Hi guys, long time no read and for that I'm sorry. I have managed to do the same thing that I hate of fanfiction authors, abandon my story. I simply got distracted with life and work and the hard parts of it all but I always had this itch left of finishing what I have started. And of course, here's my feeble attempt of doing so.
I want to take this chance to thank all of you for following this little story and take the time to write a review, specially because I realized that the story not always had the best grammar or line of thought. My writing sure was (and still is) all over the place and the fact that despite this, you found the time to liked it, means a lot to me.
Today, taking advantage of the free time COVID 19 has giving us, I re-read all your reviews and the whole story from cero to the last chapter. This so that I could give you a somehow deserving end to this journey. I seriously hope you like it.
So, without further ado and years late (again, I'm sorry) here´s the final chapters (yes as in more than one, the others are already being written) of "Shut up Hanna".
Disclaimer: Remember, English is not my first language. I'm from Mexico so please forgive me if any grammar, spelling or redaction issues appear as you read it.
There's something bittersweet to important milestones. Somehow, they celebrate an accomplishment but mark the end of a previous stage of life or age. Even though you loved them, you seriously wonder what you had to left behind in order to move on with your life… Or at least, this is what Paige was thinking on graduation day.
As she looked at herself in the mirror, she couldn't help to mourn her high school life now that it seemed to come to an end. She had a collection of memories in form of photos all over her mirror sticked with tape. She smiled as she viewed them, she had a great life at rosewood high. From movie nights to nacho evenings and waterpark shenanigans, she had fun. But now, all of her friends (she couldn't call them Emily's friends anymore now that they somehow were embedded into her everyday life… for better or worse) were about to take different paths and going to scatter all across the country. I mean, thank god for the opportunity of higher education but what the hell man, she was going to miss them a lot.
-A loud crash was heard from downstairs- Perhaps, she talked a little too soon.
With a sigh, she squared her shoulders and looked at her mirror one last time (as a high schooler at least). - "You CAN do this McCullers"-.
With a bang, her room door was blasted open. There, with a psychotic smile, stood a wild-eyed Hanna.
– "Looking GOOD Paigy (she had to roll her eyes at that one, she never could get Hanna to stop that nickname), foxy graduate ready to shred diploma day!"- "Settle down Han, the day is just starting, save the energy"- said Paige with a smirk as she grabbed her bag and essentials.
- "Come on Foxy, the limo is waiting"- was the response she got as the blonde dragged her downstairs. As she fought to not stumble on the way down, Paige tried to claim that limos were just for proms. Seriously what was the point? – "Paigy Paige, this is THE LAST DAY, the D DAY, THE DAY OF THE FINAL COUNT DOWN. We have to END IT WITH STYLE"- Was the logical conclusion thrown her way by Hanna.
She had to smile in a "I did not know what I was expecting" way when she finally set her eyes on the limo. A large purple banner decorated it, the "That's right bitches, we did it" in white did complement the glitter and background design nicely. She laughed to herself and shaked her head as she passed a posing Hannah at the side of the car in order to get inside of it. Once she realized she had lost her audience, Hanna joined her. Next stop, The Hastings residence.
- "No"-
- "Come on Spence"-
- "No"- was the resolute answer to the child like whine. Hanna actually stomped her foot at that one. Paige knew that If she didn't intervene they would never arrive at the ceremony in time. With practiced calm and patience, she climbed over the blonde in order to get her head out of the window.
– "Knew you would give in some day Paigy"- exclaimed a smirking blonde with raised eyebrows. - "Shut up Hanna, I'm just trying to get Hastings to board your stupid chariot"-. She had to report that one to Emily, they had an on-going bet regarding Hanna supposed "straight sexuality" based on all the times she flirted with both of them or all the times she dragged them to gay bars "for the drinks, obviously". The only thing making them doubt the outcome of the situation was the obvious love of Hanna for Caleb and vice versa. They were sure that if the relationship ended someday, both of them were to come out as bicurious for sure. To be honest, if that was the case, it would be an absolute win for the rainbow community.
