~ Authors Note ~ ok, I noticed that I never really put the year all this
was taking place. They were the graduating class of 1999. By the time the
story ends, it will be 2002. And their high school is called Warnovi
because it's a mix of Warner Bros. and Di Novi that produced A Walk to
Remember. And if you think the speech sucks, please forgive me. As you can
probably tell, I wasn't a valedictorian or anything like that and neither
was anyone else I know. kk
Chapter 6- The Last Time
When Mandeline heard Shaun say those words, something in her brain had suddenly clicked. And then she realized it. She loved him, too.
* * *
Shaun and Mandeline had been in love for about 6 months. At first, none of Shaun's friends could believe that they were a couple, but now they were getting used to it. People have even started treating Mandeline better. Now that they saw that Shaun got to know her well, they figured she must not be that bad. But with Mandeline's father....she was still working on him. He still disliked Shaun a little and was still a little cold to him, but other than that, he was happy that Mandeline was happy. Shaun and Mandeline had a strong steady relationship. They had kissed many times and had gone on plenty of dates. They spent time with each other almost everyday. Adults, students and teachers were astonished by Shaun's sudden change and now had a better perspective on him. And now, their high school days were ending.
It was now graduation day. Mandeline had ended up valedictorian. Her father and Shaun couldn't have been prouder of her. Mandeline stepped up to the podium at the high school to give her speech. As she look upon the graduates, she saw the faces of the people she grew up with, the same people had teased her but then befriended her. The same people she probably wouldn't see again in her whole life. She finally took a deep breath and started her speech.
"Hello, and welcome to all parents, administrators, friends, relatives and especially to the students of the graduating class of 1999. We are all gathered here today, to honor our achievements and to praise ourselves for all of the attainments we have had at our days at Warnovi High School. As old phrases used to say, these are the best days of our lives. And now they're ending. Different paths will now be welcoming us and it's our job to choose the right one. Along the way, we will encounter different trials and hardships. But no matter what, it's still our duty to never give up or lose hope. Just remember that if we have faith, we CAN get through this and we CAN survive. Confidence is our doorway to the future. When this ceremony ends, I want you to go and tackle your dreams. When we go off to college, it's going to be quite a shock, I've been told. And at times we might even want to turn back and give up. But when you do, just remember that you are not doing this for anyone else. You aren't graduating because of your parents, or your friends. You're doing it for YOU. And for that, you deserve all the honor in the world. Not everyone can get up here and receive a diploma like you. Not everyone makes it through high school. But YOU did. YOU made it. We ALL did. Congratulations again to the class of 1999 and may God be with us always, in our journey ahead."
When Mandeline was just ending her speech, she saw tears glistened in Shaun's eyes. 'This is it.' he thought. 'The last time....'
When Mandeline's speech ended, the audience applauded and she sat back down.
"Mandy!" Shaun called to Mandeline, when the ceremony ended. "That was..great!"
Mandeline laughed. "Thanks. You were pretty good, too."
"Oh, yeah? For what? I didn't make a speech."
"For loving me." Mandeline whispered. With that, Shaun pulled her in for a kiss. Unexpectedly, the kiss grew stronger and stronger and longer and longer.
"Ahem." Shaun's mother cleared her throat. Shaun and Mandeline pulled away in surprise and embarrassment.
"Oh! I'm so sorry, Ms. Weston." Mandeline said.
"No, no, it's really alright." She winked at Shaun. Shaun sort of hid behind Mandeline trying to get out of the embarrassment of his mother.
"Uh, mom...." Shaun started.
"Yes, dear?"
"Mandy! There you are!" They heard Reverend Morrison say. "I've been looking everywhere for you." He pulled Mandeline in for a long father- daughter hug. "You were wonderful up there!"
"Thank you, Daddy."
"Come on, we should all eat out to celebrate."
"I think that's a fine idea." Ms. Weston said. "We could go to that fancy Italian restaurant downtown." Shaun shared a glance at Mandeline. That was the restaurant they went to on their first date. Soon after that, Mandeline and Shaun were changed and they were on their way to the restaurant. Shaun drove himself and Mandeline, while Reverend Morrison drove himself and Ms. Weston.
"Mandy?" Shaun said as they were driving along.
"Yes?"
"What do you think will happen when we.."
"When we, what?"
"After today. What do you think will happen?"
Mandeline thought for a while. "I think." She said slowly. "That we're going to go start out futures. You know like colleges and jobs."
"No, I mean with us. What's gonna happen to US?"
Mandeline didn't respond. Instead she looked dazedly out the window. She didn't want to think about when they wouldn't be together. Soon, though, they were at the restaurant. It was pretty much a replay of when they went there on their first date, except for the fact that their parents were there with them. Shaun and Mandeline soon discovered that the graduates get a free desert, so they were in pretty good moods after that. When they were finished with their food and deserts, they left the restaurant. Their parents let them go out somewhere and Reverend Morrison was going to bring Ms. Weston back to the high school to get her car and go home.
