Five Months Later

"And now, I proudly present to you the class of 2012!"

The crowd erupted in cheers and flat caps were tossed all around. I grinned and joined in, throwing my graduation cap into the air with the rest of them.

That's right, it was graduation day for me and everyone else. When the ceremony was done, all of the graduates pooled out into the lobby to see their parents and other people that came to see the graduation. I pushed past all of the crying parents just to be pulled into my mom's arms.

"Oh, baby, I'm so proud of you!" She squealed as she pulled away.

I grinned. "Thanks, Mom."

Just before she was about to start bawling, I felt a strong arm wrap around my shoulders and pull me close to him. "Hey." He purred, kissing his lips lightly. The open sleeves of his blue graduation gown flailed around happily, matching everyone's mood.

I spun around and wrapped my arms around Dyson and hugged him close. "Hey."

"You look good in blue." He whispered in my ear.

Before I could retort, Toni interrupted. "Ew, get a room!" She said, pulling me into a hug.

I guess this was the last time that we'd really be together, except for the summer. Because when the summer's over Toni is going to Oklahoma for college. What's in Oklahoma? Andrew. Surprised? I guess being house mates back in the winter for a few days lit a spark. They did the long distance thing for the rest of the year and now Toni is moving to Oklahoma to be with him. I'm happy for her, for both of them. They make such a cute couple.

Speaking of couples, me and Dyson have decided to stay together and go down further south. Miami State, as in no snow or snow storms. Last week, Dyson finally told his dad that he wasn't going to go to school and become a surgeon like him. Which is why he kicked Dyson out and he moved in with me. Of course, it will only be for a few months and then we're off to college, but I knew it really hurt him, even if he tries his best not to show it. And he got completely cut off from the money. The mansion, the fancy food, the maid. Everything. Which is why it's a good thing that he got a full ride on football to Miami, including room and board. He will be majoring in culinary.

Me? I'm not sure yet, but I'm thinking of some kind of therapist. You know, like a child therapist, for little kids and teens. A family therapist. Because I want to help the little kids who were like me. Nobody should fear having to go to sleep at night. So I'm going to try and fix that.

"C'mon, let's go!" Toni called, pulling my hand and pulling me out of my thoughts.

She led me, along with my mom and Dyson out the door to the car where Toni's parents and her brother, Chris, were waiting for us.

"Meet us at that burger place." Toni said, getting into her families car.

I smiled and nodded, waving a short hello to her parents and Chris before me and Dyson slid into the back seat of my mom's car and we all drove in two cars towards the burger restaurant that we were headed towards.

We slid off our graduation gowns and left them in the back seat while we talked aimlessly with my mom. Laughing about everything that has happened since the storm and since what happened at the mall. It will definitely be something to tell our kids someday and something I'll never forget.

I'm definitely glad that it happened, no matter how stressful or scary it was, it brought us together. I don't know what would of happened if that didn't happen.

But whatever happens... it just had to be Dyson.

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Aaaaaand, that's it!

I hope you enjoyed the story as much as I enjoyed writing it. This one of my stories has gotten the furthest in the ranks so thank you to EVERY SINGLE PERSON for their votes and comments and reads and fans and everything you do, it means so much to me, honestly.

I don't know if I said this yet, but there won't be a sequel.

BUT, if you want to read another one of my books, I just posted the teaser for my new story, Letters to Audrine, and weekly updates will start 9/14/2020. I had never put so much effort into a story before, so I would be eternally grateful if you gave it a read!