Spring(ing) Ahead (Read 8,212 times)

[fluffysmom]

I liked Sydney's speech. I'm very curious about who is in the bleachers.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 26

NOTE: *** indicates a passage of time.

SALEM HIGH
Everyone was still clapping as Rex walked back up to the podium. After waiting a moment for the cheers to die down, Rex continued.
REX: Thank you, Sydney. And now, it is my great pleasure to begin the handing out of diplomas. I will call a graduate's name and they shall come up to the stage. Once there, they will receive their diploma from Principal Brady. Then, they shall return to their seats. And we begin.
Rex took a list out of a pocket in his gown. He cleared his throat. A song began playing. Click here to hear it.
REX: Ceridwin Lynnette Alamain.
Nicholas, Nicole, Sami, Lucas, John, Sonny, Will, Rhiannon, Joey and Sydney clapped and cheered as Ceri went up to get her diploma.
REX: Rhiannon Elenydd Alamain.
Nicholas, Nicole, Sami, Lucas, John, Sonny, Will, Ceri, Joey, J.J. and Sydney clapped and cheered as Rhiannon got her diploma. When Ceri and Rhiannon came back to their seats, both Sydney and Joey hugged the two of them. Sydney gave Ceri a kiss on the cheek.
REX: Zoe Katie Albertson...

***

REX: Carter Lincoln Dickens.
A boy went up and a group of people cheered.
REX: Sydney Anne DiMera.
Sami, Lucas, John, Will, Sonny, Ceri, Rhiannon, Joey and Nicole all cheered. Sydney walked up and got her diploma. She shook hands with Max. On the way back to her seat, she looked up and saw her family. Then, she noticed who the sixth figure at the end of the row was, the one she had noticed while she was giving her speech. It was Marlena. Sydney blew a kiss to her, which Marlena returned. Then, Sydney went back to her seat, and got a hug from Ceri, Rhiannon and Joey.
REX: Christina Nicole Dingle.
CERI (whispering): You okay?
SYDNEY (whispering): Yeah, why?
CERI (whispering): When you were coming back to your seat, you looked like you saw a ghost.
Sydney smiled.
SYDNEY (whispering): No, I'm fine.
Ceri kissed Sydney on the cheek.

***

REX: Adam Cordell Johns.
A boy went up and a group of people cheered.
REX: Joseph Johnson.
Patch, Kayla, Stephanie, Sydney, Ceri, Rhiannon, J.J., Sami and Lucas cheered.
J.J.: Go Joseph!
Joey went up and got his diploma. He came back and got a hug from Sydney, Ceri and Rhiannon.
REX: Koda Curtis Jolly...

***

REX: Evan Turner Zmiejko.
A boy went up and got his diploma and a group of people cheered.
REX: This concludes the handing out of diplomas. Before we conclude, a few words from our Principal, Max Brady.
Everyone cheered and Rex sat down and Max got up.
MAX: Thank you, Rex. I know I said my last words to you were gonna be my last words. But, I just have a few more. If all of the students could please rise.
All of the graduating students stood up.
MAX: Look to your left.
They did.
MAX: Now, look to your right.
Again, they did.
MAX: Out of this entire class, you will probably never see half of them again in your lives. This is the last time you'll all be together in one room like this. Take this moment and treasure it.
There was a moment of silence.
MAX: Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor and privilege to present to you Salem High School's Class of 2027!
There was a thunderous applause. All of the students threw their caps into the air. Everyone was hugging each other. Sydney was right. They had made it.

[heroicmuse]

Is this the end André DiMera? If so you're 3 for 3...all three of the stories I've read so far made me cry at the end.

[André DiMera]

No, heroicmuse, it's not quite the end. The finale will be in the first half of next week.

[Kpatch]

That whole sequence gave me the chills. Nice touch adding Pomp and Circumstance.

Something tells me that Sydney sees EJ in the bleachers or a lookalike/twin, since EJ is supposedly dead.

[André DiMera]

Actually, it was Marlena. I'm glad you all likes the graduation chapters!

