Disclaimer: I only own Gemma and my other OC's.

Sorry it took so long to get this up. Was at my grandmother's for the past week to celebrate her 75th birthday and of course she doesn't have wifi. It took me a couple of days to actually write this because I wanted this one to be absolutely perfect. There is so much going on in this on and I didn't want to mess anything up. Hope you love it!

ENJOY!

Chapter 38

Graduation Day

Today is the day that we have waited what seems like forever for, graduation day. Paul, Leah, and Jared are so excited for today and you think I would be too but I'm more nervous than anything. I found out a week ago that I was valedictorian and I speechless. Of course everyone else was extremely proud of me but they are not the ones who have to get up in front of hundreds of people and make a speech.

I worked my fingers and brain harder than ever to make sure my speech was perfect. I haven't let anyone, not Paul, Leah, or even my parents hear it. I felt like it would stress me out more.

The graduation march starts to play and we make our way to our seats in the way we practiced for the past two days. I was so nervous I couldn't look out to the cheering crowd and look for my loved ones, so I keep my eyes looking straight with a smile on my face.

Since our school isn't very big, especially the senior class; we are arranged in alphabetical order instead of by GPA. This was more of a relief to me because Jared was right next to me with Leah next to him. Paul was two rows behind.

As the ceremony starts with the introductions of special guest and the commencement speech, I tune out. I'm so nervous I can't make my brain focus on what's being said. It wasn't until Jared got my attention that it was my turn to give my speech. Leah reaches over him and give my hand a reassuring squeeze as I stand up to head to the stage.

When I step up to the podium where my speech was waiting for me I take a deep breath trying to get my nerves under control before I make a fool out of myself or faint. I make eye contact with Paul and he gives me that smile that warms up my heart and I instantly felt at ease with my nerves and felt confident.

"Tonight, we gather together as one graduating class, one community, to celebrate a journey. Good evening teachers, parents, special guest, and fellow graduates. This journey began just over a decade ago. As I look around tonight at all the graduates, I am flooded with memories. Of course, the first that comes to mind is a reflection to twelve years ago where our school experience began. Each one of us undoubtedly remembers that first day of school. While we all did not attend the same elementary school, I am sure that our individual experiences on that particular day were quite unique an resemble similar feelings of anticipation and anxiety. Who walked who to the bus stop, who walked who to the school doors that day?

Looking back, we know now that there were indeed mutual feelings of not wanting to let go. Our parents came to help us carry our lunch boxes, our school bags and to let us go from the security of home into this new setting, this new world that they knew would be a challenge for us, as it would be for them. Once the bell rang and the journey began, there was wonder about this new place that would become like a second home for us.

When we walked through the school doors, we all saw many new faces. In fact, I believe what got us through those first days were those new faces, our peers, our acquaintances and our potential friends who were right there beside us, feeling and experiencing the same changes that we were feeling.

Tonight we sit here as the La Push High School graduating class of 2006; a group of determined and devoted students ready to encounter another new world, with many new faces. As we look around, we do not see the little girls and little boys that mom and dad watched leave home for the first time, but rather the energetic young adults that we have grown to be. We are all here because we have a reason to dress in the spirit of celebration, both individually and as a class; a night like this that I believe, truly comes but once in a lifetime marks the culmination of our school accomplishments.

Several years ago, as either pre or early teens, we moved from our respective elementary schools, to middle and high school. Since then, there have been many memories, far to many to get into specifics, but, when we leave here, we will hold on to many sentimental times-those Friday night football games, school trips, school spirit activities, the dances, and of course, most importantly, the friends that we made along the way.

Throughout our years in La Push, we have become even closer to the friends we already had, and we have made some fantastic new ones that we know will bridge the future to life long friendships.

The experience of our school years here have been teachers all of whom have given to our success; there are those who for each of us, have prompted us forward and have been a special inspiration. Whatever the experience might be, we could have never gotten here today without the help and support of our families, our peers, and our teachers and the other support staff around the school who really make a difference.

Now that we look back at these precious years, we realize that we have really learned so much more than just information from textbooks. This journey had taught us about life. We have had many lessons taught to us, for which we have to thank many people. We have learned about ourselves, our interests, our talents, and we have made informed decisions about our future endeavours. I believe that most important thing that we have all learned at this point is that even though we are here to represent our school community as it's graduating class, we are all individuals. We are all different and special for our own reasons. We have learned that we have to be ourselves and follow our own paths. We will never please everyone, so we must engage our futures keeping our own happiness in mind. If we all know this, believe it and live it, we will all accomplish something very special.

These are the days worth living for. These are surely the days that we will never forget. We will carry the memories of this challenging journey with us for the rest of our lives. While I am so honoured to be your valedictorian, I am even more honoured to be graduating with such an admirable group of people; a group who exerts enormous amounts of potential and ambition, giving us all the opportunity to be whatever we want to be.

Eleanor Roosevelt once said,"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." Tonight we celebrate our graduation, an achievement that reflects dedication, devotion and perseverance that will aid in someday making our beautiful dreams a reality.

