Falling Over Her

Chapter 25: Graduation

It is now Tuesday and I just got home after my final exam. I was happy school was finally over and tomorrow afternoon I would finally be done high school for good and know my scholarship offers. I kick off my shoes and make my way upstairs to my room tossing my bag by the door and walking quietly over to my bed. I smiled seeing Mitchie still sleeping. It was 11:00 since my exam was in the morning. She looked so beautiful. I stripped to my boxers and climbed into my bed pulling her close as she willingly curled up into me. I smiled kissing her neck once and just loving this feeling.

"Babe you up" I whisper quietly in her ear

"No, I just want to stay in bed forever" She said and I knew something was up

"Babe what's wrong?" I asked rubbing her back. She had been emotional ever since she told me about her parents, and I could tell it was really tearing her up. She said she wouldn't be the one to break the silence, and she shouldn't be but at the same time I hated to see her hurting.

"I feel safe in your bed" She said and I smiled. That made me feel good, but at the same time I wanted her to be happy again and smile, I love her smile.

"Does this have to do with your parents or graduation?"

"Both" She said as a feel a tear slip onto my shirt and my arms tightened around her.

"Love I have an idea" I said and she looked up at me and I ran my thumb along her cheeks drying the tears.

"Yeah"

"I really need a shower, so how about you go downstairs and start getting stuff ready and when I come down we will cook up some tacos and watch movies have a comfort day" I said and she smiled.

"Like that day 2 months or so ago?"

"Yup, and then we can finish what we have to do for tomorrow tonight"

"Yeah I am happy we are doing that together" She said smiling

"Me too" I said giving her a soft kiss she returns

"You can go shower now" She said giggling as she got out of the bed as did I. I watched as she slipped on her slippers while in sweat pants and a t-shirt and left my room. I walked into the bathroom and stepped under the water letting it relax my body rinsing the dirt of school from my body. I was done, school, for another summer, done high school and it felt like it was all washing off of me.

(A/N: Okay so important conversation here with Mitchie and Mrs. Gray so this is Mitchie's point of View)

I walked downstairs and into the kitchen. I made my way straight to the fridge getting stuff out. I would start with chopping up the onions and lettuce, so we can start almost right away. Tacos also lifted my spirits especially Shane's he was a master atm. I turn around putting the stuff on the counter and jumped back against the fridge holding my heart.

"Oh god you scared me" I said taking a deep breath seeing Mrs. Gray standing there with a smirk on her face.

"Sorry, I see Shane got you making tacos" She asked

"No he is making them after his shower, I am getting stuff ready"

"You need comfort food" She asked and I nodded

"Yeah I feel like I do" I said sighing

"Mitchie If you ever need to talk, I am here" She said

"Thanks Mrs. Gray"

"For the thousandths time Mitchie please call me Anna" She said and I nodded.

"With that…" I say taking a deep breath "Do you think maybe we could talk, I need to talk with someone, and I can with Shane but maybe you can help a little more" I asked and she nodded

"Anytime Mitchie, do you want to sit down and we can talk?" She asked and I nodded

"Okay" I say and we make our way into the living room and I curled up in a corner of the couch as she sat on the other side of the couch.

"Mitchie what is bothering you? I can see you are upset had have been since last Thursday"

"Shane didn't tell you anything?" I asked and she shook her head

"No I didn't want to ask him and he respects your privacy, it's your place to tell not his, I wouldn't ask him to do that" She said and I nodded smiling. Shane was as perfect as they come.

"Okay well you know how I am staying here because the fight with my parents. I wanted to focus on my exams and everything and it was just better if I was here and happier" I said

"Yeah and we love having you here" She said and I had to smile at that. She was practically like my mom; it was almost awkward but not quite.

"Well I went over on Thursday and we got into another fight" I said sighing.

"Oh Mitchie" She said moving over and giving me a hug which I didn't hesitate to return. "What happened?"

