I look at Jimmy and shake my head, "I have no say in this apparently so fine." I get up and walk away. I get in my car and see the time and cuss. "I can not be late." I rush home and grab my cap and gown and open the mailbox and grab what is inside throwing in the passenger seat. Backing out I drive as fast as I can to the school.
I park next to Alex's jeep and Trish's and Dez's car with just a few minutes to spare. I reach over and grab the mail and flip through and see a letter from The University of Miami. I look at it then take a breath in and open the letter. I unfold it and skim it and see the words I wanted. Congratulations and accepted. I smile and grab my cap and gown and run to the front of the school.
I stop and put my gown on and slip my cap over my hair and open the door to the school and run down the hallway to the auditorium. I get there and see everyone across in the gym lined up to walk down the isles. I see Ally and Alex in front of the doors. I smile and Ally wraps her arms around me, "You are late." I shrug, "I am so sorry. I am here now." I kiss her head and hear the principle, "Line up. We walk in three minutes." I kiss Ally quickly and walk to my spot.
I see Ally then a girl named Becky and then Trish. People are in front of me then I have a guy behind me then Alex. Alex has a girl behind him and a girl then Dez. Brooke is in the very front. Ally looks back at me and I smile. I lean down and zip my gown up and we get the cue and start walking out of the gym and into the auditorium to our seats.
The speeches go on and on. I see Ally paying attention and smile at how she loves school. Some lady gets up and smiles, "Hello graduates. Today is the end of your high school life but it is not the end. Today is the beginning of a new life and a new adventure. You are everything and today you proved that you can do it. I don't want to talk a lot so I want to say congratulations and good luck and I would like to end with a quote by someone you guys a sure to know. You grew up with him and I am sure you loved him. " She reaches and puts on a Dr. Seuss hats. "Today is your day. Your off to great places. You're off and away." She smiles and walks back to her chair.
Our valedictorian comes up and smiles, "I do not know all of you, I know very few. I do know that we have all grown up in this place. We have changed and grew from when we first ended these halls. We have soulja boyed, we have doggied, we have danced and did stupid things. We have partied. I know we have all sung songs like, Blurred Lines, What Makes You Beautiful, Happy, and Best Day of My life. I heard people singing Miley Cyrus Wrecking Ball and Frozen's Let It Go. We may not all know each other but in a way we were all together through these four years. We may not know this pop star personality but in years to come we have the privilege to say we went to high school with Austin Moon." She stops and smiles at me. "Where we are today is an honor. I want to say congratulations and good luck. Your Future is bright and I cannot wait to see you in ten years and see all the great things that is to come to you. I want to say have a great summer and end with a lyric from our own Austin Moon because in a few years, 'Your gonna make make make them do a double take!'" She smiles and I stand up and clap and so does Ally, Trish, Dez, and Alex. We sit down and she smiles at us.
The principle comes to the stand and smiles at everyone and then back at the group of speakers. "Thank you guys for speaking and Thank you all for coming out tonight. We are here to honor these amazing students who worked so hard and deserve this day for themselves."
He looks behind him then smiles at us, "We are going to start the diplomas now." He moves to the x where we are suppose to shake his hand and smile for the picture. The assistant principle is at the top of the stairs with the podium now ready to read names. The superintendent is in the middle of them near the diplomas ready to hand them out.
The assistant principle smiles and start reading, "Brooke Adams." She walks up and everyone claps as she walks across the stage gets her diploma and walks to the principle and shakes his hand. "David Alexander." He walks to get his diploma as Brooke walks down the other set of stairs back to her seat.
After a row or two of seats I see Ally in line to go up. "Abigail Daniels." We watch her cross. " Allyson Dawson." I watch her cross with a smile. She hugs the principle and steps back and smiles. I stand up and clap and yell, "Woo. Way to go baby." She smiles before walking down the steps. "Becky Day." She walks across with a smile. "Trish Delarosa." I stand up and clap for her and yell, "Woo." She walks across the stage like she owns it making me laugh. She comes down as the Assistant principle calls, "Darrell Dixon." He walks across and shakes the hand and walks to his seat.
