AN: I did not write the poem/speech. I found it on the internet. Credit goes to whoever wrote it!
Callie POV
Day of graduation
When your name is being called – it's a special moment. What makes it more special, is that you hear the people you love, people you care about - cheer for you. It's such an uplifting feeling. I have never felt more prouder of myself than I feel right now. If you think about it, it's nothing special. Finishing high school is just the first step. My whole life is still front of me and the best part – it's full of opportunities. I can shape my future the way I want it to.
As I walk across the stage, I take a look at the audience and see all my family on their feet. It's actually a little bit of embarrassing, how loud they are cheering for me. But I can't keep that silly smile of my face as I look at them. I think my mom is clapping so hard, her palms will be sore afterward.
Lena, who was standing on the stage, hands Monte my high school diploma.
"Congratulations!" I take the diploma from Monte. We shake hands. Pause a little for a picture to be taken. Mom will probably put this photo out in the house, so everyone, who ever visits, can and will see it. She will probably talk about this photo, this moment, for hours - showing everyone just how proud she is.
I walk up to Lena "Congratulations, Callie! I'm proud of you!" Lena tells as she hands me a little souvenir from the school
"Thanks," I say back in a whisper as I look down to the little anchor beach souvenir
And then I am off to head down the stage, because the next student was called up. Before I leave the stage, I take one last look at the audience to see my family. They were finally calming down and starting to sit down. Cooper was trying to take the last photos of me on the stage, with my camera.
After the ceremony - the fun part starts. I get to take a picture with everyone, in different combinations. At first, it was just me, alone. Holding the high school diploma and flowers in my hands.
Mom was the first person that joined me for a photo. Meanwhile, a little bit further away, Brandon was taking his photos, with his family.
Cooper joined in for two pictures, but then quickly returned back to the photography duty. Once Cooper got the camera back, I took multiple pictures with my mom and grandparents. Then just my grandparents.
Once Jude was free from taking photos with Brandon, he came over to me. One by one the other Adams Foster clan kids joined is as well. I had to take a photo with just the girls, then just the boys. But in the end it was all of the kids together.
Brandon and I, the two graduates, had to take multiple photos together as well, with all kind of different grouping. Of course, I took photos with Lena and Stef, separately and together, as well.
Once I located my best friend, Mackenzie, in the crowd, I called her over so we could take few photos together as well. She was my best friend from school. I was sure, we will keep contacts even after each of us goes our separate ways. After Mackenzie, it was finally time for Gavin and I to take few pictures together.
But in the end, we asked some stranger, a parent, who was walking by, to take a photo of the whole family, whole 17 people, together.
My jaw was hurting a little bit from all the smiling, but it was all worth it. If someone had asked me 4 years ago, what my graduation would look like – this was not the picture I would have painted with my words. I never imagined I would have such a big family.
After the official ceremony ended and all the photos were taken, we divided into two groups. Me, my mom and my grandparents, drove back to our house for a little while, meanwhile the rest of the group drove back to Adams Foster home.
When we arrived at our house, of course mom insisted on taking few more photos at home as well. But after that, it was back to the plan. I put down the high school diploma and put together a little bag with change clothes. Mom did the same, she packed a bag, with some more casual clothes. Once we were all packed up, we took Duke and drove out. Before we drove to Adams Foster house, where the after party was going to be held, we had to make a quick stop at the bakery, where mom had ordered a cake for this occasion.
There were a lot of cars in front of the house. There was Mike car, Cooper's and Gavin, who had drove there with his friends car. Not to mention the two Adams Foster cars and now moms as well. Every by-passer could tell – Yep, there is a party going on in this house.
Once Duke jumped out of the car, he lifted up his muzzle up, sniffed the air once, before putting his nose back to ground. The smell lead him to the backyard. Shorty after he was out of our sight and we were up to the front doors, we heard happy barking. Duke had met someone he knows in the backyard.
"You are here! Come on it! Don't be shy now!" Stef calls from the kitchen, the second mom opens the doors "The party is in the backyard!
When we walk in the kitchen, I see that Lena, Dana and Sharon were all busy running around the kitchen.
"Do you need any help?" I ask stopping at the end of the table
"Not from you we don't!" Lena smiled at me as she walked over to the fridge
"I can help!" Linda said walking over to the sink to wash her hands "What do you need me to do?"