"My parents and I have never been on the best of terms. In grade 9 they started extending their business trips to weeks sometimes almost a month to vacation where the meetings had taken place. They came home after that but not for long so I barely ever saw them. I lived at home by myself. This summer they said they wanted to spend time with me and I wanted that. I am leaving to New York in the fall as you know and I don't think I will want to come back" I said and she nodded

"That's understandable you will do wonders at Julliard" She said and I nodded

"Well I wanted to spend time here with them and my friends and Shane and they decided that being here to spend time with me wasn't what they wanted. They are going to Rome, Paris, England and Ireland and god I want to see those places so bad but not this summer. They wanted me to go as they extended all their stays so they can make the meetings but stay longer as well. They leave Thursday and aren't coming back until after I leave for New York"

"That's not right, wait but didn't your mom see you on Friday for your prom and this prom is she missing that."

"She was there but we didn't talk and she is missing this Friday's. They don't care and I know it. They tell me they do when I accuse them of it but they have nothing to show for it. There are no pictures of the three of us or me on the main level of the house. It's all landscaping pictures of other parts of the country and the world."

"I am sure they love you Mitchie but they have a bad way of showing it that is very noticeable, I can see it hurts you"

"More than anything" I said and she nods. I see her eyes flicker to the stairs and she carefully nods her head. I hear footsteps fade into the kitchen. I knew it was Shane but I decided not to bring it up. "I got so upset I had to leave and took off running down the stairs and my dad started following me. I always was a daddy's girl. I got along with him and he had been at every dance recital no matter one. I think I was mostly angry at my mom missing everything and needing her through high school. That's when a teenage girl needs their mom the most and she was never there for me. I did everything myself and it hurt and I don't love her as much as my dad, but she is my mom I still love her. I was running to the door and I was so mad I said I hate you well I screamed it and left. I didn't mean it but that is all they are going to know on their trip. Also I told them loud and clear I will not be here waiting with open arms when they come back. They don't deserve it, but they don't deserve my hatred either" I said now crying as she hugs me.

"Mitchie I am sure they know you didn't mean it. I do think you should talk to them before they leave. There is graduation tomorrow"

"I don't even know if they are coming to see me graduate at Anaheim. I already did at CSPA so I don't know if they care enough."

"Well if they love you like they say they should most definitely be there"

"Yeah and Anna this might sound selfish but I am not going to be the one to go first and apologize. I did that last time and it just blew up in my face"

"It shouldn't be you Mitchie. It's not selfish at all. They should realize there mistake and realize they aren't the best parents in the world and apologize to you and make it up to you.

"I doubt that is going to happen, them making it up to me, but thank you"

"I doubt it to but it's what should happen" She said and I nodded.

"They aren't good parents at all. They were when I was younger and I thought all parents leave and go do business all over the country and the world but I know so much better and that it's so wrong. I don't know if they're coming and I am not talking first so we might just not be on good terms for a while"

"That is hard but I know you can get through it Mitchie. You are strong and I have known you for a bit and I already love you like my daughter so does Andrew." She said and I smiled

"Thank you, for listening I just, you are a mom and I thought you would be able to help and you did." I said smiling.

"Even if they do come Mitchie you can be assured we will be standing up cheering for you when they call your name because there is no way you don't deserve a standing ovation" She said and I smiled huge now.

"Thank you so much Anna" I said hugging her "The house will be rather lonely and cold this summer" I said

"Don't be silly, you are not staying at your house during the summer. Sure sometimes when you and Shane want to be alone I understand that fully but you are staying here, and no if and's or buts" She said and I smiled but I had discussed this with Shane already and he understood.

"Thank you but I already discussed this with Shane. I love staying here and cuddling with him and feeling his arms around me. I feel so safe in his arms and I sleep amazingly. This fall though if I get used to it my bed at school will feel so cold and so unwelcoming. I want to want to lie down in my bed at school and feel happy and safe and fall asleep. I will miss Shane's arms way to much if I sleep with him every night that I think it will be even harder than it already will be. We have the whole summer and we can maybe have sleepovers if you allow it but other than that I think it would be in both our best interests if I stayed home" I said. Shane felt the same way because together we had already discussed this.

