"You'll wind up like the wreck you hide behind that mask you use, and did you think this fool could never win? Well look at me, I'm coming back again, I got a taste of love in a simple way," I'm Still Standing, Elton John

I did it.

For the first time in four years, I made that fated call.

There was no answer, but I left a voicemail in hopes that it would reach her. Whether or not it did, I couldn't worry.

"To start off this year's graduation ceremony, I will have our valedictorian come to say a few words for his class," Professor Keaton spoke into the microphone as I smiled, feeling just a tiny bit of nerves. "Please welcome Ezra Moore!" I could feel my cords swinging as I sauntered towards the front of the stage, stepping onto the podium, looking into the various eyes of the students of the University of San Antonio, and their parents.

It was an enlightening experience. I had gotten the offer to give a speech in high school, but I couldn't because I was too scared. I wasn't the me that I am now. Standing on this stage, bright lights about and cameras flashing as they recorded me, I could see how much I had grown and how much every single student had grown since they walked through those double doors for orientation. I had gotten to know the majority of them, and I could say that we all helped each other in line.

I could see Nishan recording me with his new phone, a big smile on his face as he stood at the edge of the stage, making me feel awkward yet happy with a smile on my face. I could see Natalie holding up Noelani, clapping her hands as the crowd waited for me with curious eyes. I took a deep breath, reminding myself of who I was, before opening my mouth. "Good afternoon, parents, friends, faculty, mentors, administration and of course, the graduating class of 2018." For a school this small, we had a lot of people graduating early.

"Today marks the day that we step out into that great, big world and make something of ourselves. We are here because of us. We are here to celebrate OUR achievements. Personally, there's nothing greater than seeing others thrive and seeing the fruits of our labor in the end. As I stand here before you, I am proud to say that we did it, and we did it together. The endless amount of nights spent crying in the library before those big finals," I paused, hearing laughter in the crowd. "Or the quaking need to sleep in after being out all night with class the next day at 8 am," I blamed Travis, who was smirking in the crowd, for being the reason why I almost fell asleep in class during my sophomore year.

He always kept me out on the streets at night, claiming that we had to live the time of our lives.

"We pushed past through and now here we are, at the end of the road. Our journey isn't over though. There will be different paths to take for every single person. Find out what is for you, what makes you happy and run down that path. Now is the time to act," I continued speaking, speaking from the bottom of my heart. I looked at everyone in the eye, making sure they knew that the time was now because the opportunity was ours to take.

A part of me wanted to invite Emmanuel and Joella Moore to the ceremony, but they weren't there to witness me on my first day of class, and they weren't there to see me on my last. I figured, why waste my time?

They made their life without me, and I needed to do the same and make my life without them.

"Some of us found our forever people," I looked at Travis, who winked at me, then to Andrew and Korina, who blew kisses at me simultaneously. "Some of us found a reason to grow," I looked at everyone else. "Some of us found happiness," I looked to Lucia and her husband. "And some of us found love," Somehow, I caught my gaze drifting to Nishan, who mouthed one single sentence to me.

"I love you."

Three little words, eight letters, but a large effect on my beating heart. I could feel myself grinning as I pushed on, using what words I could to encourage every single student. "Growing up from elementary school, to middle and to high school and now to college, our dreams have manifested so deeply into something that is ingrained into us. At this point in our lives, we want to strive and finally take hold of that dream, no matter how abstract, how intangible, or how impossible. We reached that milestone, guys, and even if it isn't what you imagined it to be," I smiled because we all knew that college wasn't supposed to be like this. "You are still you and you still have a whole life to live and more goals to conquer," I took a deep breath, feeling tingly as the sound of sniffling ricocheted from the crowd before me.

"With that thought in mind, University of San Antonio's class of 2018, I can say we finally have it made."

That was it. That was the last chapter of our lives. Soon, we were going to be starting an entirely new book. As I said that last sentence, everyone in the stadium erupted into cheers and cries, standing up with their caps thrown to the ceiling. This moment in our lives, though concluded, was just the beginning.

I looked at Travis, who was staring at me with a big smile, and I waved to him, happy as fuck that he was here with me to experience this all. This was the turning point. There was no looking back. We were opening the door to a whole new path.

Who knew what the world would bring us?

"That's my Ezra!" I heard Nishan yell and I snorted, hiding my blush. Even if he was here as my boyfriend, he was still widely known as the Chief of Police. Though he didn't care as he blew me a dramatic kiss, Eve chastising him like always. Leon rolled his eyes, conveying such a look of annoyance as he stared at me, Michael to his right as he sat there, looking bored as ever even though he was secretly happy. Jude was clapping his hands like a fool as Noelani tried copying him, her small cries being drowned out by the roars of the crowd. I couldn't help but stare at the sight, knowing my young heart wouldn't last.

Yeah, this was it for me.

Luckily for me, I can say that I finally did it.

I sighed as I wheeled around in my chair, looking out the view of the window that Lucia Bianchi used to look out of, feeling as if this suit was stifling and the tie was choking me around the neck. I clicked the pen against the arm of the chair, feeling as happy as I ever could. I never thought I would see myself sitting in this very chair, everything in this room brand new and to my liking. The day after graduation, she whisked me into the ceremony in which I was welcomed in with open arms as the new CEO, young and right. I had told Lucia to consider waiting if she wanted more time for me under her tutelage because I wasn't sure if people would respect me, you know, being fresh out of college and all.

