Well folks, I don't mind telling you now that the time has come, this is
the chapter you've all been waiting for. Cory talks to Topanga! Yes, you
heard me right; I am finally going to tackle the issue you all have been
dying for me to deal with almost this whole story, lol. I promised you
didn't I? Well, read on and enjoy!
Lilmisswriter: If you read between the lines of my fic you'll notice that Cory has been hurting for Topanga this whole time. There is a glimpse of it in Chubbies and Gossip and Lies at John Adams High. If you liked the last chapter, I think you're going to LOVE this one.
Blonde-Angel: Thanks so much for all the praise. I don't think there is a sequel in me to this story, and I think you may agree when you read the final chapter. Well enjoy this one anyway, and remember, there is one more to come!
The big day had finally arrived. Cory, Shawn, Angela, Topanga and the rest of the John Adams High senior class of 1998 were preparing to graduate. It had been a long and complicated year for everyone, what with college applications to send out, majors to choose, finals to deal with, not to mention the break-up of the most legendary couple in the school's history. Yes, it had been a long and complicated year indeed, and the one thing the entire senior class could agree on was that they were glad it was almost over, and that they would soon be beginning the next chapter in their lives.
For most of the gang, their final college decisions had been made. Cory and Angela were planning to attend Pennbrook full time, while Shawn had decided to only go on a part-time basis and still retain his apprenticeship at the photography studio.
Topanga was the only one still in doubt. She had accepted the offer from Pennbrook, and did plan to go there at least for the fall semester. After that she was still unsure. She'd received a letter just a few short days before from Yale, accepting her as a student beginning winter semester. As great of an opportunity as she knew this was, she didn't know if she wanted to start out at Pennbrook and get settled in, just to have to transfer to another university. Money was also a consideration. Pennbrook had given her almost a full scholarship, provided her grades remained high. Yale on the other hand had only rewarded her a minimal amount of scholarship and grant funds, most of the money would come from loans she would have to pay back later. She was leaning toward staying at Pennbrook, but her mind was not completely made up. Yale had given her until the end of June to decide, and she figured she would need all of the time afforded her.
It was exactly ½ hour before graduation was to begin, and everyone was gathered with his or her respective families. Cory had been escorted by his parents, siblings, and Lauren, who had drove up with him the day before after her own graduation ceremony.
"Well son, it's almost over. How do you feel?" Alan asked, giving his son a proud poppa pat on the back.
"I'm really excited, I can't wait" was what Cory answered, but there was a listless undertone in his voice and a look in his eyes that seemed to say he was not being completely honest with his family. Even though he wasn't aware of it, everyone understood the reason behind his insincerity, and her name began with a T. Every time Cory had thought about approaching Topanga something always got in the way. The bell would ring for class to begin, or she'd start talking to someone else before he could fully muster his courage. It was hard for him to talk to the women he loved and had hurt so badly. As strongly as he felt that he'd done the right thing, the wonderful women beside him was proof enough of that, he couldn't help but feel a pang of regret and remorse for the way he had done the deed.
Just then Shawn came over and joined the large Matthew's party. "Hey Cor, Lauren, assorted Matthews, how is everyone?"
"We're doing fine Shawn, how are you and your family?" Amy asked
"Good, good, Dad is so excited that his boy is graduating, he's about to burst. Turner's here too, did you see him? He came from upstate, said he couldn't miss seeing Shawn Hunter actually graduating."
Amy and Alan both laughed at that, remembering the Shawn Hunter of old, the crazy mixed up rebel wannabe, saved only by those who loved him most. "No, I hadn't seen him. I'll go say hello." Alan answered and walked away from the group to find Jonathon. "Well come on Cor, we might as well get over there, they're going to be calling us in a minute, and we can't miss this." As Cory started to follow Shawn away toward the senior meeting area Amy grabbed hold of his sleeve and held him back. "Talk to her son." Was all she said, and Lauren, standing next to her, nodded. "I will, I promise." Cory answered and ran to catch up with Shawn.
By some twist of fate Topanga and Cory were to be sitting next to each other during the ceremony, Lawrence and Matthews being beside each other in the roster. Not to many people with L last names at John Adams, that's for sure.
