Bryden manages to get decent scores on his finals. Not nearly as high as what his friends get, but not nearly as low as his midterms. As long as the scores factored into his overall GPA are enough to graduate, he is satisfied. 

At the right moment, after hours of speeches and the distribution of diplomas, every graduate pulls off their cap and throws it in the air. The flurry of caps flying up simultaneously make for a magnificent sight worthy of being captured by a camera. With the tossing of the caps and confetti falling from above, the commencement ceremony concludes. The graduates jump and laugh as they gather to take pictures. Bryden walks down the rows of seats and strikes up conversations with everyone, until someone’s strong hand grips onto his shoulder.

“Bryden! Come, we need to take some photos.” His mother, Petrova Stalling, pulls him along.

Bryden chuckles nervously. “Hi, Mom.”

His father, Ryan Stalling, pats him on the back with a grin. “Congratulations, son. With grades like that, I’m surprised they even allowed you to graduate.”

“Hey, my grades aren’t that bad,” Bryden insists, scowling.

“Come on, let’s take a picture together.” Petrova pulls out her phone and snaps a picture of the three of them together. “So should we head home now?”

“Let me talk to my friends first,” Bryden tells her, inching away.

“Ah, your friends…” She presses her lips together before sighing. “Do you have another girlfriend now?”

He waves his hands at her. “Oh, no no no! Well, not yet, at least.” He snickers, rubbing his palms together as a thought comes to him. “I’ll be back, Mom!” He hurries away, rushing across the expansive amphitheater.

“What do you think that boy’s up to?” Ryan asks his wife, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Petrova heaves a sigh. “Well, we’d know better than anyone else.”

Bryden pushes through the cluster of students. This is your chance, Bryden. You have to confess to her now, before she leaves. She didn’t leave yet, did she? I know that she wanted to move to Chicago, but she’d still have to stay in Oregon for at least a little while. Wow, I haven’t had a girlfriend for a while, huh. Who was the last girl I dated? Was it Nora? No way, that was months ago! Man, I’d better talk to Jessica soon. I need a girlfriend for the summer.

He catches sight of her talking with her father in Mandarin before she nods to him and heads in Bryden's direction. Her face is all smiles when she spots him, and she gives him a wave.

“Hey, Bryden!” she calls out, grinning.

“Hey, Jessica!” he waves back. He’s gotten better at restraining his stuttering and getting less flustered around her.

“So, we’re really done with college, huh,” Jessica remarks, taking in the sight of the amphitheater which held their commencement ceremony. “Unless we’re continuing with grad school, which I’m not. Are you?”

“No, I’m not,” Bryden confirms. He takes in a deep breath, hesitating. “Uh, Jessica. Before we, uh, leave, I have something… to tell you.”

“Oh, what is it?” she asks. 

“I… uh…” He pauses. “The thing is… you’re moving to Chicago, right?”

Her eyes sparkle. “I am. Isn’t that awesome? Then we’d get to see each other often and meet up with the others to hang out.”

“Yeah, awesome! Ha, ha.” Bryden bites his lips, his cheeks heating up. “Alright, I won’t beat around the bush anymore. Listen, Jessica. I really do have something important to tell you.”

“Yeah?” She leans in a little closer to listen. “Then tell me.”

“I…” He wets his lips, swallowing. “I—”

“Jessica!” Nora grips her wrist, pulling her away with a grin on her face. “Come over here. Rory and I have something to discuss with you since you want to move to Chicago with us.”

“Oh, really?” Jessica says. “Alright, I’m coming!”

Bryden grumbles as he watches her leave with Nora. Why do either Rory or Nora always interrupt at the most critical moment? Are they still trying to keep me away from Jessica? Do they still hold a grudge against me? I thought they’d be over it by now.

“Ah, what rotten luck, Mr. Stalling,” the genie mutters beside him. 

Bryden turns to the genie and shrugs. “Well, if she’s moving to Chicago, I have plenty of time to confess. No big deal.”

The genie turns around to take in the sight of confetti scattered all over the floor and the students flooding the space. “Since it’s only polite for me to say this, congratulations on graduating from university.”

Bryden smirks. “And you’re not being sarcastic?”

“Well, even though you’re still lazy, arrogant, and irritating at times, you did indeed put an effort into changing your behavior. For that, I’m proud of you.”

Bryden blinks, the comment dumbfounding him for a second, but he then gives the genie a wide grin. “Aww, thanks, genie. I knew that you’d soften up to me one day. Even a grumpy old man like you would grow to love me just like everyone else does. Come on, give me a big hug.” He holds his arms out wide.

The genie snorts, stepping away as he shakes his head. “What nonsense. Now I regret giving you any type of praise.”