Page 15 of Return To You

Ms. Dipper smiles as she comes to the podium. "What a day,” she effuses, and I sigh, slouching down. “Seeing so many students graduating with high grades, ready for their next stage of life, it warms my heart." She grins like a proud mother, her brown eyes lighting up. “But today isn’t just the seniors’ day. Today, there is one student who has fought their way throughout their time at Kings Prep, determined to graduate early.”

I tilt my head in confusion as the student body murmurs, just as confused as I am. I look around at the people surrounding us only to catch Rafael’s eyes. He has his phone recording the dean while my cousin looks almost giddy next to him.

He grins wide at me, full of pride, and my pulse races as realization hits.

My eyes widen as he nods, confirming my suspicion, and I sit up straight, looking back toward the stage.

She promised to be here….

Fuck me….

I watch as Ms. Dipper smiles wide and says, “Today, I have the great honor of announcing not only that a Junioris graduating a year early, with honors at that, but I get to announce this amazing, hardworking girl as Valedictorian." She looks around the crowd, her eyes meeting mine, and she grins wider. “Students, parents, and family members, I’d like to introduce you to our Valedictorian, Rose Lopez.”

A hand clamps down on my shoulder from behind, keeping me in my seat when I try to stand in shock, and I instantly know its Barnett. I don’t take my eyes off the stage as my girl, the love of my fucking life, enters through the curtain wearing the same blue gown as us but with a yellow sash.

Fuck….

The crowd roars, and her father, Cameron, and Nick are the loudest as she takes the podium.

She looks around until our eyes connect, and she grins wide. I shake my head in disbelief and a wide smile forms.

She’s graduating….

She smiles shyly. “Parents, family members, older classmates.” Everyone chuckles, and I grin. “When Ms. Dipper asked me to give a speech, I wasn’t exactly keen; I mean, I’m a year younger and graduating now, and honestly I didn’t want to take the seniors’ limelight.” I scoff because she just has to walk into a room and grabs everyone’s attention. She shakes her head. “But there’s one person in the crowd who I know without a doubt would have wanted me to give a speech, and I couldn’t exactly speak to him about it because, well, he didn’t know I was graduating today; I wanted it to be a surprise.”

I grin wide as most people look my way, chuckling, Barnett squeezing my shoulder tightly.

Rose smiles gently at me, not breaking eye contact, as she says, “This person is the reason why I’m here right now, why I graduated a year early. He built me up from my first day, gave me the strength when, before meeting him, I was begging my father to home school me.” Everyone chuckles again, while myheart fucking soars as she admits, “Now, today, I was supposed to be sitting with all you, screaming with pride as I watch my friends, people I’ve come to think of as family,” I hear Barnett clear his throat, “and the man I’ve come to love with everything in me walk across the stage, but instead I had to watch from behind the curtain with silent pride that they’ve all graduated today.”

Rose looks down, taking a deep breath before looking at everyone.

“Today, not only do we get to say bye to high school, but we also get to say bye to our pasts; we get to rewrite our future, starting on a blank page.” She looks my way. “I’m just lucky I get to start mine not only a year earlier but with the man I plan to follow anywhere he goes.”

I grin wide and shout, “Fuck yeah, you are!” making everyone laugh, my friend leaning over my shoulder, his arm hanging over my right side.

“Today, we get to start our lives, and I, for one, cannot wait….” She looks around again, moving her tassel on her cap. “So, if everyone would like to celebrate with me because—quoting my man, ‘Fuck yeah’ we did it, we survived high school!”

With that said, Rose throws her cap in the air, and everyone, including me, follows suit, everyone cheering.

I don’t wait to catch my cap. I move quickly, everyone stepping out of my way and patting my back as I rush to the stage. Rose meets me, jumping in my arms, and I catch her, swinging her around.

“Fuck, Petal,” I choke, holding her close, my emotions taking over, not letting her down, her feet dangling. “You fucking beauty…I’m so proud of you, so fucking proud, baby….”

She lets out a watery chuckle as she pulls back, grinning wide. “I’m proud of you, Noah, and I’m just sorry I couldn’t scream for you when you walked across the stage….”

I grin, shaking my head, then press my lips to hers, kissing her fast and hard, loving the feel of her soft lips against mine before our families pull us apart. Her dad grabs her from my arms while Nick grabs me, patting my back hard.

When I pull back, I raise a brow at him, and he shrugs. “I was sworn to secrecy….”

I laugh and hug him again before my mom grabs hold of me and—fuck me—do I suddenly feel overwhelmed, grateful that she’s shown up, and sober at that.

When she pulls back, I smile at my mom as Rose comes to me. I lift my arm, wrapping it around her, instantly feeling at home.

Mom looks between us and smiles, her eyes teary as she grabs my girl’s hand and pulls her in for a hug, and I can’t help but smile. I can feel Gina and Piper scowling, but right now, I can’t care; right now, I’m on top of the fucking moon, and oh so happy….

A few hours later, after Rafael managed to drag his daughter away to celebrate and promised to have her back at their place by eight tonight, I’m packing my bags, feeling elated.

Everything is in place; everything is so fucking perfect.

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