"Well I am happy you too agreed on that but I don't want you living at your house by yourself all summer. If you want to stay there maybe Shane can stay there" She asked

"No the same reason he thought of that as well" I said smiling. Her and Shane are so a like. I knew he always got along well with his mom and I was really happy about that. One of us had a good relationship with our parents. His dad was also getting along really well with him and that made me beyond happy.

"Well I believe you need adult supervision then so you don't get into each other's bed every night so stay here. Move in here for the summer. We can make you up a room. We don't mind I understand you want to spend some nights at your house but you need to call some place home this summer and it might as well be here, we would love it" She said smiling.

"You are still going to make it incredibly hard to be away from Shane but my bed might just seem a little bit warmer and I will be staying at home by myself some nights" I said and she smiled.

"So this means."

"Yes I will stay here for the summer, in my own room… most of the nights" I said blushing and she just laughs.

"That sounds perfect, do you want anything special in that room of yours" She asked and I shook my head.

"I am sure I can bring things to make it home like, I will handle that. Supplying the room, bed, bathroom and closet is all you need to do" I smile and she nodded

"Done, now it smells really good and I am sure Shane is Jealous I am stealing all your time today so go spend it with him and if I don't see you later today I will see you tomorrow on that field cheering you on"

"Thank you so much Anna" I said giving her a hug then standing up. I smile looking back as I reach the door of the living room. I then turn and head into the kitchen where I see Shane cooking up his tacos which did smells amazing.

I walked up behind him at the stove and wrapped my arms around him from behind. "Hi" I said smiling kissing the back of his neck which sent a slight shiver down his back which was incredibly adorable.

"Hi, did you have fun with my mom?" He asked

"Yeah she helped, you and you have a new house mate for the summer" I said and he smiled.

"She changed your mind" She asked and I nodded

"Yes but in my own room and some nights we will share a bed here and at my house. Also some night I will be there by myself" I said and he nodded

"I don't care this is amazing" He said stopping cooking and turned around picking me up spinning me around as I laughed. I don't know why but I no longer wanted to stay in bed. I was looking forward to these tacos but I knew this summer no matter what happened tomorrow I would be happy and live my life like I was meant to. My parents may not be my favourite people, or my biggest fans but I would not let them ruin my summer. I am determined it will be one of the best summers of my life, one I was sure to never forget.

(A/N: Alright so I figure that was an important part of the story and creating their relationship for the sequel. Now back to Shane for the rest of the chapter)

It is now about 10:30 and I am just laying down in bed after the day. Mitchie is having a shower. Today was amazing. She had an amazing talk with my mom and I was really happy she was able to help Mitchie. I was also excited Mitchie would be staying here this summer. I understood why she would be at her house alone sometimes but then again I couldn't be happier at this moment. I was so glad my mom thought of her own room. We ate our tacos which were amazing as usual then we just went for a walk around the neighbourhood for a bit then came back and played video games and watched movies in the basement for the rest of time. Well after dinner we had some stuff to finish for tomorrow which now led us to right now as I am lying in bed waiting for Mitchie to join me so we could get some rest.

I smile hearing the bathroom door open and look up to see my beautiful girlfriend. I always admire her natural beauty I really had seen no other girl like this, so natural so gorgeous, she could go out without make-up and she would honestly be the most gorgeous woman in the world. She was all natural and I loved every second of it. She was in a tank top and only a pair of pink lace trimmed panties. She was hot and gorgeous all together. Her still damp hair was tied on top of her head in a messy bun. I let out a smile as she walks over and my eyes go wide as she climbs onto the bed and on top of me straddling my legs and leaning down kissing me. Not going to complain I would enjoy this. I wrap my hands around her hips and kiss back as well.

Soon enough we are laying down her body hovering over mine our legs tangled together, my arms holding her close and our lips together. The kiss was getting very heated. With that I turn off the light on my bedside table and together let ourselves get lost in the love we share for each other as the darkness swallows us.

It is now Wednesday morning and we are in the gym at school in our gowns lining up and getting ready to take our seats in alphabetical order in the chairs outside set up in the field for our graduation. I gave Mitchie a hug as she went to stand in her spot as we were almost ready. She looked amazing in her cap and gown she was so gorgeous. I roll my eyes at how cheesy I was being but honestly I don't think I really cared in this moment.

