Evelyn's realization had been enough to scare her out of sleep for the past two nights.

Two days- two sleepless nights- she went without seeing Daryl. Well, avoiding him would probably be the best term.

She hadn't left her house for the past two days, and even contemplated skipping school. But considering it was her last day and they were supposed to be going over information about the graduation ceremony, she opted out of missing it.

If Evelyn was being completely honest with herself, she was scared shitless.

Not only did she realize that she was in love with Daryl, but Julie helped her realize that there was a chance Daryl loved her back.

Within the past two days, she also got letters from multiple colleges accepting her, but the one envelope she ripped open before all others was the one to Penn State. Her dream school.

She had screamed and cried in joy when she read that she had been accepted on a scholarship, and hadn't even thought twice about sending back her confirmation of going.

She thought of Daryl, about how excited and proud he would be of her. It killed her to keep it to herself for the past two days, but she wasn't exactly ready to face him again.

Just as Evelyn was finishing putting her shoes on to leave, her front door slammed open, making her jump.

There stood her father, quite possibly the most sober she had seen him in a long time. Meaning he wasn't swaying to stand, not meaning he wasn't drunk. There was a good chance he was.

The two just stared at each other for a minute before Nolan grunted and went to move past her.

"I got into college." Her voice startled both of them, she hadn't meant for the words to slip past her lips. Her father froze, his back to her, "Just in case you care. Penn State. I got in on a scholarship."

It was silent for a moment.

"Penn State..." Nolan whispered, "That's where Maria went."

Evelyn's heart clenched at the mention of her late mother. She swallowed thickly, "I know."

Her father turned around, seemingly contemplating what to do. Finally, he settled on putting a gentle hand on her shoulder and squeezing once.

"She would be proud." Was all he said, voice thick with emotion.

Evelyn could even swear she saw the beginnings of tears resting in her fathers eyes.

Never once had her mothers name been mentioned under this roof. It was hardly anything that she even thought about, it pained her too much to do so.

But hearing her father- of all people- tell her that her mother would be proud of her, she couldn't help but let a tear of her own trek down her cheek.

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Though it had been the last day, that day at school had been the hardest of the year for Daryl.

At first he had thought Evelyn didn't wouldn't be at school- she wasn't there for their morning walk- but she rushed in five minutes after the bell, seeming as though she ran to make it to school.

As soon as he met her eyes, he knew he had to fight off every instinct he had to try and make sure she was okay. Before she even took her seat, he could tell that she was trying to transmit a message to him, to leave the topic alone and drop it.

Reluctantly, he did so, if only to give her peace of mind. But he fully intended on bringing it up later.

Evelyn had seemed so relieved when she sank down into the chair next to him that he hadn't brought the last two days up, that he couldn't even bring himself to do it for the rest of the day.

And that alone had been exhausting, pushing away every instinct he had to make sure his best friend was okay.

Though, when Evelyn had told him during their free period that she made it into Penn State, he had shouted in excitement and pride, sweeping her up into a spinning hug, not giving a single care to the heads turning their way as he did so.

He dropped his backpack next to the door with a sign as soon as he entered his home.

Daryl couldn't exactly bring himself to be sad that he would never be in that school again. Because now he was eighteen and done with high school- after graduation- so he could leave home whenever he liked.

More than ever though, despite the rough past couple of days, the future was finally looking up for Daryl and Evelyn.

Now that he knew where she was going to school, he could plan accordingly for finding a garage near there. Maybe if she got a part time job as well, she could live off campus and they could rent an apartment together.

He couldn't help but allow himself to smile slightly at the thought, but it dropped just as quickly as it had appeared when Daryl's father rounded the corner, pulling up short at the sight of his youngest son.

"Wh-where's that-that girl of yours, b-boy?" Will stuttered out, leaning against the wall so that he didn't go crashing into the floor.

Daryl clenched his jaw, "She's not here." He mumbled.

"You're-" Will hiccuped, "Not plannin' on marryin' her, are ya?"

The boys eyes widened, "Why would I-"

"B-because we Dixon men ain't good for shit." He let out a drunken laugh, "That's- that's what they all say to us. We ain't good for-for shit!" He pointed a finger at Daryl, almost in a warning, "We're all a bunch of no good drunks, and deadbeat fathers." Another laugh, "That's what they all say."

Daryl's eyes were hard. He wasn't like his father. He just wasn't.

Almost as if he could read his son's mind, Will narrowed his eyes at him, "And don' ya ever think you ain't gonna be the same. That you're gonna be better." He sneered, "Yer no-good brother ain't better. My daddy wasn't better, and neither was his daddy, and his daddy 'fore him. We ain't good enough for none of them." That stupid laugh came again, "It must run in the family."

Daryl's hands were clenched at his sides, "Why're you telling me this?"

"Marryin' that girl won't make you better, son, loving her won't make you better. I married yer mother and I thought it would make me better. Well, guess what? It didn't. Remember what happened to her?"

The boy's eyes glazed over, he felt as if he had just gotten stabbed in the heart at the sound of Will talking about his mother.

"Jus'... jus' thought ya should know." His father slurred before turning around and stumbling away, probably to go crash on the couch.

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Graduation was thankfully quick, Evelyn didn't know if she could've sat through a long, boring ceremony.

A few times, through the rows upon rows of kids, she was able to catch Daryl's eye, and he would either make a funny face- emitting giggles out of her- or fake gag as yet another teacher droned on and on about achievements.

She couldn't help the fluttering sensation that happened in her stomach everytime he would wink at her before turning his attention back to the ceremony. Just like she couldn't help but allow her eyes to linger on him the entire time, tirelessly waiting for the moment he looked back at her again.

The second she had told him about being accepted into Penn State and he had picked her up and swung her around in joy, she knew. She knew that she couldn't keep it to herself anymore. She knew it the moment, as she let her eyes flutter shut in his hold and tried to soak in every last second of the embrace.

Evelyn knew that she had to tell Daryl that she loved him.

And she would. As soon as this ceremony was over, and she was able to get him alone for a moment. She would tell him.

Confess to him about how she should have known she was in love with him, but only recently admitted it to herself.

Though she was practically bursting with nerves and excitement as she restlessly sat in her seat, she knew for a fact that he loved her too. He had to.

He was the one person in her entire life that she could rely on and trust wholeheartedly. He would do anything for her, just as she would do anything for him. They were all each other had.

And now that high school was done, they would be able to go live the lives- the futures- that they always dreamed of. Together.

A/N: I'm so excited for what's to come