We go through more rows and more people when I finally get to stand and line up at the stairs waiting my turn. She names people after people, "Brad Jenkins, Calvin Jones, Beth Lewis, Sam Lopez, Alvin McArthur." They all walk across and finally the girl in front of me is called, "Rachel Miller." She walks across so happy to get her diploma. She gets to the principle and my name is called, "Austin Moon." I smile and walk across the stage.
I grab my diploma with my left hand and shake the hand of the Superintendent with my right hand."Congratulations." I smile and mumble and thanks before walking to the principle. He shakes my hand, "Congratulations Mr. Moon. You have been an honor to have and I honestly can say, I was a pleasure." I smile, "Thank you sir." I hear yelling and turn to see Ally screaming and clapping and Trish too. I hear more yelling and see my parents in the back. I see Alex and Dez yelling from the side. I smile and walk down the steps to my seat as I hear, "David Murray."
I sit down and look to see Alex ready to walk across, "Alex Northman." I jump up and scream, "Way to go man." He smiles and I see Ally and a bunch of others up and yelling for Alex. He comes down the stairs and smiles as he heads for his seat.
I look back and hear, "Kayla Owen." She walks across. Then I hear, "Stella Patrick." She walks across and smiles at her family yelling her name. Finally I see Dez and jump up yelling when I hear his name called, "Dezmond Peratto." "Way to go Buddy, You did it. Woo." I hear the Ally and the other too but all I see is Dez smiling like crazy as he walks across the stage and comes back down the stairs to take his seat.
We go through more people and then the assistant principle smiles, "Last but not least, Beverly Young." She smiles and walks across the stage. She gets her diploma and shakes the principles hand then she turns to us all and puts her diploma up and shouts, "We did it." As she jumps off the stage and runs back to her seat. I laugh and then the principle gets the mic and stands center stage. "Thank you all again for coming. And I would like the graduates to rise." We all stand up and he smiles at us, "I would like to be the first to introduce the graduation class of 2014. Please move your tassels." We all move our tassels and smile. "Congratulations graduates." He throws his arms up, "YOU DID IT!" I see hats go flying and start laughing.
I hear the music play and the first few rows walking out the way we practiced. It gets to our row and I exit the auditorium a high school graduate. We walk back into the gym and I see Trish and Ally and I run up and pick Ally up spinning her around. She is giggling and I laugh as I put her down and kiss her, "We did it." She smiles and nods as Alex and Dez run up and hug us.
We all walk out of the school and see cars gone. I laugh and we walk to the cars. "Austin how was your meeting?" I shrug, "Umm. Not bad, we are doing a release party." She smiles big and wraps her arms around me and kiss me, "That is amazing." I get a few slaps on my back and smile. "So Alex did you decide where you are going?" HE smiles, "I am leaning towards The University of Miami." I smile and slap his back, "it's a good school." He laugh and hugs me, "Tell my parents that." We all laugh and then the question I have been waiting for pops up by Alex, "So Have you heard from The University of Miami?" I stop and smiles, "Yes, I got in." They all stop and turn around smiling. "That is great." Ally runs and hugs me.
We keep walking and I see everyone getting teary. Trish Hugs Ally, "I hope we go to the same school. I need my best friend." She smiles and hugs her. "Trish, you will always have me." Trish smiles and wipes her tears, "I know, I have a party I have to go too but I want to see you soon." They hug and Trish goes to her car.
Dez comes up to me, "Buddy, I need you." I smile and pull him in a hug, "You will always have me buddy. Always." Dez nods and puts his hand out and we do our hand shake and start laughing. "I have to go but we need a day to ourselves soon." I smile as he gets in his car.
I turn and stand near our car as I see Alex and Ally talking.
