Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Two

Ren

Graduation day. As I stand in line waiting for the dean to call our names, I feel like hurling. We're graduating! It feels so surreal, I can't believe it. This is going to be the last of my college days. I'm going to miss college.

"Megan Hines," they call. Travis pulls Megan into a hug and kisses her passionately. He slaps her butt as she walks up on stage. She shakes hands with the founder and dean before getting her diploma. She raises it in the air and people clap and cheer for her.

"Alanna Kingston." Alanna squeals and Adam carries her, spinning her around. He puts her down and walks up the stage, shaking hands and getting her diploma.

"Austin Lancer." Austin turns to me and kisses me. We hear a couple of hoots and cheers. He pulls away and smiles down at me. "Don't trip when you go up the stage, alright?"

I smile. "I'll try not to."

He turns on his heels and walks up the stage. He gets his diploma and walks off the other side of the stage. "Adam Parker," they call. Adam hugs me and gives Travis a fist bump before getting his diploma.

"Travis Reid." Travis hugs me and smiles. "See you on the graduated side, Ren." He walks up on stage and gets his diploma. The dean calls a few more students before introducing me.

"And now, for the university's 2016 valedictorian," he starts. "Ren Harper." The whole theater gives me a standing ovation and I make my w ay up the stairs making sure not to trip. I stand behind the podium and unfold my speech.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I start reading my speech. "What is college? College isn't always about the parties or t-the..." I trail off once I start to stutter. "C-college isn't..." I look down at my speech then at the people staring at me. "You know what," I crumple my speech and toss it behind me. "I don't need this. Now, let me enlighten you about my last year here in the university."

"College change. Particularly, this year of college. I was always the shy type of girl: I'd lock myself in my dorm to study all day instead of meeting new people and making new friends. Socializing was totally out of my comfort zone. I was mainly focus on graduating as a valedictorian. Until I met this one guy. Since I met this guy, it's as if my whole world turned upside down. I started going out and meeting new people. Including him, I made four new friends who are now my best of friends. College was-pardon my French-shitty but these people helped me get through it. They changed me into the person I am now and I like who I am now. I wasn't the person who I was back at the beginning of this year. Now, I'm a better version of me. And it's all thank to five great friends..." I turn to look at them at the side. Travis shoots me a thumbs up, Megan is waving her hand like crazy, Alanna smiles and waves, Adam nods at me and Austin winks at me.

I smile and turn to look back at the audience in front of me. "So maybe college is about parties and meeting new people. But college is definitely about finding who you are. College changes you into this person you never thought you could be. College is about finding new friends, new possibilities, love and yourself."

"Once again, I'm Ren Harper, 2016 valedictorian. Thank you." Everyone jumps out from their seat and claps. I step aside and take a quick bow before getting my diploma from the dean. I wave it in the air and the people holler and call my name.

I walk down the stage and trip on my toga. I fall but my face doesn't meet the ground. I look up and Austin is smiling up at me. "Told you I'd catch you," he smirks.

He pulls me up to my feet and kisses me. I wrap my arms around his neck and go deeper with the kiss. I hear Megan calling me so I pull away and peck on his cheek before walking into Megan's arm.

She hugs me tight. "Amazing speech!" she pulls away and Alanna hugs me.

"You were amazing up there!" she says.

Adam pats me on the back. "Congrats on the speech, Ren."

Travis side hugs me and ruffles my hair. "You didn't even look nervous!" he tells me.

Austin scoffs. "She was clearly nervous."

I raise an eyebrow at him. "No, I was fine. How would you know that anyway?"

He crosses his arms. "You bite your lip when you're nervous or overthinking."

I roll my eyes at his smart mouth and he pulls me to his chest. "I love you, Harper."

He leans down to kiss me. "And I love you, Lancer."