The end of the year was just around the corner. It was the last week of school, there weren't any real classes or homework assignments. It was mostly students' just spending time with each other before the summer break. Getting their yearbooks signed by their friends and favorite teachers.
Santana's yearbook was filled to the brim with signatures and good lucks throughout. It was to the point where people had to sign on other class picture pages. She was proud, having made such a good impact throughout her years at Honoka'a. It started out rough, as we all know through the trials and tribulations that she went through at the very beginning during freshman year.
Brittany on the other hand, spent the last week engulfed in the spirit week that was going on. Spirit weeks in Hawai'i were not comparable to those back home in Oklahoma.
"San, your yearbook." Nalani said as she handed it back to her friend. "Your shit doesn't have any space in it, damn."
Santana laughed. "Yeah I know."
"You good, cap? You don't normally be anywhere without Britt." Kalei said as she sat next to Santana on the stairs.
"Yeah, just reminiscing is all. Did you guys see the final article in the paper this past weekend? Pretty fucking bomb ah. The picture they used for me is pretty nuts."
Kalei went into her backpack to pull out the article. "I brought it in to get you guys to sign it, actually." She handed the paper to Santana along with a pen. "Go first Cap."
Santana looked down at the paper, her picture gracing the front page of the sports section. It was a pretty nuts picture of Santana throwing to second from her knees.
POY honor awarded to Dragon All-Star
It was a curveball that was seen from afar, that everyone on the Honoka'a Dragons team saw coming. But senior stand out Santana Lopez, definitely didn't see coming in a Big Island Interscholastic Federation softball season that was full of pleasant surprises.
When the season started to roll, Lopez found her groove and soon the Division II championship belonged to Honoka'a, which picked a perfect time to peak - winning two consecutive postseason games at home.
Then after the ballots were counted, Lopez, the Dragon's starting catcher wasn't holding her breath, expecting someone else to be pleasantly surprised.
In a nice jolt, she was voted West Hawaii's BIIF Player of the Year by the league's West coaches.
"I'm shocked," Lopez said. "I never thought I'd be the Player of the Year."
Additionally, Honokaa landed five players on first team. Lopez, senior short stop Nalani Long, junior left fielder Angel Viernes, senior pitcher Rachel Berry, and senior center fielder Brittany S. Pierce.
Long batted .364 with nine RBIs, Viernes .250 with five RBIs, Lopez .269 with 14 RBIs and Pierce .435 with five RBIs. Berry posted a 3-3 record with a 1.71 ERA, and batted .407 with five RBIs.
Dragon's Sue Sylvester was named the BIIF Coach of the Year in the West after guiding the Honoka'a to their first ever state tournament.
"Santana is a hard worker and dedicated and showed leadership from very early on in her career," Honoka'a coach Sue Sylvester said. "She was always positive. That's pretty much how it is with all the girls.
"I wanted to do my best and make it to the BIIF championship, and we did," Lopez said. "We wanted to go to Oahu and bring the title home. We did just that, and brought the koa trophy home. Overall, we stuck together as a family and team. We had our ups and downs, but we competed. I'll remember that we had fun, no matter what. Having fun makes everything go better."
Despite coming into her freshman season with no softball experience, she took on the position as catcher and became a natural at it. It was foreign, having only played organized basketball before.
"I couldn't see myself anywhere other than catcher once I began playing there," Lopez said. "I tried different position prior to catcher. Infield, outfield. But catching is where I belong at this point."
"This season, I'll remember that whenever we were down we always picked each other up. And we always had fun at the end, win or lose."
As Lopez can attest, having fun may also lead to a BIIF championship and a pleasant surprise from out of the blue.
Santana signed her name on her picture, handing it over to Nalani. The rest of the team slowly made their way over to the stairs. Brittany was walking with Rachel, they had just come from A Building.
The article was passed around, the girls each signing and writing a little note. This season was a dream, something that each of them knew was attainable, they just had to stay consistent to get there. Santana looked around, at the girls that surrounded her. Not only were they solid players, they were even better friends. And she wouldn't have wanted her years of high school to go any differently.
