Its here, its here, its here! The last chapter ever 😭😭😭😭😭 I'm sad it came to an end but its a long time coming, while writing I had tears in my eyes. The rewrites and edits were tough, Maria and Scott's love kept me going. Totally. Worth. it! I want to thank each and everyone of you who have read, voted, commented, added to their library and had an enormous amount of patience for the epilogue. Enjoy! 💖💖💖💖💖💖

Epilogue Part 1: Maria

**Four months Later**

Me and my friends were eating lunch together, I searched for Scott in the cafeteria, didn't spot him I continued to eat.

"Guys, we're not going to young anymore," I heard Terri say, looking up from my food she pouted her bottom lip in sadness.

"What?" I asked in confusion mouth full.

"We're getting old!" She whined.

"No we're not, and what's wrong with getting old? It brings wisdom." I raised an eyebrow.

"Not like that, I meant we're not gonna be high schoolers anymore. Meeting up for lunch or before class in the hallway, hanging out, shopping and gossiping about boys. It's the end of an era."

My eyebrows creased at her realization, she was right. Our senior year was coming to an end, Prom was next month and graduation was in June. I got my cap and gown delivered, dress ready and GPA was good enough for any university I wanted to go to. We're all moving forward to our education and life. Will I see my best friends again? Will I see Scott again? Would we still be a couple? We spoke of what our majors were and where we wanted to go, even talked about long distance and him trying to convince me to send him sexts. He loved me, a chill ran up my spine remembering how nervous he was. When I told Terri and Rachel, we squealed and jumped in joy, this was next level.

Everything happened so quickly this year recalibrating my thoughts of how the time passed by. It seemed like yesterday that we went on our first date, I smiled mentally to how he made me feel when we first played stripped Tekken. "Hello, Maria?!" A annoyed yell and bang on the table from Rachel interrupted my sweet thoughts.

"Yeah?!" I answered in the same tone looking at her direction to her frowning eyebrows.

"Aren't you sad about it?"

"Of course. It is, but we're gonna stay in touch, social media apps and video chat. Come on, happy thoughts!"

"You're right. So did Scott ask you to prom yet?" She wondered playing with the straw of her opened chocolate milk.

"We're already going together." I shrugged nonchalantly. The morning decorations and arguments of refreshments and entertainment were all ready. The committee and principal agreed for an affordable DJ to play music for all to enjoy the night.

"But he has to ask in an elaborate way, like how Dom did," Terri sighed laying her fist under her chin with a faraway stare. Reminded of how Dom almost scared both of us when he popped out of a paper mache red heart like a jack in the box in the parking lot, the flyer decorated in flowers, crowns and dressed in a fitted suit after school last week. It was really sweet.

"He doesn't have to. I don't want it to be a big deal." We finished our lunches, got up and threw our empty trash in the bin and the trays on the rack as we exited the cafeteria.

"Liam promposed to me when I got home two days ago with a limo and this huge decorative banner, it was so romantic," Rachel told us.

"Well I have to wait and see." Come to think of it I didn't see Scott in class today, or at lunch, is he really gonna prompose? I bit my lip to hide my smile, cheeks burning at the thought of what he would do, we're non traditional and he didn't have to do an extravagant thing. Lunch was about to end in three minutes me and the girls walked around the school halls. Hearing soft music from the end of the hallway, I frowned but it sounded familiar though.

"What is that?" Questioned Terri curiously, me and Rachel shrugged watching a crowd form in a circle. We all walked closer, I recognized it was the Coldplay song Paradise: *dreams of para para paradise, para para paradise, para para paradise, ohohohohoh*

I hummed along as we walked forward through the crowd. Finally getting into the front I gasped at the sight: the boy holding a variety of colorful flowers, suited in a dark fitted tuxedo and speakers below his feet playing the song. I appreciated the gesture, laughing and shaking my head at my boyfriend's promposal. "Oh my God," I muttered amused stepping straight to him shaking my head, "you remembered I love Coldplay."

He smiled, rubbing the back of his neck nervously, "I guess."

"Romantic much?"

"Only for you." He responded, lifting his chin prideful.

I titled my head to the side, "mmmhmm." His adorableness was contagious, I kept giggling.

"Prom? Please?" He handed me the bouquet, he pouted his bottom lip.

I grinned so hard, my cheeks flushed from his gesture, "duh." Pulling him into my chest for a tight hug my feet lifted a little off the ground, the crowd of students applauded and I heard Rachel and Terri awwed at the scene.

