"Ladies and gentlemen, alumni and faculty, I, Dean Buckley would like to welcome you to the graduating ceremony for the class of 2001."

I took a deep breath as the seniors were called to stand. I stood up, on shaky legs, smoothing the front of my red robe. I looked out into the crowd, my eyes not really focusing, my stomach tied up in knots.

"This day is one that these fine young people standing before you will remember for the rest of their lives. They will look back on their days at Eden Hall and hopefully smile."

I wasn't really listening to Dean Buckley, all I could think about was the fact that everything was ending. Charlie was going to California University in Los Angeles and I was going to Georgetown, in Washington DC. We were going to be thousands of miles apart for our college educations.

We'd decided yesterday, when Charlie told me he'd been accepted. There was no way he couldn't go to UCLA. He was an amazing hockey player who could really make it far. He needed this opportunity. I'd decided to take Georgetown up on their offer eventually, after much cajoling by Charlie, who convinced me that if his hockey career was important, so was my academic education.

I don't want to go. I never want to step out of this moment. Charlie is next to me, in fact, the whole Varsity hockey team occupied the second row. My hand grazed his as we were told to sit, and I had to choke back a sob. I had three months with him before we left for opposite ends of America.

His hand found mine between the seats and squeezed reassuringly. It only made me want to cry more. I wouldn't be feeling his skin on mine for a long time, if ever again. Was this the end?

"…and I'd now like to welcome our senior valedictorian, and Varsity goaltender, Julie Gaffney."

I turned my head to where Julie was standing, smoothing her robe and receiving a reassuring pat on the arm from Charlie, who sat next to her.

"Thank you Dean Buckley," Julie said from the podium. I watched her intently. "I live my life by one very imperative saying: 'In order to succeed, you must first be willing to fail.' Over the last five years here at Eden Hall Academy, I've learnt a very valuable lesson. That I don't have to be everything other people want me to be. I just need to be who I want me to be."

I leant forward silently, taking in Julie's words.

"Standing before you today, I, and the students behind me, have reached a very tumultuous stage in our lives. High school as we know it is ending." She took a deep breath. "We are now going out on our own, forming new relationships and experiencing new things. And this is scary. I know I'm not the only one who feels like this is all happening so fast."

I bit the inside of my cheek, tears building behind my eyes, Charlie's hand still entwined with mine.

"As we all leave this afternoon, taking with us our belongings and our memories, we will always have a very special part in our hearts that only Eden Hall can fill. With friends, and the everlasting support of our peers, we've made it. Survived one of maybe three of the longest things we'll ever do in our lives. I know personally I wouldn't be standing here today addressing you without the love of my friends. And my teachers. They may open the doors to their classrooms, but as a student, it's our job to enter ourselves." She paused and smiled out at the crowd. "As I conclude today, I would just like to say on behalf of the people behind me, that we made it. And may every one of us go on to bigger and better things."

The crowd erupted in applause as Julie stepped down away from the podium and made her way back to the Ducks.

"Good job Jules," Charlie said softly as she sat down, her cheeks flushed.

I reached across Charlie's lap and took her hand. "Nice one Gaffney."

She grinned and squeezed my hand. "Not bad huh, Banks?"

I smiled and withdrew my hand as Dean Buckley took the mic again.

I tuned him out as he spoke, thinking instead of Julie's speech. This was it. In about another hour or so, I would be leaving Eden Hall forever.

"And now, I'd like to welcome Ted Orion, the coach of the Varsity hockey team to present his team with the first diplomas of the day."

The Ducks were motioned to stand and we got to our feet, filing out of our row and lining up, waiting expectantly.

"It is with great pleasure that I present to you, the Varsity hockey team, the Eden Hall Mighty Ducks," Buckley said and everyone clapped. "First, we have Lester Averman."

Averman walked over to Coach Orion and shook his hand, accepting the leather bound diploma. He walked back to his seat, the folder held high above his head.

"Adam Banks."

I took a tentative step forward and moved toward Coach Orion, who shook my hand and pulled me into an embrace, handing me my diploma. I walked back to my seat slowly, my cheeks flushed.

"Charlie Conway."

I sat down and clapped my hardest as Charlie was embraced and then bounded off the stage happily, his diploma wrapped up in his arms.

As he got back to his seat, I stood up, and he flew into my arms, hugging me tight.

"Thank you, Adam," he whispered in my ear.

A lone tear fell from my eye. "It's always been you, Charlie," I whispered back, letting him go reluctantly as we sat down.

**

"Ladies, gentlemen, alumni and faculty, it is my deepest honor to present to you, the graduating class of 2001."

As Dean Buckley concluded the ceremony, we all threw our caps in the air, embracing each other happily.

"I can't believe it," Charlie whispered as we walked off the stage, our heads bowed close.

"Yeah, I know," I said back. "And in three months, we won't be together."

He pulled me behind a hedge. "We'll always be together," Charlie said. "In our hearts."

He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on my lips, our tears mixing together and tasted salty on our lips.

"I'm gonna miss you so much," I whispered, leaning my forehead against his.

"I'm gonna miss you more," Charlie returned, his hands on my hips.

"Charlie?" I called softly to him, closing my eyes.

"Yeah?"

I opened my eyes and looked him in the eye. "Promise me we'll always be together."

"I promise…"

**

"You got everything?" Fulton asked me as we walked out of the dorms later that afternoon.

I nodded. "Pretty much," I told him as we stopped in the student lot and I loaded my last bag into the backseat.

"It's weird, isn't it?" Fulton asked, leaning up against his car.

"We're not seniors anymore. We graduated."

He laughed. "It's the scariest thing. I never even thought I'd finish elementary school, let alone high school, and have my sights set on University of Minnesota."

"I know what you mean," I said softly. "I'm going to be in Washington next year, and I have no idea how I'm going to survive."

