A/N Hey guys I'm out of school for the summer, and I've been doing some writing on some other stuff too. So maybe you'll get some more good stuff this summer. But as for this summer, this story WILL be finished, believe that. Happy reading!
21 May
Natalya sat scrolling on her phone until the ceremony started. School had let out on Friday, and today was Gilbert and all of her friends graduation.
"Hey Natty, do you have any snacks?" Ludwig asked looking up at Natalya.
"Let me check." She said and leaned over to Katyusha. "Do you have any snacks?"
Katyusha thought for a minute and looked in her bag before pulling out a bag of pretzels. She took them and handed them to Ludwig.
"Thank you." He said politely.
"You're welcome." Natalya said just as politely.
Ludwig opened the bag of pretzels, and pulled one out. "Hey Natty, how come you're not down there with Gilbo?"
"Because I'm not done with highschool yet, I still have one more year. Then I'll be down there."
"Oh, okay." He said nodding in understanding. "Pretzel?" He offered, showing her one in his hand.
"No thank you."
Soon, the ceremony started with staff first marching in with their caps and gowns, following the graduating class. There were first opening remarks from the principal, and then a speech from the Valedictorian, Yao Wang.
"And now, following my speech will be the speech of the Salutatorian...Gilbert Beilschmidt." He spoke reluctantly before leaving the stage.
Murmurs arose from the graduating class as Gilbert bounded his way up the stairs to the stage with a paper in his hand. Gilbert got to the podium, grinning widely. He got up close to the microphone. "I bet none of you were expecting me up here." He said as he looked out into the crowd.
Natalya put a hand on her head. She had been dreading this moment, and honestly, she was just hoping that he was courteous enough to censor himself. Maybe this won't go as bad as she thought it up to be in her head. This was after all, still a school function.
"I just want to also start off by saying, no this isn't a joke, yes I'm actually smart, so smart I got into M.I.T on a full ride, just to rub your faces in it a little more about my unknown awesomely superior intelligence. I honestly do believe, this has been the biggest prank I've ever pulled my high school career. Presenting myself as a troubled teen to lower the suspicion of my extremely high grades. I'm not like any of the past Salutatorians this school has had, nor do I aim to be. I gotta admit, I really didn't want you guys knowing how smart I was. Getting Salutatorian was something I just didn't expect to get. A friend told me, I should have gotten detention more. My girlfriend told me that while I was busy skipping class and missing homework assignments, I must have still been doing good on test and quizzes. But the silver lining in all of this was writing this speech, a speech that gives full immunity for whatever I have to say, a speech that you will all remember, and that this school, will remember. So here it is:
"If no one has told you this lately, I'm proud of you. I'm so proud of you guys sitting down there. If no one has told you this lately, I love you, you're valued, and you're important. You're going to make a difference one day, whether that be as the CEO of a company, or as a couch potato. I believe in you, I will always believe in you, and I'll never stop believing in you. We live day by day never knowing what people need. When in reality, some people just need a helping hand, a little encouragement, and a whole lot of love. Those things are so easy to do, yet people struggle with doing it every day. Why? What's so hard about helping someone with a problem, or telling them you appreciate them? When do you give that recognition to people that need it or deserve it? When they're dead? That's too long, and too late by then. You give it to them now, and be the change you want to see, because people change people. When you start to help, encourage, and love, you'll see it come back to you as a mirrored wave: reflected and in ten fold. Never stop helping, encouraging, and loving, because that's what they want you to do. There will be people that want to drag you down to the level of darkness and hatred they are at because the light you possess is too strong for them. And what do you do? Keep loving, helping, and encouraging, because that light you have inside you is greater than any darkness or hatred you face in your life. So I leave you with these reminders: You're awesome, and that's coming from the awesomest guy on the planet, so feel honored. You can do any and everything if you just believe, and always remember, that every little thing, is gonna be alright. Thank you." With that he gave the crowd a nod and left off stage.
Graduates and the audience in the stand flew from their seats to applaud Gilbert for his speech.
Natalya could feel her heart almost burst at the seams, she had never been this proud of Gilbert. It was strange, it was like he was being his normal self in front of everyone, a self that she saw everyday behind closed doors. She was glad he overcame his ridiculous fear of letting people know how smart he was, because she felt like that helped him a lot with writing his speech. It had Gilbert written all over it.
.
.
.
