Home is where the heart is at ~ Zachary Merrick (book 2)

~15~

~Zachary~
Today was Alyssa's graduation. It had been over a week since the whole incident and I didn't even put any effort in to communicate with her.

We all were still planning on going to her graduation but I was getting anxious thinking on how she'd react to me being there.

I walked to the school to clear my head before the ceremony. It was a sunny Saturday morning and a perfect day for an outside graduation ceremony.

Normally, the school would hold it inside on a Friday night, but they decided to change it up this year. I went to open the door but someone beat me to it.

"Damn, Jack, you really ran to open a door?" He rolled his eyes and let me through, following me. "Where are we all sitting?"

We walked out to the football field and noticed the stage all set up in front of one of the bleachers for all the graduates to sit.

"Alex and Lisa got us a spot close to Alyssa's parents but not so close as she could spot us easily." I took a moment to compose myself instead of getting upset again.

We were handed little brochures that had the lining of the ceremony and the names of all the graduates along with a picture of them.

Alyssa's picture was beautiful.

Soon enough, the ceremony started and we were all seated together. Peter waved to me so he probably didn't know what went on between Alyssa and I.

The principal started off with the same exact speech he has given for each graduating class. I know this because it was the exact same one he gave when I graduated.

Rian rolled his eyes and silently mocked him. I elbowed him since we were twenty years old and supposed to be acting like adults.

"And now, I welcome our 2008 valedictorian, Alyssa Evans!" Everyone cheered loudly and I put on a smile.

"Thank you, Principal Marino. Fellow graduates, future graduates, and past graduates, we're here to focus on one thing; making a pavement for our future. When I moved here from Pennsylvania the summer before my freshman year, I had no clue I would be here giving this speech,"

My partially fake smile turned into a real one.

"If you had told fourteen year old Alyssa of all the things I'd be doing and where I'd be at eighteen, I'd tell you to stop lying,"

She took a breath and glanced around, locking eyes with me. "See, I was new to town. I had grown up as a shy, quiet girl who only had three or four friends,"

I gave her an encouraging smile. "When I was in middle school, I lost everyone. My dad was arrested when I was twelve for something he didn't even realize he had done wrong,"

She composed herself and kept a straight face. "Even when I had tried to explain that he was and still is a good man, they saw nothing but a criminal's daughter. I thought that would change in a new town but my school quickly found out,"

I looked around and noticed some of my graduating class and the classes after.

They all had a look of regret.

"Everyone saw me as someone I was not. Except five people. One of those people I met before the school year started and I never knew that he would be the one encouraging me through my entire four years of high school. From the moment we sat in the park and talked, to movie nights with our group of friends, to just being there for each other, I couldn't be more grateful for a better boyfriend. Or a better group of friends,"

She shot a smile to me and I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

"My advice for our class and future classes is to not let high school hold you back or define who you are as a person. These kids that tell you what you can and can't do or say things to hurt you are only going to be in your life for as long as you let them. Don't hold yourself back. Thank you."

Everyone clapped and she sat back down. They continued with the ceremony and then called out each student to get their diploma.

We cheered loudly when Alyssa got hers and waited patiently for the end. We got up and looked at each other.

"Do you think she's gonna scream at you if we all go congratulate her." Something in me made me smile. "I don't think so. Let's go."

We walked from the chairs and walked through the crowd, looking for our graduate. "Guys!" Alyssa ran through, hugging Lisa first.

Everyone took their turn to give her a hug and I was last. I wrapped my arms around her and gave her a tight hug.

"Alyssa," she stopped me from speaking. "No, I have something to say first. Look, I'm really sorry. I overreacted and I shouldn't have said those things. When I went to rewrite my speech after that, I looked through it and realized I was wrong."

I smiled softly. "I forgive you." She kissed my cheek and her family joined us. Lisa stepped over to me while Alyssa was distracted by Malachi.

"So, plan back on?" I nodded, watching Alyssa with a smile.