=Normal POV=
[Saturday, 6/15/2019; 1:30 pm]
[Archian City; Mead Hall]

"Congratulations Berk High School Senior Class of 2019 graduates!" Amy announced. As soon as the caps were thrown into the air, the crowd cheered and clapped. Hayden never threw his, but he did quickly get up and work his way to leaving through the door they'd come in, which was off to the right and behind the makeshift stage. Hayden instantly leaned against the wall and tried not to cry, but it wasn't working. Tears began to slip from his eyes and down his face while he grabbed his phone and pulled up the messages with his Godfather.

1:35 pm
I'm going to mom and dad's house. I need to be there right now.

Hayden sent the message, wiped his eyes and quickly made his way out of the convention center. Hayden tore off his cap and gown and headed for his car. Getting inside, Hayden changed into his clothes from practice earlier that morning without much of a hassle, and then he started up his convertible and left the parking lot and got on the main road to go to his parents' home. That's all he wanted right now; to be in the last place he'd seen them alive.

The other student had filed out of the center and began meeting up with their families. The group of Hayden's friends met in the parking lot to avoid the madness, and their families joined up as soon as they were able to get through the crowd. However, the first thing noticed was that Hayden's car was gone because they'd all parked in the same general vicinity of one another.

"Where's Hayden?" Ford asked the obvious question.

"He bailed after we threw our caps up," Alyssa mentioned.

"I think he went out the right side door behind the stage," Mindy confirmed.

"I was surprised to see him; I thought he'd miss it for sure," Tyler stated. "I mean…He never lined up with us at 11,"

"Especially after what he said to Miss. Mayden at 10…" Trayden sighed.

"What happened?" Rachel wondered.

"Miss. Mayden told Hayden that she had a request for him," Ford began.

"Hayden knew exactly what she'd ask, for him to perform. Miss. Mayden tried to deny that is what she'd inquire about, but Hayden told her not to lie because he wasn't in the mood," Hailey jumped in now.

"Amy asked Hayden why his mood wasn't good on a day like this, and he just went off on her, calmly, but not holding back either," Trayden informed. "He told her that the two people who should be here for him, aren't. That his parents were murdered and his greatest achievement in life thus far has been surviving after everything,"

"And then Hayden told her that he while he could find something on the fly; he wasn't feeling inspirational and that graduating today meant nothing to him; it was just another day," Syrus explained.

"But he did walk the stage…" Rylee reminded. "Bit late, but he got up there,"

"And then after he saw the pictures and heard his parents' voices; he escaped to sit in his chair. We saw him crying with his head down," Alicia nodded.

"I can't imagine that was easy for him, given his folks aren't here today…" Kelly Grimborn frowned.

"But the question is where did he go? His car is gone, so where would he go? Back to berk? The cemetery?" Bryan interjected now.

Gabriel came up holding Spencer. "He went to his parents' place," the man informed.

"Why did he go there? We were all gonna have a giant party with him at your house, I thought?" Dustin inquired.

"Hayden's text only said he was going to mom and dad's house and that he needed to be there right now," Gabriel informed. "Though, I feel I know why. His parents always said they'd do a graduation party for him at the house. His father would cook, his mom would clean up; they'd just have a quiet celebration there. I'd be there…I think Spencer was hoping that you, Silas, and your family would come too. So I think he went there because that was always the plan, and he's going to feel closer to them or be in the last place where they were with him," he explained.

"He's probably not in the mood to celebrate, is he?" Aria said sadly.

"I don't know about celebrating, but I think he'd appreciate his friends coming around for him on a day like this. Not only is it graduation, but-," Gabriel started.

"It's also eight days until the two-year anniversary of his parents being killed…" Trayden finished the sentence.

"Come on; he needs us," Syrus stated.

"Now more than ever before. We weren't around last time he fell into this because we didn't know until Gabriel came to the house to tell us that Hayden didn't handle it," Trayden informed. "We won't let him fall again. Everyone load up," he added.

"Got it," the friends nodded.

. . .