"Go on, honey," mom pats my shoulder and then takes my backpack out from my hand "Go hang out with the kids,"
"Where do I put this?" Harold asked still holding the cake in his hands
"Just set it down right there!" Stef points behind him to the island table
"Are you sure you don't need my help?" I ask when Stef walks pass me
Stef stops in her tracks, places her hands on my shoulders and starts to gently push me out of the kitchen "It's you party, love! Go have some fun!" Stef kissed my cheek, when she had pushed me out to the porch
Stef smiled and waved at me before she closed the kitchen doors behind me. I chuckle at myself, for how I was just thrown out of the house. This is the first time that has happened. I have barged in their house so many times before, I have come here in the middle of the night,drunk, and puked all over the place, I have caused so many trouble for her and Lena, yet this is what I needed to do to get thrown out.
I turn around and look at the backyard. There was a huge table set out in the middle of the backyard. It was set neatly, starting with a white tablecloth. They had pulled out their fancy china as well. Napkins were neatly folded. There were three candles on the table – one at each end and in the middle. They were lit setting a nice mood. Flowers and balloons were decorating the place, giving it a more playful, cheerful atmosphere. Lena and Stef had really outdid themselves.
Suddenly, came a static noise. I cringed a little at the loud, unpleasant sound. For a moment I wanted to cover my ears with my hands, but it was fixed before I could do that.
"Ah!" Gavin raised his arms up, boasting about his technology skill "What did I tell you!?" A sound system stood behind them on a small portable table
"Don't get too cocky, kid!" Mike said with a smirk on his lips as he handed Gavin, what looked like to be his glass, because previously Mike was holding two "I could have done that as well"
"It didn't seem like you could," Gavin smirked back "You were being boo-ed out by the crowd!" Cooper gestured to the other people in the backyard
"That's because you didn't allow me to finish setting it up!"
"Aha, sure! Mike, admit it! The kid is better at technologies and setting up sound system than you are!" Cooper said jokingly
"He did set up the new sound system himself the other week," I walk up to Gavin with a smirk on my lips and wrap my arm around his elbow "Gavin didn't even use the manual!"
"I did, didn't I?" Gavin said with a smug look, looking around the guys, looking more confident than before
"Stop praising the guy or we will all suffocate because of his big ego," Cooper said teasingly
"Don't get too cocky!" I raised up to the tip of my toes to give Gavin a quick kiss, before I walk away and leave the guys to talk about...guy stuff
My attention, after leaving Gavin, Cooper and Mike was caught by the twins and Jude, who were sitting on the other side of the porch on the bench, laughing about something.
"Oh, look at this one!" Mariana pointed to the camera. I guess, they were going over the photos they took with their camera. The three of them burst out in laughter, when I walked up to them.
"What's so funny?" I walk over to them, wanting to see as well
"Look at Brandon's face!" Jesus said barely containing his laughter, when he turned the camera to me, so I could see. The picture had caught Brandon in the middle of blinking. His one eye was almost shut, the other was still wide open, his mouth was in this weird motion as well, like he was trying to pronounce some word. Overall he looked silly.
"I hope you don't have pictures of me like that," I said giggling, glad that it was Brandon's picture they were giggling about
"Oh, we do!" Jude smirked back at me, putting a stop to my smile
"I think there are more than one!" Jesus added much to my horror
"Delete them!" I said instantly
"No, way! Those are like the best pictures ever!" Jesus argued back
"Jesus! Delete them!" I reached for the camera in his hand, but he pulled away
"Mariana!" I turn to the twin "Come on, delete them! Don't do this to me!"
"Cal, they are just pictures!" Mariana replied with a smile taking her twins side
"If you post them-" I point to Jesus face, when I turn back to him "you will be a dead man walking!"
"This is great blackmailing stuff! I will be able to use this in 20 years as well! Oh man...so great!" Jesus replies with a chuckle before he returns to going though the pictures. He giggles out at yet another picture, making me think he had stumbled upon a silly picture of me.
"Don't worry, Cal! No one is going to post anything!" Mariana said reassuring me, when she reached for my hand "I promise you!"
"Thanks," I smile down to Mariana
"Wow...Brandon is really un-photogenetic in these pictures!" Jude said giggling "We should put this up to a fridge, so we could see it every morning!"
"Totally! I will send this picture to him every day, when he is off to college!" Jesus started to plan, how to tease his brother with the pictures
"Mari! Can you help us?" Dana called out, when she peaked her head out of the house
"Coming!" Mariana got up from the chair and walked inside the kitchen. I look around the backyard and head over to the table. Frankie was sitting there. Feeding cut apple pieces to Duke.
