Finding Acceptance
Disclaimer: I do not own "The Covenant" or any of its characters; I only own Peyton, Allie, Alison, Ashley, and Amanda. Don't sue!
Graduation is right around the corner! I'm using the present year... so please don't kill me!
Chapter 11
*~Peyton's POV~*
The next morning we all got up and got ready for the full day of grad practice ahead. I made sure to put on a comfy pair of sandals to match my skirt, and made my way downstairs. I took a seat next to Allie as I began munching on a piece of toast. The boys soon entered the dining room and took their seats and began eating. We all looked to the doorway as the parents came walking inside. We finished eating and began getting our stuff ready to leave.
Once we were all ready, we left the house and were off to school. Once we got there, we went to our homeroom teachers. Since we all had the same last name, Allie, Pogue and I sat down near each other and waited for the teacher to begin talking. We sat in quiet conversation until we saw the teacher finally walk in the room.
"Quiet, please!" he called. All of us looked down at him from our stadium seating and he looked up at us. "Now, we're going to be doing quite a lot today in order to get you ready for graduation next week! All of the homeroom teachers will be down on the graduation field with your fellow graduates. Once we are down on the field, I will begin to put you in alphabetical order." He called for us to stand, which we did, and we all began following him out of the classroom.
We followed him to the area that had been blocked off for our class, and he began spieling off our names. "Allison Parry, over here!" Pogue and I watched her walk off to stand behind some boy in our homeroom class. "Peyton Parry, behind your sister; Pogue, behind her please." All of us got in alphabetical order, and we waited on the other classes to do the same.
As soon as all the students were in alphabetical order, we began practicing approaching our seats. As soon as we started approaching our seats, I veered away from my assigned chair and went to sit with the other honor students. The Provost instructed us from the podium on what we were supposed to do, and we began all over again.
*~Amanda's POV~*
I sat around the Parry manor all day while everyone else was at school, going through their graduation practice. Their so lucky… they only have graduation to go; I still have two more years to go. I looked down at the textbook that was sitting on the kitchen counter in front of me. Even though my father had sent me here, he had made sure to get all my teachers to give me my assignments before I left; so, hence, the reason I am sitting at this stupid counter trying to focus on my advanced chemistry book.
I heard voices approaching, and turned my attention back to my book and the passage I had been reading. Glancing out of the corner of my eye, I saw that all of the adults were coming in and some held grocery bags. "This is just the beginning for them." My mother commented. I picked up my pencil, underlining a piece of information about carbon, and wrote it in my notebook neatly.
"Good afternoon, Amanda." I looked up from my notebook, seeing that it was Caleb's mother talking to me. I nodded politely at her and went back to my work. I felt eyes peering over my shoulder and I lost my concentration. The fathers all looked at my textbook, and I could see the surprise in Mr. Simms' eyes.
He looked at the passage and then to me. "Advanced chem.?" I nodded my head and looked back at the passage, copying the rest of my answer. "Come to think of it, I saw you reading an advanced literature book yesterday before you went to bed. How many advanced classes are you in?" the other adults' faces focused on me and I shrugged, looking back to my book.
"Four." I replied shortly. "Advanced chem., advanced lit, Calculus, and advanced family studies." Some of their eyes widened, but I was saved by the front door opening. My half brother, his friends, and girlfriend all entered the room quickly.
Feeling a bit claustrophobic, I put my notebook in my textbook and closed it; I gathered my materials and excused myself from the room. As I exited the room, I felt the tension that the kitchen had been filled with dissipate and I sighed heavily; I really didn't want to be here. I wanted to be in my real home with dad and our many housekeeping staff. I went to the guest room, and shut the door behind me.
I threw my school materials on the bed and grabbed my cell off of the bedside table. I flipped it open and saw that I had one missed call; dad. I shut my phone and pressing the numbers for his speed dial and pressing send, I listened to the familiar ringback tone I'd set for his phone.
"Ryan Matthews."
