Tiana's POV

He was right.

When I woke up by 5:30am the next morning, he wasn't there. The bed was empty and I felt the sadness swell in my chest. I heard voices downstairs and rushed out of bed, hoping he was there, praying silently that I would see him one last time, to tell him good bye again.

I opened the door and rushed down. Everyone was seated. I looked around, hoping to sight him, but he wasn't there. He was gone. Joel was the first person to see me. He stood up and everyone followed suit. I felt the tears drop when he neared me.

"Is he really gone?" I asked him even though I knew the dreaded answer.

"Tiana, it's going to be okay..." He said calmly.

"He's gone, isn't he?" My voice chocked in my neck as tears fell from my eyes. Joel Sighed as he pulled me in for a hug. Everyone came in and tried to calm me.

He's gone, he's really gone

****
Third Person POV

By 7:00am, the hair stylists and makeup artists were already in the house. The colour code of the valedictory service was red, white and black. The hair stylist had styled Ada's hair into a low bun with side parting, white bridal pins adorning the hair, beautifully and her make up was in motion.

Lyla had also styled her hair into a pony tail, a human hair weave fixed with her hair to make the pony long to her back. The hair stylists was now on Tiana and Zaria while Ada and Lyla did their make up. From the corner of Tiana's eyes, she could see Zaria looking at her.

"Hey, are you okay?" Zaria touched her hand. Tiana gave her a small smile.

"I still want to believe this is a dream." Tiana replied.

"Tyler leaving or us finally leaving secondary school?" She asked.

"Both. The latter would have been more real if he was here. I really miss him" Tiana told her and she nodded.

"I understand love, we all do. We will help you get through this. I will personally help you get through this." She assured me, Tiana nodded. "Let's enjoy today. Prom is in the night so today would be fun. Promise me you will have fun." She said.

"I'll try." Tiana chuckled.

"That's still something so I'll take it." She squeezed my hand. Tiana tried to concentrate on the celebration of today. Zaria saw that her friend was struggling and she felt sad. Today was going to be a good that would chase all the blues away. She could feel.

Soon they were done with both hair styling and makeup and they started to dress. Ada's gown was a red velvet body con gown that hugged her slim body in the right places. It was long and it flowed to the floor. The neckline was adorned with silver beads. It was basically a simple long sleeve gown with silver strap heels and silver clutch.

Lyla decided to do something a little different and went for a black sequin gown, with a low neck that stopped just above her breast. The sleeves were long and the flare at the wrist. The gown hugged her curvy hips and started to flow at the knee. The gown complemented her fair complexion. She complemented her dress with white stilettos and silver clutch.

Zaria's red gown made her figure to stand out and made your chocolate complexion glow. It was an armless gown that went up to her neck and left her back bare. The top half of the dress was a red cord lace adorned with tiny stones and the down half was a plain, flowing to the floor. She also complemented her dress with silver trap heels and silver clutch. Her hair was packed to the side with a red rose pin supporting it.

Tiana also decided to be different and simple and wore a white two piece tulip dress. The top was a crop, showing a bit of her dark skin and just like Zaria, it was sleeveless and up to her neck, leaving her back bare. The top was a sequin whole the skirt was plain and silk. She complemented it with black heels that had silver stones on it and black clutch just like her shoe. Her hair was a low pony tail that almost met her butt

Soon everyone was ready to go and it was already 8:30. The guys were waiting down stairs.

"Are you ready ladies." Ada squeaked. Everyone was excited, even Tiana.

"Let's go and meet the guys." Lyla said and we nodded. Ada decided to go first, descending the stairs like a queen.

Charles was awestruck when his eyes met hers. They were dressed in the same colour combo. Charles had a white blazer on with a deep red turtle neck and white rose lapel at the side of the blazer and black trouser and deep red high tops. He met her half way and hugged her, whispering sweet compliments in ear, causing to erupt in a fit of giggles.

