If you haven't read my first story, you may want to check it out! Either way is fine, I hope that you enjoy the sequel to We're All In This Together :)
Chapter One: Graduations and Reunions
It's hard to believe that, I am at my college graduation. It feels like just yesterday, I was walking across the stage to receive my high school diploma, and now I have a college degree. The past four years have flown by, it is hard to believe that today I am graduating from Stanford. It is so exciting, and the best part is I made it into medical school. I was concerned that I wouldn't make it. Medical school is so hard to get into. I am so excited for what is ahead! I am sitting in the seats beside those that I entered my freshmen year at Stanford with. Some of them, I became close friends with, while others, well let's just say we never even got the chance to form a relationship. It is hard to though, especially with someone who isn't in your major. Anyhow, I will be so happy when I get my diploma, because it then means I am done, but I still have long, long, long road ahead of me, with medical school on my horizon. It is so exciting, yet scary, at the same time. After a few minutes the commencement ceremony begins. I am thankful that while I was in the top of my class, I wasn't number one. This took all of the pressure off, and made me feel less stressed out then I was four years ago when I graduated from high school. I feel more relaxed right now, and that is such a relief. The ceremony is so formal and long. I am glad when I am called to walk across the stage and receive my diploma. Then it seems to go by a little bit faster.
Once the ceremony is over, I look around the auditorium for my family, at first I don't see them anywhere, but then I spot Chris. He comes over to me with a huge smile on his face. He then gives me a hug.
"Congrats, Stanford graduate." He says.
"Thanks." I say. "I still feel bad that I missed your graduation, but I had finals that week."
"It's alright, no sweat, and besides it was really boring anyhow." He says. "You didn't miss much."
"Ok." I say. "I'm glad that you were able to come."
"Me too." He says. "It was fun. Especially since your little sister had the hardest time sitting still."
"That's Brie for you." I say.
"She's a sweet heart, but I still don't know who she takes after." He says. "She's so hyper."
"Well, she's also four." I say.
"True." He says. "I'm so proud of you."
"Thank you." I say. "I'm proud of you too."
"Guess what, I found a job." He says.
"Already?" I ask.
"Yeah, you know how I changed my mind and decided to major in English." He says. "Well, the English teacher at East High just retired, and my dad told me about the open position so I applied and got the job!"
"That's awesome." I say.
"And not only that, I also was asked to coach basketball." He says.
"That is awesome." I say.
"Right now, I would just be an assistant coach." He says.
"So, that is still great." I say.
"And I like the fact that you are attending a medical school thirty minutes from East High." He says.
"I know that you do." I say. "I didn't want to be without you for any longer."
"You have no idea how much I missed you." He says.
"I missed you more." I say. Brie then runs over to me.
"Sissy." She says.
"Hey, cutie." I say. I then pick her up. "I missed you so much, while I was at school."
"Me too." She says.
"But, we have all summer to be with each other, and we will have so much fun." I say.
"What about me?" Chris asks.
"You'll have to get with my secretary and see if she can pencil you in." I say with a smile. He pretends to pout, and then I kiss him on the cheek. "Where's dad?" I ask Brie.
"I don't know." She says as she shrugs her shoulders.
"Of course you don't." I say with a smile. I then put her down and I see Zach walking over toward us.
"There you are." Zach says. "I've been looking all over for you." He the scoops Brie up in his arms and tickles her. "You have no idea how much I missed you."
"I've missed you all so much." I say. "It was weird having quietness in my dorm, when I wasn't away on break."
"I can imagine." He says. "The noise level hasn't changed much at home."
"I can imagine." I say. "Especially with this little bugger."
"Hey man, did you lose your little sister?" Chris asks.
"Yeah, good grief, that kid is fast." Zach says. "Especially when she is after something that she wants. But at least she found you, I thought that she got kidnapped."
"Remind me to never let you babysit my kids." I say with a laugh.
"So how does it feel to be done?" He asks.
"Pretty good." I say. "But I still have four more years ahead of me."
"That's right, we will probably be graduating from college about the same time." He says.
"I know, and that is going to be pretty exciting." I say. "So have you decided what you are doing?"
"Not yet, I have some options but I still haven't committed to anywhere just yet." He says.
"Well, you better decide sooner rather than later." I say.
"I know, that is what mom keeps telling me over and over again." He says.
