Ch.29 Graduation

Kaila blissfully slept in her room as the morning sun just began to pick through her window and shine bright warm light on her bed. She slept with a small simple smile across her lips possible dreaming of the prank events that took place yesterday at school. Especially after when to took students two and a half hours to get out of the parking lot when she and Reid locked the gates and threw away the keys.

There was a light breeze coming through the window in her room and if you listened closely it sounded as though it was saying her name.

He father opened the door to his youngest sleeping daughter's room and gently shook her awake.

"Kaila sweetheart, wake up" Kenneth said in a gentle voice as he took a seat on the bed beside her. She slowly opened her eyes and took in the gentle sun light creeping through the window.

"Good Morning" he father said when she looked up at him

"Morning" She said with a slightly raspy voice from sleeping

"This is for you" He said as he handed her a light pink rose and a blue box tied with white ribbon

"Thanks daddy" she said sitting up with a smile

"You're welcome baby girl the rose is from me but the box is from your mother" he said

"What do you mean?" Kaila said a little uneasy

"The first day of your freshman year your mother bought this, she saw it in a store window while we were in town not to long after you were diagnosed. She bought it and after she looked at me and said 'Kaila is going to graduate high school, she will.'" He said losing his composure a little

"I thought you should have it before you graduate today so that in a way she'll be right there with you." He took a card out of his jacket and handed it to her. "This goes with it" he said he kissed her on her forehead and whispered "I am so proud of you" then stood up and walked out of her room closing the door behind him leaving her to open the gift in private.

Kaila stared at the box for minute slight tears in her eyes and gently lifted it off the blanket her father had placed it on. She took her hand a brushed of some of the light dust it collected through the years. She sat it down in her lap and picked up the card and traced her name written on the front of the card in her mother's hand writing she took a deep breath and opened it.

Dear Kaila-, my curious, fearless, daydreamer, charmer of a child,

Today is your graduation day and I cannot even begin to explain to you how proud I am of you. You did it baby girl! It may seem like it's the end now that high school is over. But trust me baby girl it's just the beginning, everything only gets better from here. Now you will truly begin to live. This right here is the real start of your life.

College is just a summer away now, and I want you to take the time to decide what you really want out of life. You're young and if you're the daughter I know you are you have a head full of dreams that will only continue to grow. You won't figure it all out in just one summer and I don't expect you to. But I do want you live Kaila, travel the world, go places you've never dreamed of going before, make mistakes, take risks and love Kaila. Love with all your heart. When you find the one you're supposed to be with forever you'll know in an instant no questions asked. It's a funny thing when he looks at you it's almost as if you're whole future with them flashes before your eyes as if you lived it once right there in just those few seconds.

Live your life to the fullest baby girl make the most of each and every day. Life is short and I don't ever want you to look back and think what if? You are an amazing, smart, talented, beautiful girl with so much life and a bright future ahead of you. Don't take anything thing for granted and always enjoy the simple things. Remember it's the little things in life that count. Lastly always know that no matter what I'll always be here for you. I love you so much more than you will ever know. I'm so proud of you Kaila congratulations and I love you.

Love always and forever,

Mom

Kaila held the letter to her heart and let a few tears fall making a silent promise to her mother right then and there that she would do those things and live everyday to the fullest. She folded the letter and placed it back in the envelope and placed in inside her nightstand draw. She tugged gently on the white ribbon around the box and lifted the lid to reveal a silver graduation cap and little diploma with a bow charm laying in the box Kaila instantly smiled and held the charm up to get a better look and the sun light hit it just perfect. She placed the charm on the bracelet her mother had given her and for some reason the bracelet felt complete.

The door to Kaila's room creaked open and Caleb peeked his head in.

"Good Morning" he said walking into the room carrying two coffees Kaila wiped her eyes and placed the lid back on the box the charm had come in.

"You okay?" Caleb asked sitting the coffee down and taking a seat on the bed next to her.

"I'm fine really; I just opened a gift from my mom, that's all." She said showing him the newest charm

"It beautiful" he said admiring the charm and with a little confusion in his voice.

"She picked it out my first day of high school and planned to give it to me on the day of my high school graduation. My dad just gave it to me" she said resting her head on his chest he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead.

"She wrote me a letter when she bought it too." She said smiling up at him "I made her a promise and I'm going to keep it."

"I'll help you keep it" he said smiling back down at her.

"Thank you" she whispered against his lips giving his a little kiss

She leaned over him and grabbed a coffee "Ready to graduate?" she asked

"As ready as I'm going to get" he said resting his head against her head board

"You nervous?" she asked getting out the bed sipping her coffee

"Very" He said taking a deep breath she looked back at him and smiled "You'll be fine just don't mess up your speech." She said messing with him

'Oh thanks hadn't even though about that." He said pulling his face over his hands like he always did when he was nervous.

"Caleb I was just messing with you, you're going to be great and you're going to give the best valedictorian speech Spenser academy has ever seen. She said kissing his cheek.

"You better be right because if I epically fail it's all your fault." he said tackling her and throwing her on the ground to tickling her.