[fluffysmom]

I enjoyed the graduation André DiMera. It was sweet that Sydney saw her late grandmother in the audience.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 27

SALEM HIGH
Sydney, Ceri, Rhiannon and Joey made their way through the crowds that filled the halls of Salem High.
JOEY: Do you see them anywhere?
CERI: Not yet.
They were looking for their families, as was everyone else. Quite soon, they found them.
PATCH: Over here, guys!
Joey saw Patch and Kayla wave and ran over to hug them. Sydney, Ceri and Rhiannon saw their families nearby, as well. Sami hugged Sydney, while Nicole hugged her twins.
SAMI: I am so proud of you!
SYDNEY: Thanks, mom.
NICOLE: I'm so glad I came back for this!
RHIANNON: Us too!
SAMI: Your speech was wonderful, Sydney.
NICOLE: It was really good!
SYDNEY: Thanks.
Then, the twins got a hug from Nicholas, and Sami got a hug from Lucas. Then, Will, Allie, John and Sonny entered. Soon, the three girls were meshed into what seemed like one big group hug.
SYDNEY: This has been awesome!
CERI: It really has!
RHIANNON: Totally!
Eventually, the group hug started to dissipate as people walked out and went to their respective cars.
NICOLE: The Brady Pub's where the party is, right?
SAMI: Yep. Meet you there.
Will put his arm around Sydney as they walked to the car.
WILL: You were great up there, Syd. We're all really proud of you.
SYDNEY: Thanks, Will.
WILL: Grandma would be proud of you, too.
SYDNEY: She was.
WILL: What?
SYDNEY: Nothing.
WILL: No, really. What did you say?
SYDNEY: It's just...sometimes, when I get really nervous, I think about her. And, sometimes, I even think for a moment that I can see her, and then I don't feel so nervous. So, when I was giving my speech and getting my diploma, I swear I saw her in the stands sitting next to grandpa.
Will gave Sydney another big hug. Allie, who had been nearby, joined in after a minute. Sami, Lucas and John stood off to the side.
LUCAS: That's really sweet.
SAMI: Yeah. Three of my...our children together again.
JOHN: Yep. It was a nice ceremony.
SAMI: I just wish mom could have seen it.
JOHN: In a way, I think she might have. She may not be here here, but she's always with us. And, she and Sydney had a very special connection. They always have. I think a part of Doc lives on in Sydney.
Sami and John hugged.
JOHN: Come on. Let's get to the party.
Everyone got into their respective cars and drove away.

Tune in tomorrow for the finale.

[heroicmuse]

Awww.... another great chapter André DiMera. I'll have to go back to your previous stories because I don't remember what happened to Marlena. Great great story. I am excited for the finale tomorrow.

[André DiMera]

Marlena's death happens in The Autumn Effect. It's the third story set in this canon. For the full list of stories in this canon, check out the "Seasons of Love" heading under my section of the MyHourglass Fanfic Database

[fluffysmom]

I liked John's comments about Marlena and Sydney. Very sweet.

[Kpatch]

So happy to see Steve and Kayla.

I'm a little sad the story is about to conclude.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 28

BRADY PUB
The party was in full swing. Sami and Nicole were standing next to each other at the bar.
SAMI: You know something kinda weird?
NICOLE: I know plenty of things that are weird.
SAMI: You wanna know one more?
NICOLE: Sure, why not?
SAMI: We're gonna be in-laws someday.
NICOLE: Oh, yeah. I never really thought about that. Sydney'll be my daughter-in-law.
SAMI: And Ceri will be mine.
NICOLE: Interesting.
Meanwhile, Sydney was talking to John.
SYDNEY: I know I saw her. It felt like she was really there.
JOHN: And I'm sure she was, too. And she's very proud of you. I'm proud of you. We all are.
Sydney and John hugged.
SYDNEY: Thanks, grandpa. I love you.
JOHN: I love you too, kid.
Ceri walked over and sat down next to them.
JOHN: Congratulations to you as well, Ceri.
CERI: Thanks, Mr. Black.
JOHN: Ceri, you're gonna be family someday. You practically already are. Just call me John.
CERI: Okay. Thanks...John.
Elsewhere in the Pub, J.J. had pulled out his guitar and was using it to entertain Max and Chelsea's three kids. Rhiannon was sitting next to him, listening to the song he was playing. Everyone was having a great time.

