LAKEHURST

LAKEHURST: SHATTERED

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: "I Was Here (2)"

Principal Richards walks on stage and looks out into the crowd – it's full of graduates and their supporting family and friends. "Welcome, parents, families, and friends. I know what most of you are thinking…it came so fast. It was just yesterday I was changing diapers and no I'm saying goodbye." "Well, let's get this show on the road, shall we?" Richards stated as she began. "Monique Coleman…"

MONIQUE COLEMAN

Monique smiled upon hearing her name as she stood up to go collect her award; however, she was immediately pulled into a flashback.

Sheryl opens the door for Monique and Miles; Monique has returned home from her surgery. "Are you sure you don't want to go back to the hospital?" Miles asks. Monique smiles, "Mile's I'm fine. Besides, we're a long ways away from the hospital now." Miles scoffed, "Please, if my girl wants to go back, we'll go back," Miles said as he looked down at Monique who was in a wheelchair; however, it was only temporary and mainly because of her surgery. "God, I love you," Monique whispers as Miles shares a kiss with her.

"I just hate the fact that we're going to have to miss prom," Monique states as Miles looks at her. "No we're not," he reassures her. "Miles, the doctor said…" Monique began, but Miles cut her off as h pointed to the sliding doors of her mother's home. Sheryl motioned for Miles to bring Monique through. Monique was surprised when she saw that the backyard had been decorated in a similar fashion to the prom. "Miles, this is perfect." Monique whispered. "No, wait, here," Miles said as he placed a crown on Monique's head. "I announce the Monique Coleman Prom Queen, now it's perfect," Miles said as he and Monique shared a passionate kiss, one that Monique would love to have lasted for a lifetime.

SARAH DAVIES

"Sarah Davies…" Sarah smiled upon hearing her name as she stood up to go collect her award; however, she was immediately pulled into a flashback.

Sarah is sitting down on a bench outside of the hospital. "Sarah Davies!" Trevor called out as he sat down on the bench beside her. "Ugh, what do you want, Trevor?" Sarah asks as Trevor looks at her. "I just want to you know that I get why you took the pills," Trevor confessed. Sarah rolled her eyes; it was exactly what she needed somebody telling her that they understood why she did what she did. Nobody knew what she was going through. "You strive to be the best, no matter what. You've been through a lot of ups and downs this semester and you just wanted somebody to actually get you…to understand the pressure you're under, right?" Trevor said all in one.

Sarah found herself nodding at his words. Sarah was shocked when she saw Trevor pull out some pills of his own, "I've been popping these since my car accident and I haven't found a way to kick it, especially with the rape…it does take away the pain, the pills," Trevor admitted his addiction. Sarah gave him a faint smile; "I'll make you a deal," Trevor began. "What's that?" Sarah asked. "If you quit the caffeine pills, I'll quit the pain killers, deal?" Trevor asked. Sarah looked at him, "Trevor, I can quit anytime and I did already. You have an addiction!" Sarah told him. "Maybe, that's why I need you to convince me to go to these meeting that I've signed up for to help me cope with everything that's been going on in my life." With that, Sarah nodded. She'd already decided to be there for Trevor no matter what.

BIANCA DESOUSA

"Bianca DeSousa…" Bianca smiled upon hearing her name as she stood up to go collect her award; however, she was immediately pulled into a flashback.

"Hey you," Juliana said as she came around the corner. Bianca looked at Etienne, who was laughing at a joke she'd recently told. Her look told Etienne to give them privacy and he did as he raced by Juliana. "What's up?" Bianca asked as she finished curling her hair for graduation. "You're a mess kid, you're stubborn and hard headed, you do things without thinking of the consequences, yet you're the most considerate teen I've ever had the pleasure of taking care of. In other words I'm proud of you Bianca," Juliana confessed.

Bianca turned to face the woman. "When you were young you always told me how you wanted to be like your mother and how you longed to know who your father was. Now come to find out you've been somebody Etienne can look up to and say that he's proud of. Bianca you're my hero." Bianca was confused. "How?" she asked. Juliana smiled, "When I found out that I would be taking care of you rugrats, I was dealing with a drug dealer and when you came you told me about what your mother had done and I couldn't let that happen again so I got rid of him," Juliana said as Bianca pulled the woman into a hug. "God, I don't know why we're hugging," Juliana stated as Bianca snickered.

MILES JOHNSTON

"Miles Johnston…" Miles smiled upon hearing his name as he stood up to go collect his award; however, he was immediately pulled into a flashback.

Miles is looking for his dress shoes to wear to graduation; however, he comes across his old gang stuff. He realizes that he's been through a lot in the past and that he's stronger because of all of that. He was blind for a short period of time. Racism seems to follow him wherever he goes. He's been shot too. He had to let all of that stuff go, he's with Monique now, he has better friends now and that's something to be proud of.

"Miles…" Gloria whispers as she knocks on the door to get Miles's attention. She looks at her son as he stands up. "Mom, I just wanna say thank you for being my mom!" he states as Gloria rushes in and hugs him. "Of course, it's not like I had anything else better to do," Gloria joked as her and Mils both laughed at the statement. "You're going to be just fine out there in the world, I know it." Gloria assured her son. "I just…I'm glad that I didn't end up like my brother, you know?" Gloria smiled at his words, "You have yourself to thank for that, you fought to be the best person you could be and you won the fight, now the trick is to finish the war." Gloria stated as Miles looked at her, he was ready to take on whatever the world had in store for him. He'd be okay, he always was.

TREVOR LEE

"Trevor Lee…" Trevor smiled upon hearing his name as he stood up to go collect his award; however, he was immediately pulled into a flashback.

