Chapter 26: Graduation Day

I Don't Own Ben 10 or Any of the Respective Characters, The Rights Belong to Man of Action Studios and Cartoon Network

Author's Note:

* Hello and welcome to Chapter 26!

* This chapter will be another short one. It won't be too long now until we diverge from the original canon chapters of Version 1.0 of CWN and get into the rest of the new story.

* I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, I've got nothing else to say, so I'll leave you guys to it!

Ben

Saturday, May 12th, 2018

The Tennyson House

Today was the big day. I had finished high school and today was graduation day. Only, there was one small problem…

"Has anyone seen my tie?" I shouted. "Where is it?!"

"Relax, Ben." Mom said in a calm tone. "It's under your bed."

I turned around to see her hunched down, pulling my tie out from underneath my bed. She handed it to me with a smile on her face. I took it with gratitude.

"Thanks. And sorry."

Her smile remained on her face as she put her hands on my shoulders.

"Just calm down. You have plenty of time, you're not going to be late to your own graduation."

From there, I put my tie around my neck and began attempting to tie it, but was experiencing problems. I looked up at Mom who was looking on at me.

"Um, a little help, please?"

"Don't look at me, go find your father. He's better than me at this kind of stuff."

I left my room and walked down the hallway into the living room.

"Dad, can you please help me with my tie?"

"Sure thing, bud. Come over here."

I walked over to him and he took the two ends of the tie, before tying it into the correct configuration.

"There you go. But I do suggest that you look up a guide online for the next time to have to mess with that."

"Thanks, Dad."

He looked back up at me.

"Everything you've accomplished in the last four years has led up to this moment. Congratulations."

I nodded at him.

"Thanks."

I turned around and walked back toward my room without another word. I still had a graduation to get ready for.

Twenty Minutes Later

About twenty minutes later, I had gotten into my graduation cap and gown and we were off. That is of course, after Mom had to take a picture of my standing by the tree in our backyard. Mom sat up front with Dad while I sat in the back.

"So, Ben honey, your father and I are going away for the night after we get back from the ceremony."

"Okay."

"We thought that you might like to have the house to yourself for the night. Maybe have your friends over and have one of your movie nights?"

"I don't know. There was some mighty talk this week at school about Kevin throwing a party after the ceremony tonight."

"Oh, well why don't you go to his party tonight?"

Mom didn't know that usually there was alcohol at Kevin's parties. But never drank and don't intend to, so it wasn't a problem.

"Yes, I'd very much like to go."

"Alright, then! Your father and I will go out, you'll go to his party and maybe you can invite a few friends back over for the night?"

"Good idea."

The rest of the ride to the Baptist Church that our schools graduation was being held at was silent.

Sometime Later

Bellwood Baptist Church

Mom, Dad and I parted ways once we entered the church. While they went into the auditorium, I went two flights downstairs, where all the future graduates were sitting in preparation for the graduation ceremony. Once I got to the room, I didn't feel like talking with any of my friends, so I just went to go find my assigned seat. I was sitting right next to Gwen. See, if you've ever been to any kind of graduation ceremony, then you'll know that all the graduates sit in alphabetical order.

Anyway, Gwen hadn't arrived yet, so I didn't have to face her yet. I was still uncomfortable with the idea of being around her after how our last conversation had ended. But that was neither here nor there. But she did arrive about five minutes later. Naturally, I wanted to get up and hug her. But seeing as that except for J.T. and Cash, no one in the room knew that we were cousins. So, I wanted to save the embarrassment for another time. Like, never, for example?

She may have been thinking the same thing as she never got up to hug me. So, we just sat in silence for about five minutes, until all of us began to get called to head up the auditorium, in alphabetical order, of course. Before that, I had finally worked up the nerve to say something to her, but she beat me to it.

"I'm going to go and talk to my friends over there. I'll see you later."

She got up and left me alone in silence. I sighed and looked down as I was left alone.

Thirty Minutes Later

Finally, once we were up in the auditorium, and once the opening words had passed and the awards that were given to "academically outstanding students", which I had been lucky to be a part of, the real ceremony began. For some reason I was dreading having to walk across that stage. Something deep down inside made me really nervous. And then, Gwen did something that surprised me.

