Chapter 27

...It has all come to an end.

--

It was one of those days that for four years it seems so far away. Then when it comes it feels like it came fast, much too fast. Graduation was here, ready or not, it's time to go out into the real world. Some of us had to do that way before our time.

Peyton Sawyer had to grow up when she was just an adolescent. She had to learn about death in the worst possible way. She had to find away to deal with her mother's death, and know that life would never be the same. She had to raise herself in the ways that her father wasn't able to. This made her ready for the world, and ready for anything. Now, at graduation, she was ready to leave the only home she had ever known. She was ready to pack up everything, and go to Georgia. Though there had been times when guys had hurt her in the past, she was able to put her love and trust in Jake. In finding love, she was also able to find happiness.

Lucas Scott had to grow up the first day he got teased for not having a father. He had to grow up at basketball games when he was young, when he saw his father playing basketball with his son, Lucas's half brother Nathan. He felt crushed and like dirt, but he was able to overcome it. He was able to get back to the dream of playing basketball, even though he found in the end, it wasn't best for him. He was able to get close to his brother who he had envied all these years. Now he was ready to leave home. He was ready to go to a huge city, with his best friend and now love of his life, and start his own life.

Haley James always felt like a grown up. Her parent's were very loving but a little crazy. At times it had always seemed to her like she was the more responsible one. All of her free time in high school was spent helping others. While her peers would go out and drink, she would be studying. When love came around the first time, it lead to marriage. She then wanted to try something for herself, and be a little crazy, and it ruined what seemed like everything. Though that pain was hard, it taught her a lot. It had also made her seek comfort in her best friend. Now, it was graduation, and she ready for the next part of her life.

Brooke had to grow up when she found out her mother didn't want her. Brooke was young, just a little girl, when she heard her mother go off drunk to her father about how she didn't want children. It had broke Brooke's heart, but she had promised herself never to become that cold...that cruel. She also found that though her mother was rotten, she didn't need her. There were so many other people that cared about her. For a while, she would shut herself off from feelings. Brooke had a lot of experience with guys in terms of hooking up, but she didn't know love until Nathan came into her life. He had showed her she could trust someone, and she could really love someone. Now on graduation day, she was ready for the world and all it had to offer.

Nathan had to grow up the day his father hit him for not doing well at a game. At that point, his childhood was ruined. He couldn't just play basketball because he liked it. He had to do it to impress his father. He had to look at a boy who was sad, alone, and without a father. Nathan had this boy's father, and it had to make him think, why me? For years he had followed in his father's foot steps--not caring about anyone but himself. That changed when he met Haley James. She was his tutor, but she taught him a lot more then math. She taught him how to love, and how to care about people. Though things didn't work out for them, he was able to eventually open himself up to someone else. He was now close with his brother, and tried to keep his father as far away from him as he could. Change is always scary. He was going to go from a big star on a small basketball team, to a huge school where everyone on the basketball team would be good. He would have to make his place in the world, but he was ready to do it.

--

Haley had been top of the class, which anyone could have been predicted. She loved the first day of school. She loved tutoring. She loved doing her school work. It had been her pride and joy and would continue to do that for the next four years. It had taken her a while to finish the speech, and she hated speaking in front of crowds. Singing was one thing...but saying words...out loud. It was hard, but it was important, and she some how would mange the guts to go up and do it.

"Class of made it. I decided to start this speech off with a quote and go from there," She smiled and then continues, "There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. Omitted, all the voyages of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat, and we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures." She looked around the room, and went on in her own words. The hard part, "I think what that quote means is that life is short and opportunities are rare. And we have to be vigilant in protecting them and not only the opportunities to succeed but the opportunity to laugh , to see the enchantment and to live. Because life doesn't owe us anything, In fact I think we owe something to the world. As we go out in life, let's give the world the very best of us,"

Haley got off stage as everyone clapped. It was amazing. Their names were called and they all received their diploma's. They then headed to the Scott house, where a huge party was being thrown.

--

"Haley...you did such a great job," Lucas told her, kissing her when she entered the Scott house with her parent's.

"She did, didn't she?" Her mother gushed.

"We're very proud of her," Lucas's mother said. The parents went off to catch up, as Haley made the rounds.

"Amazing speech," Nathan told her.

Brooke and Peyton agreed.

They all sat down after the party, the five of them.

Brooke grabbed enough classes for all of them and started to fill them.

"I suggest we do a toast. To the future. I know this past year has been hard," Brooke said. She looked around, "But we all got through it. We may all be going our separate ways, but this time next year, I hope to be standing here with all of you when we all come back for the summer and be just as close as we are now. We have something special," Brooke finished.

They all smiled and toasted to the future.

-----THE END--------------

A/N: I know...the ending was so fluffy, but like I have said before I just cannot do it any other way. I was trying so hard to get the rest of Haley's speech. I know I am missing some at the beginning of it and then I remember there was more to it. Brooke finds the paper Haley dropped, and is reading it...but I couldn't find it, so I just wrapped it up where she left off, when on the show she went into labor. Anyway...I hope you liked it. Thanks for all the support, and reviews, and I hope to have a new story soon : ) Thanks!!!