/
The week flew by, and before they knew it? It was graduation day. Honoka'a was a little different than other schools on the island. Their ceremony began at 10 am, compared to other schools who had their graduation ceremonies in the evening. No one really paid any mind though, because it just gave them more time to make it to their friends who were graduating at other schools.
Brittany and Santana had stayed the night in Honoka'a, just so that they could get ready in the morning without having to get up too early. Brittany was still complaining about the fact that the girls had to wear the gold colored robe rather than the green.
"But we'd look so good in green babe, you know?"
"B, it's already graduation day. It's too late for us to even ponder on how bomb we'd look in green." Santana answered while looking in the mirror. "But you aren't wrong."
Brittany walked up behind her girlfriend and wrapped her hands around her. "I'm so proud of you, babe. We did this shit."
"Hell yeah we did. Now c'mon. Let's go meet up with everyone. We supposed to be at the armory in 15 minutes anyway."
The girls told Santana's mom bye, taking some pictures before heading out the door. Lani was already crying, which wasn't surprising.
Once at the armory, the entire class ran through one more rehearsal before getting ready for the actual ceremony. Around 9:30, people started packing into the gym. Santana had butterflies, knowing that she'd be singing the national anthem and Hawai'i Pono'i (the state song).
"You're going to do great baby. Don't be nervous." Brittany said, readjusting Santana's robe. It was about five minutes before they were set to walk into the gym. "Just think of it as another performance with ensembles and you'll be fine."
"You say that as if I don't get nervous every single time I go on stage love." Santana rebutted. "But thank you."
The girls kissed.
"Alright everyone!" One of the guidance counselors said. "It's time. Let's get you graduated."
The class began to walk into the gym. Santana looked around and immediately found her mom amongst the crowd. She waved, smiling from ear to ear.
Once the students were seated, the ceremony began. Santana sang flawlessly as expected, and the speeches began.
"And what do Dragon's breathe?!" The principal used this weird catch phrase that all of the students hated. He always expected the crowd to say fire, but because he was never in full support of the school? They always answered the same.
"Air!"
"That's right! Fire!" He said anyway.
A laugh erupted amongst the senior class.
Once the valedictorian speech was finished, they began handing out diplomas.
Santana was standing to the right of the stage, watching her fellow classmates get their names called and walk across the stage to accept their diploma. Her heart began to beat faster as she got closer to the stage.
Before she knew it, she was at the foot of the stairs.
"Congratulations, Santana." Ms. Souza told her.
"Thanks Ms." She replied with a smile.
Santana walked up the steps, waiting right at the top for her name to be called.
"Santana Lopez!"
The crowd erupted in cheers. Santana looked at her mom, who had tears in her eyes taking pictures. She looked up into the crowd, finding Brittany who was blowing kisses at her.
She walked towards the principal and accepted the diploma, shaking his hand. But he kept her there a little longer than everyone else.
"For all of those who didn't know, Santana's dad Keola has been deployed in Iraq for the past few months. He had this video sent to us for all of us to share."
Everyone turned towards the projector screen that was showing pictures of the senior class from their freshman year until now.
"Hey San. Congratulations. I just wanted to come on here and tell you how proud I am of you and that I'm so sorry that I'm missing your graduation. To the Senior class of 2010, you guys did it. Make sure you go after the dreams that call you, and never give up."
Santana took a second to look around and saw nearly everyone in tears.
"Before I go, I just want to say. Santana, Lani. Thank you for always supporting me in whatever the Army decides to send me through. I know that me being in Iraq isn't easy, and not something I'd ask of anyone. I love you both to infinity."
Santana began to tear, knowing that she wanted nothing more than to have her dad here at her graduation.
Suddenly, Santana felt someone grab her shoulders and when she turned, she realized it was her dad. She jumped into his arms, immediately sobbing. The entire crowd erupted into cheers, people stomping their feet on the bleachers. Everyone was standing, excited for their friend who now had the one person home with her that she wanted.
"I'm proud of you, babygirl." Keola told her.
They walked off the stage together, greeted by Lani who also didn't know that her husband was coming home.