All together as the doors opens and we made our way in a single file line towards the front through the crowd taking our seats in the gorgeous white chairs. The principal will speak then call us to get our diploma's, then awards, scholarships, the valedictorians speech then the closing speech by our principal and when we toss our caps into the air we were done, and that would be an amazing feeling.

I sat down but not before I noticed familiar faces. Kenzie, Amy and Laura were sitting with Bryan's family and I knew Mitchie was happy they would be here as well as Bryan of course. Mandy was sitting with Josh's family who was sitting with mine. I also noticed near the back Mitchie's parents were there and they are lucky they were cause if they didn't show up I would somehow make sure they got a piece of my mind before the left. I was so happy for Mitchie; even if they didn't talk they showed up to celebrate this.

It was finally 2 hours later. The principal finished her speech, the diplomas and awards have been given out. Mitchie receiving almost every academic one and I received a couple for athletics so I was happy about that.

"Now" started the principal who was now back at the podium "We all know you want to hear who is standing up and speaking for you as your valedictorian this year but we have one more important piece of business we have before that. For all sports scholarships we have received and you will get a list of all your scholarships with your diploma before you leave when you hand in your cap and gown. However there is a couple we want to announce. They have worked so hard all these years and dream schools have lined up. There are 4 sports stars of our school who will find out one of their offers right now. They aren't are baseball 3 are and 1 is soccer so here it is." We all cheered and waited. "So for our soccer start who has been offered a scholarship to UCLA Mr. Adam Marshall" She called and we clapped although I didn't like him ever since he did that to Mitchie. He stand up as a lot of people cheered while other did polite claps. "Next we would like to congratulate Bryan Anderson who got offered a scholarship to also UCLA" She said and we all clapped and whistled as Bryan stood up. I was getting anxious. "Next we will congratulate Josh Masterson who had also received a scholarship to UCLA, which I know you are all happy about" She said and we all jumped up and cheered not caring anymore. The whole team was standing. This was crazy now I was hoping it was my turn.

"Sit down please" She said and we all sat down fast. "This will not come to a shocker as the next person I will be announcing. He has the longest list of scholarship offers of the history for our baseball team which isn't surprising to any of us. We are sure we know what school this star will be accepting. So another recipient of a UCLA scholarship offer, your MVP of the last 3 years, your athleticism award of the year, the most athletic involved male of the senior class and your captain, everyone you may stand up and celebrate as the final recipient is none other than Mr. SHANE GRAY!" She shouted and everyone in the graduating class and the spectators stand up as I blush. Why did I need a whole speech about me? I raised my hand and smiled as the guys cheered and I caught sight of Mitchie cheering and screaming as well.

We all settled down after about 5 minutes and it was time for the valedictorians. Yes plural there was two and because I was one of them I knew that. "Alright" the principal once again started "We are now going to get the speech from our valedictorian. However this year we couldn't decide on just one so we have two. They are going to be making a speech together that they have written. They are both chosen for different reasons and also are very unlikely, so we thought to be paired. However you all know them as practically one now, so welcome to the stage your 2011 graduation class valedictorians, Shane Gray and Mitchie Torres" She announces and I smiled making my way to the aisle. I waited for Mitchie and I gave her quick hug locking our hands as people awed and we made our way onto stage and to the podium to make our speeches.

"Thanks you Mrs. Ganders" Mitchie said as we took our places "Welcome family, friends and fellow students of our graduating class and thank you for joining us. You can see we have clearly been chose for different reason. The golden boy of school here beside me and al about the athletics have been chosen due to that and me because I have excelled in academics but either way we both agreed we both deserve to be standing up here."

"Together we both share what school is about, Academics, sports, friends and everything in between. You expect Mitchie here to talk about academics and me sports but we have been working on this speech for a couple of weeks together and decided to switch it up a bit. We all know how important academics is and to see it from a point of view for someone who doesn't excel in it is what you are going to get and for the sports side we are going to hear from a spectators point of view and not a player. So as the gentleman I am" I said and everyone laughed. "Mitchie Torres everyone" I said and squeezed her hand quickly before I backed up and let Mitchie speak.

