Supergirl

6 years later

I stood pacing back and forth in line with my black graduates gown swishing at the same beat of my tassel. I was jittery and frustrated which certainly was not a good mix. 

In the hallway, chatter from classmates bounced off the concrete walls of the gym, giving me a headache. Everyone had their walking partner, most of them good friends. Mine on the other hand chose to look and speak anywhere but at me. Frank Kleaver. I rolled my eyes. Every since the day he got beat by a girl, his ego deflated and he'd do anything to stay away from me. Now we had no other choice than to walk to the beat of the graduation song together. Great.

"Excuse me, Pardon me!" I heard a familiar voice ring out about the noise. "MOVE!" She shouted and the bodies parted like water. I couldn't help but laugh at my spunky best friends behavior.

"You know if you say please people usually end up responding better, right?" I asked as i tapped my foot erratically

She shrugged her shoulders and Frank caught her eye. "Frank." She said shortly and he gulped. I wasn't sure who he liked the least, me or Ellie.  Suddenly she got a gleam in her eye. "Frank..." Her voice oozed out like honey this time. "Sweetie, go do me a favor and tell Mr. Lightwether to change our cards for lineup. I'm really wanting to stand by my dear friend here while I'm sure you're dying to be anywhere but here, so shoo. Go." She demanded and without hesitation he was off.

I looked at her amazed. "Most people would consider you a bully." I raised my eyebrow at her.

She polished her perfect nails. "At least I get my point across unlike some people." She winked at me.

"Excuse me? Do we need to get Frank back over here to explain how well I got my point across before?"

"Blah Blah Blah, that was a time filled with teenage hormones and daddy problems. Now that those have both been resolved, you've become soft. That hardly even counts." She bumped me with her hip and I squeaked as I teetered on my heels. She examined me from head to toe. "Well I say you've resolved your issues, but you look on edge. What's up?"

I bit my lip and sighed. "There was a plane going down in Istanbul and..."

"Ahhh you don't know if Superman is done helping there so Clark Kent can be here?" She finished my sentence in the Ellie way and I nodded. She gripped my hand tightly, "Len, you know he wouldn't miss this for the world." She gave me her signature smile. I could tell by her eyes that she wanted my parents to be here too. After her grandmother died three years back, she was going to be sent into the system until my parents signed on as her legal guardians. Even since before that, they had been the parents to her that she needed and she wanted them there just as much as I did.

"So are you nervous for your speech?" 

"Ughh, Ellie, Why? Why did you have to remind me? I was doing so much better by worrying about dad being here than being freaked out by giving a speech." I groaned and instantly felt sick. There were so many people out there and I would have to talk in front of them.

She gave me an apologetic look then the announcement came that we were ready to walk.

....

The whole time I sat next to Ellie, my foot was tapping. I still hadn't seen my parents but that was more due to the fact that there were so many people strewn all over the multi-million dollar gym. I hardly even paid attention to what was going on due to my nerves, until I was asked to make my way to the podium for the valedictory speech. 

At first, My father was due to speak as well as the guest speaker, but quickly resigned saying he didn't want to take the spotlight away from me. Deep down I appreciated that, but also I knew it was because he hated speeches just as much as I did. 

Behind the podium i took a deep breath and looked out at the sea of people, taking my time to gather my thoughts. My hands shook as I held my note cards and I felt like I couldn't breath, then I saw him. He was just scooting into a vacant seat. A goof smile of pride went over his face and he held up two thumbs in encouragement to me.

I smiled and put pre-written speak to the side. "Thank you ladies and gentlemen for coming today... and thank you as well audience for your attendance." The crowd laughed at my joke and I began to feel a little better.

"I know many of you are expecting some grand gesture or speech, being the daughter of the eloquent Lois Lane and the honorable Clark Kent," A few snickers were heard around the gym, "But I'm not them." The room quieted. "It took me a long time realize it seeing as that is what everyone wanted me to be for so long, but I'm just not and neither are any of you here just like they are not us." 

I waited for some type of objection from the crowd before continuing. "Don't get me wrong, I want to amount to the same greatness that they have, but I want to do it as Lenora Kent. In saying that, I urge each of you, graduating class and audience alike, to strive after your own greatness. Whether your cape be made of construction yellow vests, white lab coats, or a fancy Armani jacket, wear it with pride of being you and never stop working to achieve greatness despite the trials you face. The best contribution any of us can make to this world, is just by being ourselves." 

I glanced over to where I had noticed a very special woman sitting. "A very wise woman once told me,'YOU can be whatever or whoever you want because you have the power to determine that.' Each of you possess that special super power within you. Now is the time to start using it." With that, i said my congratulations and winked over at Mrs. K before the crowd erupted in applause over my speech. Pictures were snapped and I could feel my cheeks heat at the attention being awarded to me.

.....

"Have you seen my hat?" I asked around as I scurried to try and find where it had landed after the ceremonies. The random person just snapped my picture with the flash on blinding me before scurrying off. I cursed under my breath and had to regain my sight before moving on. 

"Looking for this?" I spun around to find my dad holding the oddly shaped hat in his hand. I smiled and walked up to him. Even with my heels on, He was tall. We smiled knowingly to each other as I went to take the hat from his hand, only for another flash to eminate from a camera. 

We both laughed, "Is this going to be a thing now?" I mumbled only for his laughter to grow into a deep rumble.

"I have a feeling that speech will make headlines! You'll be plastered all over the place." He chidded as I groaned. He pulled me into a tight hug and I placed my head on his chest. "Trust me, you never get used to it." I breathed in his smell, relishing in the moment before he pulled me back to look into my eyes. "Lenora, I have never been so proud of you as I have today. I love you so much!" He pulled me into another tight hug.

When our sentimental moment was over, we met up with my mother, Uncle Bruce and Aunt Di, along with grandpa sam and aunt Lou. They were all bursting with joy and ushering in congratulations all at the same time. About that time, Ellie came bursting through the crowd squealing with excitement and grabbing me up into a jumping mess of a fit. 

"We did it!" She exclaimed causing me to laugh and share in her excitement. "New Venice here we come!" She whooped and hollered.

My  Uncle Bruce shook his head, "Florida won't know what to do with the two of you."