Author's note / disclaimer / etc. : chapter dos is up! Yay! I just want to say that you all are so sweet with your reviews! I really appreciate it. I hope you enjoy this chapter that I still own nothing in…the next chapter will be out soon! (aren't I on a roll? haha)

…oh, and for the record, Larry = Lawrence = Larry… I figured it had to be short for something!

Chapter 02: Graduation

"Oh my God, I'm so nervous Miranda!" Lizzie squealed in the girl's bathroom. It was graduation day, and just about every senior from Hillridge High School was running around in anticipation of the big event. Lizzie was no different. She fiddled with her blond hair as she stood in front of the mirror with her best friend.

"I know, me too! My whole family is out there!" Miranda told her best friend as she adjusted her medium-gold-colored honor student cord. She sighed and commented, "and now we have a whole summer ahead of us…I can't believe time flew by so quickly."

Lizzie looked over at her best friend and half-smiled. "Miranda, I--"

Her statement was interrupted when their principal, Ms. Ungermeyer, burst through the door. "Girls, we're all getting on stage," she said straight-faced with her hands on her hips. "Now move it." She pointed to the exit with her head, and both girls got the point.

"Yes ma'am," Miranda giggled as she gave her principal a quick salute right before exiting the bathroom. She was known to always crack a joke around Ms. Ungermeyer throughout her four years of high school, despite the principal's lack of sense of humor.

Both girls hurried over to the auditorium's stage to take their separate places in the group of about one-hundred and fifty other students. Each friend was separated by several rows but would constantly peak over dozens of graduation caps for each other. Just about each and every student sitting in the crowd exuded total and complete happiness. Each one chit-chatted about the upcoming exciting events to come.

Quickly though, all fell silent when Ms. Ungermeyer took the podium. "Good morning everyone. It is my pleasure to have you all here to witness the graduation of Hillridge High School's senior class…" The ceremony was now underway.

All the seniors sat in their seats listening to their principal give her opening speech, intently. For many, thoughts of their previous four years flooded through their heads, while others thought of the future that was to come. Not one single word could capture the emotion that filled the auditorium that particular morning.

Soon the moment that Gordo had been fretting for the past two weeks arrived. "…and now, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you our salutatorian, David Gordon." Everyone clapped as he walked up to the podium.

"Go, Gordo! Yeah! Woo!" could be heard coming from between the Ks and the Ms. It was undoubtedly Lizzie.

As Gordo stood at the podium, he took one long look at the audience. He saw the many familiar faces of Lizzie's parents and brother, Miranda's parents and siblings, his mother, and so on. He tried to take it all in before delivering his speech. At that point, standing there in front of all those faces, he had finally come to the realization, as Miranda had done the previous night, that he was actually graduating. High school was coming to an end, and a whole new chapter in his life was to begin. And at this point, he could do nothing to stop this process of growth.

He took one big breath and began his speech. "Good morning. On behalf of our senior class, I welcome you to Hillridge High School. I feel honored to have your company today in this joyous event.

"As I stand here before you I think back to when I found out that I was salutatorian. My first reaction was that I did pretty well for myself, until I remembered the honor came along with a speech. Then I became a little reluctant about the idea. But, shortly after, I began reflecting on my past four years here at Hillridge and I realized something--I would have never been able to survive high school without my two best friends at my side. They are two of the most amazing I people know, and I am so lucky to have had the chance of even so much as making their acquaintance. Even though I do not show it very often, I love them both, more than words could say.

"High School. It is four long years which you do a lot of growing and changing. It is not something that can be gone through alone. I find it impossible to have been able to survive all that I have in these four years, or even these last eighteen, without my friends.

"If I could have my fellow graduates leave here today with one piece of advice, it would be not to go through life alone. Always have a friend or two, close, you could never have enough. Friendships are unexplained joys that one gets in life, and everyone deserves them.

"In conclusion, I quote Helen Keller. 'With every friend I love who has been taken into the brown bosom of the earth a part of me has been buried there; but their contribution to my being of happiness, strength and understanding remains to sustain me in an altered world.' Friendships that you keep for the rest of your life. These are the types of friendships that I have formed here at Hillridge. I hope my fellow graduates have as well."

Everyone in the room felt the words which Gordo spoke. Everyone clapped, some students tear-stained from not only the words of the speech, but the realization of the truth it carried, as Ms. Ungermeyer made her way back to the podium.

"Thank you, David. And now, I'm proud to present to you, our valedictorian, Lawrence Tudgeman."

Larry made his way to the podium, looking nervous with every step. He shook lightly as he stood looking at the audience. Taking a few seconds he gathered his thoughts and brought himself to speak. "Good morning. My speech is a little different because it comes in the form of a poem…so I hope you don't mind… And, here it goes.

"If there were ever a time to dare, to make a difference, to embark on something worth doing, it is now. Not for any grand cause, necessarily--but for something that tugs at your heart. Something that is worth your aspiration. Something that is your dream. You owe it to yourself. To make your days count. Have fun. Dig deep. Stretch.

