AN: So I discovered Matt Bennett in an episode of Shameless. Really makes me wanna write a "Robbie and the gang go to different colleges but still talk over IMs or something. But then I remember how much of a wazzbag he can be and it makes me sad.
Disclaimer: the Victorious characters belong to Nickelodeon and Mr. Dan Schneider and all others either are mine or someone else's.
{{ When you leave a beautiful place, you carry it with you wherever you go. (Alexandra Stoddard) }}
It was actually pretty insane to think how it had only been sixteen years since my own high school graduation, but also already sixteen. Back then, we were all together and that was all that mattered. Before the babies and the heartache and the fame, it all seemed so simple back then. The setup was almost exactly identical to ours. Everything felt like nostalgia times a million, seeing the familiar red and white graduates slowly gathering towards the back.
"Sikowitz!" I jumped up and ran over to my favorite teacher of all time, nearly tripling over one or two of my kids.
"Cat!" Sikowitz equally perked up at the sight of one of his most memorable students. "Congratulations to you and your daughter."
"I missed you so much!" I wrapped my arms tightly around him. While my own parents were busy with my brother, Sikowitz had become almost my surrogate father, though he acted in the same manner for all his students. His relationship with his own daughter was strained, and he didn't want to see that happen to anyone else.
"Cat, you saw me last week at the Senior Showcase." He slowly patted my head, unable to move from my death grip.
"Oh…right…" I slowly released the teacher. "Oh! Oh! Robbie said he'd be here soon. And I think Beck and Jade are coming too! We'll have to come find you!"
"Well I have a little bit before I have to be anywhere." He nonchalantly shrugged. Total Sikowitz! "I'd love to come talk with your family."
"Kay kay!" I dragged him back to where the rest of my family was sitting. I wasn't entirely sure if Dylan was excited or annoyed to see his Improv teacher with him mom. Either way, Sikowitz was sitting with us until Robbie or Beck and Jade got here, and honestly, I should be the one afraid of what he could say. Sikowitz witnessed my red hair phase from basically beginning to end!
"Dylan, nice to see you again. Getting ready for a nice summer break?"
"Yes, Mr. Sikowitz." Dylan looked up mildly horrified "Are you-" he looked down at his lap momentarily- "are you here to tell my parents about something bad I did or how I'm not good at Improv?"
"Well-" Sikowitz took a seat in the chair a row in front of my son's- "I can't tell them about something you didn't do. And you're actually doing pretty well for a freshman. Much better than your parents," he whispered with a wink.
"Hey! I wasn't that bad! I pouted in total offense.
"Oh, dear Cat. It took us over three months to get you to stop talking about fairies and bunnies in space," he reminded all of us.
"Well it's common knowledge that fairies and space bunnies would be the best of friends!"
"Well, Mr. Dylan here has gathered much of a following from some of his female classmates. I'd say he's definitely surpassed where his uncle was this early in his career," Sikowitz casually added.
"You're telling me that my son is the new Beck Oliver?" I looked at my mentor astonished.
"No, but simply because he is Dylan Shapiro. You all made your marks, now he's making his. But he may just be good enough to reclaim the Tech Theater title for Shapiro's next Spring."
"Dylan, why didn't you tell us any of this! That's amazing-fantastic-abulous!"
"I didn't think it was a big deal. I'm only a freshman." He shrugged, still not seeing what all the fuss was about.
"Well it's a big deal! A very big deal! And bubba, you're gonna study extra extra hard and take summer classes if that's what it take for you to beat Tori!"
"Ryleigh Paige Styles," a faculty member announced. Hearing my daughter's name was unreal, but watching her walk across the stage to receive her high school diploma was incredible. She had really worked so hard to maintain her place both academically and professionally. Sometimes it got hard to remember that I had only met her when she was four, and haven't known her for her whole life. She just fit so well into our family, and though I was Dylan's biological mother, I felt lucky that they had each other for times when they felt like the outcast of the family. I think the best thing in life you could have is someone who understood you completely, or at least enough to know what you needed to heal and thrive. The proceeding dozens of names didn't matter to me. To be honest, I really hadn't taken my eyes off of Ryleigh this whole ceremony. Everything we could've ever wanted for her, she had. She had grown into an amazing young woman and had only grown in her wit and ability to help others when they needed it most.
