An (Un)Suspected Visitor −9-
Hey there! Sooo hello new fans/subscribers! I hope you guys hang around.
Anyway, I'm taking a break from stressing about exams and writing you this update [:
Sorry that I seem to update less and less lately, but it's mainly because I just started at a new school about a week ago and I've been focusing on just trying to fit in and making good first impressions. Before that, I had to focus on actually GETTING IN to the school...so ya.
Just to let you guys know, I think there will only be about two more chapters in this story. I'm really trying to wrap things up real well. I might do a sequel for this one. MAYBE... (I'm seriously considering it [: )
By the way, I completely forgot what grade in school Kayla is when I started this story. I can't even remember if I ever mentioned it. I'll just make her a senior. I know that this may make me a horrible author for failing to keep track of my characters, but I...ughhhh...I seriously can't remember!
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.: 6 Months Later :.
I fidgeted in my place in line. I was trying so hard not to shake or start playing with what I had on. My eyes darted around me-up the stands and down at the people behind me. Taking deep breaths, I grew closer and closer to the bottom step of the make-shift stage and my breathing got shallower. I'm know to be a klutz and it can't happen today. It simply CAN'T.
Graduation Day.
The day that marked the beginning of having people always supporting you and your needs and the beginning of having to stand on your own as best that you could. Many would call this day the "beginning of the rest of your life." However, as I see it, the rest of my life already began as soon as my father decided that I should be the one to carry on his legacy. Or what he though it was-his business.
Truly, I have no idea why I was so nervous. I wasn't nervous when I gave my speech merely half an hour ago. I wasn't valedictorian. Apparently, I missed too many days of school to qualify. But I did audition to have the one other speech-making spot in the whole ceremony and got it. The best part of this situation-my dad can't blame me for not being valedictorian since it's mostly his fault. I guess he was content with my outstanding grades. They weren't 100s but they were close enough for me and for him, too.
As my right foot grazed the bottom step of the stage, I looked up from the ground and searched the stands for my family. For once, my dad and my mom were sitting within 5 feet of each other and not glaring daggers at the other. Despite the security my dad had around him and at random areas around where my graduation was being held, Jace was not on duty. He was sitting next to my dad on the stands. His father next to him, though I'm not sure why he came. Maybe for gratitude.
As my name was called, I slid a smile on my face, fighting to keep the nervousness hidden. I made my way across the stage and approached the principal who held my diploma, all the nervousness fading away. It was all replaced with pride. I had done it. I had managed to be both.
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I ran towards my mom, screaming at the top of my lungs. She grinned widely at me, just before I tackled her.
"You did it, baby," she told me.
My dad smiled at me, too. A genuine one, for once. "Congratulations, Kayla. You've done amazing. I'm proud of you," he said to me, while I was still in my mother's arms.
Those simple words made me happy. For so long, I've tried with all I had to fulfill every expectation he's had of me. I'm not saying that I managed to become the perfect daughter or made every single one of his dreams come true, but I did try my damn hardest. The words he spoke told me that he's seen all that, that I managed to show him exactly that. Those few words told me everything that I've ever wanted to hear from him. It told me that he was proud of who I am and what I managed to become. It told me that he appreciates and is grateful for all I've done to try and fill his expectations of me. It told me he loved me. That's all I could ask for.
I walked the short distance to my dad and hugged him. "I love you, Dad. Thank you for guiding me and preparing me for the future," I whispered in his ear. The squeeze he gave me was enough to tell me, "You're welcome. I love you."
I unwrapped my arms from my dad and saw Jace with his father behind my parents. I smiled at him and laughed.
"Are you jealous?" I asked him jokingly as I walked towards him. "I managed to be both the 'perfect' daughter and the 'partier' at school."
"Oh, very," he said sarcastically, laughing.
I squealed and jumped on him. He caught me as I wrapped my arms and legs around him.
"I did it!" I screamed.
"Yeah, you did!" he yelled with just as much enthusiasm.
Someone cleared their throat as me and Jace were laughing with absolute joy. Jace looked to his left and put me down. I saw his dad and gave him a smile.
"Hi, Mr. Micheals. Thanks for being here," I told him with a grin.
"It's the least I could do. Congratulations and thank you," he said with a slight nod. He, then, turned to Jace. "Call me when you're on your way home. I have to get to a meeting."
Jace merely nodded.
"Congrats again, Kayla," he said once more as he turned around and we lost him in the crowd.
Just like I predicted, Jace's dad was here for gratitude. Over the past months, Jace and I have been "training" side by side. We were always together during trips to different countries as we watched our fathers handle their businesses and, during our free time, we were always together as we explored wherever we were at or as we went to random clubs and parties. We've gotten really close and, to those who didn't really know why we were always together, we looked like a couple. But there's too much to focus on now that our fathers were seriously considering retiring.
"Wow," I said with a sigh. "He didn't even let me ask if he wanted to go out with us and celebrate."
"That's my dad," Jace said with a smirk.
I turned back to my parents as Jace wrapped his arms around my shoulders.
"Ready, honey?" my mom asked.
"Yup," I said.
My dad, my mom, Jace, and I began heading to the restaurant where we would be having my celebratory dinner. Everyone else that I was close with were already there since they had the job of setting up. As I pulled off my graduation gown and all of us got into the car, I stared at the window and saw everything passing by quickly, a perfect analogy for the day. I couldn't help but think that the future held so much for me, and now, I was sure that I was ready.
