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It'd been little over a year ever since I got adopted, and honestly, I had never been so happy. I was actually starting to call Samantha and John, mom and dad, though sometimes I'd call them by their first names, but it was working process. My nightmares had completely disappeared, I was no longer suffocating and suffering. I felt free, and it was such an amazing feeling. The feeling got ever better whenever I arrived to school one day. Kellin ran up to me with such a big smile on his face, spouting out words that made no since, but when he finally calmed down, he told me he was getting adopted. I was more than happy because one of the boys I was rooming with who soon became one of my best friends was getting adopted. Then a few months later Austin came rushing over to my house, tears in his eyes and a big happy smile on his face. At first I was confused, not really knowing what was going on, but then he told me that he, too, was getting adopted and now that day was forever imprinted in my mind.

Austin had grown happier, actually. He smiled a lot more than he did little over a year ago, his laugh was much more hearty and he was all around different, though it was a good different. We spent lots of time together, especially at night when Samantha and John would allow him to stay over. We'd still go to the little diner even if it was on the other side of town. I was much more happier when I was with him, and he was the same. I was in love with him and it was more than obvious that he felt the same way about me, considering he told me every single day and night. Sure we were still young and probably didn't have the right concept of what love meant, but whatever I felt towards Austin was stronger than anything that I had ever felt for someone before.

When another year passed, I got news from every single one of my friends that were at the orphanage that they were getting adopted too. I had never felt so over the moon before, well...I had, but I felt even more. Some of them ended up getting adopted together, even if they weren't related. Kellin, Vic and Mike actually ended up being adopted to some families that were in my neighborhood, so obviously they came over a lot and we hung out with Tyler. It was fun, to the least.

Once again another year passed and we were all Seniors. I was happy and sad at the same time because I knew when we graduated that not all of us would be sticking around. Tay and Lynn got accepted into colleges that were in California, Alex and Jack were going to start traveling together, Tino Phil and were also going to California, but only to travel around there, and there left Kellin, Vic, Mike, Tony, Jaime, Austin and I. We weren't all so sure what we were going to do when we graduated, but I knew I couldn't just leave them behind. I didn't want to forget about them. Kellin and Vic always talked about moving somewhere together, but Vic didn't want to leave Mike, and Mike for sure didn't want to leave Tony. Jaime didn't care, honestly. He had decided that he was going to go wherever those four went.

Austin and I had talked about what we were going to do, but nothing really came up. He had gotten accepted into a commie college and I guess he didn't plan on leaving since things were going so well, and I didn't want to leave somewhere without him. I just assumed I was going to be stuck figuring something out last minute, and I would more than likely end up working somewhere until I could find anything. I didn't want to go to college, honestly. I had had enough of school and just having to deal with more of it didn't seem so fun.

It was the day of graduation and I was scared, nervous and wanting to throw up. Samantha was stood in front of me, trying to fix my tie as well as my gown. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. I had never imagined such a day like this would happen, really because I always thought that I would maybe end up in a hospital forever since my sick father would beat me every day, but alas, here I was, lining up with my class and friends, getting ready to walk into the auditorium filled with people.

"Oh, you look so handsome." Samantha cooed, running her hand across my shoulder to rid of a few specks of lint. I could tell she was trying to hold back her tears, and in return, it was making me do the same.

"I can't believe you're graduating." She said, her bottom lip quivering. "I am more than proud of you sweetie, of you and Tyler both."

"Please don't cry," I whined, rubbing at my eyes. Samantha chuckled and nodded, wrapping me up in a hug.

"I love you so much," she said, sniffling. I grinned and hugged her back, squeezing her tightly.

"I love you, too, mom." I whispered back. We pulled away and John was tugging her through the auditorium doors. I sighed softly and rubbed at my eyes again, ridding of the tears just as we were told to get into line in alphabetical order. The music began to play and we were all slowly walking out.

This was it.

。。。

After everyone had gotten their awards and diplomas, the principal announced the class of the year and we all did that cliché thing where we threw our caps into the air, cheering loudly. Cameras clicked all around us and parents came over to their children, giving them big hugs, which was what Samantha, John, the twins, Bradley and Tyler did. All of them came over, hugging me tightly and telling me how proud they were that I had came this far. I felt so happy, having parents telling me something that I hadn't heard before. I was a little saddened, though, but I pushed the feelings away and hugged them all once more before going to find my friends and boyfriend.

"We did it!" Kellin squealed happily as he pulled me into a hug.

"I know, I feel so accomplished." I told him, chuckling.

"Me too, I can finally sleep in a little later." He said, I grinned and rolled my eyes, pulling away and hugging Vic and Jaime as they came over.

"We should party tonight." Jaime said, Vic rolled his eyes and pulled Kellin into him.