ALLY'S POV…
I walk over to Alex and see him tearing up. "What am I going to do without you Ally?" I smile and hug him. "I am always here Alex. You know where to find me." He smiles some and looks down at me, "Ally, I always thought maybe just maybe we could…" He looks around then smiles grimly, "I know we only met not that long ago, but I feel like I have known you forever. I love you Ally, I know you know that but I had to tell you one more time. I know Austin has your heart and everything. I just know there is no one out there like you." A tear falls down his cheek and I wipe it away and leave my hand there and he nuzzles it.
"Alex, I know I am a bitch for how I treated you. I really care about you and there will always be something there but your right Austin is my one and only. Alex, you are amazing and will find someone great I just know it." He shakes his head, "She won't be you Ally. She won't be you. No one will ever come close or compare to you. Austin may be your one but I think you are my one." I smile and hug him, "Alex… That is so sweet." We stand there hugging for a minute and then he pulls away, "Ally, I mean it. I have no idea what I am going to do without you. I know it is stupid to think that we could be together forever but I don't want to give up on this. This friendship or whatever means so much to me. I wish and am hoping we can all be together forever. I know that is stupid but this is the best place I have ever been. You all mean so much to me. You mean so much to me." He has some tears falling down his face and I reach up and we hug, "Alex I am always here for you. You mean a lot to me . I could not have done everything I have if it wasn't for you. You have always been there for me. You are not going anywhere just because high school ended. You are part of this family. You are Uncle Alex to Aubrey and you will be to this baby too." He smiles and places his hand on my stomach, "You really are amazing Ally." I smile and he wipes his cheeks and goes to his jeep, "I will see you both soon." I nod and walk to the car to see Austin waiting.
"What were you waiting for?" He shrugs, "I figured you need a minute." I nod and get in the car. He gets in and I see Alex pull away and I sigh, "This really is all over." Austin grabs my hand, "Yes, but we get to start something even better." I smile as he starts the car.
We are on our way home and I turn a little and smile, "We are graduates." Austin grabs my hand and smiles, "Yes we are baby." I smile as we pull into the house to change for the Dinner that we are having at the Japanese stake house. We change and walk back to the car.
We go to the restaurant to see Aubrey and our parents. Aubrey sees us first, "Momma, Daddy." I smile as she runs up and hugs me then Austin. My dad pulls me in a hug, "Congrats baby." I smile and hug him back.
We walk in and are seated. I order the chicken and steak meal. Austin orders the same. My dad orders just the Steak and Austin dad does too. Austin mom orders just the chicken. Aubrey is eating off everyone's plate and getting ice cream along with me and Austin.
After we get the food and spend time with our family we pay and walk out. We have our little boxes of leftover food. We all hug and smile. "Thank you guys this was amazing food." They all smile and mumbles welcomes. "Aubrey, are you ready to go home sweetie?" She looks at her grandparents then us. My dad smiles, "Actually I was going to take Aubrey home with me and let you guys relax for a couple days." I look at us and start to get mad, "That is nice but she is my baby and I haven't seen her in weeks. This is our daughter and you guys have had her…." Austin places his hand on my mouth. "That is really nice Mr. Dawson… Umm… Yes let's do that for tonight and I will call you tomorrow." He nod and Aubrey comes and hugs us before walking off with my dad.
Austin's parents walk to their car and Austin sighs before taking his hand away. "Ally, they are being nice. It has been a crazy day, one more night is okay." I sigh and walk to the car, "Let's just go home."
Austin drives us home and I remember he hasn't talked to me about the meeting really. We are almost home when I decide to bring it up. "Hey, so what happened at the meeting?" He looks at me before turning onto out street. "Umm not much." I sigh, "Austin, you are avoiding the meeting. What did he talk about?" We pull into the drive way and he sighs before helping me out of the car and we walk into the house. He leads me to the couch and we sit down and he turns me to him and looks down, "Umm… we are having a release party with singing, dancing, food, an interview and everything." I smile and hug him, "That is great. Anything else?" He nods and looks down before sighing. "Jimmy told me I have to go on tour in a few weeks for three months."
