Chapter Sixteen: Graduation Night Part Two

Author's Note: And here it is... the last chapter. *sniffle sniffle* I had SO much fun writing this, and I've been waiting to write this chapter for the LONGEST time. Hope you all enjoy it, despite the fact that it's a bit short. And... people have been asking for a sequel... I just don't know if I could do it... we'll see how things go. I did like Buffelyn's idea of a college sequel... hmm... I'll think about it.

* * *

He had remembered.

For a moment, it was as if she couldn't breathe. All she saw was the book lying in front of her, and all she heard was Chris' voice. "It's about love... It's about love, overcoming all obstacles."

She shook her head, remembering where she was. "Um... this year has been a rough year for many of us..." Her curious fingers had opened the book, discovering that the inside cover was filled with Chris' writing.

'Dearest Satine,

I never knew I could feel like this... it's like I've never seen the sky before. I want to vanish inside your kiss, everyday I love you more and more. Listen to my heart, can you hear it sing, 'come back to me, and forgive everything.' Seasons may change- winter to spring- but I love you, till the end of time. Come what may, I will love you, till my dying day.

Christian'

The words were suddenly blurred by a splash of water from a teardrop that rolled down her porcelain cheek. She wiped at her eyes, then forced herself to look out into the audience. Her eyes fastened immediately on Chris. "It's..." she started again, "been a rough year. There's been a lot of confusion and... hurt feelings. We haven't been entirely honest with each other, when we should have been." There was a murmur of confusion from the audience, but she kept going.

"I don't know what I'd do without my friends. People walk through your lives all the time, but only the ones that matter leave footprints on your heart. Some don't even realize it until it's too late."

Her voice cracked, and she looked down onto the podium once again. She had long since dropped the page that her speech was written on, but she wasn't going by her planned speech anymore. The faded pages of the book had flipped open further, and her eyes fell on something Westly said to Buttercup, 'We have true love. You think this sort of thing happens every day?' She shook her head. True love didn't happen that often, and yet, she had almost let it slip through her fingers.

"I don't want it to be too late. Friends like the ones I... had... don't come around every day." She glanced first at Henry, then focused once again on Chris. "I... I..." She bit her lip. "This year has been rough... but it would have been so much worse if someone special hadn't decided to transfer to Montmartre High. But I didn't realize how special he was until recently. I can handle all the pain I've gone through... as long as that someone doesn't leave me, like I've left him."

She wiped away more tears, noticing as Chris did the same. Stepping away from the podium, she forgot about everyone else in the room. All that mattered was Chris. "I love you, Christian McDeere. I love you."

He stood, climbing across the other people in his row until he was in the aisle directly across from Tina. Slowly, he began to walk towards her. A smile broke out across her face and she dropped the microphone she'd been holding and broke into a run down the steps into his waiting arms.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him fiercely. "I love you, I love you, I love you," she whispered over and over.

He smoothed back her curls. "Come what may?"

"Come what may," she answered firmly, falling further and further into his embrace until neither noticed that the entire gymnasium had stood up and begun to applaud. Henry was standing on his seat, waving his cap and cheering as loudly as he could. This was the reason he believed in love, because of people like Chris and Tina. Because their love was a love that would live forever. He just knew it.

END