"All you want to do is party Hime. Do you ever think of anything else?" Vic questioned, Jaime shrugged and grinned. Lynn and Tay came over too, squealing like the girls they were and squeezing me so tightly in the hug that I lost a little breath.

"We're going to miss you so much!" They both said, pulling away.

"I'm going to miss you guys too, but have fun in California." I told them.

I seemed to have hugged everybody, just like the day that I was leaving the orphanage, though this was much happier. I was searching through the crowds for Austin, desperately wanting to see him. I searched for what felt like forever until I found him with a man with a scruff looking beard and tired eyes. He and Austin were talking and Austin looked as if he were crying, and when I got closer, I saw that in fact that he was- they both were actually.

"S-So you're okay n-now?" I heard Austin asked, the man nodded his head quickly.

"I've been through so many rehabilitation programs, son. I swear to you, I'm much better now, I haven't touched a single drop of alcohol in nearly two years." The man said, grinning. Austin sniffed and pulled him into a tight hug.

I slowly stepped closer to them until the man mumbled something to Austin and he spun around, smiling at me. He grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze as he pulled me closer.

"Hey baby, I want you to meet someone." Austin said, wiping his eyes. The man smiled at me, he too wiping his eyes. "This is um, this is my dad," I was a little shocked, but it kind of made since, but I didn't say anything as I smiled back at Austin's dad. "And dad, this is Alan, my boyfriend."

"It's nice to meet you," Mr. Carlile said, putting his hand out for me to shake, and I did, smiling at him some more, though I couldn't help but feel a little angry at him for putting Austin through so much shit, but it wasn't my place to say or do anything about it.

"Nice to meet you, too." I told him, Austin's father only smiled some more before dropping my hand and returning to Austin so they could continue to talk. I didn't really pay attention to them as they caught up with one another, I just looked around at all of the people surrounding us, chatting away. Soon Samantha came up to us with a fussy Bradley.

"Sweetie, you ready to go? We're all going out to dinner to celebrate." She said.

"Sure," I nodded, turning to Austin who just nodded too, agreeing.

"Well, it was great seeing you son," Mr. Carlile said, "and it was nice meeting you Alan."

"I'll talk to you later, dad." Austin said, removing himself from me to hug him, though they seemed a little reluctant to let go of one another.

"Mr. Carlile, would you like to come out to dinner with us?" I blurted out, which caused both Austin and his dad to look at me questionably.

"I wouldn't want to intrude or-"

"It's fine, I'd love for you to come with us. There's room for you to come with us and it wouldn't be the same if you weren't there." I told him, cutting him off. Mr. Carlile glanced at Austin questionably, silently asking if it were okay, and Austin nodded his head, smiling.

"Then I'd love too, thank you for inviting." He said. "Son, I think you've found a keeper." Austin chuckled and nodded, pulling me to him and kissing my forehead.

"I think so, too."

。。。

The celebratory dinner was going by so smoothly. The parents were sat at a table beside us, chatting away while all of my friends, boyfriend and I sat at our own table, giggling like idiots while we ate. Kellin and Vic were seated across from Austin and I, chatting away like everyone else. Austin's arm was tossed around the back of my chair as we watched the two. It amazed me how far we all came- well, how far they all came considering they were in an orphanage for so long. It was amazing to me how they never gave up, how they kept pushing forward and had succeeded in graduating high school. I loved them all, really. They were like another family to me.

"Thank you for what you did earlier," Austin said quietly to me, interrupting my thoughts. I turned and glanced at him questionably, not sure what he meant.

"What did I do?" I asked.

"I don't think I've ever seen my dad so happy before since my mom passed. He was always so...you know, and now he's sitting there, talking to all the parents with such a big, happy smile on his face, and I don't think I'd be able to really witness that if it weren't for you inviting him tonight." Austin explained, I shrugged and kissed his cheek.

"It felt needed," I told him, shrugging again. Austin grinned and nodded, leaning in and kissing my forehead.

"I love you," he mumbled softly, kissing my forehead again, then my lips.

"I love you, too. Now, order me some dessert." I demanded playfully, Austin grinned and nodded, doing just so.

And to think, three or so years ago, I was an abused, depressed boy who never thought I'd be able to make it to such an important day. I never thought that I'd be able to escape the abuse my father dished out to me, but here I was, surrounded by amazing friends, a wonderful family and a loving boyfriend. Even though I had been through hell back, I wouldn't change anything in my life for the world.

。。。

THAT'S IT. THIS IS THE END. It's over. I'm kind of sad, honestly, because I loved this story so much. It was such an experience to write and I never thought it'd make it this far. So, a big, gigantic thank you to all of you that have read this and stuck with me through it. Consider this the Epilogue too because there's really not much more I could write out, so this is the Final/Epilogue together. Also there won't be a sequel, this is literally the end.

I totally didn't get a little teary eyed while writing this, I don't know what you're talking about. 

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