Hey guys! sorry this update took some time. I was recovering from a work related injury but I am all good and ready for some fanfiction:) can you guys believe the holidays are nearly upon us? it's crazy! haha anyways, hope you all enjoy this one. it's nearly over... :'(

~Wallflower95

Okay. Breathe. All you have to do is give a speech to a fairly large crowd and then you're free to endure the rest of your days. Simple as that. No big deal at all. Okay.

I look at my reflection in the mirror. I sighed. I was wearing my mom's blue Amsterdam dress. I tucked a few hairs that were just pointing in different directions. I put the red cap on my head and wrapped myself in the red gown. I sighed.

"Here it goes." I said to myself. I don't even know why people make such a big deal out of graduations. It's nothing special. You literally get a piece of paper that says you can now move on with your life. I also really hate when people cry and say 'oh it's the end of our lives'. No. You are not dying you are just graduating from high school. Or 'oh let's keep in touch.' Let's face it. We weren't exactly close in high school you really expect to stay in touch after it? Yeah no. Just the little things annoyed me.

To me graduation means basically I'm finishing school to go back into school... Yeah. Depressing I know. 'Congratulations you are done high school! Now go spend thousands of dollars on an education that may or may not get you the career you want in life.' I sighed. I was feeling really... angry for some reason. Maybe its because all school year Liam popped up everywhere to ask me out. I always shot him down. Not because I was interested in someone else. It was because I didn't want to be interested in him. Or maybe it's because I wanted this thing to be over. I wanted my family to stop fussing over me. Or maybe it's because I am the only graduate who doesn't have parents here.

Hmm I'm going with #2.

"Come on Lancaster!" Kylie said as she pulled me along to the field of chairs outside our school. I am valedictorian which means I have to deliver a speech to the whole graduating class. I had chosen my words carefully and decided not to quote a bunch of crap songs or movies. No. It has a little bit of everything in it. I clutched my speech in my hands as we found our seats. The principal of the school went on with speech until her finally called my name.

"And now we'd like to have this year's valedictorian give her speech. Miss Anna Lancaster." There was a roar of applause and whistles. I walked up to the stage and cleared my throat. When I looked up thousands of eyes looked back at me and I nearly choked. I was about to back down when I saw him. He was in a sea of people. His grey smiling eyes looked back at me and a smile lit his face up. He gave me a thumbs up. One thing I do have to say about Liam Birch, he is not a quitter.

"They say that after graduating high school it's the end of your life. It's not true. You see. Life can end like that. In the middle of your life. In the middle of a sentence. So why live your life like this? Life doesn't end here on this day. We have so much more. We can achieve so more and live so much more. You just have to seize the moment because you and you alone are in control of your life. You've worked hard to get to this very moment." I paused and smiled.

"So don't back down without a fight."

"Because in my time on this earth I have never met anyone who wasn't important. Yes, we may be side effects in reality but to me we are all good stories that will one day be told to our children's grandchildren. So why don't we make it one hell of a story to tell?"

"Here's to us. We survived eleven years in elementary and secondary education system. We were given a forever in the numbered days. Let's not take it for granted." Everyone stood up. A wave of applause and cheers hit me and I smiled big because all I saw was a ridiculous goofy grin on Liam's face.

Back at home was a big family celebration. Amelia and Max were playing Counterinsurgence in the living room. All the grandparents were chit chatting over university choices and I sat at the kitchen table with Kaitlyn and Isaac.

"So, where have you decided to go?" She asked. I sighed.

"I haven't. Grandma keeps telling me to apply to one but I'd like to decide what I want to study before committing myself to thousands of dollars a year. Isaac smiled.

"A very wise choice." He said. The doorbell rung.

"I'll get it." I smoothed down my dress and headed towards the door. I knew who it was before I even opened it. Liam Birch stood before me with a gift bag in his hand. I laughed.

"So now you've settled to winning my heart with gifts?" I said, eyeing the bag. He laughed.

"Well I suppose graduation gifts are acceptable at this party?" I nodded and stepped aside so he could step inside.

"Why of course they are acceptable. We just don't accept annoying eighteen year old boys here." I said.

"Haha very funny." He said as he stepped into the house.

"Is there somewhere we could talk in private?" He asked me. I looked over at my grandparents who were engrossed in their conversation. Kaitlyn looked at me and saw Liam. She mouthed something.

'Why is he here?' I shrugged. She gestured towards my room. I looked at her nervously. She nodded encouragingly. I sighed and pulled him along.

"Follow me." I muttered. I pulled him into my room and closed the door behind me. He whistled and looked around.

"What have you never seen a girl's room before?"

"Nope." I laughed.

"Boy you have lived a sheltered life my friend." I said. I saw down in my desk seat and looked at him with my arms folded.

"So, what do you want?" He remembered what he was doing here and he turned towards me. He handed me the gift bag. I sighed.

"It better not be jewelry. As you can see I am not that type of girl." I said as I pulled out the tissue from the box. He smiled.

"Oh I kinda figured that out a while ago." He said. There were several things in the bag. One was a lock. I looked at him and lifted my eyebrows.

"That is for whenever you decide to come back to Amsterdam. You can lock your name on the bridge right next to your parents." My looked down at the lock. That was actually... a pretty awesome gift. I pulled out a book. It was 'Leaves of Grass' by Walt Whitman. A book of poems.

"Probably not your type but they are beautiful..." He said as I looked down at the book.

"Just like you." He said quietly. And then I pulled out a small flute of champagne.

"You only graduate once." He pulled two plastic cups from his jacket pocket. I laughed and popped open the bottle. I poured the champagne and we both held out our cups.

"To Dutch alcohol." Liam said.

"To finally being out of school." And we sipped the delicious and crisp champagne. The bubbles popped on my tongue. I sighed.

"Now that is an awesome present." I said. Liam smiled.

"Thank you." He said.

"You know, I'm pretty impressed." I said.

"With?"

"Your patience and your determination. Most guys would crumble over waiting two weeks for a girl. You've been waiting nearly a year." I said. Liam nodded.

"Well, you're a girl who's worth waiting for." He said. Damn he's good.

"But why? I'm not special." He smiled.

"Well to quote the words of a valedictorian, in all my time on earth I have never met anyone who wasn't special." He said. He reached upwards and stroked my cheek. I let him.

"And you Anna are very special." Dammit he got me. I wrapped my arms around him and pulled his face towards mine.

"Fine. You got me." And we kissed. I could feel him smiling against my lips. It was... magical. No wait that sounds corny. Okay it was... freaking awesome. It was like the superman of all kisses. I felt warmth spread throughout my whole body.

"I win." He whispered. I laughed out loud.

He finally got the girl;) stay tuned for next chapter. Hoping to get it up on Friday!

Okay?

~Wallflower95

p.s love all of your favorite tunes. I am definitely going to check them out:)