Fleeting Flames - Jenna Ortega x Fem Reader

Part 2

The sound of the alarm ripped through the silence, jolting you awake. Your eyes shot open, staring at the blaring clock on your nightstand. Oh no. Panic set in as you realized—today was graduation day, and you were running way behind.

You threw yourself out of bed, scrambling through your closet for something to wear. Your heart pounded in your chest, half from excitement, half from anxiety. This was supposed to be a milestone—a day you had been working toward for years. You'd been named top of your class, and not only that, you had the honor of giving the graduation speech. But, true to your free-spirited nature, you were cutting it close. Too close.

As you rushed to get ready, nerves and adrenaline surged through you. Graduation wasn't just the end of something; it was the beginning of something new. An entirely new chapter, filled with unknowns. That realization made you pause for a moment, staring at yourself in the mirror, quickly pulling your hair into something presentable. What was next? The future loomed ahead, and it was thrilling but terrifying at the same time.

You grabbed your things and raced out the door, arriving just in time. The ceremony began and you took your seat. Towards the end, as you took the stage, your eyes scanned the crowd. Your parents were beaming proudly, your brother and sister sitting beside them, smiles wide with excitement. Seeing them made you smile—this moment was for them as much as it was for you.

You took a deep breath, the familiar weight of anticipation settling in your chest as you began to speak. The sea of faces in front of you blurred slightly, but you focused on the words you had prepared, words meant to inspire and celebrate.

"Today, we stand at the edge of a new chapter. These years behind us—filled with late nights, early mornings, and countless challenges—have brought us to this moment. We've grown, learned, and transformed. We've built friendships that will last a lifetime and memories that will carry us forward, no matter where life takes us next."

You paused, glancing around at the audience, feeling the warmth of their attention, their pride. Your voice softened slightly as you continued. "But more than anything, we've proven to ourselves that we are capable. That we are stronger than we ever imagined. Each of us has faced our own battles, some that no one else saw or understood. But we're here. We made it."

A smile spread across your face as you spoke of the dreams you and your classmates had once held, now closer to reality. "We started this journey with hopes and dreams, some clear and some uncertain. And now, as we step out of these doors and into the world, we carry those same dreams with us. But we are no longer the same people who began this journey. We've changed, evolved."

You felt a swell of emotion rise within you. This wasn't just a speech—it was the culmination of everything you had worked for. The struggles, the late nights, the moments of doubt.

"I don't know what the future holds for us. None of us do. But I do know this: whatever path we take, we'll walk it with the same resilience, the same determination that brought us to this moment. We've already faced so much, and we've come out the other side stronger, wiser, and ready for whatever comes next."

As your gaze swept across the room, your words slowed. "We owe it to ourselves to keep pushing, to keep dreaming, and to keep believing in our potential. Because if these years have taught us anything, it's that we are capable of extraordinary things. So, to my fellow graduates—congratulations. This is only the beginning."

A pause followed, a wave of pride and satisfaction washing over you. But then, as your eyes drifted toward the back of the auditorium, something—or rather, someone—caught your attention. A figure. A face.

No way.

Your heart stuttered, and for a split second, the words you'd rehearsed slipped from your mind. You blinked, trying to keep your composure, but your pulse quickened as you registered who it was. Jenna.