*5 months later*

"Angel, if you don't hurry up, we are going to be late." Nate yells up at me.

"Don't rush me! Perfection takes time you know." I yell back and hear him let out a deep laugh.

I continue putting the last touches to my curled hair and then go back into my room for my cap and gown. This past year has been a lot, but I couldn't be any happier.

I was discharged about a week after I woke up. Nate and Wyatt stayed by my side the entire time and for a whole 'nother week until I went back to school. I hadn't missed too much, so I worked hard to catch up and now I get to graduate as planned.

I found out after I woke up that Dorian was already in prison. Between my injuries, the boys' statements, and the video he took, they didn't even need me to testify. Apparently Wyatt went and told the judge about all the abuse and my uncle admitted to it all, said something along the lines of 'I hope that murdering bitch dies." It's safe to say he'll be in prison for a long time.

I still have some nightmares about everything, but Nate is helping them go away. It helps when I focus on my future and take my mind off things. Nate, Johnny, and Keith all got scholarships to play for the University of Alabama, while Hayes chose to go straight into the military. Candace and I both applied and got into to Alabama as well, so we will be moving there with the boys.

We got the same judge for our custody case that they had for Dorian, so he knew our situation. He said he was willing to give me guardian rights, even though I'm a few months from being 18, but we still had the problem of me going to college and my siblings wanting to live here.

Apparently, while I was in my coma, Hal and Jennie were a big part in my siblings' lives. They got so close that Hal came up to me and had a 'talk'. He explained that since him and Jenni could never have kids, and already thought about us as their own, they would love to adopt us.

I had a long talk with Wyatt and the twins and they seemed genuinely excited to have a new mom and dad. In the end, we decided that the loving diner owners would adopt all of us, and then the kids would stay with them while I was at college. It took a lot for me to give over my family like that, but Hal and Jennie have acted like our parents since day 1, so I got over it.

Nate, Candace, Keith, Johnny, and I are going to be getting a house together in Alabama. None of us wanted to deal with dorms or roommates and the house was relatively cheap. I'm so glad I don't have to stop living with Nate, we are really serious and I have a feeling my dream of getting married young will get to come true.

"Baby, you always look perfect, now please come on so we don't miss the entire ceremony." Nate whines, snapping me out of my memories. I grab my phone and walk down to the living room where he is.

"Oh hush, you big baby. We have plenty of time. Besides, they wouldn't dare start the ceremony without the school's golden boy." I tease and walk out the door.

Nate, of course, opens both my and Katie's doors and helps us in. We drive off to the school and meet up with everyone else. Hal and Jennie sit with the twins and Wyatt while the guys, Candace, and I all walk onto stage.

______________________________

"Candace Smith, University of Alabama."

"Hayes Smith, United States Marine Corps."

"Keith Walker, University of Alabama football."

"Johnny McAdams, University of Alabama football."

"Nathan O'Conner, University of Alabama football."

Of course, when the principal announces my man's name the crowd erupts in cheers. He gives me a quick wink before walking across the stage.

"Adelaine Scott-Calvin, University of Alabama."

Taking a deep breath, I walk across the stage and get my diploma. Turning to the crowd, I see my siblings, Hal, and Jenni hooting and hollering. A fair amount of other cheers are scattered around and my friends are going crazy on the other side of the stage. I shake the committee member's hands and walk off the stage to join them.

30 minutes later, we are officially high school graduates and ready to take on college.

Heaven, help us.

___________________

*3 years later*

"Wyatt Scott-Calvin, University of Georgia football."

Hearing our boys name, the whole gang stands up and starts screaming. Everyone except Hayes was able to come home for Wyatt's graduation, so we are quite a rowdy group. I look over to see Tank with a squealing Katie on his shoulders and Jingles doing the same with Dylan. Candace and Lainey are hugging each other and crying, as are Hal and Jenni. They all seem like proud parents, which I guess we all kind of are.

Wyatt walks across the stage and gets his diploma. After, he holds it up and does his touchdown dance, which makes the audience go wild. After we left, Wyatt kind of took my spot as the 'golden boy', it's safe to say everyone here today knows his name.

"Oh my gosh, is that Nathan O'Conner? And Johnny McAdams? And oh my goodness, there's Keith Walker." I hear someone gush from behind me.

We all turn to the sound and see a group of awestruck boys, probably around middle school or just starting high school. Their eyes are wide and they are just staring at us with their mouths open. I hear Lainey let out a laugh before her angelic voice hits my ears.

