Disclaimer: I don't own Newsies or any other media references I may make throughout the duration of this fic.

Chapter 14: Everything Happens For A Reason/Nothing Lasts Forever

Racetrack

And all of a sudden he's in front of me. Standing there and watching.

"Oh, Spot, hi." Is all I can manage.

He smiles, as if happy to see me. I want to ask him how he's been, as if I haven't talked to him in a week, not three years.

"Can I sit down?" he asks boldly, pulling out the chair and taking a seat before I can answer.

He looks like I remembered, except more muscular and a little taller. He looks good.

He sits and orders a drink. Bastard. He's still as confident as ever, allowing me to feel small compared to him.

I'm mad at him. How can he do this? Come and sit next to me and order a drink, acting like nothing's wrong? Why did I love him in the fist place? He's so arrogant, so…

"I hear you're going out with Bumlets now," he says out of the blue, smirking slightly.

Don't think he's as good as you? At least he wouldn't leave me because of a stupid tree. Differences make life interesting! I want to yell, but restrain myself and answer. "Yeah. We're very happy together."

Is it just me, or does he flinch when I say this? Does it matter that much to him?

"That's…good."

We sit in an uncomfortable silence for a while. He stirs his coffee around in his cup and I turn back to my paper, though not reading the words.

"Do you still read the World section daily?" he asks, smiling in sweet remembrance. "It was always your favourite, remember?"

Do I remember? How does he remember? Is he trying to drudge up the past? What's his plan here exactly?

But I don't say anything, knowing that he remembers this about me forms a knot in my throat. I swallow nervously to get it out. Oh crap, I can't feel this way for him. I'm happy without him.

Seeing him sitting like that in front of me and looking so good makes me remember why I liked him in the first place. It's the way he makes me feel. It's different then the way I feel with Bumlets. With Bumlets it's sweet, with Spot it's bittersweet.

"Do you," am I really going to do this? "want to come to my graduation next week? From Advanced Calculus. I'd be nice, Cherish will be there."

He nods. "Sure. That'd be nice."

And he's smiling, like he's sincerely looking forward to it.

Spot

So he's invited me to his graduation. Maybe things aren't really dead: maybe they're as good as ever. Maybe this is my chance.

Seeing Racetrack makes me believe, it makes me really, truly believe, that loveless love is gone. Sure, there are obstacles, and I don't know for sure what I'm going to do. I don't have a game plan yet. Do I even know if he feels for me? Maybe I was invited out of pity or politeness. But I'll take it anyways, it's an opportunities and 'everything happens for a reason'.

Bumlets

"OK graduates, this is your big night! Just relax and have good time! The trip is over and it's time to enjoy the rest of the journey!"

We applauded and lined up for the procession into the ceremony hall.

The presenter and chairperson called names and in no time they were at: "Flores, Dominic."

"Mr Flores is also graduating top of the class and as valedictorian."

In the front row my mother cheered loudly. Beside her my father applauded politely.

I scammed the crowd, trying to recognize the smiling faces and relate them to my peers.

Sitting near the back, not even watching me, but instead Racetrack, was one Spot Conlon.

Good things don't last forever. You'll have to say goodbye sometime.

Goodbye Anthony Higgins. I'll love you…

End

((Woot! It's over! It's my first non-song fic that's been ended goodly-ish. Please review this last chapter especially and tell me if you like it. It's bittersweet, my new favourite word!))

Shoutouts:

Erin Go Bragh- well, as you see here, not much more. I hope you liked it anyways.

Coin- I'm glad to be missed. It makes me loved!!!

C/M. Higgins- I hurried especially fast. Just for you (well, not really, I wanted to finish. But we'll say you're the reason, OK?)