[2:15 pm]
[Archian City; Haddock Residence]

Pulling up to the house; it looked like it hadn't been abandoned for two years. The front lawn was cut, there were flowers planted, the trees and hedges trimmed. Hayden's car was in the driveway, and there was a For Sale sign by the mailbox. However, smacked over the For Sale part was a sticker on an angle saying; SOLD.

"What that-?" Gabriel blinked a few times.

"What is it?" Dustin asked they all headed for the front door.

"Didn't think it had been so taken care of…Or on the market. Hayden said he hadn't decided what he wanted to do yet no more than two months ago…" Gabriel informed as he put his hand on the handle and walked inside the quiet house. "Hayden?" he called. No answer. "Hayden?! I know you're here!" he tried again.

"Living room!" Hayden yelled back. Gabriel led the others, who were just as confused as he, into the living room where Hayden was sitting on the couch, watching a slideshow of pictures on the flatscreen TV. It was all of him growing up with his parents and Gabriel since the move. "What took ya?"

"You…Knew we'd come?" Trayden blinked.

"I've been in a mood all day, and I knew you'd be looking for me since I left the convention center before anyone else did. I purposely let Gabriel know where I'd be, so he'd tell you, and then you'd come looking for me to make sure I was okay," Hayden stated.

"Are you?..." Felicia wondered.

"Not in the slightest, but being here seems to be keeping from losing my shit right now because I can feel them here…This was the last room all three of us were together before everything happened," Hayden informed.

"Well, they'd be proud of you, as much as I am; that you walked that stage earlier," Gabriel sat next to Hayden on the couch and hugged him tightly, then ruffled his hair.

"I wasn't going to…" Hayden admitted. "I got your text, kept telling myself I couldn't do it," he continued. "But as I was listening to names get called off and knew mine was coming…I got Tray's text, and somehow…I decided that I had to do it, no matter how much it hurt to…Though, I was not prepared for what you did…" he mumbled.

"I'm sorry, laddie. I just thought it might help ya to feel like they were there, and how proud they'd be that despite everything you've been through; you finished high school, and knew they loved you," Gabriel confessed.

"Yeah, well…That might be true…But I would have preferred it not in front of the entire senior class…" Hayden mentioned. "It's done and over with now, don't worry about it…"

"Tray…What did you text him?" Alyssa inquired.

"None ya business," Hayden stated.

"Anyway…On a completely unrelated note. Have you been coming here to keep the house straightened up?" Gabriel asked.

"Hired lawn care people to do it. You wanna know why there's a for sale/sold sign, don't you?" Hayden chuckled a little.

"Well, that was the next question…But yes. You said you didn't know what you wanted to do yet…" Gabriel reminded.

"I might have put it off for a while…But I always knew after it was left to me that I'd sell it, Uncle Gabe. I could never live here again; it would be too hard no matter how much time passes. And I wouldn't want to live here by myself with Spencer. Besides…I'm originally from Berk…We only moved here because dad and Silas started fighting again. This is…Just another house; it can be someone else's forever home, but my place in Berk with family and friends," Hayden remarked gently.

"So…You already sold the house?" Trayden wondered.

"About a week ago. The buyers are still working on selling their place, but they'll be moving in here in about two weeks once all their stuff is finalized with their buyers. I've been coming here at random during the process to pack things up and bring them to Gabriel's. I said the family could have anything else left here that I don't need, like furniture and what not," Hayden explained.

"And…Your mother and father's cars?" Gabriel inquired.

"I'll sell them too, just haven't gotten around to it yet since I had to house thing to do. I grabbed everything else I wanted. Everything else; I said the family could have, or they could donate it to charity. After today, I won't have a reason to come back. I finished packing while waiting for you to come. Everything is in the car except for this box of home videos…Decided to watch a few," Hayden shrugged.

"So…" Hayden began again after shutting off the TV and removing the DVD, then put it away in the box. Hayden set it on the counter afterward so that he wouldn't forget later. "You all just come to check on me?"

"Yep!" Alicia smiled. "We decided that we're all celebrating together, and you're gonna join us,"

"Well…That's nice of you, but I'm staying here today," Hayden informed as while moving to the back sliding doors. "Last day here kind of thing, ya know?" he opened the door and headed for the backyard. Suddenly, Hayden stopped and returned, going to the closet that was next to the fireplace. Hayden slid the doors open and out of the way as he flipped the light on while rummaging around.

