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May 24th, 2029 6 pm Evanston, Illinois
"You will be fine. You're not going to trip on stage. Even if you do, no one is going to laugh at you. You're miss basketball for the state of Illinois." Chelsea told me as I rolled my eyes.
"Thanks for making me twenty times more nervous." I told her smiling nervously.
"And besides you're the valedictorian. You're going to be fine." Meghan told me.
"You're not helping the situation anymore, Meghan." I told her tapping my foot.
"Tess Alexis Bolton-DeVries, you're going to go out there and wow the crowd. Jeez you can play in front of five hundred people but you can't make a simple speech at graduation." Chelsea tried again.
"You're not helping Chelsea." I told her spotting my mom and dad coming closer to me.
"How are you girls holding up?" Mom asked me giving me a quick hug.
"These two are trying to calm me down but it's not working." I told her rolling my eyes.
"You're going to be fine. You know your speech hands down. You have no reason to be nervous." Dad told me as I smiled.
"Thanks Daddy." I told him kissing his cheek.
"You girls need to get ready. You're about to start walking in." Mom told me.
"I think we're all ready. Why can't I calm the hell down?" I asked before hearing Chelsea and Meghan laugh.
"You're funny when you're nervous. You start cussing." Meghan told me as my eyes went wide.
"Why did I pick you as my walking partner?" I asked her as she shrugged her shoulders. Chelsea was going to be walking with one of our other team mates, Madison.
"I have no idea. I guess you just had a weak moment." Meghan told me as I shook my head at her.
"All right girls break it up. Tess, we just wanted to wish you luck even though you don't need it. You're going to be great up there." Mom told me kissing my cheek.
"Thanks. I love you two." I told my mom and dad as they both smiled.
"We know we love you too kiddo." Dad told me giving me one last hug before they walked into the gym.
"Was your New Mexico family coming out here for this?" Chelsea asked me as I looked at them.
"I wrote them and asked them but they said they couldn't get the time off. They told me they're coming out here in a couple of weeks for a visit." I told them.
"They'll be with you in spirit." Meghan told me as I smiled gratefully at the two of them.
"Thanks guys. That's our cue to line up." I told them noticing the flashing lights.
We all got lined up. It was me, Meghan, Chelsea, and Madison in that order. I looked behind my shoulder and flashed Chelsea and Madison a good luck smile as they gave me on back.
Meghan and I had elected to loop arms as we walked down the aisle. We both grinned for the photographer as she took our picture. Before I knew it, the graduation ceremony had started. We sat there and listened to the salutatorian's speech. Before I knew it, it was my turn.
"And the class of 2029's valedictorian, Tess DeVries." The announcer said as I stood up and walked to the stage. Every one of the students started hollering and yelling for me.
"Thank you. Congratulations to the class of 2029. We've gone through a lot as a class over these past four years and we've made it!" I started before looking over at the audience.
"To the countless people, who have helped us through these last 18 years, thank you. From our parents who helped us with homework and problems to the teachers who have put up with us to the administration and principals who have guided us along this path. Thank you." I said looking into the crowd and was surprised to see who was sitting there.
"For most 18 years old, it's the question of what colleges are we going to attend are the most important thing we have to deal with. But this past December, I found out something I wasn't expecting. I found out I was adoptive and a whole new set of problems occurred then. But with help and explanation I got through it. Bumps and roadblocks are going to come our way but with help, we get through it." I paused before looking into the crowd.
"Class of 2029, congratulations. But life doesn't end here. Tomorrow we start a whole new set of challenges and learning experiences. Many of us will forget these past four years but some of us won't. A lot of good times were spent in this school. Remember who you were in this school and take that person with you into the real world. You will continue to meet new people and learn new things as you travel into the real world. Again I say my congratulations to the class of 2029; we're going to move mountains." I said before stepping from the podium as everyone started to clap.
I walked back to my seat as several of my classmates told me great job. My smile was evident as I walked back over to Meghan's side.
"Great job girl. That was even better than when you rehearsed it." Meghan told me.
"I had a little inspiration." I told her gazing up into the crowd again.
"And who could that be?" Meghan asked me as I rolled my eyes.
"You'll have to wait until later." I told her before listening to what the principal was saying.
When my name was called, I walked to the stage to receive my diploma. I smiled for the photographer before walking back to my seat. The smile on my face never left my face.
"I now introduce the class of 2029 to you. You may turn your tassel from the right to the left." The principal said as we all did it.
Before we all knew it, we had thrown our caps in the air and hugged one another. I picked up my cap before walking back down the aisle.
"Can you believe it?" Meghan asked me as we all assembled into the cafeteria.
"That we're graduates? No I can't believe it." I told her as Chelsea came up and hugged me.
"We're graduates. Can you believe it?" She asked me as the three of us broke out into laughter.
"I can't believe it. It went by too quickly." I told her nodding my head.
"It did and your speech was amazing." Chelsea told me as Meghan quickly agreed.
"Why thank you. I think I did pretty good considering how nervous I was." I told them as my mom came up to me.
"Congratulations girls. Aww Tess you were amazing." Mom told me pulling me into a hug.
"Thanks mom. How come you never told me they were coming?" I asked her putting my hands on my hips.
"What? I didn't know they were coming." Mom told me as her smile gave her away.
"You're lying. When did they get in?" I asked her as she laughed.
"Earlier today. They told us they weren't going to come around so they could surprise you. Were you surprised?" Mom asked me as I quickly nodded my head.
"I sure was. I saw them sitting by you before I did my speech." I told her.
"That's when we thought you figured it out. Anyways, they're all waiting for you and I back at the house. How about you go get your diploma and we'll go home?" Mom asked me as I smiled.