"What are you doing Frankie?"
"Feeding Duke! He looked hungry,"
"Are you having fun?" I ask her as I watch her hand feed Duke another piece. Duke took the apple oh-so-gently from Frankie.
"I am now!" Frankie said happily "The ceremony was really boring and I didn't like it one bit! I wanted to leave, but mommy said that we can't!" she admitted with the most serious facial expression "The chairs were really uncomfortable as well. And the lady behind me was constantly coughing. But I liked taking pictures with Brandon and you...and now we are home...and Duke is here and I'm having fun now!"
I chuckle at her honestly "Thanks for keeping it real with me, Frankie!"
Frankie finally glances to me "That's what friends are for!" I smile at the girl before I place a kiss to her temple.
I stand up and glance to Stuart and Brandon, who were talking by the big tree, when I came to sit down next to Frankie. Stuart hugged Brandon, before he walked away, heading back inside the house. I make my way over to Brandon to have a little chat with him.
"You feel like an adult, yet?" I ask B with a smirk, when I walk up to him. I turn to stand by his side, so I could overlook the house and backyard, just like he was doing.
"Nop! You?" Brandon looked down at me
"Not one bit," I agree. We both laugh it out.
"I'm going to miss all of this,"
"You will only go away for college. It's not the end of the world, B!"
"Yeah, I know that!" he scratched the back of his neck "But for the first time in like...ever - I will be all alone. Completely alone. Everyone will be here, while I will be miles away. Doesn't that scare you?"
"I will still live with mom, while I study," I shifted in my stance "At least that's the plan. But I guess...I understand where your fear is coming from. You have never been on your own ever before,"
"It's just the loneliness that scares me. I'm scared of failing. I'm scared of disappointing all of them," Brandon's look was fixated on the house, where his parents were
"You and me both," I said taking in a breath
"Everyone! At table please!" Lena called out as she came out of the house holding a bowl in her hands. Every other person that was in the kitchen, came out with something in their hands, carrying bowl of food, jar of lemonade or something in their hands. Brandon and I share a look, before we head over to the big table to find out seats.
"No, no!" Lena points to me, when I was about to sit at the side of the table "You and Brandon sit the end of the table!" She looked up to Brandon as well, who had pulled back the chair next to where Frankie was sitting. With her eyes she gestures him to take the seat at the end of the table.
In about 3 minutes everyone had finally settled down and found their spot at the long table. Brandon and I were sitting at the end of the table. On my right was mom, Linda, Harold, Cooper, Gavin, Jesus, Frankie and Sharon, but on my left was Jude, Mariana, Stef, Lena, Sharon, Dana and Stuart and Mike.
And so the graduation dinner started. Mike opened a one bottle of champagne and filled most of the adult glasses, except for his own glass. I was surprised that mom handed my champagne glass to Mike as well.
"Is this a test?" I ask mom, eyeing her suspiciously, when she hands me a full glass black. Mike filled Brandon's glass with real champagne as well. We both share a look over the table.
"Not a test," Mom replies with a smile, but I still looked at her suspiciously. This was the first time mom has allowed it. Actually, this was going to be the first time I will be drinking with mom. I guess you are a grown up, when your mother allows you to drink while she is sitting next to you. Champagne is light alcohol, but it still counts.
"Can I get the real champagne as well!" Mariana extended her glass towards Mike
"Yeah, me too!" Jesus raised his empty glass to Mike as well
"Na-ha, Missy!" Stef gently pushed her daughters hand back "Don't even try it!" she pointed to Jesus
"Why not?" Mariana asked back
"Because you are still a kid!"
"We are the same age as Callie!" Mariana reasoned back and glanced to me "Why does she get to have it, but we don't?"
"Because you did not graduate today," Lena said calmly taking the glass out Mariana's hand and handing it to Harold, who was pouring kids champagne in glasses
"Does that mean we will get real champagne next year, when we are graduating?" Jesus looked hopeful to his mom
"It does!" Stef nods back and hands the glass back to Mariana
I glanced to Jude at my side and lean a bit closer to him, so I could whisper to him "I will let you take a sip!" I wink at him and lean back to the chair. Jude sucked in his lower lip, hiding the smile.
Lena tapped a spoon lightly at the glass as she stood up. Once she had gotten everyone's attention, she started "Brandon," Lena glanced to B and held the look for few seconds before she looked over to me "Callie,"
"To live a successful life
Does not require
Money, fame, power, prestige
Or status symbols.