But surprisingly, she mentally beat confidence and charisma into me and it wasn't anything like I expected. People were rather happy to see me.

Before she left and took her first day of retirement, she cried a little. I even offered for her to take her job back for just a little while, but she claimed she wasn't crying because of that. "Then what are you crying for, Lucia?" I questioned, handing her a tissue as she stared fondly at me. "Because you are growing into the man that you need to be," My eyes widened as she patted my shoulder. "Just a month and a half ago, you were scared, skittish and timid. You lacked the backbone that CEOs need for respect," I pouted and she chuckled, shaking her head.

"But I don't see that anymore. Ezra, every day, you cease to amaze me. All of these walls come crashing down around you and I see more and more of the real you, the confident, the driven, the motivated," She smiled softly. "The leader in you. I knew I did well when I laid eyes on you. It was partially thanks to Nishan," I rolled my eyes. "But it was because of you."

I looked down to see the cars and trucks driving through the downtown port of San Antonio, the sky bright and brimming with energy. I honestly could not believe that I was sitting here, fulfilling the dream that I've wanted for such a long time. I wanted to dwell on things like wishing that I had the confidence in myself when I was younger and better appreciated myself, being able to stand up to my bullies and who I was, or even telling my younger self to not let that light dim, but that was the past.

And I was living in the present. There was no time to waste. My dream was here and I would be a motherfucking fool if I let this slip out of my grasp because I was reminiscing on what could've been. It didn't matter.

"I got voted most likely to die in 4 years, but here I am and I'm still standing."

That was why it didn't matter. It didn't matter because I didn't give up like everyone expected me to. I persevered and that was why I was pleased with myself. I remembered asking myself, "Who would hire somebody like me? Who would love somebody like me?"

Now, I had the answers to those questions. Lucia wanted me, so she took me under her wing and she pulled out those qualities from within, qualities that I didn't even know I had. I smiled to myself as I pulled out my phone, seeing a picture that Nishan took with Noelani smiling as my background. For that second question, we already knew that answer.

Nishan Remington Lawrence.

That god damn asshole. The bane of my existence. The constant pain my ass. The annoying thorn in my side. The piece of gum on my shoes. A clingy barnacle.

Yes, he was all of those things and some more, but even so, I would never give him up for anything. Despite contrary evidence, from the moment that we met, I smiled more with him than I did with any other person, Travis included. It wasn't something that I noticed, but others around me.

So no, no one could have him beside me.

My finger automatically went up to my neck, caressing the thick scar that was embedded into my skin. Long before, the meaning behind this was so cruel, a hellish intention for me to die as my bullies stuck that piece of glass into my neck. Now, it was something that Nishan loved to kiss on whenever we were having sex as if he knew how I was feeling about that scar. Now, I didn't hate it anymore. Rather, I accepted it as a part of me and I loved it because he loved it.

It was so ironic how time could change things, how the smallest of things turned out to be something so big. It was crazy how everything took a 180-degree turn and I wasn't sure of what I was to do now. I had everything that I had ever wanted and more. Though it was too early to say so, this was far from a happy ending, but it was perfect in my eyes. There was nothing that I could possibly want, other than Nishan's passionate kisses right about now.

Hehe.

Let's keep that between us, shall we? Let's not tell the big man before he gets some funny ideas. He already made use of my graduation night, convincing me that sex after a ceremony would bring me good luck or some dumb shit like that. I didn't really know, but I did it anyway. Who cared when he was loving me like so? So beautiful and so raw. Ooh, crazy.

A rapt knock on the door snapped me from my thoughts and I turned around, staring dead at the papers on my desk. "Come in," I announced, pretty sure that it was the PA who was coming to inform me of some meetings that I had to attend or such things like that. It wasn't anything for me to get worked up.

I heard the click-clack of posh heels as the door opened with an eerie sound, pausing on such notice. "What is it—

"Oh wow, I always imagined being in your office one day."

Tears immediately pooled into my eyes as the sound of that wise, sweet, and smooth Southern Belle voice drifted into my ears and I rapidly jerked my head up, wondering if my eyes were betraying me. Standing in the doorway at 5'8 with a pair dark jeans and her signature red heels donning her feet, and a black blouse with her hair up in a bun and her amber eyes glowing with tears and mirth, Celina Trapp looked exactly the same as she did when I left Houston four years ago, that same smile on her face.

"I-Is this a joke?!" I sputtered, instantly standing to my feet as my lips quivered. This couldn't be real. It just couldn't be. "So, are you just gonna stand there, or are you going to hug me, Mr. CEO?" She raised a brow mockingly and that was all it took for me to run over to her, tears streaming down my face as the smell of her old-fashioned flowery perfume invaded my nostrils. Her arms wrapped tightly around as I hugged her tightly, burying my face in her chest. She really was here.

She really came.

And it was right then and there, that I let my tears fall willingly. There was no way that I could've made it this far without her. She took me in when I was out on my own, giving me that fire that I needed to get my life back together. She gave me a reason to live and moreover, she didn't give up on me. I owed it to her.

"I finally did it, Celina," I cried as she held me tightly in her grasp, rubbing my hair like old times. "I finally became a CEO," She chuckled as if it was something she knew her whole life, sighing with contentment in her tone. "What did I tell you, my dear son?" She pulled me away to wipe the tears from my eyes, smiling as her own eyes betrayed her. She nodded, fixing me with a look that told me she was so proud of me.

"I knew you would."