Color Me.

SURPRISE!

"And now a few words from our class valedictorian, Daniel Lakeman." A round of applause fills the room with some hoots and hollers from my friends. I make my way up to the podium, facing a crowd of 400 eager seniors, and begin the speech I prepared and rehearsed since the beginning of May.

"Four years ago each and everyone of us came into high school not knowing where it would lead us. Throughout those four years we have learned that there will always be two different roads to the same goal. One will always be easier than the other but the path we choose has repercussions good and bad. Four years ago we were putting on uniforms, lab coats, and costumes that would become ours. Four years ago we sat in our first class nervous that we weren't going to like our teacher. Four years ago we started an adventure of a lifetime. And now, four years later we are putting on our last item of clothing, a cap and gown. Now, four years later we no longer have to worry about where to sit. Now, four years later we start another adventure. There is an endless list of people I would like to thank, but I feel that my fellow classmates are way too eager to graduate, so I will try to keep it short. I'd like to thank my teachers for believing in me when I could not. Thank you to my friends who have come to love me. Thank you to those who didn't like me, you pushed me to be better. But most importantly thank you to my parents. On top of putting me into this world, they've given me everything I've ever needed and more. Congratulations Class of 2015! We're moving on to bigger and better things! We did it!"
A rupture of applause goes around comes around the room, caps fly up, cheers, tears, and all the wonderful moments of a graduation ceremony. My parents are nowhere to be found when I step off the stage and I then remember that they're out of town because of a business trip. "Typical" I think to myself. As I walk through the crowds of melancholy families and over ecstatic graduates, I am given complement after complement on my speech. I finally make it to my beat up 67 Chevy Impala and drive to my favorite place which happens to be where I work. I park my car and head inside the small cafe named "The Simple Bean" expecting the normal yet hushed bustle of the shop, only to hear the loud yellings of "SURPRISE!" and "CONGRATULATIONS!"

My manager and the woman I basically consider my mother Stella comes up to embrace me.

"Stella did you do this? You know you didn't have to! But thank you so much!"

"Oh honey please! It's honestly the least I could do after everything you've done here! Plus you're leaving so soon!"

"Stell, you know that I won't be leaving for Stanford till October!"

"Of course I know that silly, it's all you ever talk about nowadays! But you're leaving for your summer tip to Oregon tomorrow and when you get back you'll most likely be busy with college requirements and packing everything up!"

Before I could protest, Stella's daughter Kayla comes running at me.
"Dan-Dan! Please don't leave me," the seven year old cried. I chuckled and picked her up.
"Don't worry, I won't be leaving for a while Kaybird."
"But I don't want you to leave ever!"
"I know Kaybird but Dan-Dan has to go to college and be a grown up." She pouts, gives me one last squeeze and runs off to go play with her friends.
"Go enjoy the party Daniel, you deserve it."

I smile, thanking Stella once again, and make my way to my coworkers/best friends. They all wrap me in a hug, congratulate me, and we go on to talk about random things. They start to talk about summer and then they ask me, "So Dan what are you gonna be up to this summer?"

"Well taking a trip up to Oregon to get away from this Californian heat. Then come back here, try to earn some money before packing up and moving to the bay area."
"Does Stell know you're coming back to work?"
"Yeah she does, but she doesn't know about me giving half to her."
"You know she won't take it. She'll only insist that you keep it."
"I know that. But times are tough for Stell and Kaybird right now, I just wanna give back to them y'know?" They nod and we continue our chatter about plans and other things until the party is over and it's time to go home.

(A/N: OMG FIRST CHAPTER I HOPE YOU LIKED THIS! Chapter 2 might be up tonight if I'm not dead tired. I have a flight at 6 in the morning tomorrow and I need me some sleep!!)