It's more a matter of
Being true to your own beliefs and principles,
Doing your best,
Even in the smallest of things,
And never taking for granted
The simple joys in life-
Such as laughter, a perfect day,
Or a loyal friend.
For all the money in the world
Can't buy self-esteem, character,
Contentment, love or happiness-
And these are the very things
That make life
Worth living.
However you define
Happiness and success,
May you find and enjoy them
Every day of your life!
Lets raise our glasses to our two graduates!" Lena said and raised her glass up "To Brandon and Callie!"
"To Brandon and Callie!" Everyone said together as they raised their glasses for us
Amy POV
It was around 9ish, when everyone finally got up from the dinner table. We had stopped eating hours ago. For the last 3-4 hours, we simply sat there and chatted. The topics that were discussed the most included stories about Callie and Brandon, some where slightly embarrassing, some where funny. But no matter what kind of story was told, we all felt incredibly proud that we know these two kids.
"We should go to the beach now!" Jude suggested
"A walk sounds nice!" Callie said pushing her chair back a bit "Mari, can you come help me out of the dress please?"
"I will go change as well!" Brandon said getting up from the table as well
One by one the kids left, to change into something more comfortable. While the kids changed, the adults started to clean up the table and help Lena and Stef put everything away. Together, we managed to do it quite fast. It didn't even take a full hour. We worked together, everyone worked like a team and we got the job done fast.
Once the dishes were done, the adults, actually just woman, because we were all in dresses or skirts, went up to change into something more comfortable as well. Stuart, Mike, Cooper, Harold and Gavin all stayed down. They were all comfortable enough in their business casual looks.
We walked out of the house, little bit before 10 and arrived at the beach some 20 minutes later, because the pace we were walking in, was really slow. There was no rush at all.
When we arrived, Mike took the initiative and started up the fire, while everyone else settled down around the fire on the blankets. Stef pulled out marshmallow bags from the backpack and tossed them around, so everyone could get some. Lena was handing around sodas from the cooler we carried with us. Duke settled down between two blankets.
"Hey," Cooper grabbed my hand, when I was about to go find a free spot "Come take a walk with me,"
I looked over to Callie, who was sitting down on a blanket, next to Jude, while laughing at something Frankie said "Sure,"
"Where are we going?" I ask, when Cooper slips his hand in mine
"Not far. Just by the coast," He said as we walked closer to the sea, but not too close to get out feet wet "I want to have 10 minutes alone with you,"
"This day has turned out amazing, hasn't it?" I ask Cooper, while with one ear I still heard the laughter and chatter that came from the fire place, where we had settled down
"Yeah, it's quite amazing. Callie seems very happy. And Brandon-"
"Yeah...Curtis Institute of Music. That's a huge accomplishment," I get the name of the university in which he had gotten in slowly over my lips. Last I heard, he went to Philly to audition. That was around early March. But now he has officially gotten in. Apparently, he had been keeping it as a secret since June. He surprised everyone, when he informed us at the dinner table with the news.
We walked in silence for a little bit, simply enjoying each others company.
"So..." Cooper said as she started to slow down his pace
"What is it?" I ask when we stop. I tilted my head a little bit to right side as I watched Cooper. It was dark, thankfully the bight Moon was up in the night sky, reflecting some light to us, allowing me to see Cooper's worried features.
"I'm have been meaning to ask you something..." Cooper said, he sounded a nervous. He let go of my hand and reached into his suit jacket.
"I talked to your father the other day," Cooper kept his hand inside his jacket "Actually, it was the day, when your parents arrived,"
"About what?"
"About you," Cooper said without missing a beat, looking straight to my eyes "And I spoke to Callie few days ago. I needed to do this right, because the first time – it wasn't the right time or place...well, the place might have been good, but...the timing and the circumstances, might not be the best," he started to ramble a little bit
"Cooper-" He got on his knee and pulled out a small box, he opened it up and held out a ring to me
"I am in love with you. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me, Amy Scott?" My heart did a little jump inside my chest, when I heard the 4 little words.
"Yes," I said with tears in my eyes "Yes, I will marry you!"
Cooper got up to his feet instantly. He had a huge smile on his lips, as did I. I held my hand out, so Cooper could put the ring on my finger. Once the ring was on, our lips touched for a kiss.
