A/N at the end. Enjoy! :)

Sonny POV

~I was lost and you were found; you seemed to stand on solid ground.~

This was it. Today was the day. The first day of the rest of your life. Or so they say. It was graduation day. Everybody dressed in rich blue with their caps and gowns. Parents standing, taking pictures waiting for their child to walk across that stage. Everybody certain of their future, or so they appeared to be. You made it. But did I really? I don't feel like I finished. I mean yes, i finished high school, but I haven't finished growing. I haven't found myself yet. Yet here we all are, my fellow peers excited for their futures, every year planned to perfection: college, work, family. I didn't know what i wanted to do yet; not for sure. We, sons and daughters of the upper middle class, were encouraged to continue our education and be like our parents or better. We are expected to have our life together; we have been given every opportunity to excel in life and be certain of ourselves. However, I was not part or that we, but everyone else standing next to me was. Are you ready?

" Sonny Monroe!" Well, that was me. I walked across the stage to the fellow board member who had my diploma. I put on a smiled and shook his hand, took my diploma cover and posed for the picture. I could hear the clapping, my friends scream ing my name, the boys whistling. I could hear all of that, but i couldn't hear my mom out there cheering for me. I scanned the audience, but she wasn't there. I looked at Chad who was already back to his seat, they had called him earlier. He was smiling at me, but his attention was soon switched to Portlyn who was right next to him. Chad had everything figured out. He was so certain of what he wanted and had enough ambition and motivation to go through with his plans. I on the other hand was a mess. I hadn't told anybody how I had been feeling, especially not Chad. He was different ever sense Portlyn came. I thought things were going to be better ever sense that day by the pool, but it appeared as though everything was a lie. Or maybe this was just the real him and i was barely starting to realize it. He was more distant. We barely saw each other and other times i couldn't joke with him anymore because he'd get offended or start an argument. He was also somewhat controlling at times, he'd get jealous quickly whenever he saw a guy talking to me. I never understood why if he barely hung out with me anymore, plus most time we were just talking about a class assignment. I guess our relationship did had a honeymoon stage and it had ended too soon. All there was left to do was guard myself and wait for our expiration date. I had hoped he'd be that one stable person in my life, but it seems that was out of reach.

I looked up at the sunny sky. I hope my dad was watching from above. If he were here he'd be out in the audience with the biggest smile on his face with flowers to give to me after the ceremony. Sadly, he wasn't and even though I was surrounded by hundreds of people, I felt alone and lost. I walked down the stage and back to my seat and waited till they went through everyone else. And suddenly, it was done. Hundreds of caps flew in the air. This was it.

After the graduation ceremony we all gathered to take pictures with friends and family. Getting ready to never see most of our peers for a long while at least. I wish Portlyn was one of those people who I wouldn't see again after high school. Sadly I'm dating her brother and even then she'd always find a way.

"Sonny, where's your mom," Chad's mom had asked.

"She had a last minute emergency at work, but I'm supposed to meet her after this so we can go out and celebrate."

"Why don't you guys come over, we're throwing a graduation party."

"Oh no, I'd really like to have some quality time with my mom." She smiled and agreed. I turned to look at Chad who had his arm wrapped around Portlyn. "I should really get going now." I said goodbye to Chad and his family, along with some other friends I had made throughout my short stay at Condor High. I got in my car and drove off. Oh what a joyous day.

I got home to an empty house; my mom was no where in sight.Typical. Weeks ago she had apologized to me for being so distant, but i guess that was only because her boy toy had broken up with her. But they had gotten back together last week and this time she seemed to have the upper hand in the relationship. I walked to my room and changed out of my clothes and into pjs. I took off my makeup and got in bed. I grabbed a box from under my bed. It contained pictures of my dad and of me when I was little. I put on his old sweater. It still smelled like him. I hugged his picture tight and laid down in bed crying. I miss you… I stayed like that for what seemed an eternity until I fell asleep.