"Man that was the best speech I've ever heard, hands down." Alfred said starting up the car. "I knew it would be something good, you had everyone on their feet too."
"Yeah your speech really stood out with people, just what the crowd needed to hear Gilbert." Katyusha said looking back at him.
"Yeah, too bad I won't remember it." Gilbert said.
"Well didn't you grab your speech? You can put it in a memory box or something." Natalya said.
"Oh you mean the paper? That paper was empty."
"What do you mean the paper was empty?"
"What I just said. The paper I took up there was blank."
She blinked. "But, I thought you were writing your speech, what happened to your speech?"
"Eh, I realized that I suck at premeditated writing, so I just winged it."
The answer he gave her left Natalya confused and speechless. He just comes up with an amazing, heartfelt speech that well on the spot? How? She was convinced Gilbert was part robot, like artificial intelligence robot. 'Hm, maybe that's why he didn't want people knowing he was smart. Too smart for his own good.' She thought.
"So Gilbert, you're fresh out the pin with a diploma, what do you want to do first?" Alfred asked.
"Get something to eat, the grad is starving."
Natalya looked at him in disgust. "Oh no, you will not refer to yourself as 'the grad' for today. I refuse."
"Well would you rather it be 'Your Royal Grad?' I think I was being modest."
"Why are you like this Gilbert? Can't you just be un-cocky for five minutes?"
"Listen, that speech is the closest your going to get, and even that wasn't kept for documentation. I don't know what you want from me Nat."
Later that evening, the family arrived home. Natalya pulled off her heels at the door, and sat at the table. "Ugh, we couldn't have gotten home fast enough."
"Yeah this thing is hot." Gilbert said next unzipping his gown and tossing his cap on the table.
Ludwig climbed in the chair next to Gilbert and tried on his cap. It was much too big for his little head, but it was still so very cute on him. "Maybe I can be the next Sandy-torian."
"It's Salutatorian." Gilbert said and turned the tassel to the right side.
"I have been holding this urine since we left the restaurant, so excuse me." Katyusha said as she started her way up the steps.
"So you've got work in the morning right? You should head home before it gets too late." Natalya told Alfred.
Alfred looked back at the staircase, and then back at the kids. "Yeah about that, I've got something to talk to you guys about." He said and sat at the table with them. "So as you guys know, Kat and I are going to have a baby next year, and I'm going back to work tomorrow so I won't be living here anymore."
"It was great having you, make sure you leave your key on the counter, pack up all of your belongings—"
"Actually, Nat, I was thinking to make things easier, and because you guys live here too and I care about your answers, would it be okay if I...you know…moved in?"
"I'm sorry, what?"
"Aw man, you couldn't have thought of this earlier? I'm only gonna be here for the summer before I move out for school. Then you guys are gonna have all the fun without me."
"Does that mean I call you Uncle Alfred?"
"I mean you can say no if you want—"
"Hell no."
"But I feel like this would be good because I'll be a lot closer to work, I'll be here if Kat needs me, or any of you guys. But I just wanted to make sure it was fine with you guys first."
"Yeah it's totally fine with me, I'm going to need someone to take care of them once I leave for school."
"Yeah me too, we can play a lot more if you move in."
Alfred smiled at the two and looked over at Natalya. "Nat?"
"My answer still stands."
"Okay, I figured I would have a hard time persuading you the most Nat, so I prepared for this. Close your eyes." He said and stood.
Natalya sighed and closed her eyes.
Alfred ran over to the closet and pulled out a gift bag before putting it on the table in front of her. "Okay open."
Natalya opened her eyes to find a gift bag now in front of her, she looked in the bag, and pulled at a big t-shirt that said "World's Greatest Aunt" in gold script font. She looked confused for a minute. "Why is it so big?"
"Because I know you'd never step foot outside with it on, so I figured you'd wear it to bed."
Damn this man thought of everything. How could she say no after getting a shirt this cute? "Alright, fine."
Alfred grinned. "Alright!" He said excitedly as he threw two fists in the air. "I'm glad we all agreed on that because I so didn't feel like driving all the way back home tonight." He said and stood from the table. "I'm gonna go check on Kat, I'm sure she's still peeing."
"No way, you get a gift on my graduation, and I get nothing, I'm hurt."
"First of all, you didn't even check your room, and second of all, I haven't even given you my special gift."
"Your special gift?" He asked with a quirk of an eyebrow.
"Mhmm." She said with a nod and a smirk.