"Yep, that's them all right. They may look intimidating, but they're really just giant teddy bears. Feel free to say hi." She says with a nudge to my side. I let out a small grunt then step forward.

"Well hi there. Names OC. Y'all play football?" I ask the kids.

They still seem a bit star-struck, but each nod their heads.

"Oh yeah? What's your favorite team?" I ask. The middle one finally seems to comprehend my sentences and begins to speak.

"Well obviously Alabama. You guys have been state champs for like three years in a row."

"Good choice." I hear Tank rumble from behind me.

The boys pull out some paper and we sign a few autographs. It's weird for me to do this because I don't play football for the fame, I play because I love it. I never would have thought I would be the number 1 quarterback in the country and signing autographs my senior year. When they seem satisfied, we all turn back to the grad ceremony and I take Lainey into my arms.

"Look at you being all famous and stuff." She says softly. I just let out a grunt and she laughs, but I silence it with a kiss on her soft lips.

"You really need to be more personal. Would you have even talked to those boys if I hadn't elbowed you?" She asks with laughter in her voice.

"No." I say honestly, because I wouldn't have. Like I said, I don't play for fame. I usually just sit back and let Tank and Jingles do all the talking.

"Well, tater tot. We are going to work on that." She says with a poke to my side, to which I let out another grumble. Yes, she has taken to calling me tater tot whenever she can.

Thank you Miss Mathews.

__________________________

"Are you sure you're ok with this? I don't want to take away from your big day." I ask Wyatt in the back room of my house. We came here after the grad ceremony to have a party for Wyatt with all our families and friends.

"I'm sure. There's nothing I want more than for you to do this now." He replies without hesitation.

"But what if it's too soon? She'll say no and then I'll have to be embarrassed in front of everyone." I say worriedly.

Jesus, I've never been this nervous in my life.

"She's not going to say no. Now stop stalling and get your butt out there." He says with a push towards the back door.

I walk out into my lighted backyard with a smiling Wyatt behind me. Seeing me, all my friends break out into large, knowing grins as I make my way to Lainey. Everyone kind of just moves out of my way, so I'm in front of her faster than I expected, not giving me enough time to shake off the nerves. She's talking to someone, so I clear my throat and wait for her to look at me.

"Umm Lainey, do you think we could talk for a second?" I ask shakily.

She looks at me worriedly before placing her hand in mine and I pull us to the center of the dance floor. I let out a few calming breaths and wait for my nerves to settle a bit before taking the black box out of my pocket and kneeling.

She lets out a small gasp and her hands go immediately over her mouth. Her eyes fill with unshed tears and the people around us all turn to watch. One more breath and I begin what I've practiced in the mirror a thousand times.

"When you ran into me that first day of school, I thought God had placed an Angel in my hands. You were the most beautiful person I'd ever seen and all I wanted to do was get to know you. It wasn't easy, but you finally let me through those thick walls of yours and I fell in love. You are the most kindhearted and caring person I've ever met, who doesn't even think about putting others before herself. When I almost lost you, I realized I would die if I didn't have you in my life. You are my entire world and I never want to be apart from you. I know we are young, but I can't imagine having forever with anyone else."

Tears are streaming down her face now, and I slowly move to open the box. She lets out another gasp seeing the ring and I finish my lines.

"Adelaine Grace Scott-Calvin, will you make me the happiest man alive and marry me?" I ask.

The backyard is deathly silent and no-one moves, we are all just waiting to hear her answer. As the seconds tick by my palms get sweatier and my heart feels like it's going to beat out of my chest. I think she is still in shock because she's just standing there with her hands over mouth, staring at me.

"Angel?" I ask softly.

That seems to do the trick because she gives her head a little shake and jumps onto me, almost knocking me to the ground. She hugs and kisses me all over and doesn't even care about the ring or that she hasn't answered my question yet. Our guests are just standing, waiting patiently for confirmation.

"Umm, I take it that's a yes?" I ask nervously between kisses.

"Yes, you crazy man! Of course it's a yes!" She yells at the same time applause thunders around us.

I place the ring on her finger, give another kiss, and stand us both up. All of our friends and family come to congratulate us. All the women looking at her ring and the men giving me a pat on the back. Through it all, I never take my eyes of my one true love.

"She finally got her prince. Now she gets her 'greatest love story' and fairytale ending." I hear Wyatt whisper under his breath.

Hell ya she does