Lyla came in next and someone had to nudged Kelvin because he was practically drooling. He had black blazer on and white turtle neck, white lapel on the side, black trouser and white vans. He walked like a zombie to the end of the stair case waiting for her to descend, Taju capturing every moment on a camcorder. Kelvin planted a light kiss on Lyla's forehead when she got to him and openly said she was the most beautiful lady he has ever met.

Zaria came down and her eyes went to Joel whose eyes were already on her. He wore a red blazer and white turtle neck, white trouser pants and Black designer shoes, a rose lapel at the side of his blazer. Zaria's grin widened when Joel's moved to say an inaudible wow, his eyes twinkling with love. He met her mid way and gave her a dainty kiss on her nose whispering to her, though we all heart that she was the queen of his heart.

Tiana came down to meet Taju who had volunteered to escort her to graduation. He hugged her and told everything would be alright. They took a group picture and entered the car, the driver taking them to school.

****

Everyone was seated in the hall as the Principal, Mrs Akinkunmi started to call the awards for best students in each departments of the set. Tyler was called for best in five subjects and also best Commercial class. It reminded Tiana that he wasn't with them. The prizes were kept at a side. Lyla collected seven prizes and best in science class. Charles collected best in Biology and Computer Science. Tiana collected award for best in Technical Drawing. Ada collected most sociable senior female and so did Taju for male. Kelvin collected most Amiable senior and best in Art class. Other students also collected several awards.

When it came to the larger portion of the awards, it kept shuffling between both Zaria and Joel and also in Character awards and at the end of the award session, for the first time in the history of the school there were two valedictorian with unbelievably equal percentages. Joel collected an award for the highest Jamb Score of 345. Everyone was there to rejoice with the graduating students and by 12:30pm everything was over.

The group took several pictures together. Joel's phone rang and he saw it was Tyler. He was confused and excused himself discreetly. He got to a quiet place and picked the call.

"Tyler, is that you?" He asked. Tyler shouldn't be calling with his number, and it's just been few hours after his take off, he shouldn't have landed...

"Yes it's me..." Tyler wanted to keep talking but Joel cut him off.

"How are you calling me? How possible is this?" Joel asked.

"Calm down. I'll explain everything to you later. I just need you to do something very important for me..."

☆☆☆☆

Tiana's POV.

Since Graduation, I noticed everyone has been smiling so widely at me. Lyla even came to hug and told me I'd be fine. I was confused. I appreciated their concern but they just confused me. I decided to brush everything off and enjoy the night then resume mopping tomorrow.

By 7:30pm, I've started getting ready for Prom and so did everyone. For Prom there was no colour code so we wore any colour of dress we wanted. I loosened the pony tail and decided to leave my hair down. I did my makeup myself and for the others. Immediately after styling my hair and finishing the make up I took my gown off the hanger and started to wear it.

(Prom Gowns in the media.)

Soon, the guys came in with the car and we were off to the school. Taju packed the car in the packing lot along with other vehicles. Everyone got down but when I wanted to, Joel stopped me.

"Tiana please I would need you to stay in the car." He said and my confusion grew.

"What? Why?" I frowned.

"You will see soon. Zaria, please stay with her. When we are ready I'll call." He pecked her and closed the door. I saw everyone rushing into the hall and I looked at Zaria. She smiled back at me.

"Zaria what's going on?" I asked her.

"Be patient love. You will see." She replied. I was becoming much more agitated. Soon we were the only ones in the packing lot. Zaria's phone beeped and she smiled.

"It's show time. Come on." She took my hand and got down from the car. I was confused. When we got to the hall it was dark but I knew people were inside. My confusion grew. Zaria squeezed my hand.

Suddenly a guitar began to strumming Banky W's Made for you. Blue lights came on and though the stage wasn't bright, I could see that someone was there. The stage light came on and I gasped, my palm moving over my mouth, my eyes suddenly teary.