"What are you doing, babe?" Trayden inquired curiously.

"I almost completely forgot about the hidden safe that is in here…" Hayden stated as there were a thud and tinging sound. "Ow! God damn low-bearing pole…" he winced.

"Are you alright?" Syrus asked.

"Yeah…Just another head injury, no big deal…" Hayden mumbled while shuffling through some stuff. Finally after a few moments; he came out carrying a smaller safe and set it on the couch. Hayden crouched down in front of it and worked at the dial for a second or two before there was a click of it unlatching. Hayden opened the door and set a few stacks of papers on the table, and then he pulled out a gun.

"Woah, woah…Put that down, Hayden," Dustin ordered.

"Dustin…It's not even loaded. The clip is out, and the safety is on…" Hayden informed. "It's dad's gun for home defense. I didn't want to forget it was here and have one of the kids find it since the family moving in has three under the age of 10," Hayden set the gun on the table. "There's actually two. That one is dad's…This one," Hayden pulled out a second handgun. This one was black with a scaled pattern on the metal. "Is mine,"

"Since when do you have a gun?" Trayden asked.

"I dunno…Fourteen or so? I mean, it's registered to dad, but it's the gun I use," Hayden shrugged. "Ain't she a beauty?" he smiled a bit, seeming proud of his weapon.

"Why would you use a gun?" Vincent stated.

"Uncle Gabe and my dad taught me how to shoot?" Hayden said, surprised that he had to answer such an easy question. "We've…Got a shooting range in the backyard. Small, two lanes, still and moving targets,"

"And damn it he ain't a good shot too. Might be better than me," Gabriel chuckled.

"Only with a handgun, Uncle Gabriel. We tried a rifle once, and it knocked me on my ass," Hayden said.

"Oh, come on; that's only because you were fourteen or so, kiddo. I bet you could do it now. You were good on the automatic," Gabriel reminded.

"I was vibrating for ten minutes afterward…" Hayden rolled his eyes.

"Again I say; you're older and stronger now. You could hold yourself still and handle it. Where's your father's gun cabinet, outside still?" Gabriel asked as Hayden nodded to him. "Then let's go. I wanna see ya do it again,"

"Seriously? Right now? Is that even allowed? I mean…These are dad's guns, and he's dead. Don't think it's legal for me to use them without him," Hayden stated.

"It's not illegal as you're an adult now," Silas jumped in. "You could register the guns to yourself,"

"And the range here is legal; I believe it's noted in the paperwork I have at the office. Your father was a stellar officer; he made sure things were fine," Dustin nodded. "I'd almost forgotten about it,"

"So…It's cool if we go out back and shoot?" Gabriel asked.

"Can we watch?" Bryan asked.

"Isn't it your graduation parties with your families?" Hayden started.

"Well, we're…All here with you, Hayden," Trayden said gently.

"I…Don't understand?" Hayden looked at them all, smiling at him.

"Hayden," Trayden took his hand. "Us friends have known you weren't looking forward to today since the night in the basement when we all talked about what we'd do to celebrate our graduations with our families. We know you left because the topic bothered you due to your parents not being here,"

"So the kids decided with all the parents in agreement that we'd all celebrate with you. Me, Spencer, and the Jorgensons as family to you, Trayden as your boyfriend, and everyone else as friends or…Extended, non-blood related family. We all came here for you, laddie, so you wouldn't have to celebrate alone when you and your folks always planned for a party here when you graduated. We're here to join the festivities. Besides, your parents always hoped you'd make good friends to invite for the occasion, and then they'd be able to hang with your friends' parents or guardians," Gabriel explained.

Hayden stood there, shocked at the confession. They all gave up their private celebrations, for him? "So…What do you say? Wanna celebrate graduating with friends and family, just like your parents hoped?" Trayden inquired. Hayden wanted to cry, but he ended up smiling as he hugged Trayden tightly. Blinking, Trayden hugged Hayden back.

"Aw, come on. Don't cry," Trayden said quickly. "I don't like when you cry…"

"I-I'm not…Crying!" Hayden retorted quickly, trying to deny that he was.