"How did you pull this off?" Lani asked.
"Brittany's parents, actually. I flew in last night, they picked me up and I stayed with them to pull off this surprise." Brittany was just about to walk across the stage. "Brittany helped quite a bit as well."
"Brittany S. Pierce!"
Santana cheered as her girlfriend walked across the stage. Her parents were screaming from their seats, along with Quinn.
When she walked off the stage, she found her way to Santana and her family to give Keola a hug.
"Hi Uncle." Brittany said, with the biggest smile. Her heart was beating, seeing the look on Santana's face.
"I can't thank you and your parents enough, Brittany." Keola said as he released her from the hug. "Congratulations."
Brittany hugged him once more, before pulling Santana in for a hug. "Congratulations baby."
When they released, Santana was crying. "I love you, so much babe. I don't know how you did this? But thank you."
/
2 Months Ago
Brittany was sitting in her kitchen with her parents having dinner. Santana had a family party in Hilo, and Brittany opted to stay home because softball had been kicking her ass.
"Hey mom, do Army commands take letters into consideration?"
"What do you mean?"
"I guess in the sense of, if I were to write some kind of compassionate request letter to Uncle Keola's command team, would they maybe take it into consideration?"
"I mean, they might. What are you thinking?"
"Santana has been missing her dad, and I was thinking of just sending a letter in hopes that they'd let him come home for graduation."
Brittany's mom reached into purse for her phone. "Let me make a few phone calls. Let's see what we can do."
An eloquently written letter and a month later, Keola's command team had given the okay for him to fly home for graduation. Brittany had taken his phone number from Santana's phone late one night so that she could plan everything out with him.
Everything seemed like it was going smooth. She kept in touch with Uncle Keola for the month that followed. She was excited, but it was nothing compared to his. They decided on sending the video to the principal who Brittany also looped into the surprise. The plan was foolproof. The night before graduation, they had planned for him to stay at Brittany's house while she went to Santana's to make sure that they had no clue. Including, changing his name in her phone so that they wouldn't be given away.
There were a few times that Brittany came close to telling Santana because of how sad she was over her dad not being home. But she stuck to the plan, because she knew how good the surprise would be in front of everyone.
On the day that Uncle Keola landed on the Big Island, Brittany went with her parents to pick him up from the airport. She made the excuse that she had to go to a company party with her parents, claiming that it was going to be quick and boring. Santana opted to stay home with her mom, plus she needed to wash Snixx before graduation. Everything was falling into place.
Once at the airport, they found him and went out to eat dinner at a restaurant in Kona. They had a bunch of good conversations, especially talking about the Army. The parents got along great and there was nothing Brittany wanted more.
/
After graduation was over, the class walked outside onto the football field where they'd be met with a plethora of leis and congratulations from friends and family. Brittany found Santana first, who already had a few leis on from friends who found her. The softball girls found them two next, followed by Quinn and Rachel.
"This graduation ceremony was pretty interesting." Quinn told her best friend. "Definitely different from the one we have at home."
"Hell yeah. I'm so glad you're here, Q." Brittany added. They hugged, before Brittany got attacked by Angel.
"Congratulations Sooner!" Nalani said right after, placing a lei on her. "The girls and I had an idea and was wondering if you guys were interested."
"What you guys got in mind?"
"Don't worry about it." Kalei said. "Just let us know when you pau with your parents, I know you wanna cruise with your dad. But it's a late night mish, so just be ready."
"Automatic!"
Once everyone was done congratulating each other, the girls and their respective parents headed for Hilo Hawaiian Hotel.
Santana's parents would bring her here around Christmas every year for the seafood buffet. The hotel was having more buffets because of graduation season, and what better way to celebrate the new alumni's than taking them to an all you can eat seafood buffet?
The girls ate plate after plate, enjoying the company of their parents, and of course - each other. Santana sat right next to her dad who was eager to hear more about her Senior year and talk about the fantastic season they had during softball.
"Cheers everyone." Brittany's dad said as he held up his glass. "Girls, we are super proud of both of you. We are so glad that you came into not just Brittany's life, Santana. But ours too."
