Teach Me to Dance

Chapter 25

Beginning and the End

Namixas

"Naminé? Are you here?" Roxas called out loud. The first place he thought to check would be at her locker in case she came by later than they had earlier that day. The hallways were completely barren. Though he was quite determined to find Naminé when he left his friends, Roxas couldn't help but sigh because actually he didn't know where she would be.

"Well, okay Naminé. See you tonight." Roxas heard a voice say down the hall barely. It was a teacher, halfway leaning into a classroom. After he finished talking, he went out of the classroom and left the building in the opposite exit than the one Roxas and his friends used. Roxas immediately hurried over to the classroom that teacher came out of, for inside there should be Naminé.

"There you are." He announced his presence to her. Naminé turned around startled a bit, but she quickly recognized the voice and smiled.

"Hey Roxas! What are you doing here? I thought the group was meeting today after school." Naminé inquired of him. Roxas gave her a look and crossed his arms in an authoritative way.

"We already met. They already went on, and I came back to check up on you. You were supposed to meet us, you know?" Roxas informed her as he took her notebooks from her hands from her last class. Naminé tried to grab them back, but Roxas wouldn't let her. Finally, Naminé just sighed in defeat.

"Okay fine… Um, thanks Roxas." She thanked him and they both left the classroom together to go her locker. "Sorry about not meeting with everyone. I just had some last minute stuff to do."

"For tonight?" Roxas asked. Naminé nodded silently. She was nervous, but also ready to have the whole ordeal over with at the exact same time. The two feelings were pulling and pushing each other within her heart, and it lead to some very conflicting emotions. Thankfully, Roxas was always there to encourage her.

"You'll do great tonight, I know it." Roxas complimented her as she started to blush. Roxas couldn't but think she looked so cute…

"Thanks Roxas…" She looked down and pulled her bangs out of her face. The two arrived at her locker and Naminé busied herself with opening it. It was mostly empty except for some memorabilia hanging inside of it. Photos, posters, notes and the like. One by one, she took them down and handed them to Roxas who had her notebooks already.

"Well… that's that." Naminé murmured once her locker was completely empty and shut it securely. She then took half of the belongings from Roxas's hands, still taking up on his offer but helping out some as well. Roxas seemed to have something on his mind, but never mentioned anything the entire way to their houses. Once they reached their destination, Roxas decided that it was the right time.

"What are your plans for tonight after the graduation?" Roxas, almost seemly trying to take back the words once he said them, but he knew that he had wanted to ask this nonetheless.

"Nothing, except see family or something like that. Why do you ask?" Naminé answered and Roxas fidgeted around some before replying.

"Can we go talk somewhere? Like at… Sunset Terrace?" Roxas felt the blush creeping up to his neck. He wasn't even sure exactly what he wanted to talk about, just that he needed to. Naminé seemed surprised a bit at his request, but nodded.

"Sure Roxas. That'd be great."

Naminé passed away the time by getting ready for the big night. Her mom was supposed to meet her there, so Naminé called someone else in to help her beautify.

"Oh-kay, Nami. What sort of hair style are you wanting for tonight? Straight or curly?" Namine's best friend Kairi was always there for the rescue when Naminé needed this sort of help. Since this was a big night, Naminé definitely wanted Kairi to help her once more.

"I was thinking curly actually. Something different." Naminé responded and Kairi immediately got to work. It took longer than Naminé would have liked, but these type of things always do. Once again, Kairi pulled off a masterpiece and set off to fix her own hair whist Naminé put on make up. Before long, the two girls were ready and out of the house heading to the over to put on their graduation robes.

Everything was bustling and Naminé could the nervous excitement surrounding everyone, the very feeling that was surrounding her too. She was busy preparing, but that was actually perhaps a good thing since she wasn't able to dwell or become sad over what was going on. She kept the paper with her speech on it safe in her pocket of her robe.

Soon enough Naminé found where her friends had congregated and headed over towards them.

"Hey Naminé. We missed you after school." Hayner said, all social like. He was the one of the group to blurt out things first.

"Sorry I didn't come…" Naminé felt a little bit guilty now, especially since she had planned not to go from the start. But upon seeing Naminé's expression, Hayner just slapped her on the shoulder, lightly.

"Don't worry about it. We get to all hang out now, at least." He said with a smile. Roxas walked over to Naminé's side just as Kairi left to go see her boyfriend and greet him with a kiss. Roxas and Naminé both eyed them as Sora whispered something into Kairi's eye that she responded with a nod too. Naminé gave Roxas a knowing look, guessing what was going to happen tonight and what he was asking her. Roxas just shrugged back, but his smile gave it away that he knew exactly what was going to happen too. Then he leaned over to whisper something in Naminé's ear as well.