In conclusion, I feel that we must remember that our school years have helped us build character and a sense of who we are. Each one of us possesses the ability to achieve success in the future. We must try our best and never settle for anything less, because soon we will be faced with many new challenges, as we embark upon a new journey. But for now, our reason to be here is to celebrate, so lets live the moment.

Graduates of the class of 2006, here's to the memories of the past and the prospects of a bright future. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart for this touching opportunity. Truly, it means the world to me. Here's to us. This is our night. Congratulations!"

The gym was filled with applause, whistles, and cheering. I felt so relieved and amazing after my speech. As I make my way back to my seat I look at the faces of my fellow graduates to see so many smiles, especially from those that were apart of Paul's fan club and surprisingly, Leo. Now that we're graduating, all the old drama is going behind us.

I am embraced by Leah and Jared. "That was beautiful!" Leah whispers to me. "So much better than all those dull and boring speeches that are given every other year," Jared tells me. My heart swelled at their words. I turn in my seat to look at Paul to see so much pride in his eyes. He knows just how stressed out I was over that. He mouths 'I love you' to me and my heart just swells that much more. I mouth 'I love you too' to him and they start to hand out the diplomas.

"Gemma Marie Black," the principle calls out and I can hear my loved ones screaming my name and cheering for me. I don't look up at them as I step out onto the stage with a skip in my step, I just know if I do look at them, I'll fall.

When all the diplomas are handed out, the final speech is made. At the words of "Congratulations class of 2006" we all throw our caps in the air as we cheer and hug each other.

Jared, Leah, and I are in a tight embrace when Paul comes behind me joining in on the hug and I have to say, being in the center of three people with 108 degree body temperature, it gets extremely hot. I started to sweat. When we pull apart, Paul lifts me up and kisses me passionately, not caring who is watching us. I pull away for some much needed air and look him deeply in those amazing chocolate-brown eyes of his that I love so much. "We did it," it came out about as loud as a whisper but he could hear me perfectly fine.

"We did. Your speech was absolutely amazing. I'm so proud of you." I feel my face heat up with a blush. "Thank you."

Paul sets me back down on my feet and we all go looking for our families in the crowd that is now out of the stands and now on the gym floor. We went outside knowing it would be so much easier to find them that way. I was actually starting to feel claustrophobic.

Paul, Jared, Leah, and I were standing together talking about the ceremony and my speech when Leah is the first to notice our families who were all together; my parents, Uncle Billy and Jacob, Jason, Leah's parent's and Seth, Jared's parents, Sam and Emily, even Charlie came.

As we slowly make our way to them, I stop in my tracks and my heart speeds up when I notice one more face next to my mom with their arm around her...Alan. Paul gives me a questionable look, "Babe are you ok?" I don't even answer him, I let go of his hand, throwing my diploma at him and take off running as fast as I can with my heels.

When my parents notice me running they point me out to Alan. He smiles brightly and breaks free of them and meets me halfway. I jump into his waiting arms wrapping my arms around his neck and legs around his waist. We held onto each other so tightly. I didn't even realize I was crying until he calls my name for me to look at him and he chuckles softly as he wipes away my tears.

"Why are you crying Peanut?" He asks with that signature smile of his that I missed so much. I release my death grip on him, standing on my own two feet but holding onto his arm with one hand and touching his face with the other. "I can't believe that you're here. We haven't talked in two months and here you are. You're actually here!" A few more tears slide down my face as I pull him into another tight hug making him chuckle. "Well it wouldn't have been a surprise if I told you then would it?"

We break apart from our embrace when a harsh clearing of a throat is made. I turn to see an angry Paul who is shaking and being held back by Jared and Sam, "Who the hell is this and why does he have his hands all over you?" Paul growls.

I could understand why he was getting so angry but he needs to relax. I smile at him despite the furious look I was getting. I grab Alan's arm earning another growl from Paul and pull him towards Paul.

"Paul, honey, this is Alan...my brother." Paul instantly stops shaking. "Your...your brother?"

I laugh, "Yes, my brother. Alan this is my boyfriend Paul." Sam and Jared release their hold on him when they realize that he's nice and calm. Despite seeing my crazy, angry, jealous boyfriend; Alan kept a smile on his face the entire time and stuck his hand out, "Nice to finally meet the guy my little sister has been talking about since the day I met her?"

Paul clears his throat as he takes Alan's hand shaking it, "Yeah, same here. Sorry about that. I'm not afraid to admit that I'm a jealous and possessive boyfriend."

Alan chuckles, "I can understand that. Gemma is a great girl. I'm very protective of my little sister even though we're not blood," he says wrapping an arm around my shoulders making me roll my eyes. "What am I going to do with you two?" They both just laughed at that. I can see them two becoming good friends.

Since that confrontation was over I decided that now I should introduce Alan to Leah and Jared since he was already acquainted with everyone else. "Alan, this is Jared," They shook hands and then I led him over to where Leah is, "And this beautiful girl, is Leah, my sister I've told you so much about."

As he went to shake her hand, my heart stops at the sight in front of me. They are both frozen with their eyes locked on each other, that light shining in both of their eyes. I instantly knew what just happened.

Leah just imprinted on Alan!

I really hope you all liked it. I worked so hard on this especially the speech. But Leah FINALLY imprinted! Remember to review!