"Dream Big.

"Know, though, that things worth doing seldom come easy. There will be times when you want to turn around, pack it up and call it quits. Those times tell you that you are pushing yourself and that you are not afraid to learn by trying.

"Persist.

"Because with an idea, determination and the right tools, you can do great things. Let your instincts, your intellect and let your heart guide you.

"Trust.

"Believe in the incredible power of the human mind. Of doing something that makes a difference. Of working hard. Of laughing and hoping. Of lasting friends. Of all the things that will cross your path next year. The start of something new brings the hope of something great. Anything is possible. There is only one you. And you will pass this way but once.

"Do it right."

When Larry walked off the podium, everyone knew that the end was near…it was inevitable. But, of course, as it is said, it was to be embraced. His speech had stirred many emotions for all, and even moved those who had not been moved up until then. And before anyone knew it, Ms. Ungermeyer was back on stage calling out each student's name to receive their diplomas.

"…Jessie Brown…Lisa Carlson…Ethan Craft…Amylee Davis…"

"…Joseph Garcia…David Gordon…Samantha Harrison…Daniel Kessler…"

"…Angel Lieberman…Elizabeth McGuire…Parker McKenzie…Clair Miller…"

"…William Rodriguez…Eric Russell…Miranda Sanchez…Kate Sanders…"

"…Timothy Silverman…Krystal Sunns…Lawrence Tudgeman…Michael Urbina…"

Soon enough the completion of the commencement ceremony was announced and they all celebrated. "It is my pleasure to introduce to you Hillridge High School's newest graduates!" Ms. Ungermeyer announced as she turned to the students, who rose up with joy. The audience roared with applauses and cheers as the graduates threw their caps in the air.

Some of the students hugged, while others ran towards family and friends in the audience who congratulated them on their achievement. Lizzie, Miranda, and Gordo each headed over to their respective families, being greeted by warm embraces.

Miranda stood with her baby brother, Carlos, in her arms and her younger sister, Rocio, to her left. Her father, Edward Sanchez, stood six feet away from them clicking his camera away.

"Mirandita--why don't you get Lizzie and Gordo here for a picture?" Mr. Sanchez suggested. His eldest daughter nodded her head as she handed little Carlos over to her mother and then went off to get her best friends.

"Lizzie! Gordo! Come, come! Pictures!" Miranda yelled as she spotted them both through the crowd. Soon they all joined together across from their families for pictures.

"Okay guys," stated Gordo, "Each family only gets one picture!" He stuck out his index finger to make sure they had gotten his point. But, that didn't stop the families from taking as many pictures as they could at free will.

After each family had gotten enough of their share from picture taking, the adults gathered around Lizzie's father, Sam McGuire, to see all the pictures on his digital camera. The teens took advantage of the situation and took a walk through the crowd of families, friends, and graduates.

"I can't believe that we only have a few months before we begin college!" Miranda commented excitedly to her best friends. "Just a few minutes ago we were high school seniors…now, we're like--college freshmen!" She giggled at the thought of having grown so much in just a couple of minutes.

"That's true…but let's not forget that we still have a whole summer to spend together," Gordo reminded her. She nodded her head in agreement.

"Guys…we don't exactly have a whole summer…" Lizzie let out. Both her friends looked at her puzzled. "I…kinda have this trip…"

Gordo asked, "what trip?"

"I didn't find out until last night. I mean, my parents totally sprung it on me! But--I'm going to be touring Europe this summer…with my cousin Bridget from Ireland…"

"What?! How do your parents just spring something like this on you?" Miranda asked.

"Well, I met Bridget before when I was little, and since then she's been asking about me. So my dad suggested I go see her and have some fun," Lizzie explained.

"How long will you be in Europe for?" Gordo asked, not knowing what else to say.

"The whole summer…I leave next week."

"What?! Lizzie, this is our summer before college!" Miranda exclaimed. "We were suppose to spend it together…"

"C'mon Miranda, in eighth grade you left us for a whole summer to go to Mexico and you missed our graduation. You got to see your family in Mexico…why can't I?"

"You act like I wanted to leave you guys! I wanted to be there for graduation, and I wanted to be there for Italy, but I didn't have a choice. I still regret not being there with you guys!"

"Hey McGuire, you'll be at the party tonight, right?" asked Kate as she passed by the group of three. "It won't be the same without you…" It was ironic how just a few years ago Lizzie had always wanted to be the first on the invitation list to Kate's "infamous" parties, but never was. And now, since the two had worked out their petty differences, there was never a doubt that she would be there.

Lizzie turned her head towards her and smiled, "of course!"

"Okay…catch you later!" Kate called as she waved a quick goodbye.

Lizzie wrapped her arms around both her friends shoulders and told them, "let's go to the party tonight guys…and we can have some fun, before I leave."