Gilbert looked back at Ludwig. "West, it's time for bed."
He sighed. "Already?"
"Yep, sorry for such short notice, but those teeth aren't going to brush themselves, so let's hop to it."
"Okay, but are you gonna come with me? I like brushing my teeth with you."
"Go brush your teeth with your brother, I'll be waiting in my room." Natalya said and stood from the table, going upstairs.
Katyusha climbed into bed and stretched, it's been such a long day, but all worth it.
A few minutes later, Alfred came into the room with his pajamas on, and climbed into the bed with Katyusha. "What are you still doing here? I thought you had work in the morning."
"I do, I'm just leaving from here tomorrow."
"Oh, that's nice, it was getting late anyways."
"Yeah I figured it would be best if I just stayed here tonight...And the next day, and the day after that."
She giggled at his response. "Are you ever going to go home?"
"No."
"What?"
"This is my home, I live here now."
"Well sweetheart I wish you lived here too but you live in an apartment in the city, and that's too far for you to come and visit everyday."
"No Kat, I mean I'm moving here. I asked the kids, and they said it was fine, so I'm going to break my contract tomorrow and move here this week."
Katyusha's eyes widened. "What do you mean you're breaking your lease to live here? Alfred it's not worth the trouble, we can make it work without you having to live here."
Alfred pulled his glasses off and placed them on the nightstand next to the bed. "Kat I'm almost 30, not married, and I'm having a baby, what do I look like caring about where I live? Besides, the commute is better here, and I won't have to be so sad going back to my apartment every time I leave here."
"Aw, you get sad when you have to leave?"
"Everytime. I can never help it, and everytime I get back here I'm happy again. Living with you guys makes me happy, being with you makes me happy, I'm just trying to keep this happiness around."
Katyusha put a hand over her mouth as she felt tears start to well in her eyes.
Alfred sighed. "I knew this was coming." He said pulling her close into his arms.
Katyusha buried her face into his chest. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cry, they're happy tears."
"Yeah, I know they're happy tears."
She sniffled and wiped her tears away. "How did you get Natalya to agree?"
"I had to do a little gift persuasion with her, but I don't know, even if she said no at first, I'm sure she didn't mean it. She told me I make you really happy, and thanked me for giving you what you wanted, so I don't think she hates me as much as she leads to believe."
"She thanked you? Nata has never thanked any of my boyfriends, frankly she hates any man in my life that isn't Ivan, so maybe she actually does like you."
"I'm extremely flattered to hear that Nat may like me. Like just the suspicion of her perhaps liking me is really exciting because I thought I was going to be on her shit list for a while."
"Well I wouldn't go that far, you may still be on it, just really far down."
"Even that's satisfying."
Across the hall in Natalya's room, laid Gilbert and Natalya half asleep.
Natalya looked up at him tiredly. "Did you have a good day?" She asked.
Gilbert had been more tired than Natalya, and was probably closer to sleep than his girlfriend. "Mhmm, great day. Got my diploma, salutatorian, ate a really good steak, got really nice gifts, and a blowjob from my girlfriend." He spoke before his phone buzzed on the nightstand.
"You got a text." Natalya spoke looking beyond him to look as at his phone.
"Don't care, I'll read it tomorrow." He muttered before drifting off to sleep.
Natalya watched as he fell asleep, and she smiled some. She leaned over and kissed his forehead gently before leaning over to turn off her lamp and fall asleep as well.
But on Gilbert's phone, read a text from his father.
I saw you at your graduation today. I was so proud, your mother would have been too. She always told you that you were a smart kid, just a rebel, and you definitely didn't get that from me. I'm proud of you for getting salutatorian, and hearing you give your speech made me realize how similar you are to her. I almost couldn't believe it, it was like I was listening to her. You spoke genuinely, and from the heart, something she would have done. I could tell that you winged it too, you never looked down at your paper once, something she also would have done. And I hope it's not too hard hearing me compare you to her, but I just can't believe that she left so much of her in both you and Ludwig...I'm not asking you to move back in, because I know you're happy where you are, but if a couple days out of the summer isn't much to ask for, I'd love that. Sleep well son, and congratulations on graduating.
A/N I think I may have 2-3 more chapters left on this story, I just want to do a little bit of summer, probably won't have Gilbert leaving for college, but I may idk, you guys know how i am with endings, I suck lol. But we'll get something good. In the meantime, please review, let me know you're still there, and of course see you next chapter.