Last Stop

Epilogue

The hair is thick and hot, almost stifling but the approaching dark clouds promise a reprieve from this heat. It doesn't help that we are under layers, sitting in the sweltering sun as words echo over the field. 

"-To use the tools given and learnt and take them into the next stages of your life." The principle smiles at the crowd, I try not look at his white smile as I am sure it will reflect the sun in an almost blinding manner. 

"Speck looks ready to bolt." Audrey grins, leaning into give the whisper. Declan snorts from my other side, shaking his head as we all turn to eye Spencer who is bouncing on the seat behind the principal, waiting to give his own speech. I do not think anyone is surprised he is valedictorian. I offered to listen to his speech as he practiced but he refused, wanting to be a surprise. So instead I tried to calm the anxiety he gets with being on a stage, even when it is wholly  unjustified. 

"You know what he is going to say?" Audrey asks as the principal finishes off whatever he was saying and indicates for Spencer to take his palce and I shake my head. 

"He has been oddly tight lipped about the whole thing."

"Maybe he going to go all grand gesture and declare his love for you." Declan jokes and I merely shake my head, ignoring the knowing look from Audrey. That declaration happened a few weeks ago, behind his barn when he was being surprisingly silent and cagey while he watched me work. Stuttering when I asked him any question. It was actually quite endearing. 

But I eventually snapped because he was distracting me from my work and being a blundering mess, tipping over one paint can. 

"What is with you today?" I demand, stilling him from trying to clean up and making more of a mess. He glances at my hand on his arm and goes red, not blushing red, not I just kissed him red or held his hand red. Fire truck red and spluttering. 

I narrow my eyes at him, wondering if I did something that I am unaware of. We have been getting better at communicating our needs and thoughts to each other so this break in character is unusual to say the least. 

"Spencer." My  tone is filled with warning "Tell me before I go ask David."

His eyes narrow at that as he shakes his head, eyes drifting over my face and landing on my lips. I smirk at the spark in his eyes, relenting and leaning down to give him what he is so evidently craving. The kiss is heated and filled with an urgency on his part. I have him backed into the barn wall before I break the kiss. My own chest rising as I stare at him. His green eyes wide and burning. 

"What is it babe?" I ask gently, stroking a hand down his cheek. Watching for something that indicates I should back away but there is nothing. So he isn't mad at me for something I have done. 

"My chest feels tight." He breaths out and I frown, bringing my hand to his chest, feeling the rapid beating of his heart as he sucks in a breath. 

"Here?" He nods as I graze my fingers over the beating pulse almost caressing his left side before my hands slide up to cup his neck. "Talk to me, please." my own anxiety is creeping up, worrying. 

"I really like you." He mutters out and I frown. I know that. Why is that bothering him? I mean we say it often, I whisper it into his ear on the couch when we are cuddling and in between classes. He pauses, looking down but I draw his face back up so green eyes connect with mine. They are pleading with me to understand, to take away whatever burden is plaguing his heart. But he needs to use his words. I am at a loss. "I - I love you."

He speaks out in a rush and my eyes widen. He loves me. My heart sings and dances like someone has set it on fire and then tries to stamp it out as the answer to his not question question fills every inch of my body. There is no question. I am so in love with him that he consumes every thought in my mind. I make decisions with him in them. I want him in them. 

"You don't have to say it back, I-I just needed you to know, I am sorry if it is too soon." 

This is what has been causing him anxiety? That I would reciprocate ? Suddenly his behaviour is clear and I frown, how can he doubt my feelings? 

"Spencer, babe," I swallow the lump that forms in my throat as his eyes fill with anxiety and his body tenses, he really has no idea what I am going to say." I think I have been falling for you since you blasted into class and delivered a well executed French sentence to excuse your lateness." He colours at the memory and I grin, remembering all to well how enamored the class was, how even the teacher couldn't resist his charm. "And then everything happened, all of it and I knew, I have known, Je suis amoureux de toi."  

"Really?" He squeaks and I chuckle because he is just adorable and I want to squeeze him close and simultaneously devour him. 

"Oui" 

I focus my attention on him now, as he stands in front of the podium. 

"Hi everyone," He receives a few greetings and I smile up at him as his eyes meet mine and his cheeks slightly colour before his eyes dart away again. " I am pretty sure we all want to be out of this unbearable heat so I will make it quick." 

Once more he has the room waiting with baited breath at his words. He has more charm than he could ever give himself credit for. 

"This year we have been pushed, beyond what we thought we were capable of, our future demands the same and yet we wait with baited breath for the challenge. " He smiles " We now know that we are able to meet anything that comes our way." 

"I want to thank the people in my life that have shown me this strength within myself," He  eyes meet mine and it is like the message is just for me." Thank you for being right beside me and allowing me to know the best part of myself." 

My chest aches, thinking about all our study sessions. All our time spent pushing each other to be better, Achieve greater. 

"I didn't know strong until I knew you." I know this is meant for me as my breath hitches and I swear my eyes glass over. He sure has a way with words. 

He breaks our gaze and turns to the room. "I urge everyone of you to go out and find your strength, leaning on everything we have been taught as we navigate who we want to be in the future." He waves to the graduating class and then to the supporters . " We have our team behind us as we forge forward, creating paths to our future dreams." 

He is my future dream, one I never thought I could possible achieve, he is right, we have all achieved things we never knew were possible. Pushed ourselves to be better and do greater. We are strong. I am strong. 

"This is our time to become team members of a world waiting for our contribution. " 

He smiles at the cheers, my voice the loudest. 

"So I ask you to stand and turn your attention to the count down on the board behind me as we throw our caps up I ask that you remember your own strength in whatever you endeavor." 

He is off the stage before I can blink and next to me, grin eating up his cheeks as they flush red from the heat. We grin at each other, words not needed as the promise of a future is like golden thread between us. We have this. I link our hands as the count down goes off and just like that the stifling air is filled with blue graduation caps and the promise of a future I never thought I would have.