrown over your head. Coming up gasping and looking around confused as to where you were. Everything they'd known for 5 years was over. The butt plug incident was so far behind them it was almost laughable that Murphy still brought it up.
Murphy sat between Miller and Bellamy, he couldn't help his mind running back through the past years, picking out the memories, good and bad, couldn't help the flashing in his head of 'it's over' and the fear that joined that, because it was over. When something ends things change.
His eyes skimmed the people at the table, trying to figure out who'd still be there in a few months. Who he'd lose contact with when they all went off to college.
David and Miller would be there. Monty, definitely, Murphy was sure the two would end up together, Jasper most likely, unless him and Monty fell out he'd be around, although Murphy doubted he'd see him all that much, birthday's, the occasional meet up maybe. Octavia he'd maybe see, she was good friends with Monty and if he was seeing O then he'd see Lincoln and then there was Bellamy, who Murphy really hoped would stick around, preferably with him but college would probably get in the way. It did for most high school couples.
“You've never held in a sarcastic comment for this long.” Bellamy mumbled, breaking Murphy from his thoughts. “What are you thinking about?”
“Just how different things are going to be next year.” every year Murphy thought, he didn't mean to but he could see everything he'd built the past few years, the friendship's he'd made slipping away, pouring out like smoke through a window.
“You worried?” Murphy gave an unconvincing shrug, eyes burning into the plate in front of him. “Don't worry, I promise I won't prank you by leaving a butt plug in your dorm room. Also, I'm going to have a single if all goes as planned so you could get me back a lot worse as you could just claim anything that I leave in your room is Miller's.”
“Might be a bit hard to leave stuff in my dorm room if we're in different states.” Murphy grumbled
“Who says we're going to be in different states? We all applied to the same colleges.”
“We did?”
“We did. At least the rest of us did. Did you not?” Bellamy said quickly, eyes searching Murphy's face looking worried
“He copied my choices. Trust me, we're all staying local.” Miller piped up.
*
“But why do we have to open them together?” Murphy moaned.
“Because it's romantic.” Bellamy said easily.
“What's romantic about me not getting into college.”
“I'm sure you got in. Just open it.” Miller huffed.
"but-”
“Just open it John.” David sighed.
“You want me to open it for you?” Monty asked helpfully.
“No.” Murphy huffed. “okay. Okay. On three yeah?”
“On three.”
“Which letter are we opening on three?” Miller asked.
“Just all of them.” Bellamy sighed.
“Okay”
“Just do it already!” David groaned.
And so they did, Murphy quickly ripping through the envelopes, he could hear the other three doing the same. It was Monty who got there first, a loud yes and a fist pump. Murphy's eyes skimmed across the paper.
“Oh thank fuck.” Murphy moaned.
“College here we come!” Miller cheered.
“Bellamy?” Murphy asked, noting his silence. Bellamy smiled, bright and wide.
“Sorry I was just shocked you actually got in.”
“Dick.”
“Dick who's going to college with you. I got in, no surprise. But seriously, how did you get in?”
“with hard work.”
“What hard work?” Monty snorted.
“Alright alright. Lets not pick on him. But seriously John, did you cheat on your tests?”
“You all suck.” Murphy grumbled as Miller pulled him into a one armed hug.
“We did it bro. We got in and with our darling women by are side.”
“we are not women.” Bellamy snapped.
“Great, now the wife's angry.” Murphy sighed, Miller laughed, Pulling away and moving over to Monty, mumbling about getting in, checking the letter for himself then grinning and pulling Monty in for a congratulatory kiss. Murphy felt a wet kiss smack against his cheek, Bellamy's arms wrapping around his waist and pulling him back against his chest and nestling his face into Murphy's neck.
“I'm proud of you.”
“Don't get all sappy.”
“So did you cheat?” Bellamy whispered into Murphy's ear, Murphy rolled his eyes, a fond smile on his face as he jutted his elbow back to lightly hit Bellamy in the side.
“You're a dick and I hate you.” Murphy said
“Yeah, I hate you too.” Bellamy breathed.