"You are too, babe," Trayden chuckled.

"I-I am…Not! Sh-Shut up!" Hayden backed up quickly, keeping his head down and rubbing the tears away. "I-It was just…Dust…Th-That's all,"

"Sure, okay, Hayden. A little bit of dust happens to everyone," Tyler said with a laugh now.

"Got the dust out now?" Trayden hinted.

"Yep, good now," Hayden nodded as he hugged Trayden again, then leaned up and kissed him. Trayden returned it; then they stared at one another a moment. "Perhaps a private celebration later?" he whispered.

"If you want to," Trayden replied.

"Can't wait," Hayden winked as he then looked at Gabriel. "We'll order pizza and stuff for dinner since how we're underprepared for a party,"

"Alright, hotshot…Let's see if you can still shoot," Gabriel chuckled, grabbing Hayden's handgun and one of the clips and tossing both at him at the same. Hayden caught the gun by the handle with ease, leaning right a bit to grab the clip. In one fluid moment; he flipped off the safety, inserted the clip, and loaded a bullet in the chamber.

"Hey, watch it…That thing is loaded," Ford panicked.

"And it's pointed at the ground away from all of you. Relax, Ford…" Hayden stated. "Come on, old man. Let's see if you still got it after being out of the military for a year," he grinned.

"Oh, boy, you're challenging the wrong Marine…Special Ops, remember? I excel at shooting targets…" Gabriel remarked.

"Ex-Marine now, and you taught me everything you know. So let's see who has a better shot," Hayden challenged.

"First to empty their clip and see who has more kill shots does all the chores for a month?" Gabriel smirked.

"You're so on," Hayden agreed as they shook hands and headed outside. The rest followed, very intrigued. Rachel was holding Spencer for Hayden and Gabriel. It wasn't the standard type of party, but they said they were going this for Hayden's sake, so if this is what he wanted to do; then they were fine with it. Getting outside, Gabriel instructed the others were to stand so they could watch safely.

Gabriel and Hayden lined up in their lanes, both putting on their protective ear muffs and goggles. "Start it up," Gabriel told Hayden.

Hayden reached over, flipping a switch and pushing a green button. "Ah, I get it. The lights will turn green when to start shooting so the motion sensors on the targets will be active and can show us where each shot hits. That's how they're playing against each other," Vincent nodded.

"First to empty their clip and have the most kill shots wins, so anything that hits the heart, neck, or head. And there's a counter for each time hit on the spots," Silas interjected.

"Wait," Hayden pressed the yellow button to pause the countdown for them to start. Hayden set his gun down as he went and grabbed the spare pair of headphones; he carefully set them on Devon and Miya's son's head. However, he didn't have another pair for his son, so he took his off and set them in Spencer's head; then kissed his son's nose. "It's gonna be too loud for them,"

"What about you?" Trayden asked.

"I'll be fine," Hayden assured with a nod as he went back to his spot and lifted his gun. Hayden pressed the green button again. The countdown started at three seconds. As soon as the buzzer sounded, Hayden shot the first target that shot out from the side; it hit the forehead. Hayden didn't stop, with a super focused look in his eyes, he fired at the still targets, and the moving ones when they came out at random. Hayden finished his clip and set the weapon down. Gabriel finished two shots later, doing the same.

Hayden leaned over and saw Gabriel's hits; he missed a few targets altogether and missed vital shots. "Looks like you're losing your touch, Uncle Gabe," he chuckled.

"Oh shush…How'd you do?" Gabriel came over to check Hayden's shots. Hayden didn't miss a thing; his shots were all to the head. Gabriel blinked at Hayden was leaning against the fence, stroking the top of his gun.

"How'd he do?" Dustin asked peering around to see better. "Wow…He's good,"

"Hayden, I don't care what you say; you belong on the police force, just like your dad," Vincent agreed after seeing.

"I'm not even going to ask why you want a kid with a hitman-level shot on the police squad, but I guess I'll take the compliment," Hayden shrugged. "And the student surpasses the teacher, Uncle Gabe," Hayden commented.

"Oh, shut up," Gabriel huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. Hayden just ended up laughing at his Godfather's face about being beaten in a shooting contest by him.