Wickedly ever after

Graduating class of...

Uma's POV

Unlike what Harry said the next few months did NOT fly by. In fact, they seemed to drag on and on. Perhaps it was because while she was trying her hardest to live her life as normally as possible she still missed Harry. That still didn't stop her from the shock when she realized that graduation was upon them and Evie was fixing a few last minute things on her dress the week before. As she was standing there gazing out of the window and Evie was rambling on and on about something, Uma had stopped paying attention a while ago, Ben burst into Evie's office talking about some urgent matter. "I know your speech will be brilliant Uma." King Ben said, causing Uma to snap back to reality 'wait, what?' she thought before asking "I'm sorry, what speech?" completely lost in this conversation.

Looking slightly annoyed at how Uma had completely missed everything he had just said Ben pinched the bridge of his nose "The speech you're going to be giving on behalf of the villain kids." he reiterated, severely hoping she got it this time and he wouldn't have to repeat it again "Isn't the valedictorian usually the one who gives speeches?"  she asked, unsure as to why she was being given a speaking part all of a sudden. Ben nodded "Any other year, yes, but this year will be the first year an entire class of villain kids, not including those who left last year, will be graduating and I thought it would be fitting for one of their own to represent them." he stated brightly, the positivity in his tone making Uma nauseous by the second. She really didn't feel up to speaking in front of everyone, surely he could find someone more qualified for the job.

"What about Mal, Evie or Carlos? I'm sure everyone else would feel more comfortable hearing from them..." she started but Ben cut her off "I'm sure they'd do well but I think you'd be better. You were the queen of the Isle after all." He said and Uma quickly tried backing out again "I wasn't really a queen, it was more of winning the power struggle," She said rambling on pointlessly "You inspire your people Uma, I saw that during my time on the Isle. They trust you more than they do anyone else," he started and Uma opened her mouth to say that his time on the isle ended with her capturing him and him having to be saved by his girlfriend and her friends but he cut her off for one final time "You're going to do great, just say whatever comes to mind." He said with a friendly smile before telling Evie goodbye and walking out through the same doors he came in. 'Great' she thought 'Now I'm stuck giving a speech in a week' thankfully Evie hurried up with the last minute alterations so that Uma could head back to her dorm and start writing the speech she never wanted to give in the first place.

Now time wanted to fly by and Uma was stuck with the few sentences she had managed to come up with. Here it was, the night before graduation and she literally had nothing of substance to say the following afternoon. This was why she didn't want to give a speech, to begin with. Motivating her crew was one thing, back then they all wanted the same thing so it wasn't hard to come up with something to get them going...but now she was having to address those who once inhabited the Isle and she had no idea what to say. As she sat at the desk littered with at least thirty wadded up pieces of notebook paper, all failed speeches, Uma wished she wasn't her for the first time since she was ten years old. If she had been anyone else she wouldn't be in this predicament.

She was about to just give in an tell Ben that she refused to give a speech, something she was starting to wish she had done a week ago instead of beating around the bush, when her computer dinged, telling her that she had gotten a message. Looking at the time on her phone Uma figured it could only be one person as just about everyone else she knew was either in classes or napping during their free period, which she wished she could be doing right now. Excitedly Uma checked her messages and the name 'Harry Hook' was lit up in red. Quickly she looked at it to see it said "Whatcha doing Capt'n?" and in Uma's head she could hear his voice. With a smile, she typed back "Got stuck writing a speech for grad, no idea what to say." hoping that her irritation would somehow seep through the computer screen so Harry could feel exactly what she did.