I smiled and drew a sigh of relief. "Hey, daddy." I heard him draw a shaky breath.
"Panda? Is that you?" Laughing at the nickname he'd given to me since I was young, I answered.
"Yes, it's me. What did you call for, daddy?" I questioned. "I thought you told me that we would only call each other if it was an emergency?" It was silent on the other end and I became worried. "Daddy? Are you still there? Answer me!"
"He's still here, Princess." An odd voice sneered from my father's phone.
My heart began speeding up; mostly since I knew everyone my father worked with and whoever this was, did not work with him. "Who are you!?" I demanded angrily.
"Ask your brother." Then the line went dead. I pressed end on my phone and felt my anger taking over. Stuffing my phone in my front pocket, I rushed out of the guest room and down into the kitchen where I heard my brother and his friend, Reid, talking. I stormed into the room and I saw both of them turn to look at me in alarm.
"Hey! You can't just barge in here! You have to knock first!" Reid grumbled. I shoved at his shoulder, sending him stumbling into the wall behind him. I ignored his comments and angry shouts, and continued heading toward Tyler.
Once I got over to him I hit him in the chest. "What's the meaning of this!?" I heard people running into the room and I ignored them. Tyler responded, asking me what the hell I was talking about. Instead of hitting his chest again, I curled my hand into a fist and hurled it at him, hitting him right in his nose. There was sickening crunch and a bit of blood began dropping out of one of his nostrils, and I heard a loud exclamation as he landed on the ground. "What the hell do you have to do with my father and the letter he got!?"
Before I could make another offensive move, hands grabbed me tightly and began pulling me away from him. "Amanda, what are you doing!?" I saw a couple of the guys go to my brother and kneel down next to him. As I was dragged out of the room, literally kicking and screaming, I realized it was the fathers who were holding me. I saw my mother and the other women come out of the kitchen and look at me.
"Christian, what's going on?" my mother questioned as she looked at her husband.
I heard a snort, "Why don't you go see what she's done to our son, Aisling?" my mother's mouth dropped open before she rushed into the living room. She returned to us a minute later, her eyes burning with anger.
"Honey, why don't we save the chewing out for later? Preferably after we bring Tyler to the hospital?" her mouth was shut, but her posture spoke a million words to me; I was in for it when we got done. All of us left the Parry estate and drove to the closest hospital that was in the town over, Gloucester.
We all entered the hospital, and within seconds Tyler was called back. My mother and her husband, along with everyone else, brought me outside. All of their expressions said the same thing; what the hell had I been thinking?
"You better have a good excuse for this, Amanda Nicole Hannah!" my mother seethed.
My anger took over again, just by hearing her tone. "How about the fact that Tyler knows something about dad getting those threatening letters!" the parents eyes all snapped fire at that comment.
"How dare you!" Tyler's girlfriend commented. I turned to look at her and glared at her; silently begging her to become my new play toy. "Tyler hasn't done anything like what you're accusing him of!"
"How do you know!?" I rebuked. "Whoever sent the letters has my father right now!" The color drained from each of their faces, and instantly I felt horrible. "WHAT!?" I yelled.
Hearing the automated doors opening, we all turned to see Tyler walking out with a bandage over his nose. "We'll discuss this after graduation." Reid's father spoke. Tyler stopped near us as everyone went over to him.
I stood by myself, away from everyone else, and thought over everything in my head; they would never help me. All they cared about were themselves! I turned around and began walking to the parking lot, not caring about anything at the moment. I felt numb inside; it was joke being set back here. All I'd gotten since I'd arrived here was attitude; Tyler angry at me showing up, feeling ostracized by him and his friends, and now they wouldn't help me help my father.
I stood by the car, waiting for them, and did so for almost twenty minutes. When they got to the cars, I remained quiet and just got inside, buckling up. The ride back to the estate was quiet; and once we were inside, I went straight to my room and began packing my bags. As soon as their stupid graduation was over, I was out of here. I'd find some way to get back home and help my dad myself.