Callie POV
We were roasting marshmallows, when mom and Cooper walked back to the fireplace. It was some 15 minutes after they both walked down the beach. They were holding hands and I couldn't help, but to notice how happy both of them looked.
"She said yes!" Cooper announced loudly. Mom looked surprised for a second. That statement made it clear to her – we already knew it was going to happen. She was the only one who didn't know that Cooper was going to propose tonight.
"You all knew?" Mom asked looking around
I jumped up to my feet, so I could hurry over to mom and congratulate her first. Once I released her from the bear hug, I looked at the ring on her finger.
"Oh, this is beautiful mom," I said watching the ring. I had seen the ring in the box, when Cooper showed it to me few days ago, but it looked even more beautiful on her finger.
Mike meanwhile was up to Cooper, to shake his hand "I hope you know what you are getting into!"
"I don't!" Cooper replied glancing to Amy by his side "But there isn't anyone else I would want by my side!"
The Sun was starting to set. The fire, that we had been keeping on throughout the whole night, was finally starting to light out, because we hadn't added any logs to it for the past hour or so. All the grandparents left to head back to the house around 2-3PM. They all were complaining that their backs hurt and that they are too old for this. Mike left some hour ago.
The rest of us were sitting on the blankets. Stef and Lena were cuddled up on their blanket. Mom and Cooper were using the second blanket. The third was occupied by all of the Adams Foster kid, they were all laid down next to one other, so that they could see the Sun set. For the last hour or so, I was snuggling up with Gavin.
But when I saw Jude getting up and walking closer to the coast, I turned to Gavin. He understood just from my look. We shared a quick kiss, before I got up from the blanket and followed to where Jude was now sitting down in the sand alone.
I take a seat next to him. Right next to him, our bodies were touching. We sit in quiet for some while, simply watching the Horizon in front of us. We watched how the Sun was slowly raising up to the sky and listened to the dash of waves and birds in the sky.
"What are you thinking about?" I ask keeping my eyes in front of me, to the horizon
"Do you remember, when we first sat here?"
"Of course I do. It was, when we finally reconnected after 6 years of being separated. You asked me to take a walk with you, I agreed. We talked the whole time, it took us to get here. We sat..." I looked around the beach "I think we are sitting at almost the same exact spot, where we sat year and half ago,"
Jude smiled at me memory, but then he averted his look down to the sand "A lot has changed since then,"
"Yeah...yeah, it has," I say stretching my legs out and pressing my hands a little bit behind me to the sand "I wouldn't change a single thing. You know why?"
"Why?" Jude gazed back at me
"Because I have you back. You are back in my life!"
Jude once again glanced away from me, from my look. I pulled my legs back and sat up straighter "I'm thinking about," Jude spoke slowly, he took a handful of sand in his hand and slowly allowed it to pour out of his closed fist "How much I am going to miss you!"
"Jude, I'm not going anywhere!" I reassured him without missing a beat
"But you are going to start this whole new life...this new chapter. You are going to study to become an EMT and then later on a paramedic. And once you will be done with that, you will have a job and by that time, you will most likely have your own family," Jude explained, when he looked at me with tears in his eyes "We have had each other back for just year and a half. I don't want to lose you again. I'm simply trying to figure out, where I fit in all of it...in this life you are about to have..."
"Jude-" I pull him closer to my side "Your place is and always will be right by my side!" I kiss the top of his head
"What if we simply...drift apart?"
"After the wait we had – I'm never letting you go! We are not going to drift apart, Jude! We are not losing one another again. I won't allow that to happen. Not after what he have been through," Jude let pressed a little bit closer to my side and wrapped his arm around my back as well
"Beside, with the families we have - I honestly don't think that it's even possible," I whisper to him, when I lower my head down to his
"Promise me something," Jude said quietly "Just like you promised me 7 years ago,"
"Anything. Name it!" I said without thinking twice about it
"Don't ever leave me again,"
"I won't! I promise, I will never leave you!"
THE END
AN: So this is it. After 108 chapters this story has come to an end. This has for sure been a journey for me. Bittersweet - that's how I feel as I write this note. Sad to see it end, excited for what's to come...
It's safe to say, this story would have never reached 108 chapters, if it wasn't for you. I would like to say, from the bottom of my heart - thank you - to everyone, who has ever read this story. Thank you for your support, thank you for sticking with me. The kind words you left for me - kept me motivated and inspired me to write.
I hope you enjoyed reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it.
See you soon,
MeYouThem123 ;)