Third Person's POV

Two years pass and graduation arrives. Graduating seniors are standing within one room, bundled up together in their caps and gowns. Females in gold while the boys are covered in purple. Cords and medals deck out the gowns as they are placed around people's necks.

For Cadenza, her graduation wasn't the happiest of days. She was still in the grieving period of her brother passing only a short amount of time. But with courage and her head held high, she walked across the stage and received her diploma.

Then came the next years. The year Laurance was supposed to graduate. In order to support Garroth and the rest of their graduating friends, both the Zvahl and Ro'meave families joined together to watch the ceremony.

There was a special tribute dedicated to Laurance. A single chair where he would've sat with a folded up gown and cap placed on top. The cords he would've received placed delicately with the purple fabric. But above all, his diploma rested against the cap.

Kind words were said as his name was called last. A brief overlook being explained why he was reviving his diploma even if he couldn't walk across the stage himself.

With the help of his graduating class and both families, both a scholarship and a plaque made in his honor.

But now, it was their graduation. A graduation without Laurance sitting in the audience.

Y/N stood next to Zane as they were prepared to walk into the gym. With having a last name that starts with the letter 'R' you're stuck in the middle of the groups of graduating seniors.

Zane wouldn't admit it, but he was nervous. He didn't understand why. Maybe he was just afraid of tripping. He didn't have a speech to do.

Y/N was trying to calm Zane down. She didn't expect Zane to be the way he was. She was mumbling about quiet conversations, keeping their minds off of what would soon happen.

Alex and Vylad stood next to each other in the front of the line, ready to lead them to their seats.

"How does it feel knowing your boyfriend outsmarted you?" Vylad asks, looking over at his girlfriend.

She giggles and rolls her eyes. "Oh please, Ro'meave," she tells him, smiling softly. "You didn't outsmart me. I'm perfectly fine with being salutatorian."

The principal looks down at the two line leaders and turns to the band director. The music begins to play as they're told to walk forward.

When you're walking you look forward, plastering a smile on your face until you're told to be seated. Flashes may blind you, but you are to pay them no mind. It's a happy day.

But in Y/N's mind, thoughts run wide. Her smile is blinding as her mind is nonstop. She thought about how proud Laurance would be. Perhaps during majority of the ceremony she was thinking about that. To her, it felt like he was there. That he was sitting in the bleachers cheering her on.

Standing for the national anthem. Listening carefully to the speeches. Clapping and cheering when names are called.

In Y/N's heart, that's what happened.

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

"It's been ten years," Alex says, looking down at her brother's grave. She held onto Vylad's hand, feeling him tracing his thumb over his wife's rings. "And not a day goes by that I don't miss him."

Y/N looks over at her, nodding her head. For a little while, Y/N stayed away from the dating game. Her heart was Laurance's, and it wasn't until recently that she realized that Laurance wouldn't want that for her. She's decided that she was willing to start dating again, so she's opened up to the thought of it.

Cadenza holds tightly onto their baby brother, kissing his head as she tried her best to explain to Caleb who Laurance was. Somehow, in some way, he resembled him greatly. Light brown hair, blue eyes. In a way, it was as if Irene was bringing them another Laurance, but they weren't silly enough to fully believe that.

Hayden found love, and he hasn't felt alone ever since. He now has his daughters, a wife, and a baby boy. While Laurance was his son, he was able to push past the past and live his present.

Cadenza went through a few boyfriends before she finally found one she's gotten serious with. She's managed to score herself with a good job that appealed to her interests.

But as for Alex and Vylad, they managed to make it all the way. After getting some help, Alex was able to overcome Laurance's death, and Vylad was with her every step of the way. She was thankful for him showing up that day on the roof, and she cane with terms that what she was going to do wasn't something Laurance wanted.

Fresh flowers stand before Laurance's grave as those who love him surround it. It's frequently visited, updates about life being delivered or conversations that simply need to be heard told to him. It's hard to believe it's been ten years since his death, but that didn't mean they couldn't move forward.

Laurance Zvahl was like the glue that held everyone together. Even if his life lasted for 17 years, he managed to continue to make an impact on the world. Because when things were crashing down, somehow he managed to make things better again.