"He's so nervous. He hasn't been able to stop talking about it." Roxas's breath made Namine's ear tingle and blood rush to her face. Though Naminé was very happy for her best friend, she felt a bit jealous a times too. Kairi did deserve all the happiness she was going to feel, but sometimes, Naminé wished she could feel that way too. Naminé smiled back at Roxas.

"I'm really happy for them…" Naminé told Roxas, ignoring her inner jealousy. She even felt bad about it, because despite the fact that she was sure most everyone wanted to feel that way as well, it was something that had to earned in a way, with the person you wanted it to be with. It had to be deserved, and Kairi did that.

"Yeah…" Roxas looked away from Naminé and towards where the person in charge of organization the graduation was standing, trying to get everyone's attention. After a few seconds of no success, the lady whistled loudly. That did the trick.

"All right, I need everyone to get into a line alphabetically. Naminé, you're first." The lady informed the class and left. The chatter came back almost as soon as it had left, but they were at least arranging themselves as they were talking. Naminé quietly walked up to the front of the line, feeling nervous about being the first to go. However she didn't really have a choice with her last name being Alexander. Almost too quickly for Naminé, the lady in charge came back.

"Are you ready?" She asked, and Naminé gave a tiny nod and began to walk along with the lady. It was time.

The graduation was to take place at the football field at Twilight Town High. It was a clear day, with a few cloud's in the sky. The sun was starting to set behind Naminé as she was walking towards the football field. It's long been decided that would be the best place to hold the graduation, though a separate plan was made just in case the weather was to be bad that day. The football field was the only area with enough seating for all the people that were going to come that day, and it put the graduating class right where all their parents and spectators would be able to see them best. The graduating class would be sitting on chair set up for them on the track surrounding the football and the board of directors and the high school superintendent were all set in the field where, as they practiced a few days before this day, the students would walk up to where they were and receive their high school diploma.

That would be toward the end of the ceremony though… Naminé remembered. Her speech was to occur first. While walking towards the field, she reached for her speech that she put, safely tucked into her pocket of her robe. It was still there… Naminé breathed a sigh. She didn't know what she would do if for reason it had been lost within the last few minutes. There's no way she could have remembered a speech like that off the top of her head. While Naminé was indeed studious, she was by no means, a good improver. She looked over her shoulder to see all the students behind her, following her. It was a sea of black, for that was the color of their robes. Well, it more like a river since they were in line like this.

It wasn't long before they reached the other side of the field, opposite the stands where many parents were there waiting for them. They were to separate into two lines now and get ready to cross the field, two at a time. One they were prepared, the lady gave the signal to begin walking and Naminé followed the cue. It was an odd feeling. She hadn't spent all that much time on the football field, unlike other people like Sora and Hayner who were football players and part of the marching band respectively. Yet, it felt so familiar. A sight she saw everyday for quite some time. She hadn't realized that it was this long either! Football players run this length all the time? Naminé's got off subject as she couldn't help but praise Sora and Hayner silently for putting so much effect into to what they did.

Naminé was also glad that she wasn't wearing high heels at this time as well. She took a quick glance behind her to see that one of the preppier girls of her class had gotten her heel stuck in the field. She felt bad for her, since everyone was sure to be watching her but something inside of her reminded her that she probably enjoyed the attention. With that, Naminé faced the stands again. Wonder where her mom was sitting to see her. She knew without a doubt that she would be there, it was only a matter of where. Naminé didn't have enough time to look for her though. Almost too quickly, she was where the chairs had been set up for them and went to sit down. It didn't take long before everyone had take a seat. Being the first had its downsides, for because she was in front, she couldn't see anyone else she knew around her. It made her a bit nervous, well, more nervous. One of the people sitting together on the stand on the field got up and walked up to the podium where a microphone.

"Thank you for everyone who came here tonight. As we all know, tonight is a very special night for this special group of students sitting down in front of you. It is their graduating night. Their last time to set foot on this ground whilst still being a student here. From this day after, they will alumni. They will go on to grow even more and become the people they are meant. They will take their place among this world. These young adults…I am happy to present to you this year's graduating class." The man, who Naminé recognized to be their school principal. She didn't see him too often, typically it was just the troublemakers who really got to know him, but she had at least seen him around. He was always helping the students when he could. The stands began to clap after he was finished with his speech and so he waited till they stopped clapping to talk again.