Her hand traveled over to my lap and she began feeling around, until she found my hand and took hold of it, squeezing it. Out of instinct, my hand intertwined with hers and I held her hand. But it didn't feel right, holding her hand. Now that's the weird thing. You may be thinking that it felt wrong, right? Wrong. It felt good, right even. And I didn't like that. So, I turned to look at her.

"Hey, do you mind?" I whispered to her.

Also, why did you suddenly hold my hand if you like someone else? What if he saw this?

She turned her head to look at me. I couldn't tell what she was trying to say to me with her emerald eyes. Eventually she seemed to get the hint and let go of my hand.

"Oh, right. Sorry."

"S'okay."

She looked away and returned her gaze toward the stage. Eventually I did the same.

Gwen

Minutes Earlier

There was this small moment about five minutes earlier. I thought about myself walking across that stage after Ben just about half an hour from now or so. I also got to thinking about my future, what I would do for a job, who I would marry, what my kids would look like, stuff like that.

And it freaked me out a lot. It freaked me out a whole lot. It also made me feel nauseous and as if I were all alone. I had to know that I wasn't alone. So, I reached over to Ben and felt around for his hand. When I found his hand, I took it in mine and squeezed it. And I felt his fingers intertwine with mine.

I felt so much better now. His hand felt so warm in mine. I wanted to do nothing but hold his hand. I could have done that for the rest of the ceremony, until we were called to the stage. But that's when he spoke.

"Hey, do you mind?" he whispered.

I turned to look at him and saw that he was giving me one of those looks. Eventually I just had to let go of his hand because I knew it was making things awkward between us.

"Oh, right. Sorry."

"S'okay."

I turned my head away from him and looked back up toward the stage.

Ben

Thirty Minutes Later

I watched Gwen walk across the stage to get her diploma. I waited in line as I waited to be signaled to walk up there. I was still thinking about how she had taken my hand in hers and just held it. Despite my wishes, those thoughts were coming back again and it was time for me to push them back down.

You don't have feelings for your cousin. That would be sick.

I sat back down as I continued to be plagued by these thoughts.

You don't have feelings for your cousin. You would be ridiculed if you did.

The noise of the audience's applause around me was loud, but my mind was elsewhere.

You don't have feel… Well, maybe you do. But what does that mean?

I continued to stare at Gwen up on the stage, as if I was transfixed by the very sight of her.

This isn't right. She wouldn't want to be with you because she'd know better.

She walked off the stage after taking her diploma and began walking back toward her seat.

She would know that this isn't right. And you should know it, too.

She sat back down next to me and looked at me.

Do you really want people to ridicule her, too? Is that what you want for her?

"Are you alright?" she whispered to me.

How selfish could you be? You would jeopardize the rest of her life just for a chance to be with her?

I turned away from her without answering as I felt my stomach begin to ache.

Oh, man. I feel like I'm going to hurl.

About Half an Hour Later

"Hhuaggh!"

I had just thrown up my lunch. After the ceremony ended, I briefly saw my parents before I pretty much immediately excused myself to the nearest restroom. From there, I locked myself in a stall and well, you know the rest. I stood there in front of the toilet, hunched over right in front of it as I rapidly tried to catch my breath.

There were beads of sweat on my forehead and it felt as though it were a hundred degrees in here. Though, that could have just been me feeling feverish. I hiccupped and almost right away, bent back over and opened my mouth once more.

"Hhuagguaggh!" Another torrent of foul extremities came rushing from my mouth.

There goes my breakfast, I mournfully thought.

I took a deep breath and finally stood up straight again, sensing that my torment had ended. I flushed the toilet and exited the stall to wash my hands. As I stood there washing my hands, I found myself staring at my reflection. I shut off the water and pressed my wet hands against the mirror.

Get ahold of yourself, Tennyson! None of this is real! You don't have "feelings" for your cousin! It's just hormonal stuff because of the fact we didn't grow up together! Now, get your head on straight and—

The sound of the restroom door opening pulled me from my thoughts, so I grabbed some paper towels from a nearby dispenser to dry off my hands.

