Enjoy!

Chapter Twelve:

Gracelyn:

"To the class of Twenty Forty, we made it! We made it through SATs, Mr. Warren's crazy tests, Mrs. Parlard's marathon pop quizzes, the March freak snow storm, and okay I didn't go through Purser's Vocab Crash, but most of you did and are better people for it! We did it. A round of applause for us!"

I cheered with the rest of my class as Tina continued.

"Now for the teachers. They shaped our minds, inspired us, pushed us, and gave us reason to believe a bright future is ahead of us. To the faculty of Harrison Prep, we owe you a debt of gratitude that we will never be able to fully repay. Thank you. Another round for them!"

I clapped and hooted with the rest of my classmates.

"To our parents: Who made sure we got up every day, even when we didn't want to. They wiped are tears when things got rough. No matter when, they always made time to attend our games, plays, and other extracurriculars. When nothing made sense or went right, they were there for us. To moms, you are my heroes. Around of applause for our parents!"

I turned around and clapped in the direction of my dad.

"Okay, this is part you guys have been waiting for. The elephant in the room. I wouldn't be on this stage if it weren't for Gracelyn Reid. In her moment of greatest need, she remembered the nerd who did her homework had a parent who was a computer programmer. I told her that night I hoped she'd drown in dirt, but still she ventured out into the night. She trusted my opinions, she respected me. Gracelyn, I never thought you were the worst person at Glen High, but you were in my top five. A round of applause for Gracelyn Reid, Harrison Prep's Salutatorian, this is why I wouldn't let you look at a copy of my speech, because I knew you wouldn't have approved!"

She was right, as I was greeted with thunderous applause. I really didn't like the attention as I teared up. Liam turned around in his chair and gave me the thumbs-up. I blew him a kiss.

"Thank you, and non-alcoholic drinks at my house in two weeks, all are welcome!"

The student's laughed and cheered. I joined them.

They say graduations can be boring, but I soaked every moment in. The three of us from Idaho, were going our separate ways. Liam was got recruited by Notre Dame. He had adopted the name Morgan, after my dad's friend's, who he stayed with after winning emancipation. Tina was going to MIT with hope of becoming like her mom Marie, and joining the BAU. I was going to NYU for counseling and physical education, to one day become a cheer coach and high school counselor. I listened to my classmates, cheer as each one walked across the stage. Then it was my turn.

"Gracelyn Reid."

The principal hugged me, after he gave me my diploma. People cheered me on again.

Then it was time for photos.

My dad had an old-fashioned camera had the three of us stand together. Lila beamed at us, as did my mom.

Okay, I still wasn't okay with her being around. I knew she angling for a role on the movie of my life. My dad talked me into letting her in. It turns out she had broken up with Steve years ago worked as a bartender most of the time she was gone. She's tending bar in New York city as she keeps trying out for roles.

"How about a photo of Gracelyn and Spencer?" Lila said.

"Use my phone too," I said.

My dad looked at me.

"I'm so proud of you," he said.

I hugged him. The pictured was snapped.

…

"What you looking at?" Teddy asked at the Golden Globes Award show.

"This sweet pic from graduation," I said.

"You and your dad do look cute," he said. "It's amazing how much can change in a year."

I was dating Teddy Wells now. Liam and I broke up over the summer before college and agreed if we were still single in four years, we'd find each other. Teddy enrolled at NYU, and confessed his feelings for me. I talked to Liam first, and he said I didn't need his permission to enjoy life. We've been dating for three months now.

"Okay," Tina said. "Everyone, prepare to look happy for the winner."

"I've been doing it years," Lila said.

"The odds are thirty-three percent in our favor," my dad said.

I laughed. The old me would have been mean to him, but that time has long passed.

"Okay the winner we've all been waiting for," the presenter, said after reviewing the nominations.

"For best picture drama: Graceful Growth!"

Tina screamed. Liam and Teddy high-fived. Lila and my dad kissed. The audience was on its feet cheering.

We made our way to the stage.

"Okay, this is the shock of my life," the director said. "Thank you to the Hollywood Foreign Press for this incredible honor. Thank you to Archheart Studios for greenlighting the script. Now I'd like to the give the man of the hour a moment to speak: Spencer Reid."

My dad took to the microphone.

"There is one more honor to go out tonight if she'll have it," Reid said and pulled out a box. "Lila, will you be the wife of my dreams?"

The clapping and screaming grew louder. She took the ring and kissed him passionately. Afterwards, he stepped forward hugged me. A thousand camera flashes went off.

…

"Don't touch that Spencer," I said as I held him.

My two year-old-son liked reaching for things in high places. He loved the fireplace mantle whenever I carried him by there. Such were the trials of being a mom.

The doorbell rang. I opened my phone to see my dad from the door cam. I walked over and opened it.

"I've told you, you can use your key," I said.

"I don't want to interrupt anything," he said.

Teddy appeared.

"Since when do we have to time to do anything, when we have a light sleeper for a kid?"

I put Spencer in his play pen.

"Thanks again for agreeing to babysit dad," I said.

"Lila's overseeing a shoot in Singapore and since I quit teaching at the Quantico, I don't know what to do with myself."

"Can you read a draft of "Andy's Adventures in Mischief Volume Two?'" Teddy asked.

"You know Uncle Matt is better than I am at that sort of thing," he said.

"You both have different approaches to my work, you're also better than my editors."

He laughed.

"You're going to be late," he said.

"How many times have I heard that in my lifetime?" I said.

"Let's get going," Teddy said. "Liam and Tina are probably already at the restaurant the way Tina likes to be super-early of everything."

"Have a good time you two," he said.

I hugged him and we left.

As Teddy drove, I thought about how much life changes in eight years. Liam was drafted by Tennessee Titans, and promptly blew out his knee, during the first pre-season game. He found Tina afterwards, and she revealed her feelings for him. Liam is working his way through the FBI ranks, while Tina is working under her mom at the BAU, where Jack Hotchner is now section chief. Teddy is a best-selling author of middle-grade books. My mom married a millionaire after being seen in her walk-on role in my movie. Everyone was living fulfilling lives.

As for me, I'm keeping the queen bees in line as a guidance counselor at Harrison Prep, and creating a cheer program that is starting to garner national attention. This was my life, and I was content.

I turned on the nanny cam app on my phone. My dad was telling Spencer a story.

"The princess learned a valuable lesson. She and her king father live happily ever after."

THE END

Author's Note:

There was a time when I thought I'd be done writing new CM stories. I'm cutting back, but I'm far from done. This is proof that people love crazy, out there, ideas as much as I do. I can't do straight romance, or a plot you'd see on the show. I strive to write something that is nothing like any fan work out there.

Thank you, thank you, for your support! You are the reason I keep writing these outlandish stories. It is an honor to share them with you. Thanks again!