Once she managed to avoid Hanna's "innocent wandering helping hands" she looked outside and started a convincing badass speech, - "Hastings"- "No Paige, I refuse to end my High School career in SHAME"-.
- "Hey! I actually worked hard on the banner guys"- said a pouting blonde.
Dismissing Hanna, Paige focused all of her energy on Generalissimo Spencer - "Ok, fair point, BUT what's going to happen to the valedictorian speech?"- Spencer stand softened at that. She frowned and turned her eyes to the ground (that's on telling your parents to go ahead without you on the family car and that you were going to meet them there. It WAS a NICE day ok?! And Spencer decided to wait for her friends in the garden lounge thus making it impossible to retrieve her car keys from the house seeing as her parents locked it).
- "SHIT"- was the enraged answer. Spencer stomped all the way to the limo and practically unhinged the door to get inside. She made sure to stomp all over Hanna's feet in the process and make it as messy as possible to find a "room to sit" even though they were in a FREAKING LIMO.
Once there was peace inside the car and Paige managed to stop all "accidental slaps and elbows to ribs" kind of moves, the glitter chariot started the path to the Fields home.
- "Hey, babe"- said a grin wielding Emily as she came inside the limo. The fact that her girlfriend didn't blink an eye at the limo and that she boarded it as if this was a normal occurrence on her day to day life made Paige smile even more. Emily was right, her friends were crazy, why bother anymore, the best course of action was to go along it.
She welcomed her girlfriend with open arms and kissed her hard ("EW guys, get a room). – "With this car, we ARE in a room. YOU GUYS get OTHER room"- answered her sexy soulmate. GOD, she loved Emily.
- "You look like a dream Em"- said Paige with a dreamy smile.
- "The sexy kind?"- interrupted Hanna.
- "Shut up Hanna"- "As a matter of fact yes"- responded the couple at the same time. Emily focused her attention on Paige and smiled in a promising way. – "Save it for later, McCullers"-.
- "Guys, my speech"- Trust Generalissimo Hastings to ruin the mood.
With a sigh, the driver started yet again another route.
Aria "bambie eyes" got inside the car with an excited smile. - "Who painted the master piece?"-.
A proud "me" was heard all the way from the other side of the car. There was Hanna, feet up in the row in front of the one she was on. Her heels on her hand. A lazy smile on her face. A disgusted frown on Spencer's.
Yep, this is the friends Emily chose and thus far she, by choosing Emily, as well.
To be honest she wouldn't have it other way.
Aria skipped Hanna's raised legs and dropped on top of Spencer, this brought an exasperated smile on the face of Spencer. As if saying, my life is nuts but I love it.
Once the limo had the male counterparts (except Ezra, because arriving with him to the ceremony would be just weird) they were on their merrily way to traumatize graduates with their loud music blasting on the speakers and screams… at 11 in the morning.
… and of course, the stupid banner which somehow turned even more over the top every time Paige looked at it. How can glitter shine so much? She was sure it was because it wasn't normal glitter and that somehow Hanna managed to produce crazy Marin Glitter and it shone as bright and was as crazy as her creator.
Rosewood High stood high in the skyline (not much really, I mean it was JUST a high school after all, but you get the point). The graduates arrived in orderly fashion, their families proud to show off their kids who stood at the precipice of finishing an important stage of their lives.
Families went one way and the hopeful Seniors other in order to get their togas and graduation caps. They tested the new fabrics with big excited smiles and talked about the future with such hopeful endeavor. Yes, nothing could have spoiled that day for them, it was a positive, full of dreams scene.
Suddenly a screech broke the peaceful environment, the sound of a fast approaching car. At the distance, they could see a limo soaring through the entrance path and barely narrowly missing the "rent a camera!" stand in the way.
