Epilogue

OK, so this is the last part of the story. I hope you enjoy it. I'd like to thank to all readers in Fictionpress who have been following the story until this part. Thanks for the reviews and support! Love y'all hugs

2 years later...

It was summer, the season everyone had been waiting for and it finally came to New York. The 17 year-old Samantha Bennett was sitting outside St. Marie’s School with a graduate outfit. Nothing actually changed in her, well maybe it was just her brown hair that she decided to cut into about shoulder-length.

“Sharon Haroldson.” the principal Mrs. Eyre announced. A deep blonde girl stepped onto the step, worn a medal by Mrs. Eyre, and shook hands as the camera blitz began to attack.

“And now I’m proud to call a girl who has been working very hard since in the freshman year. She just received a scholarship to study in NYU and has been very dedicated to her friends and school, Samantha Bennett!”

The schoolyard was filled with uproar applause and cheering as Sam looked at her two friends Gwen and Tania nervously before getting up from her seat and headed to the podium.

“Woo!! Go Sam!” Tania shouted.

Sam passed through rows of girls that were applauding. Well, no wonder, she was the smartest girl lately after all. Sam stepped onto the stage, headed to Mrs. Eyre who had set her happiest yet biggest smile, and waited for her to wear her golden medal followed by a charter.

“Maybe Samantha would like to give some words for her achievement.” Mrs. Eyre said with a wink. Sam took over the podium and went over the microphone. She cleared her throat before starting to speak. After a while, the applause ended.

“Um...well, I’d like to thank to Mrs. Eyre for her words.” Sam wasn’t really good in public speaking, especially in making speech. “Um...I...I really didn’t know what to say, this achievement is...is just priceless to me.”

Sam didn’t know how she was freaking nervous. She took a glance at Gwen and Tania. Tania threw her hands shortly in the air and her mouth was opening up and whispered “Yeahh!” then Sam looked at her parents who sat among other parents in the back row, who looked at her with hopeful look. She gulped. This was very tough.

“Sorry, I’m not good in public speaking, to be honest.” she spontaneously said and the schoolyard broke into low chuckles. “I don’t want to say a lot of things here. I just wanted to say thanks for people have been helping me so I can stand in this very podium with such achievement. Mom, dad, Gwen, Tania, and all my friends in St. Marie’s, you’ve all been very helpful to me and supportive, to my private teacher Miss Veinstone.”

Sam threw a glance at the tall woman standing near the bushes in behind Mr and Mrs. Bennett’s seats. Miss Veinstone looked at her sharply but a little smile was formed in her lips.

“And...last but not least...” Sam almost forgot one person. “I would love to thank someone, for his huge dedication to me.”

Sam choked, she hadn’t mentioned his name in nearly two years and now she finally got a chance to do it, in this very event.

Tania whispered to Gwen. “I guess I know who she means.” Gwen gave an approving look.

“Unfortunately he’s not here. He’s outside Manhattan, earning money for his living. But even though he’s away now and it’s been two years since he left New York, he’s been such a dedicated person... someone who’s really precious... someone that you really need when you’re sad... when you’re happy.”

Sam felt tears glittering in her eyes. No, it couldn’t happen. She was now facing around more than one hundred and fifty students and she couldn’t just cry. “Well, when you need him he’ll be by my side.” she wiped her tears.

The schoolyard went completely silent, no one spoke a word, not even Gwen and Tania, not even Sam’s parents who stared at her daughter meaningfully, not even Miss Veinstone or Mrs. Eyre who sniffled, listening to her student’s touching words.

“And...” Sam couldn’t bear to continue her words, as she saw a glimpse of a figure walking into the schoolyard, scruffy brown hair, and green eyes, familiar smile, nothing much really changed in him.

He was wearing a casual or semi-formal suit covering black T-shirt underneath and deep blue jeans. Sam paused, and the pause took pretty long as she was trying to capture her vision if the figure she saw around fifteen feet away from her was real. She locked eyes with the young man who stood a few feet away from the spot where Miss Veinstone was standing.

Suddenly every glance in the schoolyard directed to the spot Sam was staring at, trying to see who or what Sam was looking at. Sam wiped her tears again, tears of happiness and satisfaction. “And I’m glad to say that he’s finally here.”

The schoolyard broke into cheers, uproars, and applause along with Sam’s final words.

“That’s all and thank you.” Then she walked down the stage and rushed to the young man. They embraced. All people in the schoolyard were getting up from the seats to witness their reunion. Sam kissed him, followed by some “Awww”, but they didn’t care. Sam broke the kiss.

