She sat quietly in a cold metal chair. A gentle breeze played with her golden curls. She was shaking. Why was she so nervous? She was used to being a leader, getting people motivated. She had given countless pep talks to her cheerios when she was captain of the squad. This wasn't so different, was it? High school had been tough for her, but somehow she managed to get through it successfully. She knew people looked up to her and regarded her highly, though it was only recently she started to actually deserve that. This felt right, it felt good even, but still she was shaking. What if she said the wrong things?
She glanced over her shoulder to where her friends were sitting. Her best friend waved and smiled brightly, and her eyes were tearing up. The blonde sitting a row behind gave her a thumbs up. She looked to the front row and was met with a grin from a tiny brunette and a small wave from a boy in a wheelchair. As she continued to search the crowd, she received warm smiles from everyone she knew. All of her friends looked so happy and so proud. She hoped she wouldn't let them down.
From her seat, peered around in search of someone else. Finally she spotted a mohawk peeking out from underneath a hat. Their eyes met, and he winked at her. He mouthed the words, "you can do this," then blew her a kiss. She smiled gratefully at her boyfriend, feeling a little more confident. She smoothed her gown, then looked down at her hands to see that they were shaking. She saw the principal making his way to the podium, and butterflies filled her stomach. She took a deep breath, knowing this was it.
"And now, a few words from your Valedictorian, Miss Quinn Fabray."