I heard a couple of the adults calling my name from downstairs, and I blocked their demanding voices out. Finishing with packing, I fell across the bed and fell into a troubled sleep.
Graduation was taking place on the following Monday; and instead of going out during the weekend, we all stayed home. All of them sat down in the living room, while I sat in my room trying to finish my advanced chem. homework. When I was done, I shut the book angrily and shoved it into the backpack I brought.
A knock on my door brought me out of my reverie, and it opened slowly. Allie, Reid's girlfriend, stuck her head inside. "Hey there!" she greeted happily. I just rolled my eyes and turned my gaze to the window. "Um… we're watching movies downstairs, and we just ordered some pizza. The 'rents are at some gala event that happens before grad; you wanna come join us in the living room?"
Turning to look at her, I felt a million emotions flood my system at once; happiness, sadness, anger, exclusion, and belonging. Looking her straight in her eyes I responded, "No, thank you. I don't feel like joining the festivities of your approaching joyous occasion!" Crossing my arms, I turned to look out the window again. Allie apologized and left my room, shutting the door behind her.
I got up from the bed, walking to the light switch and shut it off. Going back to the bed, I threw myself across it and set my head on my arms. How did my life get so screwed up so fast? I mean, what the hell did I do to deserve this? I've always done what others have told me; don't do drugs, don't be a bully, make good grades, pass the next test, do your homework… I JUST WANNA GO HOME!
When I opened my eyes, there was light filtering in the room from the open blinds. Graduation was this afternoon at three thirty, and I looked to my clock. Currently it was eight twenty, so I got up from my spot on my bed and went to the closet; opening it, I grabbed the outfit I'd placed in there for today. When graduation was over and I was back here, I would leave and go back home to New York and find a way to help my father.
I exited the room and went to the bathroom, which was thankfully empty this morning, and took my shower. Dressing quickly after I was out, I began my walk downstairs to the kitchen to get something to eat. As I was walking down the hallway to the kitchen, the doorbell rang and I stopped. Turning around, I saw the fathers exit Mr. Parry's den and go to answer it. When they opened it, there was a woman in a tight black dress shirt with a knee-length form-fitting skirt standing there. Something about her looks made me feel like I knew her, but I just stood where I was.
The woman had her red hair pulled back into a neat bun and one of her hands was holding a briefcase. If I had been more alert, I would have heard the others coming out of the kitchen but I didn't. "Can I help you, miss?" Mr. Parry questioned.
"Yes, sir; I am here regarding a Miss Amanda Nicole Hannah Matthews." Her voice sent my mind into overdrive, and I immediately recognized her; she was dad's lawyer, Emeranda Cilo! Mr. Parry welcomed her inside and the mothers walked over to all of them. "I need to speak with Miss Matthews, if you don't mind, sir."
Snapping back to reality, I found my brother and his friends looking at me with raised eyebrows. "What did you do?" Tyler asked quietly. I glared before shrugging my shoulders and stepping into view.
"Amanda? Do you know why this woman is here?" my mother asked, looking from me to Ms. Cilo. I shook my head and Emeranda looked at me intently.
She looked at me with a sad look in her eyes, and I instantly became confused. "Actually, Miss Matthews didn't call me here." She spoke, making Tyler and the others come into view. "I'm here on behalf of her father, Ryan Ethan Matthews. I caught the first flight out of New York that I could last night to get here."
"What about my father?" I asked, taking a couple steps forward. My mother's eyes were on me and then looked back to dad's lawyer.
She gave me a sad smile. "I wish I was bringing better news, Amanda." She spoke. The way she spoke, made it ominous and I didn't like it one bit. "Your father was found this morning…" I looked at her and she hesitantly finished. "…dead." I let out a soft squeak as I crumbled to the floor in a heap of sobs.
Arms grabbed at me, helping me to my feet and my feet moved without me wanting them to. My bottom landed on something soft, but I couldn't stop the waterworks. Daddy… thinking of my father made me cry harder, and I felt an arm wrap around me tightly.