"So where do you wanna go?" Shaun asked Mandeline when their parents left. Mandeline just shrugged. So Shaun decided to take her to the beach where he first said those three marvelous words.
"C'mon." he said when they arrived at the beach. He held his hand out and she took. Together they walked along beach hand in hand gazing at the sunset. The sky was stained with colors of pinks, yellows and oranges. They sat down by the water and cuddled close together. Shaun's eyes began to fill up with tears as he held on to Mandeline. He could stay like this forever. He breathed in the sweet scent of her hair and closed his eyes, thinking of a way to tell her.
"Shaun?" he heard Mandeline say.
"Yeah?"
"Are you okay? You seem awfully quiet."
Shaun forced a tiny smile. "I'm fine." And he kissed her. But Mandeline saw the tears in his eyes.
"You've been crying." Mandeline said, concerned. "Is there something wrong?"
"No..well, yeah........" Shaun said sadly.
"What is it?" Mandeline asked worriedly.
"I..I.." Shaun sighed. He didn't know how to tell her. "I have to leave."
Mandeline furrowed her brow. "So soon? But we just got here."
"Yeah, I know..I don't mean now. But in a few weeks. I have to leave."
Mandeline laughed nervously. "Well, we can't stay here THAT long."
"I mean, in a few days, I'm leaving home." Mandeline started to say something but he interrupted her by saying, "For good."
"So..you're going to college?"
"No, I'm going to Minnesota."
"Minnesota? Why?"
"I..just have to." Shaun stuttered. "Believe me, it's for the best."
"So, I'll never see you again?" Mandeline bottom lip began to quiver.
"Don't talk like that. The summer could be forever."
"But..but..you CAN'T leave me. Not yet."
"I don't have a choice, Mandy. If I had a choice, I would stay like this forever with you."
"But why do you have to leave?"
"I just have to."
Mandeline narrowed her eyes. "There's something you're not telling me."
Shaun just looked away. "Look, Mandy. I have to go to Minnesota in 3 weeks. I really don't wanna go. Like I said, if I could, I would stay here with you forever. But I can't. See, I'm..well, remember that movie A Walk to Remember?" Mandeline nodded uncertainly.
"Well....I have a feeling this is a lot like it."
Mandeline was confused for a minute. Then she gasped and clasped her hands to her mouth with horror. "You don't mean...."
Shaun nodded. "Yes, I do."
Mandeline shook her head, her hands still over her mouth. She too shocked to speak. Too sad, angry, surprised. Then she let out a nervous laugh. "Uh, I think you've been, uh, watching too much A Walk to Remember."
Shaun shook his head. "I'm serious, Mandy." He took a deep breath. "I have leukemia."
~ Authors Note ~ Ah, cliffhangers..music to my ears. Heeheehee.... Please read & review! And tell me if the speech was good! Tbc!
Chapter 6- The Last Time
When Mandeline heard Shaun say those words, something in her brain had suddenly clicked. And then she realized it. She loved him, too.
* * *
Shaun and Mandeline had been in love for about 6 months. At first, none of Shaun's friends could believe that they were a couple, but now they were getting used to it. People have even started treating Mandeline better. Now that they saw that Shaun got to know her well, they figured she must not be that bad. But with Mandeline's father....she was still working on him. He still disliked Shaun a little and was still a little cold to him, but other than that, he was happy that Mandeline was happy. Shaun and Mandeline had a strong steady relationship. They had kissed many times and had gone on plenty of dates. They spent time with each other almost everyday. Adults, students and teachers were astonished by Shaun's sudden change and now had a better perspective on him. And now, their high school days were ending.
It was now graduation day. Mandeline had ended up valedictorian. Her father and Shaun couldn't have been prouder of her. Mandeline stepped up to the podium at the high school to give her speech. As she look upon the graduates, she saw the faces of the people she grew up with, the same people had teased her but then befriended her. The same people she probably wouldn't see again in her whole life. She finally took a deep breath and started her speech.
"Hello, and welcome to all parents, administrators, friends, relatives and especially to the students of the graduating class of 1999. We are all gathered here today, to honor our achievements and to praise ourselves for all of the attainments we have had at our days at Warnovi High School. As old phrases used to say, these are the best days of our lives. And now they're ending. Different paths will now be welcoming us and it's our job to choose the right one. Along the way, we will encounter different trials and hardships. But no matter what, it's still our duty to never give up or lose hope. Just remember that if we have faith, we CAN get through this and we CAN survive. Confidence is our doorway to the future. When this ceremony ends, I want you to go and tackle your dreams. When we go off to college, it's going to be quite a shock, I've been told. And at times we might even want to turn back and give up. But when you do, just remember that you are not doing this for anyone else. You aren't graduating because of your parents, or your friends. You're doing it for YOU. And for that, you deserve all the honor in the world. Not everyone can get up here and receive a diploma like you. Not everyone makes it through high school. But YOU did. YOU made it. We ALL did. Congratulations again to the class of 1999 and may God be with us always, in our journey ahead."
When Mandeline was just ending her speech, she saw tears glistened in Shaun's eyes. 'This is it.' he thought. 'The last time....'