"Hey, bro!" I heard a familiar voice.

I turned to look at Kevin standing by the restroom door. Upon seeing my face, the smile dropped from his face and was replaced by a mildly concerned look.

"Are you okay, man? You're looking a little green."

I nodded.

"I'm fine. Thinking about my future just made me feel kind of jittery, that's all."

He smiled again in response.

"Well, glad it's nothing serious! Come on, your parents wanted you to get a picture taken with Gwen to celebrate graduation."

At the mention of Gwen's name, I let out a burp as I my stomach lurched forward again. I felt last night's dinner preparing to hit the eject button, but I wrestled my stomach back into place until the feeling passed, after which I forced a deep breath. His smile dropped once again.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

I nodded.

"Yes, let's just go."

I walked past him and out of the restroom as he followed in tow.

"So, you're coming to my party tonight, right?" he asked as he caught up with me.

I found myself saying yes, but the party was the least of my concerns right now.

Author's Note:

* And that's it for this chapter! I hope you all enjoyed!

* So, what are your guys' thoughts on how Ben seemed to have another panic episode while watching Gwen cross the stage? I can't say that I have anything else of interest to ask about.

* With that brief closing done, please post a review or send me a PM if you have any thoughts or questions about the story.

Review Responses

cherrypie990 (Chapter 24): Aww glad Ben and Gwen made up in this chapter. And they have started realising their feelings for each other, but seem to be pushing each other away rather than the opposite. Honestly, Ben is way too emotional for a guy, like dude take a chill pill and relax. Great chapter as always.

Thanks, Cherry. Yes, they're both beginning to realize their feelings for each other, but for Ben, it will take a bit longer for that realization to fully set in. Though, Gwen is going to be the one pushing him away the most, inadvertently anyway, by trying to find ways to express that she likes him and wants to be more with him in the future.

I can see why you think that Ben is too emotional for a guy, I'll let that pass. The only comment I'll offer is that this version of Ben has experienced a significant amount of trauma in his life. And once you see it, you'll maybe understand him a bit more. That's not a guarantee, that's just what I how I hope most of my readers understand it as. Thanks for the review, as always.

adriandragonus (Chapter 22): Serena and Bellicus were two voices inside Ben's mind when he transformed into Alien X. They kinda count as inner voices, right? I'm glad at two things: 1. that Gwen rightfully put Brad down. If i was Gwen, that'd be us breaking up, but i suppose Gwen has more compassion than me. 2. Ms. Hurt is actually reasonable this time! I remember she was suc in original version!

Thanks, Adrian. Ah, yes, Alien X. What a classic episode from Alien Force! Or at least the only thing I remember about it from when I was a kid was that it a lot of hype surrounding it. Who knows, maybe I'm misremembering. It certainly wouldn't be the first time. Yes, Ms. Hurt was better this time. I don't want to give her to much flak, as she is based on a real person who was just trying to do her job. Thanks for the review, as always.

adriandragonus (Chapter 25): Ah, man! For some reason Fanfiction refused to show me the newer chapters. Now that the problem has been fixed, I can read your story without any interruption… Hopefully! As for the story itself, boy i was cheated by your words! What is "short and sweet" about two people that like each other, without realizing their feelings are reciprocated by the other?

Anyway if i remember correctly, they actually confess to each other in the graduation party in the original version, don't they? That would be my most anticipated chapter… if Vilgax doesn't decide to screw that event by showing up! As for Gwen's threat to Brad… she could've used some of her karate techniques to scare him. Surely she got that in this universe, right?

Sorry about that, Adrian. That is an odd issue to encounter. I hope you don't have to experience that again. You were cheated by my words? Huh, I don't know if I should take that as a compliment or not. Yes, Gwen does have her karate skills in this universe. Refer the Easter chapter where she flips one of Ben's friends over her shoulder and when Ben asks how she did that, she informs him that she learned it in her Jiu-Jitsu class. However, I thought it would be out of character to use her skills to threaten a guy who won't leave her alone. Thanks for the review, as always.

Next Chapter: Ben reconsiders his options for dealing with his "feelings" regarding Gwen. He later attends Kevin's house party and there, a couple of dramatic scenes arise.