Trevor is in his graduation gown and he's pacing back and forth as his 'Senior Year Film Project' is being played in the background. "There's my little director," Lauren states. Trevor looks at her, "Mom, chill out with the 'little' names," Trevor said. "Oh, come on my little graduate…" Lauren said she was laughing as Trevor scoffed. "Is the film over?" Trevor asked. "Almost," Lauren told him. Trevor couldn't believe that his time at Lakehurst was finally over with. He was finally going to be able to leave without worrying about anything else. "I'm so glad I'm graduating mom," Trevor told the woman. "I know you are, I'm happy for you Trevor," Lauren said.

"Are you proud of me?" Trevor asked, "I didn't screw up this time mom, I did good didn't I? You're proud of me right?" Trevor said, fighting back tears.

"Oh, sweetie, I'm so proud of you. You know, there was a point in time where I was told I couldn't have kids. It sucked, thinking that the only time in my life I was going to hold a baby was whether or not it was going to my sister's kid or my brothers'. But, somebody upstairs was looking out for me. The next thing I knew I was pregnant with you, my miracle baby. And I…I tried to make it work with your dad, I did. I just fell out of love with him, you know. I couldn't bring you around; I was messing with your father's brother. I was considered a slut in his eyes. But, you didn't see it that way. You loved me for me. My son didn't give up on me and I promised myself that I'd never give up on you. The way my parents deemed me the bad child out of three, I hated that and I just needed a child of my own to show them that this is how a child is supposed to be loved…"

Trevor was crying now at how his mother explained how she was treated. "Mom, I love you…but if I keep crying, the guys are going to make fun of me," Trevor said, "Ugh, whatever get outta here kid," Lauren said as she started dry her eyes while laughing at the same time.

DREW TORRES

"Drew Torres…" Drew smiled upon hearing his name as he stood up to go collect his award; however, he was immediately pulled into a flashback.

"Bianca, can we talk about it now?" Drew asked referring to the proposal. "Drew, we're about to graduate high school and besides we haven't even known each other for that long," Bianca told him. "Really, it wasn't too long ago you dated Adam, you gave him a chance. Any girl that's willing to give him a chance has got to be an amazing girl and you are Bianca. I love you; you've stood by me through everything. Now, let me stand by you as your husband and you as my wife." Drew said as he was no holding her hand.

"Ugh, you're making this so hard," Bianca said; she didn't want to ruin their future. "Okay, how about this. We'll wait until the brutal years of college are over and then I'll ask again, how does that sound?" Drew asked and Bianca smiled. "You'd really wait that long just to get me to marry you?" Bianca asked. Drew nodded, "Of course. Like I said, I love you and I want you to be with me and if marriage isn't for us right now. Dating sure as Hell is," Drew said as he kissed her. Bianca smiled, "God, I love you," she whispered as she and Drew walked to their seats before graduation began.

RACHEL LEE

"Rachel Lee, our valedictorian…" Rachel smiled upon hearing her name as she stood up to go collect her award. Rachel hopped onto the stage and took her place behind the microphone.

"God, where do I start? It's like principal Richards said, it was only yesterday. Well, yesterday I was busting my butt trying to work on this speech. When I first started Lakehurst, I had only one thing on my mind – boys, boys, and more boys. Okay, three things. But, I wasn't that kind of girl you know? Even when my parents divorced I didn't change too much, I don't think. I mean I'm supposed to be talking about how these are the best years of our lives, when in reality, what comes after it will be the best years. High school was just the setup, right? Yesterday you were loved, today you'll be cherished, and tomorrow you'll be a memory. But, it doesn't have to be like that. I mean there are some pretty, and I'll have to put a dime in the swear jar later but, there are some pretty kick ass people in this graduation crowd. However, there's someone that won't get the pleasure of what it feels like to graduate, someone who won't be able to know what could have been. But, I'm sure that where he's at, Hunter Tanner is happier than all of us right now. He was a good kid and friend and he'll definitely be remembered. So, if the class of 2012 will please rise. Guys, we did it!" Rachel shouts as everyone throws their caps into the air.

AFTER GRADUATION

"Cheese," Monique and Sarah say in unison as Miles takes their pictures. "Alright, Miles now one with you," Monique says. Sarah spots Trevor standing by a wall. "Trevor! Wait a minute you guys," Sarah whispers as she walks over to the boy and flashes a smile. "Don't you want to take a picture with us?" Sarah asks. Trevor smiles, "Of course, I'd love too." Trevor states as Sarah interlocks their fingers and leads him over to Monique and Miles.

"Sign my year book?" Rachel asks as she nears Bianca and Drew. "Sure," Drew states as he grabs the book and begins writing in it.

"So, you ready for college?" Bianca asked as Rachel looked back at Miles, Monique, Trevor, and Sarah. They were once her close friends, but she and Bianca were a team now. "Hell yeah, let's do this." Rachel states as Drew hugs wraps his arms around both of girls and begins to walk with them. "I have a feeling this is going to be one hell of a summer," Drew states as Rachel and Bianca nod in unison.

THE END

STAY TUNED FOR: Lakehurst Season 11.5: Picking Up The Pieces. It's going to feature the first semester of a new school year as well as introduce the OCs you wonderful people submitted. It's still not too late to get your OC in, just review to this story and I'll look it over and see if there's room for your character. For more information, check out my story titled "The Lakehurst Experience". Also, if you'd like some sneak peeks from Season 11.5 just review with a current character's name and I'll give you a quote they're going to use this season; however, I won't be giving away too much of the story.