Part 2:

**Prom Night**

"We look so hot ladies!" Terri said excited with a twirl of her dress.

"Yes we do," I agreed with a giggle, curling the last strand of my hair with hot curler in front of the mirror, cascading over my shoulders grabbing my bottle of hairspray for hold on my dresser. Looking over my two best friends and myself, we did look hot: Terri's hair straight down and dress sleek, Rachel's hair in a updo bun wearing her strappy shoes that match her outfit.

I spritzed it three times all over for hold and shook the tendrils to make it loose. The second to last event as seniors until graduation. I felt my eyes well up but I sniffed them away, cleared my throat smoothing my dress down. I grabbed my red shade lip gloss, glossed them over my lips for a touch up. Checking my phone for the time, Scott and the boys will be here in ten minutes. Rachel hip bumped me playfully to touch up her make-up too, I glared at her but smiled. Grabbing my wristlet placing it in phone I breathed out a calming sigh.

"Ladies it's our last dance. We should have fun, no tears." Terri directed but her eyes were bright red. Me and Rachel noticed and we smiled softly before pulling her in for a group hug, rubbing her back gently telling her it will be ok. She wiped them away, "I'm ruining my makeup," she giggled through a watery smile.

"Nothing but a little touch up won't do. You still look good," I assured her, Rachel nodded in agreement.

"I do don't I?"

"Dom won't keep his hands off you." I teased poking her ribs, she pushed my hands away chuckling.

"Girls, your dates are here!" Dad announced from downstairs, we let go and jumped giddily grabbing our purses and exiting out my room door. We all planned to meet at my house, heading down the stairs, the boys stood in the middle of the living room. They all looked so handsome in their suits, my gaze went straight to Scott: hair gelled back, black fitted suit holding a red orchid corsage and blue bowtie?

I squinted, approaching him tugging the tie. "Classy."

"All for the theme," he responded.

"I still wished it was Rocky Horror."

"Your excuse to wear fishnets?"

"Absolutely." We both laughed, he squeezed my cheek with his index finger and thumb, opening the case he wore the flower on my wrist delicately. "It's so beautiful."

"Just like you." Oh my gosh, could he not make me blush any harder?

"You kids look lovely! Gather round for a group picture!" Mom squealed, camera ready in her hand she literally pushed all of us together, told us not to move and took so many pictures I had to tell her that we were gonna be late.

- &-

The decorations were up and gorgeous in the gym: blue, black and gold streamers hung on the ceiling. The speaker's booming of classic 20s and 30s music, everyone dressed in the decades ensemble: flapper dresses and tuxedos dancing with their dates and groups.

"Wooooooow!" Rachel spoke admiring the place, pulling Liam with her to the dance floor.

"Yeah, we did a good job," I nodded unheard from the loud music, Scott's hand clenched mine pulling to an empty table but I pulled back. "Let's dance!" I exclaimed with wide eyes expectedly.

"Uh uh!" Scott shook his head, denying his ok steps.

"You're a fast learner! We're in the Gatsby days for tonight!"

"I--" he stuttered shaking his head again.

I pouted my bottom lip and fluttered my eyes, "please! It's prom!"

"Only on slow dances!"

"I'll take it, yay!" Jumping to him for a hug and a quick kiss, Terri grabbing me to the floor with Rachel we began moving our feet in a swinging motion.

The only guy dancing with us was Dom, stepping to and fro behind Terri. The music was changed to the pop genre, the familiar sound of Tongue Tied by Grouplove made my legs moving in a funny way, Terri embarrassed by it but Rachel and Dom was cackling their heart out. Logan, Jake and their girlfriends joined us in our funny dance we looked like goofs dancing all over the place but we didn't care. Scott joined us finally, his arms in a flailing fashion.

As promised Scott and me swayed to the calm music. Lana Del Reys voice soothed the mood, I laid my head in the crook of his neck. He stepped on my feet only three times but I forgave him, he kissed my cheek softly as we danced slowly. We fit great together, he's the piece to my complete puzzle.

Part 3:

**After Graduation**

"I have turkey sandwiches with avocado and tomato," I sang out skipping to the range rover that belonged to Rachel holding the Tupperware of sandwiches. Rachel was in the driver's seat, Liam in the passenger, Terri stuffing her bag in the trunk next to Scott who was packing mine and his suitcases too.