“I know you’ll come back.” Sam smiled.

Derrick smiled at her. “Good to see you back, my ex-student.”

Later Sam noticed her parents were walking towards her. Then the applause ended.

“Mom...dad...” Sam stared nervously at her parents, afraid that this time she would be grounded because she had reunited with the person she wasn’t suppose to meet. “Let me explain...”

“Enough with explanation, dear.” Mrs. Bennett said firmly. Uh oh, she was in trouble. The woman’s face turned into a smile. “It’s all been arranged.”

Sam could hardly hear what her mother just said. “Wh-what, mom?”

“Your mother’s right, it’s all been arranged. In fact we did it.” Mr. Bennett said.

“You did what?”

“Samantha, I’m so sorry about two year ago, when I fired Derrick.” Mrs. Bennett sighed. “I know it’s wrong. You’re right, he’s done a lot for your progress and deserves something.”

“We discovered that his family was in financial crisis so we decided to give him and his family a hand.” continued Mr. Bennett.

“Err...what do you guys mean? I don’t really get it.” Sam frowned.

Mr. Bennett took a glance at Derrick then turned to her daughter. “Lately my friend who worked in New York Hall of Science told me that the science center had a vacancy opened for college students called Science Career Ladder.” he explained.

“College students were given chance to work part-time as explainers in the Science Centre.” continued Mrs. Bennett. “And I’m glad to say that Derrick is one of them.”

Sam dropped her jaw in excitement. “Seriously? I mean... but what about his education?”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ve arranged that. He’s going to see you in NYU.” Mr. Bennett said. Sam threw a glance at Derrick, still in disbelief and shock. Derrick returns to NYU?

“And we’ve already found a cozy apartment to stay.” Derrick added. “Definitely not in Retraine again, thanks to Mr and Mrs. Bennett for the help. I’m now staying in an apartment in Park Avenue. And for some better news, now my dad works in your father’s company.”

Sam still couldn’t say anything. She was just too shocked for this. Everything came in an instant sudden.

“Surprise!” Mrs. Bennett added.

“Mom...Dad...this is...” Sam almost lost words.

“I know honey.” Mrs. Bennett comforted her. “We know all the best for you. And I’d also like to apologize for pushing you to do and fulfill what I want. You can choose your ambition as you like. You said you wanted to be a woman of letters, didn’t you?”

Sam looked at her mother then her father.

“What does this mean?” she asked.

“It means you don’t have to heir our company if you don’t want to.” Mr. Bennett said. “We know we’ve already in contact with your cousin in First Avenues. I hope you still remember Terrence, he just graduated from Harvard and now he’s into business so...”

Before her father finished his sentence, Sam embraced her parents meaningfully. Tears started to stroll down her eyes. She couldn’t believe everything she had been imagining had come to reality.

“Mom, Dad, I don’t know what to say...” Sam sobbed.

“Now dear just wipe your tears, it’s not good to cry in public.” Mrs. Bennett half whispered. “Now go to your friends.”

Sam rushed to where her seat was. She greeted her friends in excitement. “Omigod, Sam I can’t believe it you’re such a lucky girl!” Gwen said, her last word ended in high pitched voice.

“Yeah, I mean, we’re all going to NYU together finally! Well, you’re the only one who got the scholarship and we’re not.” Tania chuckled.

“Don’t say that, guys, at least we can still be together in the end.” Sam hugged her friends tight. “Thanks heaps. Friends forever, OK?”

Gwen and Tania hugged her back. “OK.” they replied.

“OK now...” Mrs. Eyre was back to the podium, still with some sniffles after she witnessed a touching moment. “Well, congratulations then!”

At the moment all the seniors in the schoolyard tossed their hats in the air and let out loud cheers. After spending her time for a few minutes to enjoy the celebration, Sam noticed Derrick was coming over. She left her friends for a few seconds to see him.

“Having great time?” Derrick asked.

“Absolutely.” Sam smiled. Later she threw a glance at her friends, smiling and waving at her then turned to Derrick. There was a pause before both of them continued their conversation.

“Well, I guess we’ll be seeing each other more often.” Derrick said, quite awkwardly.

Sam smiled and leaned to kiss him among the cheers of the graduated seniors. Sam put her arms around his neck. Now nothing was going to stop them anymore. The brunette was sure that everything was going to be just perfectly fine.

Even this event is yet just another story happening in Upper East Side.

zu Ende

May 9, 2008

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