Chapter 1
It's the end of November, the day before Fall graduation at Smithdale University, Manny and Emma have worked so hard for the last 6 years and it's finally paying off.
Emma: Manny, we did it! We are finally graduating. I can't believe it's tomorrow
Manny: I know! I'll be so happy to be done with Smithdale. I'll be able to have more time with Chester without worrying about homework
Emma: I'm so happy you guys found each other again. I just wish I could share this moment with Sean (she said kind of sad)
Manny: I know, I'm sorry Emma. Has he tried to contact you lately?
Emma: I haven't talk to him since he said he wasn't going to be able to make it to graduation and see me graduate
Manny: I'm sorry Em.
Emma: I miss him Manny. He was my first love, obviously our relationship wasn't perfect, but we loved each other
Manny: Hang in there Emma. I know you wish he could be here, I'm sure it's killing him to have to miss this
Emma: You're right, I just keep hoping and wishing for a miracle.
Manny's phone buzzes it's a text from Chester
Manny (reading message): Hey Beautiful I'm so incredibly proud of you and all your hard work, can't wait to see you tonight and celebrate my gorgeous college graduate. I love you so much
Manny (smiling): I love that guy. I'm so glad we had class with him, and we got to reconnect
They're walking down the hall of their dorm room, walking to their room to finish packing their stuff
Emma: I love you Manny, I'm so glad you're happy, you deserve it. Chester is great to you
Manny: He really is, he's the sweetest, most loving guy I've ever known.
Emma: Least now once we're done and graduated, we'll be down the street from each other.
Emma and Manny have been best friends since diapers
Manny: I know we got super lucky getting houses down the street from each other.
They get to their dorm room, Manny's phone buzzes, (little does Emma know Manny has a special graduation surprise for her)
Manny (looking at her phone): hey I'll be back in a minute. I got to deal with this call
Emma: Alright
Emma finishes packing her things to keep her mind off missing Sean.
Manny: Hello?
Sean: Hey is Emma with you? Does she know anything?
Manny: No, I left her in our dorm room, and she has no clue. She still thinks you're on deployment. Which she is crushed about by the way
Sean: Well, what's the plan for tomorrow?
Manny: Graduation starts at 4, we have to be there at 3, Chester and I will be there about 2:30. So meet us near the auditorium entrance about 2:45. Remember you're not seeing Emma until after we've graduated. Emma will be here about 3ish
Sean: ok, after you guys are graduated, I'll meet you guys in the café, when you guys are on your way and let me know, so I can get Emma's song on. I remember she loves Brett Young "In case you didn't know"
Manny: This better go perfectly, we've been planning this for a few months now, by the way it's killing me seeing how miserable she is, because she is missing you so bad.
Sean: Wait, she told you she does?
Manny: Yes, and even Chester has noticed.
Sean: I can't wait to see her, Manny
Manny: I know she's gonna be so happy to see you I'll text you later or tomorrow and make sure everything is set. I got to get back to packing
Sean: Manny?
Manny: Yea?
Sean: Thank you for helping me surprise her, it really means a lot
Manny: see you tomorrow Sean.
She hangs up and goes back in hers & Emma's room
Emma: What was that about?
Manny: You'll see
Manny said with a smile
Manny: We almost all packed up?
Emma: Yea couple more boxes and we'll load up
They finish packing and load U-Haul and say goodbye to their dorm at Smithdale. Chester's waiting at Manny's new place for them to help Manny unload and unpack.
Chester: By this time tomorrow, you guys will be college graduates, I'm so happy for you both.
Manny: thank you baby
Emma: Thanks Chester
Manny: I can't wait till tomorrow! My best friend is graduating with me and my amazing and supportive boyfriend will be there supporting both of us
A couple hours later, Manny, Chester and Emma finish unloading Manny's stuff out of the U-Haul
Emma: It's gonna be great! I'm going to get going. I'm gonna head to my place and unload and unpack
Manny: You want us to come help?
Emma: No, you guys enjoy your night, I'll see you tomorrow
Manny kisses Chester and walks out with Emma
Manny: Hey Em, you sure you don't want help?
Emma: I'm good Manny, go be with Chester (she said with a fake smile)
Manny: Look, I know you're upset because you miss Sean, I wish I could change it for you
Manny gives Emma a hug
Manny: I love you Emma, you know I'm here for you
Emma: I love you too Manny, I know. Like you said I'll be ok. It's gonna take a little time, that's all
Emma gets in the U-Haul and starts to drive off to her new place.
Emma: Home sweet home
She starts to unload the U-Haul, gets all her furniture put where she wants and her boxes where they need to go. She makes up her bed and calls it a night
Next morning, it's graduation day, Emma gets up at 9, gets ready for graduation. Manny calls about 11

Emma: Good Morning
Manny: Someone sounds happy this morning; do I have the right number?
Emma: Ha Ha very funny Manny. Its graduation day! What's not to be happy about? It's gonna be a great day
Manny: You're right Em!
Manny: you want us to pick you up for graduation? Or are you driving yourself?