The morning passed in a blur as I spent most of my time, sitting on the couch and crying over my dad; Mom sat beside me with her arms wrapped around me, trying to comfort and console me. When I was finally able to speak again, Emeranda went through the funeral arrangements with me and showed me the will he'd made up a month ago; in which, he'd left the house, cars, and part of the family fortune to me.
Even though, she'd given me up, dad had left a small part of the family fortune to mom and wrote that he was thankful to her for having me. The rest of the family fortune that hadn't been given to me was divided between all the housekeeping staff we'd had in the house. Once everything had been explained to me, Emeranda wished me well and departed. My mother watched as I got up from the couch and stumbled out of the room, upstairs, and into the bedroom.
I closed my eyes as soon as I shut the door and crumbled to the floor in front of the door. I had thought I had cried all my tears out, but I had been wrong since they started flowing down my cheeks again. No longer in the mood to celebrate my brother's graduation or my supposed leaving to go home, I curled up and set my head on my knees. There I sat until a soft knock startled me. My door opened and I saw Tyler peek his head inside and look down; he gave me a strained smile and told me it was time to go.
Forcing myself, I composed myself and got up from the floor. I followed Tyler out of the room and downstairs to the hallway, where everyone was waiting. We all got into the cars and took off for Spenser Academy and the awaiting graduation ceremony.
*~Peyton's POV~*
Everyone was chatty on the way to school; our last night of seeing school was finally here! We had all been bummed out after hearing that Amanda's father died, and we all cursed Chase; we all felt that he was involved in all of this. Amanda had walked off to her room a couple moments after the lawyer left, and we all felt like we'd been horrible to her.
She'd only been here almost a week and a half, and we never included her in anything we did. The parents had told us to forget it, that today was graduation, and that was all we should focus on. Still, I felt uneasy as we headed to the school. Reid had turned the radio on full blast and they (being Tyler, Reid, Allie, Alis, and Ash) were singing along with the Simple Plan song, 'I Don't Wanna Grow Up'.
I laughed as we pulled into the parking lot and Reid cut the engine. We got out, me getting help from Tyler since I was almost a balloon, and stood waiting for the others. As we stood behind the hummer, Caleb and Sarah joined us and with Kate and Pogue right behind them. The parents and Amanda appeared and they ushered us to get going.
All ten of us walked to the graduation field excitedly and quickly split up to get to our specified letters. Allie quickly identified the boy she had to stand behind and rushed to get behind him, while Pogue and I walked after her. We got into line and stood there, and I saw Caleb getting into his place. Pogue nudged me from behind and I turned to look at my brother, "Ty."
I looked to the other side of the field and saw my boyfriend getting in his place and waving to me. I waved back and blew him a kiss before turning around in the right direction. After fifteen minutes of preparing, the Pomp and Circumstance song began and we began our walk to our seats.
Just as I'd done at practice, I split away from the others and went to my seat with the other Honor students. I took my seat and whispered something to Katie, a girl from my English class. It was another three minutes before Pomp and Circumstance stopped and Provost Higgins stood up. He gave the welcoming speech and then began speaking to us about finishing our passage from high school. "Now, at this time, I would like to call Caleb Danvers up to the podium to address his senior class."
Caleb who, of course, was sitting with us Honor students got to his feet and walked to the stage, standing in front of the podium. "Thank you, Provost." He spoke, and the Provost nodded his head happily. "Good evening, parents, my fellow seniors… tonight is very special, because tonight means that we have finally endured and succeeded in passing our four years of high school! This year we have all endured tragedies and blessings; losing two fellow students, Mark Thomas and… Chase Collins during the first semester of school, and welcoming four new ones in their places shortly after."
I snorted quietly and continued to pay attention to Caleb's speech. "But as we leave high school, we now begin the transition to college and our futures. As we look back on these days, we hope that we have shown an example for our younger peers and helped to pave the way for them. Congratulations, we did it!" all of us began cheering as Caleb finished his speech and stepped down, returning to his seat.
