"I don't want to go!" Julian whined into his pillow.
"You're graduating and that's final! Now get your ass in the shower and get ready!" Todd shouted at his eldest before walking away. Julian groaned before dragging himself out of bed and into the shower.
Back at the warehouse, Cheka watched Cassandra pace the floor anxiously. He didn't really know what had her so nervous because everything was "going according to plan." A loud ringing sounded from her computer and Cassandra rushed to it. Cheka quickly ducked out of sight when he saw Angelica's face appear on the screen. Angelica was a dark red fox with long wavy hair and bright green eyes. She was pretty—in that typical cheerleader way. But Cheka knew she was nothing but a bitter bitch.
"Hello Cassie," Angelica greeted and Cheka watched as Cassandra winced. Obviously she didn't like that name, but she wasn't about to say anything.
"Hi Cassandra. Everything is ready for Hawaii." Cassandra told her. "We've ditched the collars like you suggested and developed a serum." She said and Angelica hummed approvingly.
"Good, good. I love it when you listen to me." Angelica chuckled and Cheka rolled his eyes as he stood behind Allie's computers. It was a good thing she was graduating today otherwise she would tear Cheka a new one for being near her computers. "Now, I need you to do something else for me." She said and Cheka's heart rate went into double time, thinking maybe she knew he was here.
"Anything." Cassandra nodded eagerly. Angelica was either Cassandra's role model or she was using her literal power of persuasion heavily. Cheka didn't really like either option.
"That little Shadow brat—Dusk, Shadow Jr. whatever the fuck it is. He has something that I want. When you get to Hawaii, I want you to make sure you get it from him." Cheka fought the urge to vomit because Angelica knew that Shade had his pendant. She hasn't been getting rid of the Myrmidons to get to the Athene, she was getting rid of them to get their pendants. He had to call Arianna and soon because if she knew Shade had his pendant, who knows what else she might know.
"Consider it done." Cassandra nodded and Cheka ran out of the warehouse as silently as he could from the back entrance. The graduation was being held in the auditorium and it was currently filled to the brim with families waiting to see their children graduate.
"This is boring!" Flash whined sinking down in his seat. He was currently wearing a dark green dress shirt with khaki pants and a dark gray tie. Everyone was pretty much forced to dress up for the occasion and Flash was not happy about it.
"It won't be when you graduate." Bolt told him and Flash sighed. Bolt was wearing a dark blue dress shirt with black jeans. He was excited to see the seniors graduate because that meant he was just one step closer to graduating himself.
"Why did we come so early anyways?" Flash asked as he looked around trying to see if things were going to start soon.
"Don't you see how packed it is? We needed good seats." Bolt told him and Flash sunk back down in his seat.
"No one in our families are even graduating." He mumbled and Bolt just rolled his eyes. Outside the auditorium, all the graduates—all 112 of them—were standing around waiting for them to process in. Serenity was standing around the other students with H surnames and trying to look for Julian since they had the same last name. She was wearing a white dress with a large, blue floral design on it. It was cinched around the waist and sleeveless with a soft v-neckline. All the girls were wearing light silver graduation robes while all the guys wore dark navy ones.
"Serenity!" Ginger shouted and Serenity smiled as Ginger ran over to her. Ginger was wearing a emerald green dress with a high neck and A-line skirt. The dress was sleeveless and ended just above her knees. Ginger threw her arms around Serenity who laughed while hugging her.
"Ginger! You look great!" Serenity smiled as they pulled away from each other. "Can you actually believe we're graduating?" She asked.
"Yeah, it seems like yesterday when we were in kindergarten. At least we're going to the same school though!" Ginger grinned and Serenity cheered.
"UC Berkeley here we come!" Serenity cheered as they both high-fived.
"There are my two best friends!" Julian exclaimed as he walked up to them in a gray dress shirt and black slacks underneath his navy graduation gown. He wrapped his arms around Serenity and Ginger's shoulders before swaying them all back and forth. "As we go on. We remember. All the times we, had together!" He sang while Ginger and Serenity laughed.
"I would like to see my girlfriend, thank you very much." Conner said peeking his head around Julian. Conner was wearing a light blue dress shirt, blue tie, and black slacks underneath his robe and quickly wrapped his arms around Serenity.
"C'mon we should probably find our people." Ginger said tugging on Julian's sleeve. Brice and Tyler walked up to the auditorium together. Brice was wearing a dark violet dress shirt, gray slacks, and a black bowtie. Tyler was wearing a dark blue dress shirt, gray slacks, and Converse sneakers instead of dress shoes. Since he had to wear the graduation cap, he couldn't wear his beanie so his hair—in all it's shaggy glory despite Cream's best efforts—was out for the world to see.