"Likewise." Santana's dad followed up with. "And now we have two alumni's, as well as two eager freshman ready to get their careers going at UH Manoa."
"Cheers everybody!"
The rest of the meal went extremely smoothly. Once everyone was finished, they all headed their separate ways. Santana's parents had some baby shopping to do while Brittany's mom had to get back to Waimea to rest before work. The girls headed to the mall for some celebratory shopping before tonights secret mission.
"Where do you think the girls are taking us?"
"I have a guess. I texted, and I was right. It's somewhere I have yet to take you, so it's perfect. You'll see baby."
Santana was driving them back to Honoka'a now. Brittany was losing a battle with her eyelids as always.
"I love you babe." Santana said, looking over at Brittany who was now fast asleep. "Tonight is gonna be epic."
/
Once it was nightfall, Santana heard the beeps of the cars outside. The girls were ready. Brittany grabbed her jacket before heading in the truck. Rachel and Quinn had just parked, and they were all riding in Snixx.
"Any idea?" Quinn asked as she walked to the passengers side of the car.
"Probably not any more than you."
"How is it even possible that they can have this many surprises?"
Brittany looked over at the pair of best friends who were talking to Kalei. "If it's them, anything is possible Q. That's what you have to get used to. I'm sure once we get to Oahu, it's gonna be the same way."
"I didn't even think of Oahu. I haven't thought that far ahead. Not since we found the apartment off campus."
The girls were all in agreement about the housing they chose. It was a nice two bedroom apartment a little ways down the road from UH Manoa. Perfect for the 4 of them.
The drive this time around was about an hour and a half. They had driven through Hilo town, and were now out past Kamehameha High School.
That's when it dawned on Brittany.
"Are we going to Volcano?"
"Whaaaat? Nooooo." Rachel answered.
"YES WE ARE!" Brittany exclaimed, pushing Santana's shoulder. "Fuck yeah I'm excited."
"How the fuck did you figure that out?" Santana asked curiously.
"Because you told me how far Volcano is from Hilo. And this is about it."
The girls were taking a left turn now, a little past the Hawaii Volcano National Park sign.
"A volcano? Is it errupting?" Quinn asked, worried.
"No babe, I mean - it's an active volcano. But not currently errupting, no. It would've been sick though guarantee."
The girls convoy drove down the road, through the National Park. Until they got to what seemed like the end.
"This road, it used to go around the whole park at one point. But one of the erruptions many years ago crossed over the road and this is the end of it going this way." Santana explained as she reversed parked into a stall. "Come babe. Let me show you something."
Brittany hopped out of the truck, making her way around to Santana. They held hands as her girlfriend led her towards a rock wall. "Look up." She told her.
The amount of stars visible left Brittany in complete shock. They were everywhere. On top of that, it was a full moon.
"Whoa." Was all she could muster.
"This in front of us, is the crater. In the 6th grade, our science teacher had us come out here on an overnight trip and we hiked through the crater. I don't know why she thought it would be a good idea for a bunch of little children to walk through but it was definitely an experience."
Brittany was listening, but could barely process anything. Just when she thought that Santana showed her everything? She pulls out yet another breathtaking moment for her to experience.
"I love you, Santana. You never cease to amaze me you know?" Brittany said. Santana leaned in for a kiss. "And a kiss? In front of this fucking huge volcano? Never in my wildest dreams."
"There's so much more I have to offer baby. I promise, life will never be boring with me."
"I believe you, trust me."
"I love you Brittany S. Pierce."
The girls kissed.
"Hey! You guys coming?" Angel yelled back.
The girls hopped off the wall and followed their friends into the museum.
/
The rest of the night was full of laughter and great company. After Volcano, they drove back into Hilo and hung out at Coconut Island where they watched the Hilo High kids get shitfaced at their senior night. They drank a little before heading home.
"Is this what the summer is gonna be like?"
"Absolutely baby." Santana answered. "This is just the beginning."
/
AN: Second to the last chapter. And that will be it folks. What a ride this story has been.