The car came to an abrupt stop and out of the driving seat came a blond, better known as Hanna Marin (the actual driver stumbled out of the co-passenger seat immediately kneeling and kissing the floor). – "Sorry James, but we were in rush and you were driving sloooooow"- "My name is not James"- said the poor man while he cleaned his sweat ridden scared face. The blonde just limited herself to pat the man's shoulder and walk away.
From the back of the car, stumbled out 4 girls and 2 young men. All of them looked scared by the experience but with practiced calm started to shake themselves out of their own shock. Two girls hugged themselves as if thanking for their lives and hand in hand rushed their friends to the toga and cap stand shoving people out their way.
A frantic "Move people, valedictorian on a rush here" was heard by the awaiting parents of the disgruntled group of friends. They had decided to meet their offspring outside of the venue to wish them luck (even though, it wasn't a matter of luck. I mean, their diplomas were already printed). Ashley Marin, at the whole scene just stood there with her jaw unhinged by the shock. Veronica Hastings could only look proud at her youngest daughter, if not for the fact that she was valedictorian at the sight of seeing her un- apologetically shoving people in order to get her toga and cap as fast as she could.
The Hastings were a weird bunch, that's for sure.
All the other parental units limited themselves to shrug their shoulders and walk to the stand in order to meet their kids. This included a smiling and cooing Pam Fields who absolutely loved seeing her daughter with her girlfriend. If she had it her way, they would go the distance and give her the granddaughters or grandsons she has always wanted.
Once everything was set, the group proceeded to rush into the venue, only to have Hanna run back to the limo to rip the banner from the car and carry it over her shoulders while she ran back to her friends and mother, who just shaked their heads exasperated.
The fact that she screamed at the top of her lungs WE DID IT BITCHES while she ran did not help at all.
In her excitement, she did not break her run until she climbed on top of the back of an unsuspecting Paige. Emily punched her shoulder in order to get her to stop the madness, she was fed up with her friends and their ability to always top Paige (that was her place and none other's).
- "We haven't done it yet Marin. Wait to have your Diploma on your hand. It's possible the principal changes her mind once she she's the mess you are"- teased a smirking Paige while she shook Hanna down and off her back.
- "Foxy Paigey" (Emily raised her eyebrows at that one)-. - "This is our last chance to leave our awesome print on the minds of our far less superior schoolmates"-.
A group of seniors standing to the side glared and frowned at the group when they heard the disclaimer from the blond. With apologetic smiles the rest of the group said sorry and rushed the blond into the stadium lawn before she caused yet another BIG FIGHT as it was her usual behavior.
Once they were all in their seats and Paige was rejected by Emily's sitting partner at her request of changing seats ("you'll mess the diploma order"). Paige dedicated herself to pout at her girlfriend from her place. Emily sent her air kisses but the teasing smirk told Paige she was enjoying her misery. You see, the lesbian gods seemed to think that there was a sort of karma debt and she was stuck with Hanna beside her.
Of all the possible seating arrangements, someone must really hate her. Hanna sat there taking what seem to be thousands of selfies. Seriously, how many selfies did you need of the both them sitting there just waiting for the ceremony to start? Paige could feel Emily silent cackle all the way from her place.
She glared at her girlfriend while she was pulled into another choking hug by the blonde and yet another selfie ("one with us with silly faces foxy Paigey"). – "Sure, let's make it a closed 100th of those"- "Oh shut it P, you love love loveeee it"-.
Emily snorted 5 rows in front of them.
FINALLY, the typical graduation music started. A somber looking line of professors made their way from the back to the front in a professional procession. At the very back stood a proud Spencer closing the official (-"very boring"-, -"Shut Up Hanna"-) parade.
As the professors took their seats, there was a very familiar voice screaming. – "Come on PEOPLE, we don't have all day. There's after parties to go to"-. Paige just covered her face in shame and lowered herself as much as possible in her own seat. She did however shove her elbow into Hanna's ribs with the hope to settle her down. She snorted to herself at her own thought.
