𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐓 𝐒𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐄 | peter parker ( andrew garfield )

𝟑 -- 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐲

I tapped my foot anxiously and kept turning my head to the back to see if he is here already, but there was no sign of him. I sighed in defeat and took my phone out. He's going to miss my speech. 

I dialed Peter's cellphone number and put the phone in front of my ear. I kept hearing the ring going on through my phone until he answered my call. "Hey, I'm sorry. I'm running a bit late. I got stuck in some traffic." 

"Your timing is terrible. It started already." I could hear my voice that it's starting to get irritated and worried at the same time.

"I know, I'm sorry."

"Where are you?" 

"First and broadway, second and broadway, third in broadway. Uh... Five minutes. Ten tops."  My face suddenly turned into a confused one as I remembered that I got here without traffic --- and I began to hear police sirens.

"Are those sirens?" 

There were a few seconds of silence before he replied. "No."

"Peter?" I said in a hard tone, so he could hear how I feel right now.

"No sirens. No-" His voice was cut off. I looked at my phone seeing the call wasn't ended yet. 

"Peter? What's happening?" There's still no reply from him. "Peter?" I said his name again and again but still no response. "Hello? Am I still talking to you?" One of the teachers started to talk, my eyes immediately widened. "Peter? Pe-"

"I'll be right there. Promise." I was just about to talk when he hung up the phone. What the hell?

I hid my phone and started to listen to one of the teachers. "This year's Valedictorian, please welcome Anastasia Jones." The students around me clapped their hands as I smiled. I stood up and walk towards the stairs of the stage and stood in front of where the mic was. The teacher shake hands with me and go back to his seat. I placed the notes I wrote last night on top of the podium table.

"Good morning, esteemed faculty, and families of my fellow graduates. It's an honor to be standing up here today. I know we all think that we're immortal. We're supposed to feel that way. We're graduating. But, like our brief four years in high school, what makes life valuable is that it doesn't last forever. What makes it precious is that it ends. And I know that now more than ever. And I say it, today of all days, to remind us that time is luck. So don't waste it living someone else's life. Make yours count for something. Fight for what matters to you. No matter what. Because even if we fall short, what better way is there to live? That's all, thank you." I bowed my head and the crowd started to clap their hands. I stood beside one of the teachers as they began to call up the names of the graduates. 

I saw my mother standing in her area as she takes pictures of me. She mouthed 'Congratulations!' from afar. And I also mouthed my Thank You to her. The students were forming a line in front of the stage getting their diplomas and after they have their diplomas in their palms, they shake hands with me as I say Congratulations to them. Until they called out Peter's name.

"Peter Parker." I looked around and saw no signs of him and I instantly gulped. "Peter Parker." The teacher repeated and to my surprise, a guy beside the stage appeared. Peter. He was panting. He took his diploma and shook hands with the teacher who gave it to him. Then he came in front of me, I gave him a hand to shake and he offered it.

"I'm sorry." He said. I just nodded my head.

"Congr-" I was just about to greet him but then he grabbed my face and kissed me in front of the whole crowd. He even grabbed me by the waist and laid me down slightly, like one of the movie scenes when they're dancing. He pulled me back up while holding the hat on top of my head. My face gets red as I chuckled shyly as the students in front of us started to cheer us up.

--

The ceremony ended and now it's time to meet the parents. "Mom!!" I ran towards her as soon as I spotted her. She welcomed me with a warm and big hug. She kissed my cheeks and looked at me.

"I am so proud of you, Ana." She said.

"It is the result of your hard work and the values that you have instilled in me that today I have successfully completed my graduation and the credit for it goes to you and to dad." I smiled sadly as I remembered dad.

"I'm sure he's proud of you, sweetie." She smiled back and hugged me again. We pulled away again and I saw Peter. "Come on, let's go to them." I didn't complain anymore and let her drag me to them.

"Ok, guys. Get together right now." Aunt May said as she take out her camera.

"Yes, you two look so cute together." My mom took her camera too and stood beside Aunt May as I and Peter stood side by side and let them take pictures of us.

"Say Cheese."

"Cheese." Me and Peter said in sync as we smile for the camera.

"Ok, I'll be over there." Aunt May said

"Yeah, just give me two seconds."

"Ok!" Aunt May said and walked away.

"Ana, sweetie. I'll just make a phone call."

"Yeah, sure mom." I nodded my head and then Peter turned to look at me. 

"Hey." I said as I turned to look at Peter. "Did your traffic jam have anything to do with..." I took out my phone and showed him a picture I saw earlier. "The Russian Mob? And machine guns by any chance? Why didn't you just tell me?" He put my phone down as he looks around. 

"What am I gonna do? You're about to do your speech-"

"Ana. Sweetie." I looked where my mom's voice direction is coming from seeing that she was now with my uncle, auntie, and also my little cousin and my other cousin who's a few years younger from me. "Family photo."

"Ok!" I turned again to gaze at Peter. "Hey. You coming to dim sum?"

"Can't keep me away." He smiled and I returned it too and smiled happily towards him.

"It's at 8 o'clock. Don't be late."

"I won't be."

"Ok." I leaned in and pecked his lips and continued talking as I forgot to say it. "And I'm gonna do my speech for you." I kissed him again.

"All night? I wanna hear it all night long."

"I'm gonna do my speech for you over and over again, all night long."

"Ok. Oh my gosh." I saw his Sweet Smile again and it's making me have butterflies inside my stomach again. 

"It was pretty good." I nodded my head to make it more convincing.

"Peter. Join us? Come on." My mom said.

"I gotta find my aunt, but I'm gonna catch up later, thank you." He said as I continued walking towards where my aunt was and she opened up her arms for me to hug her.

"Hi." I hugged back and pulled back they greeted me. I carried my little cousin and headed somewhere nice to take our family picture.