"School is something we don't want to do but we have to but it is a good thing we do. We learn many things but in high school it gets a little different. I don't play sports but here in Anaheim and all around the country sports is a huge part of a community especially at a competitive level in high school. I am a spectator of sports but I know many people who play and they make a school just as much as the academics do. The players pour their souls into their sport. It becomes everything to them, it's their passion their life. They have it almost harder than we do. Keeping up grades but staying on their A-game is what they strive for and it's hard but for their passion and their school they do it. They do it for us, for their school for the school pride. No matter what they fight through it to represent the sports high schools place their pride on. The pressure is there but they do it for not only us as spectators and school peers but for themselves. We heard most of them all have scholarships offers and for them we are all so proud. Our school is known for our baseball team and others close following. Sports is one of the bigger parts of our school so for all our sports team and the players let's give them a hand for making the sports part of our high school experience amazing with many championship games to come watch, win or lose, thank you to all the players" She said clapping and everyone claps as well. I clap and smile. She did very well with the sports part now if I can do well with the academic speech we had prepared together, I step up to the podium and she steps back, this could either be good or a disaster.

"I don't think I, as a player could say it much better then she could about how our sports affect our high school experience. As a player I am not the best within Academics but it is the most important aspect of high school, well most people believe that. As a sports player we work our butts off for it but we are jealous of everyone who worries about school work like we do for our sport. It comes easy to a lot of you or that's all you focus on. We come to school to learn what we need for what we want to do and become with our lives. No matter if you are a dancer, a sports player, a member of the band or a chess team captain we all need to learn academics to move on. Maybe not ALL the knowledge we get will be helpful but is we required and therefore we do it. Sometimes we rather not but we push through to be what we want and work at it. A lot of us watch the other students, get help if we want, happy for all our peers who excel at academics and high praise them for the knowledge they take from classes, others really could care less about. We should celebrate all the academic achievements we all made. All of us together helped this school show pride of academics. Well some more than others but we still have pride to show for it. So everyone help me give a hand to all of our graduating class, whoever they are for our academic achievements separate and as a whole for our school" I said and we all erupted in applause as Mitchie walks back up to the podium squeezing my hand. "I am not good at all the insight into the future what high school meant and all that, so for that here once again is Mitchie Torres" I said clapping and Mitchie smiles. I read this part of the speech and I'm sure many people would agree with what she was saying. It was written amazingly, but I helped, a little.

"Thank you Shane" She started and I smiled. "High school is required and sometimes we hate it but we all know it's necessary. They always say it is the best four years of your life but being through it, we all know that is completely wrong. High school can down right suck. It drains you and affects you in all ways. It is emotionally, physical and mentally challenging. There are good parts and bad parts and just plain horrible parts for everyone. These years are important and we do the best we can but by no means are they the best of our lives. They say once we graduate and head into college and the real world that our lives begin but I don't agree. Our lives as growing older becoming adults and become want we want with our lives started when we walked through those front doors scared to death on the first day of grade 9. We look up to the seniors and thrive towards those days through everything else we must go through. Our lives have already started. We are ending these four but there are so many more years we are once again diving in full speed ahead. A bit more of choices for us but then again we make life what we want and we should all have no regrets from our high school experience. We live and we learned and we will still do that, if we made mistakes we learned form that and that experience is what high school is all about. This isn't about ending the best time our lives or worst but for celebrating one more part we accomplished moving into the rest of our lives and accomplishments we will all achieve when we strive for them" She finished and it was my turn.