Kate burst through the door still in her pajamas with a green mask on her face and fuzzy slippers.

"Excuse me some of us are trying to get ready for the most important day of their high school career." She said completely serious

"You mean the last day of your high school career" Kaila said

"Exactly" Kate said closing the door with a slam sending Caleb & Kaila in to hysterics

"And they say I'm not a morning person" Kaila said laughing

"Get dressed my mother is expecting us for 'graduation breakfast'" he said making air quotations

"Awe give her a break she's just excited and she loves you" Kaila said taking a white dress bag off her closet rack and laying it on the bed.

"I know just a year ago you wouldn't recognize her trust me" he said

"That's in the past focus on the future" she said taking her hair down from its bun letting it fall into a mess of curls

"Alright deal, I gotta get out of here anyway she'll kill me if I'm not there before everyone arrives" he said sipping his own coffee and taking his keys out of his pocket.

"Alright I'll be there in fifteen" she said giving him a quick kiss before he left.

So it wasn't exactly fifteen minutes but not too long after Kaila, Kate, and Kenneth arrived at Caleb's House. His mother was throwing a graduation breakfast for the graduates and their parents.

"Welcome welcome come on in everybody's in the back" Evelyn said after opening the door and letting them in.

"Thanks for having us" Kenneth said following behind the girls

"Oh girls you look so beautiful, Caleb bring me the camera" She yelled at her son who came out the kitchen holding the camera in his hand.

"Here mother, but don't you want to wait till" The camera flashed as she took three or four pictures. "Guess not" he said letting his eyes adjust to the light again.

"Come on everyone foods on table" Evelyn said heading to the back with the camera in her hand.

"Sorry, she's been taking pictures since I woke up the morning" Caleb said shaking his head and laughing.

"She just excited" Kenneth said following after her towards the back Kate behind him.

"Her baby's growing up Kaila said pretending to wipe a tear from her eye.

"Oh stop" he said pulling her hand down from her face then kissing her lightly but it deepened quickly

"Well well" Reid said coming through the door with Tyler and both of their parents. Caleb & Kaila quickly pulled apart before their Tyler and Reid's parents came through the door.

"You look nice Reid" Kaila said smiling and resisting the urge to punch him.

"You don't look so bad yourself." He said motioning to her black lace baby doll dress.

"Thank you." She said through gritted teeth turning on her heels and heading to the back with everyone else. "Black fingerless gloves very classy Reid" She said over her shoulder with a sly smile

"Reid what did I tell you about those ratty old gloves." His mother started in

"Mom it's not that big a deal." Reid argued

"Cold" Caleb said in Kaila's ear smiling a little

"Come on everybody get in here let's eat before the food gets cold." Evelyn said as the last of the parents came in the dining room. Pogue picked up a piece of bacon and Evelyn mindlessly slapped it out of his hand.

"Now before we eat I'd just like to say how proud I am of all of you. Caleb, my son, you make me proud to say I'm your mother, I love you very dearly and I can't wait to see where life leads you next. I know you'll continue to make me proud no matter what you do. Boys you have all three been like son's to me from the start, I've spent many a nights worrying about each and every one of you but it's only out of love and because I care. I've watched you grow from little boys playing in the dirt to well behaved young men,"

"Most of us" Tyler said glancing at Reid causing everyone to laugh even Reid.

"I ask that you keep your heads firmly on your shoulders and continue to make your parents proud. Girls I'm sorry you've been dragged into this madness of a family." Evelyn said making everyone laugh once more. "Really though I consider each one of you a part of this family you are each such bright beautiful young women & I'm so proud of you, and Kaila just thank you for making my son they happiest he's ever been I can't begin to express what that means to me but I thank you and congratulations to you all." Evelyn said raising her glass in a toast "To the graduates"

After breakfast everyone got dresses in their cap and gowns to get ready for the ceremony Caleb snuck away to the kitchen where his mother was putting away the dished from breakfast and tapped her shoulder.

"Would you do the honors" He said handing her his cap she smiled teary eyed and wiped her hands on a towel then took the navy blue cap from her sons' hands he bent down so she could reach and she placed the cap on his head with the tassel hanging on the right.

"Thanks mom" He said kissing her cheek

"You're more than welcome Caleb." She said smiling

Kaila opened the kitchen door "Come on my dad is dying for pictures" She said smiling

"Oh let me get my camera" Evelyn said before head out to the foyer behind them.

They took numerous pictures ranging from silly ones to funny ones to family ones to the whole group and before they knew it they were heading out the door and up the familiar road to Spenser academy one last time.

When they arrived the group split up heading to different parts of the graduation line so they would be in alphabetical order for the ceremony. Caleb grabbed Kaila before she took off and just looked at her.

"Next time you see me I'll be a high school grad." He said

"Hmm sounds kinda hot" She said smiling

"One kiss for the road" he said giving her a light kiss on the lips

"See ya on the other side" she said turning around and walking arm and arm with Kate to their part of the line. He took a deep breath and headed the opposite direction.

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