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10. Home

"I had the perfect childhood. I'm an only child so my parents bought me whatever I wanted. That new Barbie doll? Mine. The fanciest car? Mine."

"My parents own their own company, they buy out other companies, break them apart and sell the pieces. As their company grew, they hired people to do all the work for them, so they sat their asses in chairs and did nothing all day."

"Because of their capability to do nothing all day, they would go out for a drink every once in a while. Sooner than later, this "every once in a while" turned into staying at the bar all day. Staying at the bar all day turned into making a bar in our house. Pretty soon, they were drunk all day long."

"I would come home and they would scream at me for things that weren't my fault. A business meeting didn't go the right way? My fault. Something didn't sell very well? My fault."

"I would be afraid to go home if they were there, because I knew that they would scream at me until one of the housekeepers they hired came and pulled me out of the living room."

"Ever since I was little, my friend, Landon and I would watch a movie every night, this only stopped because my parents started having people follow me after they told me not to go over there anymore. Landon was my only friend, the only person who never asked me questions but understood me completely."

"You think your mom telling you to stop smoking weed, and your dad telling you to get better grades is bad? Imagine having straight A's and no behavioral problems, but coming home and having your parents sit you down and tell you how awful of a child you are."

"Open your eyes. Find something to channel your thoughts to. My friend Landon? It was him for me. Going over his house after school was my only source of normality. Home? It wasn't home to me, no home is like that. Landon was my home. Landon is my home."

"So you, that girlfriend you have that you think doesn't understand you? Tell her. Explain it to her. Once she knows, instead of punching walls, go to her and vent."

"I read once "everybody has something in their past that could make them fall over into a uncontrollably sobbing heap, so be nice and tell good jokes". I really like this because, looking out, I saw all of your faces when I started talking about my family. You were shocked. You think I have this perfect little life and perfect little family? I don't. Quite the opposite."

"I've seen some of you around school and, before you talked to me, I would have never have guessed that any of you are what Ms. Keaton considers 'troubled'."

"So tell good jokes. They're cheesy? Who cares. Make somebody laugh everyday. You like somebody's smile? Do something to see it. Don't live in the past."

"People always say "don't let your past change your future". But actually, let it. Let it turn your future into something great."

The auditorium erupted in applause. Some people were standing up. I was.

I was Paige's home? What does that mean?

Without speaking to anybody in the audience, Paige walked down the isle and back to me. A blush was spread across her face.

"I had that planned for a while, that's why I wanted you to go watch the basketball game. I'm so embarrassed." She shakes her head and looks down at her feet.

Pulling her chin up, I made her face me.

"Your speech was lovely." I said, leaning down to kiss her.

Before I did, I stopped and looked at her expectant face. Eyes closed, lips out waiting for mine to touch them.

Her eyes opened and she cocked her head to the side.