"Sounds good to me." I told her as I bid goodbye to Meghan and Chelsea. Before I left, I promised the two of them we would hang out.
I went and got my diploma before meeting my mom by the back doors of the school. I smiled at her as we walked out into the dark night.
"Thanks mom." I told her as I we got into her car and headed home.
"What did I do?" She asked me as I smirked at her.
"For inviting them out here. It means a lot to me." I told her as she nodded.
"I kind of figured it would. I want you to know who your birth parents were as well as the family you would have had." Mom told me.
"Thanks again for everything. Not just this; for letting me go spend spring break out there and even letting me go to UNM for college." I told her.
"Your dad and I were talking and we're thinking of moving out there." Mom told me as I looked at her in shock.
"What do you mean?" I asked her as she smiled.
"Well we have nothing really tying us down here. All of our family is out in New Mexico. Your grandmas have been begging us to move out there for several years. You've kind of pushed us into moving out there." Mom told me.
"When will you guys move?" I asked them grinning.
"The same time you will. We were planning on telling you this later but I thought now would be a good time." Mom told me.
"Aww it's going to be amazing. You and dad will get to see me play college hoops." I told her grinning.
"That's another reason we want to move out there." Mom told me as I nodded.
"This is going to be a good thing, I can feel it." I told her as she nodded at me.
"I think it will be." She told me pulling into the driveway.
"Our neighbors aren't going to like us. Another party at this house." I told mom as she laughed.
"Oh well they're going to have to get over it. Our daughter just graduated." Mom told me proudly.
We got out of the car and headed inside. I headed straight upstairs to change out of my dress and into shorts and a UNM hoodie. I headed back downstairs to greet everyone.
"Hey Tess!" I heard as I walked into the kitchen. I gave them the silent treatment as I grabbed a bowl, Captain Crunch, the milk, and a spoon.
"Oooh someone isn't very happy right now." Jack teased as I looked at him.
I poured my cereal, got some milk and started eating while listening to all the chatter around me.
"I don't like you guys right now." I told them looking at all of my family members around me.
"And why is that?" Jordan asked me as I grinned at him.
"All of you lied to me!" I told them smiling.
"We wanted to pull the surprise factor. Ever heard of it?" Chad asked me as I rolled my eyes.
"I have heard of it but I would have liked to known that you guys were there." I told them.
"We're really sorry we didn't tell you Tess. But your face was priceless when you finally spotted us." Jason told me as I glared at him.
"After reading all of your emails about how you guys wouldn't be able to make it, I didn't expect you sitting there with my parents." I told them pointing the finger.
"Well we're the masters of surprise! We're just smooth like that." Chad told me as I rolled my eyes.
"Yup you're smooth as butter but nothing else." I told him grinning.
"Oh she got you honey." Taylor told her husband as her and I cracked up laughing.
"Oh paybacks are a pain in the butt." Chad warned as I nodded my head.
"Oh I bet they will be. But do you think a 40 year old is going to outsmart an 18 year old? I don't think so." I told him grinning.
"You better watch your back, Tess. He pulled the evilest prank on Troy when we were 18." Zeke told me speaking up.
"What did he do? Cheese whiz exploding everywhere or giving a boy a bra because he said that he found one his size or my personal favorite, crickets in the whiteboards at school?" I asked him as their eyes went wide.
"You put crickets into the whiteboards at school? Why did you do that?" Chad asked me as I smirked.
"We had to do something for our class prank. Dog food in the pool cost too much and putting Mr. Beamer's Beamer on the school roof has been done too many times." I told them.
"Who did the cheese whiz?" Sharpay asked me as I proudly raised my hand.
"I did it both to Chelsea and Meghan for their birthdays. It was two of my proudest moments." I told them grinning.
"Where did your evilness come from?" Kristin asked me grinning.
"I have no idea. But I like it." I told them laughing a little.
"Troy possessed the same evilness you have, Tess. He used to play practical jokes every week." Carly told me shaking her head.
"I'm proud to carry on the tradition." I told them finishing my cereal and going to put the bowl in the sink.
"What are the plans for tonight?" I asked looking at my parents.
"We were thinking a late dinner but since you just ate a bowl of cereal I guess that's out of the question." Dad told me.
"I'm still hungry. Let's go." I told him as Kelsi, Sharpay, Kristin, and Taylor.
"How can you be hungry?" Sharpay asked me as I grinned at her.
"I'm still an athlete so I can pack away a lot. After this, I'll probably go run for an hour on the treadmill." I told them.
"Let's head out troops." Chad said as we all walked towards the foyer of the house.
"I'm glad you guys could make it out here." I told them smiling.
"There's no other place we would rather be." Jack told me giving me a hug.
"Thanks." I told him returning the hug.
"I forgot to mention it early, but congratulations. Your speech was really good." Jack told me.
"Thank you again. I was nervous the entire time I was talking." I told him.
"Well you did great. Let's go eat girl and we'll catch up with what's been going on with you." He told me as we walked outside.
Dinner was great. They all congratulated me on graduating. They caught me up on what had been happening in their lives since April when I was there. We just hung out and enjoyed each other's company.
A little treat for all of you. Studying was giving me a headache so I decided since this was ready to go, why not post it for all of you!!!
Ok now some heartbreaking news . . . there's only going to be 2 maybe 3 more chapters of this story. I want to pull it to a close before Christmas. So if you have any last minute ideas, I would love to hear them and I'll try to squeeze them in.
Feedback would be most appreciated!!!! I want to know how I'm doing on this story!! You've submitted 104 reviews to this story currently!!!Thank you to my loyal readers and reviewers!!!