- "Fat Chance McCullers"-.
When Spencer finally made it to the podium a – "Yaaas Queen"- was heard from the audience. This time not only from Hanna but surprisingly from her own girlfriend and Aria as well.
She smiled this time. Emily was cute, she was entitled to do whatever she wanted in Paige's eyes. With a smile and a pretty obvious blush, Spencer Hasting prepared to deliver as a valedictorian… and deliver she did.
With what can only be described as sincere gratitude and wisdom far beyond her age, Spencer took her classmates into memory lane and made them actually look back to their high school days with bittersweet nostalgia.
She concluded her speech with words that most of them needed to hear…
- "We hear from our parents and society itself that high school is the golden era for a person. We learned to make these days the best of our lives because we feel like a big sand clock was turned on us on freshman year. I'm here to tell you that this is not the end of an era but the beginning of the rest of your lives. It doesn't matter how you ended your high school career, focus instead on the person you want to be when we receive that diploma and how you will face the next big challenge. Forget about the person you were and focus on the person you are now and the one you want to be in a future.
Don't mourn our time here, these days are not dead, not over. Carry them with you as a reminder of the great time spent here or the great life lessons you learned here. There is always something positive to our memories, find yours and never let go but always be open to change.
I have no doubt in my mind that we are ready for what life has prepared for us, we are strong, we are smart and we carry on no matter what. We are survivors, let us show this fact to the world. So please, join me in cheer for our generation. Here's to the class of 2012"- .
Paige clapped her hands and cheered loudly for her friend, beside her stood a bouncing blonde ball of energy who practically choked her with another hug. Around them, all seniors were cheering and hugging each other while they took their seats once more waiting to be called to get their diplomas.
In the middle of all the chaos, she managed to lock eyes with her girlfriend. And in that moment, she knew, the future was uncertain for both of them but there was always going to be a constant factor in her life and that was Emily. They smiled at each other communicating silent promises and vows that somehow were understood without any need to say anything.
With peace in her mind, Paige sat and waited for her future with a renewed excitement.
- "OK GANG, Rally UP"-
The collective groan made Spencer frown at her friends.
- "Shut up guys, we need ground rules. If you had managed to behave in the past I would let it slide but alas, here we are"-. Said the valedictorian while huddling everybody into a circle. Hanna made sure to drag her feet and make the task as difficult as possible.
Taking a deep breath, Spencer let out her first sentence – "After party do's and don'ts"-
At once, a string of rebuttals and offense claims exploded in the small circle they had formed.
- "SHUT UP"- one by one the claims stopped until just one was heard – "square brain bitch"-. At Spencer's unimpressed face, Hannah shrugged her shoulders and unapologetically said – "What?! You are!"-.
- "ANYHOW, as I was saying…"-.
Paige took the chance to cover Hanna's mouth when she noticed the blonde about to sprout another sure to be offensive claim. She let it go with a disgusted EEEEW after Hanna licked her hand. With a suggestive face, the blonde did kissy motions her way only to be stopped due to a well-placed punch at her shoulder by Emily.
- "YOU THREE! ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION?!"-
- "No need to shout Hastings"-
- "Sigh, yes Spence"-
- "Jeez, intense much?!"-
After a 10 second stare stand down between the three amigas and generalissimo Hastings, Spencer decided to continue with a menacing glare to the girls.
The fact that toby stood behind her with his arms crossed as if to intimidate them into behaving practically made the whole thing hilarious. Officer Toby did not scare anyone at all. Still, they knew that the sooner Spencer finished with her guidelines the sooner they could began to party.
After all, it´s not like the guidelines were going to be needed anyway. They were SENIORS, they knew how to behave.
They were going to be fine…
Thank you again for all the love, please stay safe in these trying times.
If you can, Stay Home. If not, take the needed precautions.
Until next Saturday.