We'll Be Fine

Chapter Thirty-One: Strawberries and Cigarettes

Lizzie's POV:

Graduation is tomorrow and to say that everyone I knew was on edge would be an understatement. I know we were nervous about the future being right in our faces but damn. I have a feeling that this is something completely different. Hope and my dad have been actually hanging out again and that was weird. Josie and Jade seemed to be preoccupied by being in love so that left me with little time with them. Everyone else seemed normal except my family and girlfriend. We had our graduation ceremony practice today and all of our classes were done for. Everyone did their walk except Hope. She was called last and her and my dad shared a smile before she came back to her seat. That confused the hell out of me. 

Practice went smoothly and we all just hung out. Jade and Hope were playing around while my parents and Josie watched. I joined them and I watched as Jade tried to get Hope on her back but failed when Hope used her own strength against her. It was funny seeing Jade pout as she laid in the grass. I laughed as Hope did a little victory dance. I was just happy seeing everyone getting along again. It was hell trying to pretend that I wasn't pissed with dad still but I think I'm over it. He has finally accepted me and Hope. That's all I truly cared about. Jade and Hope continued to play around for a while before the senior class had a 'good luck out there in the real world' dinner to attend.

The dinner was fun and everyone got along. Hope even talked to Rafeal which surprised the hell out of me. I mean they were always close and he did have that crush on the both of us but to see Hope actually smiling while they talked about all the crazy shit they did made me smile. I felt her grab my hand on the table and squeeze it. It's something she does when she wants to make sure I'm ok without using her words. I squeezed back and she gave me a smile before talking with my dad now. I feel like it's the start of Sophomore year all over again. "I would like to say a few things if that was alright with everyone." Hope said as she stood up. Everyone nodded. "I owe who I am to this place and you people. If it hadn't been for this place, I would have never found a home again. I probably would have caused hell on earth if the Saltzman's didn't take me into their hearts and school. I owe who I am and who I was to you guys. I love you all more than I could ever explain. We have all been through something together but we never gave up on each other. I just want to say that this, what we have right before us, is family. Thank you. Here's to being a weird, crazy and mostly dysfunctional family." She said and everyone cheered. 

Everyone went their own ways after dinner and Hope took me to the dock. This was our place and it probably always will be. We watched the sunset and cuddled as the moon gave us her light. "You know... I'm going to really miss this place when summer ends." She said while sighing. I nodded in agreement. "This summer, Josie and Jade wanted to know if we wanted to go with them for a month to California before coming back to start school. I told them I wanted to ask you first before agreeing." She said and I smiled. "I would love to babe. Sounds fun. We can tell them after the ceremony." I said before cuddling deeper into her chest. 

We eventually made it to our room and watched a few movies together. It was nice to just feel like normal again. I mean it has been normal for a while, it just didn't always feel that way. "Hope Mikaelson to Mrs. Saltzman's office." The intercom spit out, scaring the literally piss out of me. Hope laughed before kissing me and leaving. I wonder what my dad wanted at 11pm. I tried waiting up for Hope to come back but I failed as my eyes became too heavy for me to fight. 

Hope's POV:

"Yes sir?" I said as I walked in the office where Josie, Jade, Caroline and Alaric were waiting. "We figured it out. You'll be the last one called to the stage and once you get your diploma, Josie and Caroline will have Lizzie meet you in front of the stage. That's where you'll propose. It's the only way to make it work. Wade will be recording the whole thing for us so we'll be able to mic you up and everyone can hear. Are you sure you want to go through with this now?" He asked and everyone looked at me. I gave them a smile before turning back to Alaric. "Yes I am. I have never been more serious about something than I am about this. I want to build a life with her and that's exactly how I'm going to show her. I'm more worried about her saying no than I am the actually proposal itself. I got this Alaric. Trust me." I said with full honesty. I meant every word I said. She deserves the world and I'm going to give it to her on a silver platter. No matter what.