Logan and Jake was with their girlfriends in the backseat. After prom last month, we planned to have one last celebration before we all head to university at Scott's family cabin out of town.

"Gross," Scott let out loud disgusted.

"What's gross about it?" I questioned almost shocked, I loved avocado.

"I love avocado," I heard Terri, Logan agreed too.

"Thank you guys. It's good for us, we're growing adults," I assured shrugging opening the lid to show them. I took my time with these and I'm proud.

"We have water," Scott deadpanned.

"And if we run out these will help. Tomatoes are hydrating."

"None for me," Dom chimed in, waving my Tupperware away, "I need sugar."

"For your diet?"

"For taste. It's better."

"I have brownies and red vines too," I rolled my eyes holding up a plastic bag to show them.

"Baked?" Dom wondered.

"Store bought."

"So you couldn't make it." He slumped his shoulders disappointed.

"I suck at baking."

"It's true," Scott spoke nodding. I scoffed, hitting the back of his head lightly. "You want me to be honest," he rubbed his hair faking pain.

"Not in front of them," I whispered harshly.

"Next time remind me." He pecked my lips and entered the car in a swift motion.

What a year it has been for us. As the days went by we became closer before high school ended. "Is it true you got into Stanford, Dom?" I asked entering the vehicle, sitting next to Scott.

"Yeah, my dad knows the dean; they saw that I actually had a good enough GPA to get in the law program," he answered boasting.

"Wow, I didn't know you were smart," I mocked, he threw a piece of paper he was holding, I giggled and threw it back at his face. It landed softly, I stuck my tongue out. Talking about university and adulthood felt bittersweet, not being able to see my friends. I had to hold back tears during the commencement speeches. Scott and me avoided speaking of our future but it came up in small conversations. Not all at once, one thing at a time. We all opened our university letters at Scott's house: Rachel got into Virginia State, Liam's going to NYU, Terri's going to Delaware, me to Colorado State, Logan and Jake got into Penn State. Scott didn't tell me his decision yet. The anticipation kept me on edge.

"Are you gonna tell me what school you're going to?" I pleaded to Scott with pouty lips laying on his shoulder. I heard the engine roar, the vibration under our feet the car moving forward.

"Later," he responded.

I didn't want to separate from him but if it happened, I could deal with it. Hopefully.

Three hours on the road, it was time for a bathroom and snack break. I got out too squatting my legs for a stretch, looking around for signs of where we stopped. Arms grabbed my waist, Scott's familiar scent lingered around he kissed my cheek, I laid my head back on his shoulder gripping his strong arms. His chin on mine.

"I have a surprise," he said lowly in my ear.

"Really?" I asked, heart fluttering of nerves I turned to face him he reached into his pocket, pulled out a crumpled up paper and handed it to me.

Confused I unfolded it, spotting his name it's an acceptance letter, "wow you got a full scholarship, that's great," I said proudly.

"Read the top," he pointed out.

My eyes went above the paper: **Colorado State University** in bold letters.

It widened in surprise, looking up to him I wanted to kick him for not telling me. Instead I jumped and wrapped my arms around his neck, legs around his waist. "YOU'RE GOING TO STATE!" I exclaimed, he spun me around in excitement.

"Guess we're going to the same place," he chuckled still spinning me around.

"Wait, are you sure you want to?" I asked curiously, "I don't want you to go because of me."

"Curly, not being near you would be painful." I wiped the tears forming away quickly and smiled.

"I love you." Our lips pressed together for a hard and passionate kiss.

"I love you," he laughed again, kissing me lightly on the lips again before unraveling my legs off his waist and feet touched the concrete.

"To think all this this time I was sitting next to you in class, all I had to ask for a pencil," Scott spoke softly our foreheads lingered.

"I know, weird. I would have been a bitch and said no," he frowned, almost turning away. I pulled him back in my embrace, "I didn't. It shows how nice I am," I kissed his cheek and held him again, nuzzling my face into his neck.

"You're lucky you're cute."

"Right back at ya," I flicked his nose. Kissing him softly, his arms on my waist and my around his shoulder. The car horn honked, breaking us up.

"Enough with the love fest, let's go!" Dom yelled impatiently.

Terri punched his arm, "rude," I heard her say. I rolled my eyes, Scott flipped him off. He grabbed my hand, interlaced fingers as we climbed in the car. I laid my head in the crook of his neck, he wrapped his arm around my shoulder and kissed my temple.