3 Months Later

It was now the end of summer, and once again, everyone was at the Brady Pub. Only this time, they weren't celebrating. They were saying their goodbyes. Nicole hugged Rhiannon.
NICOLE: Good luck, honey.
RHIANNON: Thanks, mum.
NICOLE: J.J., you take care of her, now.
J.J.: I will, Ms. Walker.
Nicole and J.J. hugged. Nicholas walked up.
NICHOLAS: I can't believe my baby's going off to college.
Rhiannon hugged Nicholas.
NICHOLAS: Be good. Have fun.
RHIANNON: I will. I'll miss you.
NICHOLAS: I'll miss you, too.
Patch, Kayla and Stephanie were also saying their goodbyes to Joey.
PATCH: Good luck up there in Packer country, little dude.
JOEY: Thanks, dad.
Patch and Joey hugged. Then, Kayla hugged Joey.
KAYLA: Be safe.
JOEY: I will.
KAYLA: I love you.
JOEY: I love you, too.
Next, Joey hugged Stephanie.
STEPHANIE: Good luck out there, kid.
JOEY: Thanks, Steph.
Then, Joey turned to J.J.
JOEY: Well, I guess the best goodbyes are fast goodbyes.
J.J. (faking being upset): Are you freaking nuts?! Where is your soul, man? You're just gonna - toss me aside like a pair of old shoes? We have to say goodbye for an hour!
Rhiannon rolled her eyes.
JOEY: No, no, Jack, I was just saying goodbye fast because I thought that's what you wanted.
J.J. and Joey both broke out in laughter, and hugged.
J.J.: Have fun, dude. Just don't turn to the side of the cheeseheads.
JOEY: I would never.
Next, Joey hugged Ceri and Rhiannon.
JOEY: It's been fun.
CERI: It has.
RHIANNON: Have fun at college.
JOEY: You guys, too. Bye, Syd.
Sydney and Joey hugged.
SYDNEY: Good luck, Joey.
JOEY: Well, see you all later.
Everyone waved goodbye as Joey walked out of the Pub. Ceri turned to her twin.
RHIANNON: Well, I guess this is it.
CERI: I'll miss you!
RHIANNON: I'll miss you, too!
Ceri and Rhiannon hugged.
RHIANNON: I'll be back for the wedding, though.
SYDNEY: You'd better be.
Rhiannon and Sydney hugged.
SYDNEY: See you soon.
J.J.: Bye, guys!
RHIANNON: Bye!
Everyone waved as J.J. and Rhiannon left. Sydney noticed that Ceri looked sad. She took Ceri's hand and squeezed it.
SYDNEY: You okay?
Ceri nodded.
CERI: It's just the first time we'll have been apart for any extended length of time.
Sydney put an arm around Ceri.
SYDNEY: She'll be okay. And so will you. We all will be.
CERI: I know.
John looked at the clock on the wall.
JOHN: Well, time to get you two moved into your dorm room.
SYDNEY: Oh, yeah. Freshmen orientation starts in a couple hours.
Ceri and Sydney squeezed each others hands.
CERI: Ready?
SYDNEY: As long as we have each other, I'm always ready.
Together, Sydney and Ceri left the Brady Pub, to start the next chapter of their lives.

THE END

[heroicmuse]

*applause* another great ending André DiMera. So sad this story is over but I loved it! What's coming next?

[André DiMera]

Thanks! I'm glad you liked it! I'm taking a few weeks off. Some complicated stuff has come up with my family (more on that later), so my next story won't be posted until later in June. I'll have previews up in a week or so.