"Time to leave this school!" Brice cheered throwing his arms up in the air.
"I'm pretty bummed." Tyler shrugged.
"But now we get the college experience! It'll be great." Brice told him and Tyler grinned.
"Yeah I guess, you're probably right." Tyler shrugged and Brice smirked.
"Of course I am. I'm Brice." He told Tyler who chuckled and shook his head.
"Tyler!" Liecy exclaimed happily before launching herself into Tyler's arms. She was wearing a simple, bright pink A-line dress that was sleeveless. Tyler smiled before wrapping his arms around her and placing her back on her feet.
"Time to find my girl." Brice muttered before turning only to have Nicole run into him. "That didn't take long." He grinned. Nicole was wearing a navy A-line dress with large orange/red floral designs on it.
"It's finally happening." Nicole grinned as she looked up at Brice. Ginger was searching around the group of students with S surnames before spotting Derek leaning against the wall. He was wearing a black dress shirt and slacks and smiled when he saw Ginger walking over to him.
"Can you believe we're almost done?" Ginger asked as Derek wrapped his arms around her.
"I believe this is just the beginning." Derek smiled before pressing a kiss to Ginger's forehead. Izzy bypassed the cheese fest that was Derek and Ginger and tried to find her spot in line. She was wearing a simple, royal blue A-line dress that was sleeveless underneath her graduation gown.
"Hey," Izzy turned around to see Julian approaching her with a confused look. "I'm looking for this girl. She's amazingly beautiful and I love her immensely. Do you happen to know her?" Julian asked and Izzy wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Hmm, sounds familiar. I might know her." She told him and Julian smirked. They were about to kiss when a teacher came and told everybody to get set up and fix themselves. Julian sighed as he put his cap on his head and zipped up his gown.
"Our last time in high school." Julian said holding Izzy's hand and she smiled.
"And I wouldn't have it any other way." She said and Julian smiled before kissing her sweetly and running over to his spot. Everybody was now seated and Reese looked over to Todd when he heard sniffling.
"Why are you crying? It hasn't even started." Reese asked while Todd brushed a tear away.
"It's almost over." He pouted before blowing his nose into a tissue.
"It's so not!" Reese denied.
"Yes it is! It always ends at graduation!" Todd argued and Reese rolled his eyes. Reese turned in his seat and faced a sea-foam green hedgehog—Sammy—hiding underneath a trench coat and hat.
"Tpcb000 tell him it's not over!" Reese said to Sammy while Todd turned around too. She fidgeted in her seat nervously before pulling her hat over her sunglasses even more.
"I don't know you, sir. You've mistaken me for someone else." She muttered in a low voice while a pink and white hedgehog next to her, dressed similarly, leaned forward.
"Please be quiet." She told them before Reese turned around and crossed his arms.
"I told you we shouldn't have sat behind them!" Sammy hissed quietly and Ashley shrugged her shoulders. Everybody started to walk out gracefully as the crowd clapped and cheered. The graduation tune soon ended and the principal made his way to the podium to make his speech. After his speech everyone applauded him and he smiled towards the crowd.
"Now, It's my honor to introduce the Class Valedictorian, Ginger Romaro." The principal said as Ginger walked towards the podium on stage. Tyler was technically awarded Valedictorian, but didn't want to make a speech. Ginger didn't mind and since she was ranked second, she decided to make the speech.
"That's my girl!" Reese shouted proudly while Ginger blushed. She held her speech in her hands before taking one deep breath and facing the crowd.
"Good evening family, friends, and fellow graduates. My name is Ginger Romaro and I am one of the 1,092 students that attend California Mobius High School for the Gifted. Or, as of today, had the honor to attend." She smiled as some people lightly chuckled. "While there are many names for this school—Super High, High School for the Freaks, and the most popular, Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters," She read while everyone laughed. "I look at this school as more than one filled with super-powered teens."
"I'll guarantee you that the majority of students here can attest that this school, despite a few speedsters late for class and power malfunctions, was a typical high school. We as students enjoyed football games, pep rallies, school dances, and of course, the burden of homework." She muttered while people laughed again.
"CMHS is not like other schools, but not because we have a population of powerful students. CMHS has heart. The students here care about each other and we all have a mutual understanding that we may not find anywhere else. No one can say that at other high schools. I, for one, am proud to be a CMHS student. And my class and I will continue to carry that pride as alumni of this outstanding school. Thank you." Ginger smiled as everybody applauded and cheered for her. The principal shook her hand before she walked off stage and back to her seat.
