Ryan walked into Dr Kim's outer office, just wanting to tell her no and have this matter settled. He went up to the secretary and asked to see Dr Kim.

"She's with someone right now, but it shouldn't be long. Why don't you have a seat?"

Ryan sat down, silently cursing that he had to wait. He pictured Seth's face when he asked what was going on. Would I think it was important? Yeah, he would, but it's just a speech. The Cohens placed importance on the weirdest things. Why? Why was Sandy so insistent that he do this? Because we know you belong on that stage and we're proud of you. Proud of what? Proud that the teachers pulled his name out of a hat? We're proud that you've done so well at Harbor, that your teachers think so highly of you, Kirsten had said. Well, it's easy to do well when you're not worrying if there's going to be food to eat or if the rent was going to be paid.

Why was he even thinking about this? He didn't want to do it. Sometimes, you do things for other people, because they want you to. The Cohens certainly seemed to want him to do this. Life was so much easier when no one noticed what he did and didn't do.

The secretary broke into his thoughts. "Dr Kim can see you now."

Ryan walked in to Dr Kim's office. He'd planned what he was going to say all weekend. So when he quietly said, "I'll do it", he was just as surprised as she was.

"I got the impression from Mr. Cohen that you were going to say no," Dr Kim beamed at him.

"I thought I was, too," Ryan replied soberly.

"I'm glad you changed your mind. Now, we like to keep our choice a secret until the ceremony. Can you not tell your fellow students so it'll be a surprise?"

"As long as you promise not to tell the Cohens," Ryan countered.

"Why wouldn't you want them to know?"

Ryan was picturing Sandy offering him books on public speaking and Kirsten asking to hear the speech and Seth suggesting jokes, and they'd just all be smiling at him. "It's easier this way."

The next two weeks went by quickly. Ryan and Seth spent most of their time studying for their finals. Ryan tried to avoid Kirsten and Sandy as much as he could. He didn't like to see the disappointment in their eyes, but he didn't think he could handle their excitement if he told them he changed his mind, either.

Economics was their last exam. After they finished, Ryan and Seth went to clean out their lockers. Seth had barely made a dint in his when Ryan appeared. "Are you done already?" Seth asked.

"Yeah, Seth. I turned in my texts with each exam and my notes were all at home for studying. What do you have in there?"

"I don't know. Just...stuff." Seth pulled one of Summer's bras out of his locker. He grinned.

Ryan shook his head. "I don't even want to know how that ended up in your locker."

Summer came down the hallway toward them. "Emily Johnson is on a witch hunt," she announced. "She's been campaigning for salutatorian since freshman year – sucking up to every teacher she could. She didn't get it and she can't find out who did. The faculty always hopes to keep it a secret before the ceremony, but they've never been able to before."

Seth looked over at Ryan, who wouldn't look him in the eye. "I've got to return some books to the library," he said. "I'll meet you guys at the car." Ryan turned and walked away.

"Who could keep something like this a secret?" Summer wondered.

Seth watched Ryan go. "Someone who doesn't like to talk a lot."

"Don't be stupid, Cohen. Why would someone who doesn't like to talk a lot want to give a speech?"

The day of graduation was beautiful. Caleb sat with Kirsten and Sandy. They all beamed with pride as they watched Ryan and Seth enter with the processional.

On the stage, Dr Kim was speaking. "Every year, the faculty picks one of our top students to give the salutatorian address. We look for a student who not only excels in their studies, but who exemplifies the qualities we try to instill here at the Harbor School. Responsibility, resourcefulness, determination– qualities that will carry our students to success in their careers and in life. This year, our salutatorian is Ryan Atwood."

Tears welled in Kirsten's eyes. She reached for Sandy's hand and when she looked at him, his eyes were glistening too. Caleb leaned over and said, "I thought you two said the boy wasn't going to give the speech."

Sandy swallowed the lump in his throat. "He told us he wasn't going to."

As Ryan made his way to the stage, Emily Johnson's voice carried above the clapping. "They picked that boy from Chino? That is so unfair!"

Seth turned around to glare at Emily and he saw Summer lean forward to Emily. "You're such a bitch. Maybe that's why you didn't get picked."

Ryan reached the podium. The clapping died down and he began his speech. "Dr Kim, members of the school board, honoured guests: I'd like to welcome everyone and thank you for coming to share in this day with us, the Class of 2005.

"Dr Kim mentioned some of the qualities required to be successful. Responsibility, determination – important, yes, but alone will not lead to success. All the determination and resourcefulness will get you nowhere if you don't have hope that it's possible and support from people who love you.

"We're all here today because of the support of our families. We did the hard work – studied for exams, wrote the papers, met the deadlines – but they gave us the encouragement we needed to achieve our successes.

"Two years ago, I had no hope that I'd be where I am today. And I don't mean here in Newport at a fancy private school; I mean here, graduating high school and heading to university in the fall. I owe it all to the Cohens. Without Sandy Cohen, I'd probably be living on the streets; without Seth Cohen, I'd probably be in a group home; and without Kirsten Cohen, I'd most likely be in jail.

"They've taught me what it means to have a family – to be a family. To laugh together in the good times, to cry together in the bad times. That no matter how bad things seem, if you have someone beside you, rooting for you, it's not so bad.

"So I'd like to use this time to thank the Cohens for all they've done for me. They took a boy with no hope, no chance, no love, and gave him the world." Ryan scanned the crowd until he found Kirsten and Sandy. "Without you, I'd be nothing.

"Thank you."

Kirsten and Sandy were overwhelmed. Kirsten wanted to go find Ryan right away and let him know how much the speech meant to her. Caleb stopped her by telling her no teenage boy wants his mother making a scene in front of everyone. They contented themselves to watching the boys go across the stage to get their diplomas. They were further delighted when Ryan was called back up to receive the award for 5th highest aggregate and the top prize in Calculus, and they clapped as hard as they could when Seth won the top prize for Economics. After the recessional, they went looking for the boys.

They found Ryan talking with Seth and Summer. Ryan was joking to Seth, "I think you owe me half of that prize money. I carried the book back and forth for you. If it wasn't for me, you'd never have gotten your homework done!"

Kirsten walked right up to him and enveloped him in a hug. "That was beautiful," she whispered in his ear. "We are so very proud of you." Ryan hugged her back. It felt good to be wanted and loved, and he wanted to savour the moment.

As Kirsten moved on to hug Seth, Sandy clapped him on the back. "Why didn't you tell us?" he asked Ryan.

"Because I didn't want you to get all smug and self-righteous," Ryan teased him.

"I'm always self-righteous," Sandy threw back.

They were all laughing and joking when Seth noticed Ryan's face drop. He looked over his shoulder to see what Ryan was looking at. Oh God, Seth thought, what's Dawn doing here?

TBC