When Mandeline's speech ended, the audience applauded and she sat back down.
"Mandy!" Shaun called to Mandeline, when the ceremony ended. "That was..great!"
Mandeline laughed. "Thanks. You were pretty good, too."
"Oh, yeah? For what? I didn't make a speech."
"For loving me." Mandeline whispered. With that, Shaun pulled her in for a kiss. Unexpectedly, the kiss grew stronger and stronger and longer and longer.
"Ahem." Shaun's mother cleared her throat. Shaun and Mandeline pulled away in surprise and embarrassment.
"Oh! I'm so sorry, Ms. Weston." Mandeline said.
"No, no, it's really alright." She winked at Shaun. Shaun sort of hid behind Mandeline trying to get out of the embarrassment of his mother.
"Uh, mom...." Shaun started.
"Yes, dear?"
"Mandy! There you are!" They heard Reverend Morrison say. "I've been looking everywhere for you." He pulled Mandeline in for a long father- daughter hug. "You were wonderful up there!"
"Thank you, Daddy."
"Come on, we should all eat out to celebrate."
"I think that's a fine idea." Ms. Weston said. "We could go to that fancy Italian restaurant downtown." Shaun shared a glance at Mandeline. That was the restaurant they went to on their first date. Soon after that, Mandeline and Shaun were changed and they were on their way to the restaurant. Shaun drove himself and Mandeline, while Reverend Morrison drove himself and Ms. Weston.
"Mandy?" Shaun said as they were driving along.
"Yes?"
"What do you think will happen when we.."
"When we, what?"
"After today. What do you think will happen?"
Mandeline thought for a while. "I think." She said slowly. "That we're going to go start out futures. You know like colleges and jobs."
"No, I mean with us. What's gonna happen to US?"
Mandeline didn't respond. Instead she looked dazedly out the window. She didn't want to think about when they wouldn't be together. Soon, though, they were at the restaurant. It was pretty much a replay of when they went there on their first date, except for the fact that their parents were there with them. Shaun and Mandeline soon discovered that the graduates get a free desert, so they were in pretty good moods after that. When they were finished with their food and deserts, they left the restaurant. Their parents let them go out somewhere and Reverend Morrison was going to bring Ms. Weston back to the high school to get her car and go home.
"So where do you wanna go?" Shaun asked Mandeline when their parents left. Mandeline just shrugged. So Shaun decided to take her to the beach where he first said those three marvelous words.
"C'mon." he said when they arrived at the beach. He held his hand out and she took. Together they walked along beach hand in hand gazing at the sunset. The sky was stained with colors of pinks, yellows and oranges. They sat down by the water and cuddled close together. Shaun's eyes began to fill up with tears as he held on to Mandeline. He could stay like this forever. He breathed in the sweet scent of her hair and closed his eyes, thinking of a way to tell her.
"Shaun?" he heard Mandeline say.
"Yeah?"
"Are you okay? You seem awfully quiet."
Shaun forced a tiny smile. "I'm fine." And he kissed her. But Mandeline saw the tears in his eyes.
"You've been crying." Mandeline said, concerned. "Is there something wrong?"
"No..well, yeah........" Shaun said sadly.
"What is it?" Mandeline asked worriedly.
"I..I.." Shaun sighed. He didn't know how to tell her. "I have to leave."
Mandeline furrowed her brow. "So soon? But we just got here."
"Yeah, I know..I don't mean now. But in a few weeks. I have to leave."
Mandeline laughed nervously. "Well, we can't stay here THAT long."
"I mean, in a few days, I'm leaving home." Mandeline started to say something but he interrupted her by saying, "For good."
"So..you're going to college?"
"No, I'm going to Minnesota."
"Minnesota? Why?"
"I..just have to." Shaun stuttered. "Believe me, it's for the best."
"So, I'll never see you again?" Mandeline bottom lip began to quiver.
"Don't talk like that. The summer could be forever."
"But..but..you CAN'T leave me. Not yet."
"I don't have a choice, Mandy. If I had a choice, I would stay like this forever with you."
"But why do you have to leave?"
"I just have to."
Mandeline narrowed her eyes. "There's something you're not telling me."
Shaun just looked away. "Look, Mandy. I have to go to Minnesota in 3 weeks. I really don't wanna go. Like I said, if I could, I would stay here with you forever. But I can't. See, I'm..well, remember that movie A Walk to Remember?" Mandeline nodded uncertainly.
"Well....I have a feeling this is a lot like it."
Mandeline was confused for a minute. Then she gasped and clasped her hands to her mouth with horror. "You don't mean...."
Shaun nodded. "Yes, I do."
Mandeline shook her head, her hands still over her mouth. She too shocked to speak. Too sad, angry, surprised. Then she let out a nervous laugh. "Uh, I think you've been, uh, watching too much A Walk to Remember."
Shaun shook his head. "I'm serious, Mandy." He took a deep breath. "I have leukemia."
~ Authors Note ~ Ah, cliffhangers..music to my ears. Heeheehee.... Please read & review! And tell me if the speech was good! Tbc!