"It is a tough decision to have to make." Chris says. "I couldn't decide until almost a week before graduation."
"Wow." Zach says. "I don't feel so bad then."
"Well, you haven't decided just yet." I say.
"I know." Zach says. "But I have it narrowed down to two options."
"That's good." I say. "I'm sure that whatever decision you make, it will be the best one for you."
"Thanks." Zach says. My parents and their friends finally make their way over to us.
"Congratulations." My grandma says. "We're so proud of you."
"Thanks." I say as I give her a hug. The same thing happens with everyone else. I then see Connor, and he comes over to me. I then set Brie down and get on his level and he gives me a hug. "Hey, buddy."
"Hey, sissy." He says. "I missed you."
"I missed you too." I say.
"I'm glad that you are home." He says.
"I am too." I say. After a little while, we all are standing around talking. Chris then takes me by the hand, and leads me outside.
"What are we doing out here?" I ask.
"I just thought that you would rather spend some time alone, just the two of us." He says.
"It is nice." I say. I then look around, the courtyard is beautiful, especially at night when it is lit up with just the perfect amount of lighting.
"I'm so glad that you are finally going to be back home for good, instead of just a couple of weeks or months here and there." He says.
"I am too." I say.
"I thought that it was going to be hard to be without you, but I found out that absence really does make the heart grow fonder." He says.
"I did too." I say. He then kisses me, and it isn't like the normal kisses that we have shared before. It is filled with more passion, and I thoroughly am enjoying it. After a few moments we release. "We should probably go back inside."
"Do we have to?" He asks.
"As much as I want to say no, we need to come inside." I say. "We're being way too selfish."
"Alright, if you insist." He says. He then steals a quick kiss and we go back inside. The rest of the night, we celebrate both mine and Chris' graduation. We have a really good time, but I know that the drive home tomorrow is going to be long and boring.
The next day, we leave to head back home. Chris and I ride home together in my car so that we can spend some more time together. "So, what are your plans for the summer?" I ask.
"I am helping out at the school until school gets out at the end of the month." He says. "What about you?"
"I'm not sure yet." I say. "I'm going to try to get a job, just for the summer so that I can get a little bit of money."
"I'm sure that you will find something." He says. "And maybe you could sub at East High."
"That's a good idea." I say.
"Great, I'll get you put on the list." He says.
"Then, maybe we will see each other some." I say.
"But don't worry, I'll definitely have some time to spend with my girl." He says.
"I'm sure that you will." I say.
"So was Stanford really as great as you made it out to be?" He asks.
"Yes, of course it was." I say. "It would have been better if you had been there with me."
"I'm sure that it would have." He says. "It was really hard going to U of A without you, but I knew that you were happy and that helped me to keep from missing you."
"That is very sweet of you." I say.
"I'm going to let you in on something." He says. "You were the first girl that I have ever loved."
"Really?" I ask. "I thought that you really liked Elizabeth Elliot?"
"I thought that I did, she was a my first girl friend, but time changes those feelings." He says. "In fact I ran into her while in college, she still hadn't gotten over me, we ended up hanging out, and I think that she may have thought that it was a date. Isn't that funny?"
"She really did like you." I say.
"I know, and I was going to try to be friends with her, but all she wanted was to get back together with me." He says. "Even after I had told her that I was with you she just said that you wouldn't find out if we were together. I told her that I wouldn't want to cheat on you with anyone. I told her that I was cool with us being friends, but that I was in love with you."
"That is very sweet." I say.
"Well, its the truth." He says.
"My theory is that Elizabeth is lonely." I say. "I know that she dated another guy once you both broke up, but she told me that there was something different about you than she had seen in any other guy."
"Well, among all of the girls I have dated I have to say that I like you much better." He says.
"And I wish that I could say the same, but you are the only guy that I have ever dated." I say.
"Well, I feel honored that you waited for me." He says.
"I'm glad that you do." I say. "It wasn't hard to wait."
"Yeah right, and to think you could have dated any guy back in high school that you wanted." He says.
"But I choose you." I say. "Because you aren't like every other guy,you are special."
"Stop, you're going to make me blush." He says.
"Well, it's the truth." I say. We continue to talk for a while, and after a little while, I fall asleep. We really do make a good team, or at least I think so. I really do love him, and I see him in my future. He means so much to me. He's my best friend.