Hey, thanks for reading, if you read my other 3 chapters. Special thanks goes to LaughingLlama(a fiction press author and my best friend in real life) for leaving all the great reviews. Thanks to all my international readers, I don't have many for this story, and I would love to have more! And as always, PLEASE ,PLEASE, PLEASE review on my story! So here is chapter 4 and enjoy! **There is a space later in the story, the computer is beng weird and won't put it on here.

Two years later….

Maria grinned at the cameras as they took her picture. She had just gotten her diploma, and she was now graduating high school. She smiled to herself. High school had been hard; it's probably hard for everyone. For her, it was hard in a different way. She hadn't been picked on, or excluded from things. No, she had simply been crushed. Split in half. By no other then the person she once loved, and still loved to this day, no matter what had happened. It made no sense to her, but that was feelings. No one quite understood them.

She had gotten over him of course. It had taken about a year before she could consider dating again, but once she did she was able to not think about Ross. Another guy, one who treated her right, like another human being, not a piece of property, had come. His name was Peter. Maria loved him, because when she was mourning over Ross, he had been her shoulder to cry on, and had been there for her. Once she was able to date again, she started dating him. It was love from the start. Maria smiled to herself as she took her seat in the auditorium to watch the rest of the graduation.

She was not surprised to see Rosalynne step up and take her diploma with a grin. I'm surprised she passed high school at all, Maria thought with a giggle. Rosalynne was still dating Ross, and of course it hurt to see them together. Their relationship was very public now. Everyone knew about it, and everyone knew about what Ross did to Maria. She wasn't surprised to see Ross jump out of his chair clapping for Rosalynne as she got her diploma. He was in the stands, because he had dropped out of high school last year.

This sent pain through Maria, until Peter went up to get his diploma, very last, and to deliver a speech. He was the top scorer in their grade. He gave his speech, and he actually mentioned Maria's name while he was thanking people. When he was done, Maria stood up and clapped for Peter. He deserved this. He worked very hard for this, and she knew he would be successful in life.

She got out of her chair, and went over to hug Peter. He was happy, she could tell. "Hey, I need to go get pictures with my family, can you meet me at Denny's later?" Denny's was the only resteraunt in town.

"Sure, Peter." She kissed him on the cheek, and watched him walk away to his family members. She grinned. Maria loved him, she truly did. Suddenly, screaming and crying erupted the gym. It was Ross and Rosalynne. She turned to watch, like everyone else.

"I have to go to Italy, Ross," Rosalynne screamed. "I can't just not go," Ross looked very pissed off as he growled under his breath, "How long will you be gone?"

Rosalynne looked worried as she whispered, "A year." Ross cursed under his breath and walked away from Rosalynne as she sat crying. Maria at first felt like it was karma what happened to Rosalynne, then she felt sorry for her. Ross needed to be stopped.

Maria walked out of the resteraunt with Peter, smiling. He grabbed her hand as they made their way to the pier, it looked beautiful at night. The weeping willows swayed in a complicated dance in the breeze, the moon was large and bright against night sky.

Maria and Peter went to sit in their usual place on the pier, with their feet dangling off the side. "I need to tell you something, Maria," he paused for a split second before continuing," I love you, you know this. And you also know how I am going to Vanderbilt in the fall." Maria nodded. Peter had been so proud when he had been accepted to Vanderbilt on a full scholarship. It was his dream school. "Well, I want you to come with me, Maria." he whispered, getting nervous now. He bent down on one knee and took a small, black box out of his pocket. "Will you marry me, Maria?" He smiled shyly as he said it.

Maria hardly had to think twice about the answer. She loved him, he loved her. He could give her a good, happy life. "Yes," Maria began to sob silently, "yes, I'll marry you Peter." Maria then jumped into his arms and kissed him, full of happiness.

Ok, that was the chapter! I hope you guys liked it. I know I haven't updated in a while for this story. So enjoy, and please leave me reviews!