Senior year quickly came to a close. After prom came exams and then graduation. We were almost done. Before we knew it everything would be different. Our entire lives were about to change.

"It feels like only yesterday." Vincent sighed.

I shifted my position in bed so I was laying on my stomach and switched the phone from one ear to the other. "What?"

"I said it seems like only yesterday. You know? When I first saw you peeping out your window, checking me out."

"That's funny. I don't exactly remember checking you out. That's what you did that night I went to that party."

"Yeah, the school heartthrob just had to check out fresh meat."

"Oh is that all you saw me as?" I asked playfully.

"No, I knew you were different from the start. You caught my attention from day one."

I smiled into the phone and was thankful Vincent couldn't see my red cheeks.

"Everything is gonna be different after tomorrow isn't it?" Vincent asked.

"Not everything. We'll still be together."

"Yeah but it's just weird to think that we're not gonna be in high school anymore. It's like I'm losing a piece of myself."

"Well don't think of it as a loss, think of it as a new beginning. One door may be closing but one hundred others are about to open. It's an entirely new chapter in our lives."

"I'm just glad that you'll be there with me."

"Forever and always."

"Well I should probably let you get some sleep. We don't need any bags under your gorgeous eyes tomorrow."

"Yeah your right." I frowned, not wanting to get off the phone so soon.

"I love you." He said.

I paused for a moment and smiled. "I love you too."

~~~~~~~~~~

"And as we each venture off onto our own different paths, I am positive that each and every one of us will find success, because that is what we have been prepared for. Thank you."

The crowd applauded as Beckie Williams, our valedictorian, finished her speech. After the principal gave a few closing statements, they began calling the names and graduates.

I smiled in admiration as each of my friends walked across the stage and accepted their diplomas. When it was my own turn I could hear my own cheers of congratulations and I just smiled and strutted across.

When the ceremony was finally over we all met up with our respective families.

"Honey I'm so proud of you." My dad yelled, swooping me up in a huge bear hug.

"You know earlier this year I wasn't sure if you were gonna walk. You were so out of control I didn't know what to do. When I sent you with your mother I didn't know I was doing the right thing." A tear slid down his face. "I thought you were gonna hate me. But look at you. You made it. I love you so much. I was truly the proudest father here today."

I had to wipe the tears from my eyes. My dad wasn't a man who expressed many emotions, so to see him cry was something very special. " I never hated you dad. You're right, I was out of control. I'm so sorry for putting you through all of that. It had nothing to do with you. I was angry about the past, but I have moved pass that now. I love you so much."

After crying in his arms for a few minutes I wiped away my tears and moved on to receive a million praises and a bouquet of flowers from my mom and Tom. As we were making our way back to the car. Someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around and saw Vincent standing there with a beautifully arranged bouquet.

"Awe Vincent, you didn't have to."

"Well I just had to congratulate you for graduating." He turned to my parents. "Do you mind if I borrowed her for a little while. I will have her back before dinner. Scouts honor."

My dad was skeptical at first but after making Vincent stand there dumbfounded for a little while he agreed. I gave my parents a kiss and handed my bouquets to my dad to take home. Vincent and I interlocked fingers and went on our way.

"So where exactly are you planning on taking me?"

"You'll see."

We got in Vincent's car and began our trip to wherever Vincent was taking me. We pulled up in front of some small log cabin. When I stepped out the car I noticed the puddle of rose petals that I was standing on.

I glanced at Vincent and he smiled reaching out his hand. I hesitantly took it. As we walked I realized that there was actually a trail of rose petals leading into the cabin.

The inside was dimly lit with candles and there was another trail of rose petals leading up the stairs. I followed the trail that led in the bedroom. There were more candles and rose petals of course, but lying in the center of the bed was a small velvet box.

"Vincent I swear to God you better not be proposing. We just graduated and were not ready for that. I mean I love you but marriage is such a big commitment. I just-"

"Rose, will you just open the damn box."

I grabbed the box off the bed and opened it revealing a small silver charm in the shape of a graduation cap. I felt kind of stupid thinking it was going to be an engagement ring.

"Vincent I love it." I smiled throwing my arms around him.

" I love you." He whispered.

"I love you too."

He kissed me and it was perfect. It was like I was frozen in time like that moment with Vincent and I would last forever. I knew then that this was only the beginning for the two of us. And while life would continue to throw things at us, we would push through it and grow together.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Mom can I ask you for advice?." Lily asked me as I popped two pieces of toast in the toaster.

"Of course sweet heart you can ask me anything. Vincent can you grab the plates?"

Vincent brushed pass me to grab the plates out the cabinet.

"How do you get a boy to like you?"

"Why would you ask a question like that?" Vincent asked, almost dropping a plate.

"Dad I'm almost seventeen, I think I'm old enough to have a boyfriend."

"Who'd wanna date you anyway?" Robert snickered, taking a seat at the table.

"Don't be upset just because your voice is starting to crack and no one wants to date you." Lily retorted.

"He's only thirteen. He's the one that doesn't need to be dating yet." I said placing the food on each persons plate.

"Mom you never answered my question."

"Well what kind of boy is he?"

"He's on boxing team and he's so unapproachable. Sometimes we make eye contact and he smiles, but then some other girl always starts to flirt with him."

"He sounds like trouble." Vincent commented with a mouth full of toast.

"Well when I was your age I met a boy who was like that too. He wasn't a boxer by a long shot, but he was pretty popular among the girls."

"Well what happened to him?" Rob asked.

"I married him. If you want him to like you just wait for him to approach you. But the first time he asks you out, say no."

"Why would I do that?"

"Because guys like a chase. And they also like a girl who knows what she wants. So after rejecting him two or three times, approach him yourself. He will respect that."

"That doesn't work with everyone honey."

I sat Vincent's cup of coffee down and smiled. "It worked with you."

"How did you and dad get together anyway?"

"Do you want the long story or the short?"

Lily pondered for a moment before answering. "I don't have anything to do yet so the long one."

"Well," I started. "It was about 20 years ago. I was sitting on the couch with some guy..."

~~~~~~~~

Well guys, this is officially the end. I can't believe I made it this far. I wanna thank each and every person who read this story. It means so much to me. Writing is my biggest passion and I never would have continued this story without the support of my readers.

I know it's been so long since I last posted, but I hope it was worth the wait. I have been dealing with a lot but I also just didn't know how to end it. I'm happy with how it ended.

Thank you and I hope to write again soon.