He was right there on the stage, sitting down with a guitar strapped around his shoulder, a microphone positioned to his lips that were turned up in a smile. He was dressed in the same color combo that I was in, white and black. He was dressed in a white blazer and black turtle neck, white rose lapel, black trouser and white designer high tops, looking more handsome than ever.

Tyler.

I saw Lyla on the keyboard and Kelvin on the acoustic guitar. I looked at Zaria and she smiled at me, letting my hand go, the same time Tyler started singing. I haven't heard his voice before and his voice came off as beautiful.

Baby I've been searching for my only one
And you made me feel like now my life has just begun
I'm so glad I found you now my work is done
And it's perfect mathematics once you be the one
Baby your the air I breath
Baby girl you complete me
Watin I go do, if no be you
You and I were meant to be baby
Just like the stars were made to light the sky eh
And like the pretty birds were made to fly
Like the sun was made to shine
And the moon was made for night
Like the sky is blue

Baby I was made for you
I was made for you
As you were made for me
Baby can't you see
That I was made for
I was made for you
That you were made for me
Baby can't you see
That I was made for

Tears fell in beads from my eyes and for once they were tears of joy. I smiled as I stylishly wiped them off so I wouldn't ruin my makeup. He moved off the stage, leaving his guitar, putting on a clip mic and started walking towards me slowly, a smile still playing on his lips as he started the last verse, Kelvin and Lyla still backing him up.

And I know why they say that love is blind
Because your all that I see
And I know that nobody is perfect but your perfect for me, yeah
I love you, I need you
I cannot go another day without you
And now I'm thanking my God that I found you
I was meant for you yeah yeah

Everyone has cleared the ground for us and I stood in the middle. He was already few feet away from me, looking at me with a twinkle of love in his eyes. He came closer and stopped few centimetres away. I brought my hand to cup his face, my fingers playing with his Teddy and moving to his beard. His hands wrapped around my waist tightly, flushing my body against his. I touched my forehead to his as he sang the final chorus.

Just like the stars were made to light the sky
And like the pretty birds were made to fly
Like the sun was made to shine
And the moon was made for night
Like the sky is blue

Baby I was made for you
I was made for you
As you were made for me
Baby can't you see
That I was made for you

I was made for you
That you were made for me
Baby can't you see
That I was made for you.

He ended the song and everyone erupted in cheers, applause and cat calls. Soon everything died down and everyone watched us. I knew everyone was capturing the moment.

"You came back." I chocked out, tears coming from my eyes in beads. The clip mic made our voices audible.

"I couldn't leave you. Couldn't bring myself to." He whispered. I let out a laugh and looked him in eye.

"How did I get so lucky I have you?" I whispered.

"I'm the one that's lucky to have you, Tiana. I love you so much and I'm staying with you. I promise." He said, looking at me in the eye. I cupped his face and pressed my lips against his, causing everyone to erupt in more cheers and applause.

He trailed his hands to the small of my back, pulling me closer as he kissed me back passionately. I titled my head to deepen the kiss, moaning as his teeth sensually tugged on my lower lip, slipping his tongue in. I didn't care about anything, not my make up or the people around, my mind was on the one in my arms, the Love of my life.

I pulled away slightly. His fingers moved to my face, carefully cleaning my tears away. I smiled, using my fingers to clean the little red lipstick on his lips. I cupped his face.

"I love you so much." I whispered. He grinned pulling me into his arms for a tight hug. I held unto to...not wishing to let go. I felt other bodies close to me and knew my friends have joined us. This was my place, my people.

This is where I belong.

The End.

A/N

It's a Wrap!!!

Wow! Building Bridges Sequel to Beneath the Surface is finally over! It been a journey... I still can't believe it.

I really don't know what to say. Who expected Tyler to come back? I want to know your comments on this chapter and your views overall.

A longer author's note is coming.

P. S.  I want y'all to check out my babe Ad_zy1 book titled "Improvised Plan". The book is dope die... You must check it out ooo... For me.

I love y'all.