Emma: I'll ride with you guys
Manny: Ok we'll pick you up about 1, oh by the way I have a surprise for you later after we graduate
Emma: Who? Me?
Manny: Duh! You'll see tonight. I got to go I'll see you in a couple hours
They hang up, Manny calls Sean
Sean: Manny?
Manny: Ok what do you got planned for Emma's Surprise?
Sean: I'm gonna have rose petals down the hall to the café, when you guys walk in, her song will be playing, Brett Young "In case you didn't know" after she starts to hear it, I'll come out with a dozen roses and ask her to take me back.
Manny: She's gonna love it, we're gonna go pick her up in a bit. So, we'll see you tonight. I'll text you when we're heading to you
Sean: Alright
They hang up
Chester: Emma's gonna be so happy to see Sean I know how bad she's hurting
Manny: Yea, this will be good for her. I know I was in a dark place before you and I reconnected and got together.
Manny looks up at Chester and smiles and Chester softly kisses her
Chester: I'm so glad we reconnected, It's been too long and now look at us, almost 3 years together and never happier
Manny: I agree 100%
Chester: Manny, I am so proud of you, you've worked so hard in the last 6 years and here you are, graduating with honors, you and Emma both.
Manny: It was a lot of hard work, but I'm glad we're done.
Manny: Ok. Stop being so sweet and loving, I have a graduation to get ready for and a surprise for my best friend
Chester (chuckles): Ok go get ready, I'm gonna put a few of your things away that you didn't unpack.
Manny gets ready, comes out of her room wearing a strapless black dress with black heels
Manny: how do I look?
Chester: You look- - you look (speechless)
Manny: Do I look horrible?
Chester walks up to Manny
Chester: You look stunning
Manny: Thank you baby, come on we got to get going, we got to go pick up Emma.
They leave and go pick up Emma
Emma (gets in the car): Manny you look great
Manny: I seriously am In love with your dress Emma
They arrive at Smithdale
Manny (grabs Emma's hand): we did it Emma! We're finally graduating
Emma: Manny you're finally gonna be able to start your music career
Manny: I know. I can't wait, and you are getting your degree in teaching, we're gonna do great things in life Emma.
Emma: yea, we will! I have my best friend by my side and I'm incredibly happy with that outcome!
Emma (looks at her phone for the time): we better get going, we got to meet up with everyone
Manny: I'll meet you in a little bit
Emma walks off
Chester: Manny relax, Emma has no idea Sean's here.
Manny: Maybe I should just call him and make sure he's here
Manny picks up her phone and calls Sean
Sean: Hey Manny, what's up?
Manny: Hey I'm just making sure you're here.
Sean: Yea I'm here, I'm in the café like we talked about. Manny are you ok?
Manny: I'm just nervous about this. I want this to be perfect for Emma.
Sean: Manny relax, everything will work out. Stop stressing
Manny: Chester said the same thing, I just want this to go right
Sean: It will! Relax and go graduate
He hangs up Manny turns around and kisses Chester
Manny: Ok, I love you, go get your seat. I'm gonna go graduate (she said all excited)
They part ways, 3 hours later
Emma: Manny! We did it! We graduated!
Manny (looks at Chester and smiles): I know! I'm so glad. Ok come with me. I have a surprise
They walk down to the café, Emma sees rose petals and hears her favorite song, Brett Young "In case you didn't know"
Emma: Manny, what's going on here?
Sean comes out from behind Emma
Sean: Surprise Beautiful
Emma turns around and sees Sean holding a dozen red roses
Emma: Sean?!
Sean (chuckles): yea it's me
Emma runs up to Sean in tears and gives him a hug. Manny stands by Chester & Smiles
Chester: You helped do this Manny, you should be happy
Manny (holds Chester's hand) I love you so much, how did I get so lucky?
Chester: I love you too, I'm so proud of you
Manny: Thank you babe
Emma: Oh my gosh What are you doing here? I thought you couldn't get a leave from your Sargent. I thought you were on deployment
Sean: Well first off, these are you for, happy graduation
Emma: These are beautiful.
Sean: I came here (holds Emma's hands) to surprise you, plus I had a little help planning this
Sean looks over at Manny and Chester and Smiles
Emma: Manny? Chester? You guys were in on this and didn't tell me?
Manny (chuckles): You know how bad I wanted to?
Chester: The point is, we wanted to do something special for you for graduation
Sean: I got ahold of Manny a few months ago and we set this surprise up
Emma: You guys are the best
Sean: I got done with my deployment early and got honorable discharged couple months ago. I never called because I knew I would probably tell you about coming for your graduation.
Manny: And I would of killed him for it
They all chuckle
Chester: Come on Manny, let's give them some alone time
Emma walks over to Manny and Chester and gives them a hug
Emma: Thank you guys, you guys are the best
Manny: call me later
Chester and Manny leave
Sean: I'm home, and I'm home for good, baby
Emma: Really?
Sean (smiles): yea.
They dance in each other's arms to Brett Young's "In Case You Didn't Know"