Through the first part of the ceremony, as Feeny welcomed everyone and announced Topanga to give her valedictorian speech, Cory kept glancing at the empty chair beside him. Topanga had to set next to Feeny until she gave her speech, and then she would come and take her seat next to Cory. She gave a basic run-of-the-mill graduation speech, finished up to polite applause, and then came over and sat down. She met Cory's eyes for just a second before she took her seat, almost as if she was searching them for some kind of answer. "This is my last chance," Cory thought, and he remembered his mother's words. Taking one more big deep breath to steady himself he mustered his courage and turned to Topanga "Congratulations on getting accepted to Yale." He started out
Topanga just looked at him for a second, as if unsure that she had really heard what she thought she'd heard. "Thanks." There was no anger or spitefulness in her reply. She still cared about Cory too much to be really angry with him anymore, and the conversation with Shawn had evaporated whatever had remained of her bitterness. Cory was happy, she was happy for him, and if truth be told she kind of wanted to regain a least a comfortable acquaintanceship with him so that their mutual friends would have an easier go of things in the future if nothing else.
"I heard you're going to start out at Pennbrook?"
"Yes, at least for one semester. I can be with Angela that way."
"That's good. I guess you heard I'm going to Pennbrook also? Shawn's going to go part-time and keep his job as well. He says he can help put himself through that way."
"I know. Everyone is staying together. Is Lauren going there as well?"
"Yes, she got a pretty good scholarship, but she still plans to work part- time, she's already got a job lined up, weekends at the Wal-Mart. I'm hoping." Cory stopped abruptly; he had started to say "hoping that she can become friends with everyone" but thought better of it. He had no idea how Topanga would react to that one "hoping she'll be able to keep up with it all." He finished instead.
"I'm sure she will."
"Topanga Lawrence" Feeny announced, and Topanga got up to get her diploma. Cory got up to receive his own as she came back. Neither of them said anything more as the rest of their classmates received their diplomas, both lost in their own thoughts.
As the last student took his seat Feeny turned out to the audience and announced "I present to you the class of 1998!" As all the graduates stood to throw off their hats Cory and Topanga locked eyes, and everything they had not been able to say shone through from the inside. As the rest of the senior class tossed their hats up in the air with a hearty cheer, Topanga and Cory embraced each other tightly, staying that way until they were called to exit the stage.
Lilmisswriter: If you read between the lines of my fic you'll notice that Cory has been hurting for Topanga this whole time. There is a glimpse of it in Chubbies and Gossip and Lies at John Adams High. If you liked the last chapter, I think you're going to LOVE this one.
Blonde-Angel: Thanks so much for all the praise. I don't think there is a sequel in me to this story, and I think you may agree when you read the final chapter. Well enjoy this one anyway, and remember, there is one more to come!
The big day had finally arrived. Cory, Shawn, Angela, Topanga and the rest of the John Adams High senior class of 1998 were preparing to graduate. It had been a long and complicated year for everyone, what with college applications to send out, majors to choose, finals to deal with, not to mention the break-up of the most legendary couple in the school's history. Yes, it had been a long and complicated year indeed, and the one thing the entire senior class could agree on was that they were glad it was almost over, and that they would soon be beginning the next chapter in their lives.
For most of the gang, their final college decisions had been made. Cory and Angela were planning to attend Pennbrook full time, while Shawn had decided to only go on a part-time basis and still retain his apprenticeship at the photography studio.
Topanga was the only one still in doubt. She had accepted the offer from Pennbrook, and did plan to go there at least for the fall semester. After that she was still unsure. She'd received a letter just a few short days before from Yale, accepting her as a student beginning winter semester. As great of an opportunity as she knew this was, she didn't know if she wanted to start out at Pennbrook and get settled in, just to have to transfer to another university. Money was also a consideration. Pennbrook had given her almost a full scholarship, provided her grades remained high. Yale on the other hand had only rewarded her a minimal amount of scholarship and grant funds, most of the money would come from loans she would have to pay back later. She was leaning toward staying at Pennbrook, but her mind was not completely made up. Yale had given her until the end of June to decide, and she figured she would need all of the time afforded her.
It was exactly ½ hour before graduation was to begin, and everyone was gathered with his or her respective families. Cory had been escorted by his parents, siblings, and Lauren, who had drove up with him the day before after her own graduation ceremony.
