A Little Danger Never Hurts

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Bittersweet Endings

A/N: This is the last chapter. The next one is the final one but that is the epilogue. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy it. 

P.S. It is a bit shorter than usual. 

Seven Months Later

As I look around the auditorium and watch as everyone throws their graduation caps in the air, I can't help but think that this is one of those moments I'm going to want to remember. High School, although I hated it, is something I'm going to miss. There isn't a lot of responsibility in high school but now I am facing all of the realities that I am going to be on my own soon.

"We're going to want to remember this aren't we?" Eric asks me, sensing that I'm thinking the same thing.

"Yeah, we are."

We smile at each other and look around as everyone is standing up and clapping. I look up at the balcony and find my family shouting out mine and Eric's names. Luke and Dennis brought signs and Josie and Macy are jumping up and down. Warren is standing in the middle of dad and Val, clapping away but I can see the fear in his eyes. Just this morning he was telling me how he didn't want me to go to college, but I promised him that I'd come back and visit; however, it breaks my heart to leave him. My dad's eyes shine with pride and Val blows Eric and me a kiss before grabbing her camera and taking photos.

"She's non-stop with that camera ever since dad bought it for her," Eric says while we wave at them.

I laugh at his words but nod in agreement. For mother's day my dad had gotten her a camera and she hasn't been able to put it down since. She keeps saying how she wants to capture all my moments before I head off to college. Eric has decided to stay behind a year and work. My dad and Val agreed that was best for him since he is unsure of what he wants to do.

Josie is heading off to the University of Miami. Eric and she broke up about a month ago. They both decided it was best to stay friends. Eric was bummed out since Josie was the one to do the heart breaking. I'm glad she did it before she went off to college though and although it is slightly awkward between the two sometimes, I have an inkling they might end up back together in a few years. For now, it's best they go their separate ways.

Macy is planning on attending Columbia University. As much as it hurts to watch Josie leave, I'm glad that Macy is staying close by. She's planning on going for business which I know she will highly succeed in.

Dennis and Luke are both still at NYU and loving every minute. They keep telling me all these stories, some I do not believe actually happened, but they insist they did. They're living in an apartment this coming semester with the help from Dennis' parents. Dennis plans on taking over his father's business one day and Luke has switched his studies to culinary. He plans on opening his own restaurant.

"Hey, sweet thing," his familiar voice interrupts my thoughts and I turn around to find Chad standing there. Everyone is moving around trying to find their families and I can see mine waiting for me by the door with Chad's parents.

"Hi, lover boy," my first nick name for him falls off my lips just as easy as they did the first time. I wrap my arms around his neck and place my lips against his perfect ones. I stand on my tip toes and feel our bodies practically mold together.

When we break apart I see that my lipstick has left a mark on his mouth, causing a small laugh to fall from my mouth. He tries licking it off but to no avail. I wipe it off with my thumb and he rolls his eyes at me. He likes to complain about my new love for dark lipstick but I know he loves it on me. He's the reason I started being obsessed with dark lipstick in the first place. He bought some for my birthday in November and I've been hooked ever since.