[im not even sorry for this picture]
[im actually very proud of this picture]

***
Graduation.

"It's been...a crazy four years," the valedictorian spoke from the podium.

Graduation was the day Luke Hemmings had been waiting for for years. When he was young and being bullied, it was the moment he'd dreamt about to keep him sane. He knew he was smarter than pretty much everyone in the school, that he would get out of this town and go somewhere to school far away and never see anyone again.

    Oh how things can change in such a short time.

    "My whole life, I was bullied. Bullied for being different, for being myself." Luke looked around at the crowd of his friends, peers, and family. He'd told his mum what had happened his whole life after he and Ashton made amends last year and started dating. She was understandably upset, but in the end, she was glad that now he was able to be truly happy.

    She was the only person who knew, so his brothers had a shocked look on his face, as did his favorite teacher.

    A couple of his classmates looked down, feeling guilty as they remembered things they'd done to him.

    He kept going with his speech.

    "It wasn't always easy, but I had found a few things that kept me going. When life in school was horrible, I needed something else to turn to, and that was graduation. I knew the minute I could get out of here, I'd go somewhere that people would accept me for who I was, somewhere I wouldn't need to watch my back or swallow down my feelings."

    Luke couldn't look at anyone now because he knew he'd choke up if he did. He adjusted the cap he covered in red flowers to match the graduation gown and stared at the paper in front of him.

    "I'm happy to say, last year things changed. I changed, and was able to stand up for myself. In doing that, me, a couple teachers, and some brave students have worked to make Babylon High School a Safe Zone for every student who enters its halls."

    Luke paused for a moment to flip his note card, and then glanced up as someone started clapping; of course it was Ashton. Others followed after, and he smiled as he waited for the noise to die down.

    After Luke and Ashton talked everything out in the library a year ago, they started to face a new problem.

    Ashton thought people would just accept him wanting to be with Luke without question.

    Luke wasn't so sure that would be the case, but Ashton insisted everyone always followed him, so if he started saying 'gay is okay' (that was his slogan, which Luke didn't find as amusing as he did) then people would follow him.

    So the next day when they walked down the hall holding hands, Luke wasn't sure what to expect, but it wasn't Calum Hood punching him dead in the face.

    "Get the fuck off of him!" Calum yelled, pushing Ashton away from Luke. "Why are you trying to turn him gay?"

    "What the fuck, Calum?" Ashton struggled to get out of his friends grasp so he could check on his hurt boyfriend. Luke had fallen to the floor, cradling his nose which had started dripping blood.

    "He's trying to change you, Ash. The bet is over, okay? It was a bad idea from the start,"   
    "This has nothing to do with the bet, Cal. I like him, got it?"

    Calum went still, allowing Ashton to push him off so he could sit on the floor to comfort Luke, ignoring how the hall had gone silent to stare at the new couple.

    It had taken a couple weeks to get even Ashton's closest friends around to the idea. Michael had been the easiest to convince, as he'd genuinely liked Luke when he was sitting with them at lunch. He was a go with the flow kind of guy, so he started to back Ashton up first.

    After Harry and Jake intervened, having seen the commotion in the hallway when Calum punched him, they decided some things needed to change around the school.

    With Luke and Ashton's help, they did some research to find out how to make the school as certified Safe Zone for the LGBT community.

    "Last year with the help of some amazing teachers and students, we were able to make Babylon High the first LGBT friendly school in the state,"

    More applause could be heard, but Luke continued over it.

    "I'm very proud to have been a key factor in all of this, I'm glad that I'm the last person who's going to have to feel the way I did growing up. I'm proud that all of my LGBT friends will have a safe environment to learn who they are, question things, and get the help they need."

    Ashton started whooping, making Luke smile and glance at him.

    "Above all, I just wanted to thank all of my classmates for getting on board with this whole thing and being supportive. None of this could have been accomplished without all of us, and I know this means we all have bright futures ahead of us. It doesn't matter what we've done in the past, what matters is what we do with our future. It's never too late to change, and all of us here have proven that. I'm proud to have gone to this school, and to have friends here. We might not all stay in touch, but know that you all have a friend in me if you ever need someone to talk to. Congratulations to all of the graduates," Luke waved to the crowd as he walked off the stage and sat down in his seat.

    He did it.

    Two years ago, or even just last month he never would have imagined he could have done something like that. With the right support system, anything could be possible.

    The rest of the ceremony went on without a hitch, and Luke and Ashton received their diplomas. Luke threw his cap in the air, not caring to find it in the mass of hats, searching for Ashton instead. The brunette was doing the same thing, knocking a chair over in his haste to find his boyfriend.

    "Lukey, that was phenomenal!" He pressed a quick kiss to Luke's forehead before crushing him into a hug. "You did amazing up there, love!"

    "Thanks," Luke whispered. Ashton knew he'd been nervous about delivering the speech. It was more nerve wracking than coming out had been, actually, since his family took it so well, and it sort of felt a bit like coming out again. Telling his story had been a tough decision to make, but he felt like he needed to do it. He'd closed this rollercoaster of a chapter on his life, and now, he had the rest of his life to be himself.

***

Okay, I'm slightly more okay with this. I'm glad I decided to write an epilogue. I guess.

Anyway, that's the end! I spent a lot of time trying to fix this book, and I hope you enjoyed it enough!! Check out my other book if you did enjoy this!
I'm Not Superwoman and The Bank have already been completed, and I'll be slowly working on Hey Bartender, Hit Me soon!! Thanks to everyone who's been supporting my writing. I super appreciate you. ❤️

~ashtonfortherwin