Fulton clapped me on the shoulder. "Banks, out of everyone, you're the most likely to survive."

"Thanks Fulton," I said as Portman and Charlie approached us.

"Ready to blow this crap hole?" Portman asked as he threw his duffel bag into Fulton's car.

Charlie's arm snaked around my waist and he laid his head on my shoulder.

"I think we are," Futon answered. "See you two at the house soon."

I nodded.

Portman and Fulton climbed into Fulton's car and started the engine.

"When's Jules coming?" Portman shouted out the window.

"Tomorrow at lunchtime," I shouted back and he nodded, and the car pealed out of the lot.

I turned to Charlie. "Ready to go?"

He smiled. "I don't think I'll ever be ready to leave this place."

I dug my keys out of my pocket, pressing them in his hand. "I know what you mean. I can't believe this is all really over."

Charlie kissed my forehead. "The sooner we go the better. I know I'll go barricade myself in side soon."

I laughed. "Yeah, I might have to join you…"

He let me go and slid into the driver's seat. I slid in next to him.

"'Bye Eden Hall," he said as he started up the car and pulled out of the lot.

I didn't say anything, just turned my attention out the passenger window, watching the Minnesota scenery fly by. We drove in silence, and I was determined to stay in my thoughts of life without Charlie.

"Our anniversary soon," he said softly, his hand finding mine between the seats.

I looked over at him and smiled. "Don't plan anything, ok?" I told him.

He nodded, smiling mischievously. "You got something up your sleeve, huh?"

I smiled. "Maybe."

We drove the rest of the way to St. Paul making idle conversation, and before I knew it, we were pulling up in our driveway.

"Does it get bigger to you every time you see it?" Charlie asked me, getting out of the car, staring up at the house.

I shrugged. "I have no idea. We're just lucky that Fulton and Portman are gonna stay here when they start at the University of Minnesota. Not to mention how lucky we are that the owner let us rent it for 3 months and that there is furniture inside."

Charlie smiled at me and wrapped an arm around my waist. "I wouda bought furniture if it meant I didn't have to spend the holidays at home."

I kissed his nose, instantly revived. "How is your mom anyway? With the divorce, I mean?"

Charlie shrugged. "Ok, I guess. Bombay keeps her company. I swear, those two will never get together."

I laughed as Fulton pulled in behind us.

"Man, this is gonna be fun!" Portman roared, climbing out of the car and bounding over to the front door, unlocking it and shooting inside.

"Hey guys," Fulton greeted, pocketing his keys and walking over.

"Hi," Charlie said. "Dean seems a little excited."

Fulton rolled his eyes. "He needs a sedative."

I laughed and pulled a bag out of my trunk, hiking it over my shoulder.

I looked up at the house. It loomed over me and I sighed.

"Come on Banks, lets get moved in!" Portman crowed, slapping me on the back as he passed me.

I suppressed my emotions and grabbed another bag, carrying them into the house.

**

~|~ Friday, 6:39 pm

Well journal, how do you like your new home? I just need to say that I love my new laptop I picked up this afternoon, and now that sneaky Guy isn't my roommate, I can write all this on here. Except now it's password protected, thank you very much.

Where to start? Moved in to the new house today, and graduated, this has probably been the busiest day of my life. And only now have I had the chance to hide away in my bedroom and hook this baby up. God, I'm such a computer nerd.

Charlie and I have connecting bedrooms. There's a bathroom between our rooms. We didn't think it'd be such a good idea sharing a room, so we opted for singles. The first thing I had to do was cover up the horrid daisy wallpaper with my big 'Pulp Fiction' poster. You know the one, with Uma Thurman on the bed? I never had it up at Eden Hall, but here I figure I can do what I want.

So, I have Uma on one wall, and a movie poster of my favourite movie of all time on the other. Yeah, you guessed it, it's 'Casablanca'. I first saw that movie when I was 5, and I think I've loved it ever since. I should rent that again soon.

Anyway, I'm practically all moved in and I can hear Charlie, Fulton and Portman watching TV downstairs, and from their animated voices, I bet it's either hockey, or 'The Price Is Right'. I'm opting for the second choice. I can't watch a single episode of that show with Charlie without him getting intensely riled up at Bob Barker.

You should've seen my parents today at graduation. My mother was fake crying! It was horrible. I hadn't seen them in so long, and then she had to fake cry! My dad pored over my wrist, asking me if I'd been skating, if I could play yet. After I told him I couldn't and to get off my back, he didn't really say much. But I told them that I'm going to Georgetown. They're pretty happy. I don't really care. But I hate the fact that Washington is close to New York. It'll just give my bastard brother an excuse to barge in on my life. Maybe I should just stay here in Minnesota? No. I can't do that, because everywhere I'd go, everything would remind me of Charlie. I need to go to Georgetown and not torture myself.

So, it's just the four of us at the house at the moment, Julie is spending tonight at home with her family before moving her stuff in tomorrow. It's only 3 weeks till Christmas, and only 1 until Charlie's and my anniversary. After I picked up my computer, I sat in the car down the street and booked this beautiful cabin up in the Minnetonka ranges for the night. It's going to be beautiful. I can't wait to see his face when we get there. It's snowing up there at the moment, so it'll be beautiful, and we'll light a fire…

Sorry, getting caught up in my fantasy there. * smiles * Can't help it, though. Thinking of Charlie does that to me. I don't know how I'll survive college…

Ok, no more of that college stuff.

Tomorrow, I plan to go buy his gift. I don't know what I'm getting him, though. So I'm taking Fulton for reinforcement. Charlie and Portman are going to see his mom and Bombay, so I don't have to worry about sneaking around.

I'm hungry, and I think the pizza is here.

Adam D. Banks. ~|~