Today was the first day of the rest of my life.

I woke up the next day to the sound of gardeners. Ugh.I sat on my bed. My face was sticky from last night. I reached for my phone that had managed to fall on the floor while I was sleeping. Low Battery. I hooked it onto my charger and laid back down on my bed. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to feel different or not, but I did feel a lot crappier. I eventually managed to get up and go take a shower; it felt nice. I got out and changed into a pair of shorts and a light pink shirt. I combed my hair and made my bed. After I was done I checked my phone. I had missed calls and texts from friends and family congratulating me. I replied to all of them, but came across something strange. I had a message from Portlyn, a video to be exact. Should I open it up? No, it's probably something to try to ruin my day. I exited my messages and just went through social media looking at pictures from last night. I guess Chad's party must've been big. Everyones talking about it. I'm glad I didn't go I would've just ruined it.

I decided to go downstairs to eat only to find a half naked man in my kitchen. He was looking through the fridge, grabbing some juice.

"Um..." I uttered. He quickly turned to me and smiled.

"Hi, you must be Sonny?"

"Yes and you are?" He chuckled.

"I'm Ted, your mom's boyfriend." I blinked and looked closely at him. I guess he looks different when he doesn't have his face smashed against my moms.

"Oh ok, nice to meet you I guess." He smiled. My mom then appeared in a robe. He smiled at her and kissed her; then she turned to look at me.

"Good morning."

"Good morning." I just stared at her as she started making breakfast for two I assumed.

"So I heard you graduated yesterday." I turned to look at Ted and nodded. "Well I have a present for you." He walked out of the room and came back with an apple bag and a card.

"What's this?"

"Open it." I took it from his hands and revealed to be a new MacBook Pro. I opened the card to reveal some extra cash in there. "It's from your mom and me."

"I don't know what to say. Thank you." He went for a hug and stared at my mom. She had an annoyed expression on her face. Obviously it wasn't her idea to get me a gift. I was shocked by the present especially since I had received it from my moms boyfriend and not her. I excused myself and went to my room.

I got to my room and set my present on the bed. Just then my phone buzzed.

Good morning Sonshine :) - CDC

I smiled. I hadn't seen him since yesterday. Even though we've hadn't been in the best place recently, I still got butterflies in my stomach when he would text me. Maybe we were just going through a rough patch but we were going to make it. I replied and grabbed my new laptop. I opened it up and began setting it up. I was setting up my messages when I remembered the message from Portlyn. I decided to open it up. I wasn't going to let her get to me anymore. I grabbed my phone and opened up her text. My heart dropped. Oh no...It was a video of Chad and this other girl. I got enough courage to play it which I soon started to regret.

"Wooooo!" There was cheering in the background as everyone danced and drank. Chad was shown grinding with some girl in a tight mini dress. And then it happened. She turned to him and kissed him. He welcomed her in and soon they were full out making out.

"Woo Chlo! You get it girl!" Portyln encouraged and laughed as she recorded them. They broke apart from making out and the girl took Chad's hand and led him up the stairs to his room. And then it stopped.

Fuck. I stared at the screen. I couldn't believe what I had just seen. I felt numb. I guess we did have an expiration date; my fault for keeping hope alive..

A/N:

Hey guys! I accidentally deleted this chapter the first time I uploaded. So here you go the long awaited chapter. It still took me a while because college is hard you know? Again I'm sorry I disappeared for a while there, but I'm back and hopefully for good this time. What'd you think? I had to reread my story since I forgot where I was going with this story since it's been a while lol. Anyways, please review and share your thoughts. Give me that motivation lol. Honestly I love you all and for those who have stuck by me since the beginning, you'll always have a special place in my heart. Please tell me if you loved it or hated it. I can only improve, right? (: Anyways till next time. Remember the more reviews, the faster the update. so...REVIEW :D

xoxo liz