Provost Higgins took the podium again and began telling us that he would begin giving out diplomas. All of us Honor students stood up and began filing after one another to start the line to the stage. "Caleb William Danvers." Caleb moved his tassel and went to receive his diploma frame. The families cheered and I laughed lightly. "Peyton Elise Parry." I moved my own tassel and then went to receive my frame. We were all called one by one and received our diploma frames, and returned to our seats. Shortly after we finished, he began calling the other students.
"Allison Carolyn Makenna Parry." Provost Higgins called. I watched my twin move her tassel to the other side of her mortar board and then walk toward him, with the families cheering from the stands; she shook his hand, received her frame and I stood up from my Honor seat. She thanked him and began to exit the stage, and once she was near her seat I began the journey to mine. Once I was standing in front of my chair, I looked to the stage. "Pogue Matthew Parry." We watched our brother move his tassel and receive his frame. He made his way to us and then stood in front of his seat.
The ceremony went by fast, and pretty soon we were near the end. "Sarah Lynne Wenham." Sarah did just as the rest of us had, and was walking to her seat in no time. A new song began playing and the entire senior class turned to the stands to face all the parents. "Ladies and gentlemen, that concludes the Spenser Academy Graduation Ceremony." The Provost announced. "Congratulations, class of 2009!" we all cheered and took our caps off, some people throwing them in the air.
I held mine and waited for Pogue and Allie to find their caps (since they idiotically threw them). Once they had them in their hands, we all re-grouped and stood together as the parents came over to us. Evelyn and all the other mothers had their cameras, and began snapping pictures of us. After taking a couple of whole group photos, they wanted couple photos and single photos. We all grumbled, but did as we were told and soon we were pulled off toward the main office to receive our actual diplomas.
It was almost an hour before all of us had our diplomas, and we went back to the parking lot. We got in the vehicles and sped off for some restaurant in Boston that was staying open late due to the school graduations in the areas. We were rowdy as we sat at the table in the restaurant with our families, enjoying the freedom that we now had thanks to graduating. I looked out of the corner of my eye and saw Amanda playing with her drink.
Leaning over to her, I looked at her questioningly. "You okay?" she shot me a glum look.
"Why do you care?" she asked, looking back at her drink.
Amanda had no idea how like me she was being, and I laughed internally at that. "Actually, I know exactly how you feel." she turned to look at me with both of her eyebrows raised and disbelief written on her face. "Allie and I lived with our aunt and uncle over in Italy. They were killed in a car accident four months ago. That's how we ended up coming back here to live with our parents." Her eyes widened a little bit and she looked like she was interested.
"So I think I know how you feel. Thus, brings around the reason I care." I spoke. The waiter came and took our orders; and while we waited, I quietly told Amanda what had happened to make us end up with our aunt and uncle, but I made sure to exclude the information about the Power.
She looked at me with sad eyes and we spent some time talking about her and her dad. "How did you deal with it?" Amanda asked. "Dad was everything to me… I don't know what to do anymore."
"Just keep him in your heart and your memories." I answered her question. "Every day may be tougher than the last one, but you shouldn't want to throw it away. Find something to keep living for, and work toward a new future." Amanda thanked me and as she wiped the corner of her right eye, the waiter brought our food.
We ate our food, the air filled with happy conversation, and then sat waiting on dessert. As we waited for our desserts, the parents began giving us graduation gifts. Caleb opened his mother's gift first and found that it was a pair of tickets to the Bahamas. "Thank you, mother." He kissed her cheek and put the tickets back in the envelope and set it next to his elbow.
Reid opened the envelope his parents gave him and pulled out a pair of car keys. "What's this?" he asked, looking to his parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Garwin laughed at their son. "We figured since you love to hijack Tyler's hummer from him, we'd get you one of your own, son." Mr. Garwin replied. Reid let out a happy exclamation and kissed his mother's cheek.