"Thank you Ginger. Now we have our Student Body President, Julian the Hedgehog, here to make a speech." The principal announced and AJ furrowed his brows in confusion.
"Did you know he was Student Body President?" AJ asked Lazarus.
"Yeah dude, why do you think he announces everything?" Lazarus asked.
"I thought he was just the emcee." AJ shrugged.
"The guy is your brother and you didn't even know he was Student Body President?" Lazarus asked and AJ shrugged his shoulders.
"That's right! That's my son! President!" Todd cheered loudly while Jillian tried to calm him down and Suzy shook her head.
"Well, here we are guys." Julian smiled as he looked around at his fellow classmates. "I never thought we'd get here. Especially some people and you know who I'm talking about." He said as people laughed and looked at each other. "High School has unfortunately come to an end for us, but that doesn't mean it's the end. Some may say it's the beginning. I mean seriously, think about how old we are now and that someday, we're going to be as old as our parents." He told his peers while they laughed and so did the parents in the crowd. "Seriously though, I'm grateful that my parents decided to send me here. I've had some of the greatest experiences here and I don't think that would have been the same at any other school."
"When we look back at our time here at this school, I encourage you to remember the good. Forget the nights you spent studying for that impossible Calculus test and the times where high school was the last place you wanted to be. Remember the times that brought a smile on your face. Remember all the friends you met here, maybe a significant other you met." He said as Izzy smiled along with Ginger and Serenity.
"Remember the late nights at cold football games where school spirit was the only thing keeping you warm. Remember the free food and shelter our parents provided because now we're going to have to start paying for that." He said making everyone laugh. "Remember the good, forget the bad because CMHS was a place where we were all at simultaneously and that in itself is a once in a lifetime event." Julian smiled as people around him smiled and applauded him. "Ladies and Gentlemen, please help me introduce Absolute Fire!" Julian exclaimed as he motioned to where the band was set up and the crowd cheered.
"We never get to perform." Shawn grumbled.
"They're the only band with a senior in it." Ruby told him, but Shawn still pouted.
Derek took a deep breath before walking up to the microphone. They cut a deal with the principal that if they got to perform, Derek would have to be the one to sing since he was the graduating senior in the band. Derek was capable of singing—he was the original lead singer after all, but it's been awhile and this was in front of everybody. Topaz took up playing the violin since that was the only instrument she knew how to play and stood off to the side smiling at Derek encouragingly. Derek and Lazarus both started to play their acoustic guitars before Derek stepped up to begin singing.
Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go
So make the best of this test, and don't ask why
It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time
It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life
Derek's voice was smooth and velvety and Ginger was proud to see her fiancé get up and sing. She, of course, has heard him sing before, but it was a whole other thing to see him perform in front of a crowd. Topaz started to play her violin and AJ was sitting on a Cajon since this was a pretty acoustic song and used his hands to play a light beat on the box. Derek focused his eyes on Ginger who smiled brightly at him when he looked her way. He smiled softly at her and continued to sing.
So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind
Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time
Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial
For what it's worth it was worth all the while
It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.
Derek and AJ dropped out as Topaz played her violin and Lazarus played softly in the background. Everybody was now standing up, some with their arms around each other swaying back and forth. Derek brought the microphone back to his lips again.
It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.
The band started to fade out a bit as Derek sang softer into the microphone. Andrew held up his thumb lighting it on fire before swinging it back and forth. Derek rolled his eyes at the gesture before he sang the next line softly.
It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.
Derek stopped singing while Topaz stopped playing leaving Lazarus continuing to play before fading out gradually. Everybody cheered while Absolute Fire took their bow. Topaz, AJ, and Lazarus all hugged Derek before they all returned to their seats.
"Thank you for that memorable performance, Absolute Fire. Now, it's the time that everyone has been waiting for. We will be awarding diplomas to the graduating class." The principal announced as everybody cheered. The first portion of the graduates walked onto stage when their names were announced and received their diplomas. Everyone in the group was relieved to see when Brice's row stood up.
"Brice the Echidna. Ohio State University." The speaker announced as Brice walked onto stage to shake the principal's hand. Rouge and Knuckles cheered loudly for their eldest son, with Knuckles practically deafening James who was sitting next to him. Nicole jumped up and down, cheering for him even though a teacher was trying to tell her to sit back down. Ruby and Onyx skated onto the stage and proceeded to lift their brother onto their shoulders and carry him off stage.