"Now, it is time to hear from this year's Salutatorian. Would Olette Williams please come up here to give her speech?" The principal called for Olette, who quietly and nervously walked up onto the stage. Naminé knew exactly how she felt at that moment. Well, not completely because she wasn't up there. Yet. Key word, yet. She was going to have to in just a few minutes time. In a way, she wished that Olette's speech would last for a while… a long while. But that wouldn't be fair to her friend at all…

Naminé was so nervous about her own speech, that she didn't pay attention to Olette's speech at all. Olette appeared as nervous as she probably felt and then some. But she seemed to fit up there in some way that Naminé couldn't quite explain. Like, she earned that spot after these long years and working hard to succeed. She was beginning to see it now, that Olette had the look of someone who was proud of herself. Yes, Olette was a very shy and timid person, but at this moment now, she was allowing herself to take in this moment and enjoy all her work. Naminé wanted to be able to do that as well.

"Thank you." Was the last words Olette said, and then she awkwardly walked off the stage away from the podium and walked back to her seat. Naminé looked around and could see Hayner giving her the thumps up, that probably help her confidence too. Having Hayner there to support her. Naminé looked down at the ground at that moment, she felt that sort of jealousy again. Then she remembered that she had Roxas, he was always there to support her if she needed it. And she definitely needed him now, as least to know that he was supporting her in his own way right now. She tried to look for him briefly without looking inconspicuous. Once she found him, she found to her surprise that he was already looking at her. She felt her face heat up by this fact. Roxas just smiled at her. Whilst feeling embarrassed, she also felt empowered now. She was ready to do this.

"Now will our Valedictorian please step up here." The very same principal said to her directly this time. Feeling the confidence from before, Naminé quickly got up and walked towards the podium. Once there, she took the paper with her speech on it out of her pocket and placed in on the podium where she could read it. Now all that was left was to talk. Naminé quickly took a glance up, and almost wished she didn't. Seeing the crowd startled her a bit. But then as she looked closer, she could see her mom right in the front row watching her, smiling. She was waiting as well. Naminé took a deep breath and began to read.

"Tonight marks the end of an era. Years of books, plays, dances and sports have all led to this gratifying moment. As we sit here watching as the last of our high school careers fade into twilight and nervously awaiting what new adventure tomorrow will bring, it is important that we share a moment to reflect and appreciate the enormity of our fine accomplishment. For tonight's graduation marks not only our passage from the halls of Twilight High School, but is also a declaration of our commitment and effort. Tonight we sit here as proof of hope for the future. We are the businessmen, the teachers and the parents of tomorrow. By our own dedication to our success in high school having qualified us to lead the future, tonight we rise above and shed those labels. For tonight's graduation is the culmination of our commitment, from efforts from that first day of kindergarten to now as we await the satisfaction of diplomas in our hands. While at times it may have been easy to have been drawn into the negative aspects of school, we have chosen to pursue and to accomplish. Worthy of pride, this is why I congratulate you. With the support of our parents, our teachers and our friends we made it to this day and to the beginning of a new stage of our lives. Where we go from here and what new frontiers we are meant to discover may remain unseen, but as we step out those doors tonight and stare into the first lights of what is to come and what is to be, always remember tonight's victory. For no matter what tomorrow brings, be it the simplest path or a road wrought with twists and turns, tonight we share an achievement. To my class, Congratulations. Always take with you the memories, the knowledge and the self-satisfaction of a job well done."

It was silent for a second. Naminé was afraid that perhaps she had read too quickly, that perhaps that had not heard her at all. She definitely did not want to read that again by any. Then all too quickly, the crowd began to cheer for her. Her mom was definitely the loudest by far. But out of all those people, her eyes had locked onto Roxas. He was smiling up at her once again. They connected.

The moment had passed, and it was time for Naminé to go back to her seat. She breathed a huge sigh of relief as she sat down, and as the cheering faded, another person came up the podium.

"Now we will award the graduates their diplomas." She said, and called Namine's name since she came first alphabetically. Naminé went up to the lady who handed her the diploma and shook her hand.

"Congratulations!" She said. Though Naminé hadn't really talked to this woman, for she was far too busy running the school itself to be in contact with students, she somehow knew that she meant it. A photograph motioned for the two to look at him for a picture, and as Naminé smiled, she was sure that this was only the beginning of many good things to come.

Author's Note: Yes, I copped out. I was supposed to put a memory into Namine's speech, but when time came it seemed like too much to worry about. Also, I apologize for the constantly changing chapter length. I do what I can.