Mom and dad handed Pogue and Allie their own envelopes which they opened happily. Pogue pulled out a pair of tickets that were to the Bahamas, as well. Allie pulled a pair of car keys out of her envelope and looked to our parents. "Pogue and Kate should have a week to themselves, they deserve it. And, obviously, you need a way to get around Ipswich by yourself instead of getting rides with the others." Pogue and Allie thanked our parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Simms looked at Tyler and then to my parents. "Should we give it to them?" mom and dad nodded their heads and I looked at Tyler, who shook his head at me. Amanda was laughing quietly beside me, so I must have looked funny when I did it. Turning my attention back to our parents, Mr. and Mrs. Simms handed Tyler a big manila envelope. "That is for you and Peyton, son." Mr. Simms spoke.
Tyler looked at me and I shrugged my shoulders. He popped the envelope open and reached inside it. He pulled out a key ring with three keys on it and an extra set with two on it. "What are these for?" I probed. Tyler reached inside the envelope and pulled out a piece of paper with an address written on it. He looked at our parents questioningly.
"The key ring with three is for Peyton; one is a key to the hummer and one is a key to her own car; the third key on the ring is a surprise." My father spoke. "The second set is a copy of Peyton's car key and the surprise key." We looked at one another.
Mr. Simms looked at us intently with a smile on his face. "We'll bring you to your surprise when we get finished here." We nodded our heads and a couple minutes later, dessert was served and we were digging in. We consumed two carrot cakes with vanilla ice cream for dessert, and then were on our way back to Ipswich; and Tyler and I's surprise.
Tyler pulled up a winding driveway behind his parents' car, and stopped in front of a two story colonial house; newly built from the looks of it. He got out of the hummer and came over to the passenger side to help me out. The rest of the families pulled into the driveway and got out, coming over to us. Mom and dad stood by my side, along with Allie and Pogue. All together as a group we walked toward the front door, and our parents stopped behind us, pushing me and Tyler to the door.
We looked at one another and I held out my key ring to him; Tyler grasped the out-of-place key and stuck it in the deadbolt. He unlocked it and did the same with the bottom lock, and soon the door was open. I reached inside the door, feeling for a light switch, and when the light turned on I'm pretty sure my eyes bugged out of my face. Tyler let out an expletive, which had his mother chastising him, and walked forward. The families trailed after us inside the house and we heard our friends and siblings letting out matching expletives.
My mother grabbed my arm and began leading me to the staircase that was on the other side of the hall. Tyler followed after us closely, and everyone followed after him. Mom led me up the stairs and to a bedroom near the end of the hall. She opened the door, and flicked the lights on inside.
"Oh my—" my eyes immediately filled with tears. The room was fully furnished as a baby's room. The walls were a pale blue with a teddy bear border and the windows were covered with blue pull curtains. The room was furnished with all the things I would need for my baby, and I couldn't help the couple of tears that dripped out.
My mother looked at me with shining eyes. "Do you like it, honey?"
"Thank you." Was all I could manage to get out.
Mrs. Simms and my mother shared a looked and then looked at me as Tyler joined me by the crib. "We decided that you two would need your own place starting now." Mrs. Simms spoke. "A baby is a serious matter, and we wanted to help you two out."
"But... Tyler…" I stuttered. Hearing my boyfriend's low chuckle, I turned to look at him.
With our family and everyone around, he spoke, "I'm gonna be here with you every step. You don't need to do this on your own, Pey; I'm gonna help you raise him." I smiled and nodded my head as he leaned down and kissed me. We heard a chorus of 'awwww's and turned to see all the girls and mothers looking at us. The fathers were smirking at Tyler and I felt my face grow hot.
Hope you enjoyed the cuteness! I thought I'd stick a bit of Amanda's POV in there, since I haven't really involved her in anything in the previous chapter. Let me know how I'm doing! Reviews are welcome, as always!
TAYLORandTOBYfreak88