"Joseph Garret." The speaker announced and seeing how Joseph didn't have any plans after graduation, a school wasn't announced with his name. He got the standard amount of applause and simply rolled his eyes after shaking the principal's hand and walked off stage.
"Julian the Hedgehog. University of Southern California." The speaker said as Todd shot out of his seat and lifted himself up in the air.
"Woo! Go Julian! That's my son!" Todd shouted while Julian just shook his head and laughed. Izzy clapped and cheered for Julian from her seat and he winked at her making her laugh.
"Yay! Daddy!" Luca cheered from atop Jeff's—Izzy's father—shoulders surprising him. "Oops. I mean Julie." He muttered covering his mouth with his small hands. Jeff simply sighed and shook his head.
"Serenity the Hedgehog. University of California, Berkeley." The speaker announced while Amy and Shadow cheered loudly for their daughter along with Conner who was still in his seat. Shade and Ebony Chaos Controlled onto stage surprising their sister. They each took one of her arms and proceeded to walk her off stage while she laughed. A few more students were called before someone else from the group was announced.
"Conner Mondair. University of Southern California." The speaker said as Conner took the stage. Conner bowed as the AV Club, Film Club, and Photography Club all cheered for him—however, they were drowned out by Jerry and Alchemy who were on their seats cheering for their son. Serenity laughed at the sight, but continued to cheer and clap for her boyfriend.
"Liecy Mondair. University of Washington." The speaker announced while Jerry and Alchemy stayed standing in their seats to cheer for their daughter. Liecy laughed when she caught sight of Tyler levitating over the rows of students and cheering for her. Jerry and Alchemy collapsed back into their seats, exhausted from all the cheering.
"Nicole Mondair. Ohio State University." The speaker said as Nicole walked onto the stage. Brice nearly fell out of his seat as he cheered his girlfriend on making her laugh. Arielle and Elijah were cheering for her loudly while Andrew jumped onto his seat and cheered even louder than his parents for his older sister. He would have created a fire show for her if they weren't indoors and the likeliness of the sprinkler system going off.
"Tyler Prower. Princeton University." The speaker announced while some people's mouths dropped in shock of "Skate-Dude Tyler" being accepted into Princeton University. He didn't mind the shock though because he was focused on his girlfriend cheering for him and his parents losing their minds in the crowd.
"Ginger Romaro. University of California, Berkeley." The speaker said as Reese hopped onto Todd's shoulders and started cheering loudly for his daughter. Luna only laughed, but still cheered on her daughter. Lauren sent her a telepathic congratulations while Shawn hopped on Flash's shoulders and followed in his father's footsteps. Ginger blushed, but smiled when she saw Derek clap and smile for her.
"Isabella Sanders. Columbia University." The speaker announced.
"Woo! Look at my baby go!" Julian shouted from his seat while Izzy shook her head. Luca started clapping his hands widely when he saw his Mom shake the principal's hand.
"Mommy! Smart!" Luca cheered while Jeff whistled loudly and clapped for his daughter. Izzy waved at Luca and her Dad before taking her seat.
"Alexandra Smith. Harvard University." The speaker announced while Julian and Serenity looked at each other shocked.
"How did her dumbass get into Harvard?" Serenity asked.
"Maybe she got some serious family ties." Julian murmured while Serenity shook her head. Allie walked off the stage and back to her seat.
"Derek Stanson. University of California, Berkeley." The speaker announced as Ginger smiled and clapped. Derek saw her engagement ring glisten in the light and that made him smile brightly. James and Nikki cheered for their son loudly, but they were drowned out by AJ and Lazarus. The rest of the students' names went by quickly and the senior class stood up as they turned their tassels together.
"I present to you the graduating class of California Mobius High School for the Gifted!" The principal announced proudly before they all threw their graduation caps into the air to the sounds of rapturous applause.
"We did it!" Julian yelled when he found Izzy. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a kiss making her laugh against his lips. All the families rushed outside where millions of pictures were taken with the graduates. The graduates themselves formed a conga line and proceeded to dance towards the parking lot—albeit Derek was a little reluctant.
"We just graduated! We're all going to college!" Julian and Brice sang to the rhythm of the Conga while the rest laughed and followed them.
"Group hug everyone!" Julian announced before the seniors all grouped together for a giant hug.
"You guys have all summer to do this! Can we just go eat already?" Flash exclaimed impatiently and Midnight scolded him for ruining the moment. Everybody just laughed and headed to their cars and away from CMHS.