"Well son, it's almost over. How do you feel?" Alan asked, giving his son a proud poppa pat on the back.
"I'm really excited, I can't wait" was what Cory answered, but there was a listless undertone in his voice and a look in his eyes that seemed to say he was not being completely honest with his family. Even though he wasn't aware of it, everyone understood the reason behind his insincerity, and her name began with a T. Every time Cory had thought about approaching Topanga something always got in the way. The bell would ring for class to begin, or she'd start talking to someone else before he could fully muster his courage. It was hard for him to talk to the women he loved and had hurt so badly. As strongly as he felt that he'd done the right thing, the wonderful women beside him was proof enough of that, he couldn't help but feel a pang of regret and remorse for the way he had done the deed.
Just then Shawn came over and joined the large Matthew's party. "Hey Cor, Lauren, assorted Matthews, how is everyone?"
"We're doing fine Shawn, how are you and your family?" Amy asked
"Good, good, Dad is so excited that his boy is graduating, he's about to burst. Turner's here too, did you see him? He came from upstate, said he couldn't miss seeing Shawn Hunter actually graduating."
Amy and Alan both laughed at that, remembering the Shawn Hunter of old, the crazy mixed up rebel wannabe, saved only by those who loved him most. "No, I hadn't seen him. I'll go say hello." Alan answered and walked away from the group to find Jonathon. "Well come on Cor, we might as well get over there, they're going to be calling us in a minute, and we can't miss this." As Cory started to follow Shawn away toward the senior meeting area Amy grabbed hold of his sleeve and held him back. "Talk to her son." Was all she said, and Lauren, standing next to her, nodded. "I will, I promise." Cory answered and ran to catch up with Shawn.
By some twist of fate Topanga and Cory were to be sitting next to each other during the ceremony, Lawrence and Matthews being beside each other in the roster. Not to many people with L last names at John Adams, that's for sure.
Through the first part of the ceremony, as Feeny welcomed everyone and announced Topanga to give her valedictorian speech, Cory kept glancing at the empty chair beside him. Topanga had to set next to Feeny until she gave her speech, and then she would come and take her seat next to Cory. She gave a basic run-of-the-mill graduation speech, finished up to polite applause, and then came over and sat down. She met Cory's eyes for just a second before she took her seat, almost as if she was searching them for some kind of answer. "This is my last chance," Cory thought, and he remembered his mother's words. Taking one more big deep breath to steady himself he mustered his courage and turned to Topanga "Congratulations on getting accepted to Yale." He started out
Topanga just looked at him for a second, as if unsure that she had really heard what she thought she'd heard. "Thanks." There was no anger or spitefulness in her reply. She still cared about Cory too much to be really angry with him anymore, and the conversation with Shawn had evaporated whatever had remained of her bitterness. Cory was happy, she was happy for him, and if truth be told she kind of wanted to regain a least a comfortable acquaintanceship with him so that their mutual friends would have an easier go of things in the future if nothing else.
"I heard you're going to start out at Pennbrook?"
"Yes, at least for one semester. I can be with Angela that way."
"That's good. I guess you heard I'm going to Pennbrook also? Shawn's going to go part-time and keep his job as well. He says he can help put himself through that way."
"I know. Everyone is staying together. Is Lauren going there as well?"
"Yes, she got a pretty good scholarship, but she still plans to work part- time, she's already got a job lined up, weekends at the Wal-Mart. I'm hoping." Cory stopped abruptly; he had started to say "hoping that she can become friends with everyone" but thought better of it. He had no idea how Topanga would react to that one "hoping she'll be able to keep up with it all." He finished instead.
"I'm sure she will."
"Topanga Lawrence" Feeny announced, and Topanga got up to get her diploma. Cory got up to receive his own as she came back. Neither of them said anything more as the rest of their classmates received their diplomas, both lost in their own thoughts.
As the last student took his seat Feeny turned out to the audience and announced "I present to you the class of 1998!" As all the graduates stood to throw off their hats Cory and Topanga locked eyes, and everything they had not been able to say shone through from the inside. As the rest of the senior class tossed their hats up in the air with a hearty cheer, Topanga and Cory embraced each other tightly, staying that way until they were called to exit the stage.