"We are asking you to celebrate our accomplishment of graduating together. We all got through high school with all the obstacles thrown our way. We went through the social aspects, accepting who are, finding where we fit and people we always want to stay in touch with us. They say we don't always keep friends from high school but we do, we find friends for life and we will continue to do so as soon as we leave through those doors today. Some we might want to forget but then again all of you, my fellow peers we all made our high school experience what they were together, so thank you. Together as our senior class we were wondering if you wanted to start a tradition. Before we hand in our cap and gowns tonight for our diploma I am hoping you all join following me and Mitchie as we walk once more as seniors through the halls of our school and then stop of the front steps and all together we will get our picture together we will then as one walk back to the gym to hand in our gowns. Each year after this we hope every senior class as one will follow this example and for one final time all together walk through those doors for we will always be the 2011 graduations class"

"OF ANAHEIM EAST HIGH SCHOOL" Mitchie and I screamed together as we all tossed our hats into the air. Mitchie and I grabbed our and locked hands walking off stage. We stood in the aisle just past the chairs as the seniors in twos started lining up.

"Thank you Shane and Mitchie. We think this walk through is an amazing idea and it will be something we keep going. I want all of us to clap and cheer for our graduates as they emerge into the rest of their lives. Let's stand and let them know we are proud as together they head into the school for the final time, your graduating seniors of 2011" The principal called.

I squeezes Mitchie's hand as together we lead the senior class towards our walk through in the glory as the parents, family and friends stand cheering as we make our way towards the school, a tradition me and Mitchie will always remember that we started.

We finish and hand in our gowns and everything and all head towards the parking lot. There were a lot of parties tonight and the whole baseball team and some others including our other friends were making our way towards Andrew's house, one of our fellow players for the graduating party. Before we leave I see my parents and watch as Mitchie's walk over to her. A smile played on her lips as I believe her dad apologized and I think she did to. I watched as they shared hugs. I knew she still wouldn't be there with open arms but they were leaving on better terms.

She joined me and we said by to my parents and the others as we all got into cars. Another thing we seniors did as we all headed off for the parties and night that we will all again for probably one final time in our chosen groups, be celebrating completing four years of our lives that will be unforgettable.

It is now about 4:00 on Friday and I and the guys were just about ready to go pick up the girls from Mitchie's house. Last night Mandy, Mitchie and Amy stayed at her house and were getting ready there today for the prom. They had decided to do their makeup and hair by themselves as the spa was apparently expensive. I was excited for yet another amazing prom and after party this time at Josh's parent's lake house.

Bryan, Josh and myself were the three sharing the limo this time. We got into the limo at 5:30 and are heading to Mitchie's house. Summer has begun and after tonight high school was officially in our past and the best summer, well for me the best summer of my life was starting and it would be one I know I will never forget.

We arrive at Mitchie's house and walk into the door as I texted Mitchie saying we were here and we lined up at the bottom of the stairs waiting for them to emerge. We all held a corsage in our hands waiting to place them on their wrists. We weren't taking before-hand pictures but we would make sure we got enough of all of us during the night. We all had rooms in the lake house and we all had keys in our pockets for our own rooms, so no-one else could get in and was ours for the night with our girls.

I get a text from Mitchie saying they were ready and I tell the guys as we all pay attention to the stairs. Together smiles come onto our faces at the same time. Together with arms linked our girls step onto the stairs. They all smile giggling as step by step they make our ways towards us. We were the three luckiest men in the world as our women step of our stairs into our arms looking like super models. I had to say myself Mitchie looked better than last Friday, still gorgeous but more natural in the sense.

Together we placed corsage's on their wrist and we all locked hands as together we made our way to the limo heading towards our second and final prom, another night which we would never forget, our last high school function, it was unreal and bitter sweet at all the same time. We all know it was coming to an end as the limo once again picked up speed and we headed towards the venue for our prom.

A/N: Longer then I planned for that part so I will get to the prom next chapter and probably just the prom and after party. I am drawing a line if the chapters are long or not there is 5 left and I have them planned. I am ending it so if you don't want a sequel you don't have to read it but for those who want one I am writing one. I have idea and really exciting things for it, so I hope you will follow this story into it. I loved this chapter and am happy about it. I will get the next chapter up as soon as I can. Hopefully sooner than later. Mitchie is going to be living with Shane and their summer is going to be fun. Also Shane got his scholarship, YAY! I would love to hear your comments on this chapter. If you any have favourite parts I would love to hear them as well. I think the speech and them starting the walk through tradition was my favourite. Please read and review, enjoy!

~Kim