"Congratulations, princess!" I ran over to her after the ceremony has ended. I hugged her so tight, I was actually afraid I was going to break her, but she hugged back even stronger. She has outgrown me, but only by a few inches. I had probably said it about a million times already just that day, but I would keep saying it until the day I died. I was just so proud of Ryleigh and graduation was only the first step in her future of greatness. Her graduation party would be happening that weekend, and then she was off to Disneyland for a week and a half as a final hurrah with her friends before they all went their separate ways.
"How does it feel to be done high school?" Harry asked, still getting used to the whole "graduation" thing Americans did.
"Liberating!" she exclaimed, a sigh of relief also existing her mouth. The end of senior year at HA was always packed with making sure you aced your core classes (i.e. Math, English, History, etc.) and preparing for the Senior Showcase, where the senior students presented on what they'd learned over their years at the school. It was always filled with spectacular performances and just a really great representation of the Arts.
"Well next up in the Styles household, Dylan's gonna learn to drive! How does that make you feel?" Ryleigh faked an announcer voice and pointed her phone towards her brother as if it were a microphone. Even as an adult now, she was never one to like too much attention her (which is why I think she took up writing and some drawing).
"No no!" Dylan gently pushed the phone away from himself. "Today is all your day!"
Dear Diary,
Hi it's Cat! Ryleigh has officially joined me and her aunt and uncles as a Hollywood Arts alumni! One of the top in her class overall! Harry and I are born extremely proud of her. I know she would've excelled at any school she wanted to go to, but HA really helped her develop her writing skills. Jade even said that if there was anything she was particularly proud of, Ryleigh was free to hand it off to her and she'd see if she could get someone to look at it. She knows very well that knowing people or being related to celebrities won't get you far, so she works extra extra hard. It always pays off! On a different note, Ian had to ask me today if Sikowitz was another one of his grandfathers. I guess he technically could be, but I didn't want to confuse the poor kid even more by trying to explain it.
Love,
Caterina
PS: Dylan actually drove a car today! Robbie came and picked him up today and took him to a deserted parking lot on the other side of town. Robbie said Dylan was a little nervous at first, but was really getting the hang of it. After earning his driver's permit, he immediately called Robbie and asked if he could take him driving that night. Harry and I had agreed that he would teach them to drive (mainly cause I'd be a worried mess) but he had talked to Robbie (apparently) and had decided that he should be the one to teach him. It was actually really sweet and I know it meant a lot to Robbie to be able to share this experience with his son, seeing as he missed most of Dylan's firsts and had to share the rest with Harry as his stepfather. I'm glad they get along so well. It really, truly makes raising my children a bazillion times easier and I'd hate it if they hated each other. One new driver, one new graduate, and four more to go!
Love,
Caterina
AN: The Sikowitz's daughter thing is based off a Tumblr post I saw one time. Basically, it's that Sikowitz couldn't support his wife/girlfriend and daughter and they just kinda left him. He kept getting updates pictures and stuff from her, but had a bit of a rocky relationship witness her because of this. That's why he's such a great teacher and cares so much about this students. Also, if you look closely, you can see a picture of a little girl in the podium on the stage. Second reference is the whole "is he my grandpa" from GMW (Girl Meets World) where Auggie (Cory and Topanga's son) thinks Mr. Feeny is his grandpa. As I was born like right after it ended and have only seen a few episodes (sorry I'm a bad Philadelphian and 90s kid) but I feel like the type of relationship he has with his students is similar to Sikowitz's and Cat's just very inspired by him. Plus, I think it'd be funny to have a family member you don't really know how they're related to you but you get cards from them and they're at your events. I suppose similarly to some of my dad's friends, one of whom was the head of academics at my high school for 2 years. Got a card in school and felt like a cool kid! I'm cool! I swear! Yep yep!
-Sami
PS: class is killing me but I'm gonna be filled with wine soon so it's okay.
