Yep yep, the IB diploma thingy.
As for the zone, after being rejected, it stays on your mind because it's a bit of a blow. So on thinking about it, you realise "maybe I was going ahead way too fast without thinking."
Turns out I'm not too sure if I ever really wanted to grow old with this girl. Rather, I think I wanted to grow UP with her, y'know? not someone you wish to spend the rest of forever with, but someone you wish you knew forever. Meh, it's either that or this is a massive case of "the grapes are sour"