Leah picked at the silk of her robe, her nerves on edge but excitement spiraling through her. She had made it. Graduation. She ignored the shuffling and jostling of other graduates behind her, tried to focus on what lay ahead.

Would Wren and Fiona be surprised? Would they be proud? Hurt pricked her heart as she thought of her father; she wished he had come. It would have made her surprise much more special.

It's okay, she cheered herself. This is still an exciting day! At least I have Fiona and Wren to celebrate with.

"Are you ready?" Principal Stratus broke her thoughts, and Leah nodded as Pomp and Circumstance played over the speakers. The rotund man smiled, kindness in his eyes. "Congratulations. You should be proud."

Leah blushed at the compliment and responded with a simple thank you as she stepped on the golden streamer leading her to the front of the school auditorium. All eyes rested on her as she moved forward to the steady rhythm of music. She searched the crowd, a smile brightening her face when she found her two dearest friends. The shock etched on their expressions was the perfect reaction, she thought. Fiona swiped a tear, ducking her head, but Wren never broke eye contact. His proud gaze and soft smile would forever be branded in her memory.

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Valedictorian. I should have known. Pride swelled in Wren as he watched the Kingsley heiress ascend the stairs leading to the platform. A sniff from Fiona spoke of the maid's emotion, and without thinking, he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and gave it a light squeeze.

"She never told me," Fiona whispered, obviously embarrassed at being emotional but trying to hold herself together.

"Stinker," Wren breathed, and the maid laughed under her breath.

The stage swelled with students, maroon robes covering its breadth, but Wren never took his attention from Leah. He watched her recite the Pledge of Allegiance, smiling at the earnestness on her expression. When she flashed him a brilliant smile, Wren startled as his stomach flip-flopped. He sobered, wondering how she had wormed her way into his heart that even a smile sent his body into a frenzy. His gaze flitted to Fiona beside him, noting the swell of emotions she carried.

Looks like she has a way of making people love her. I'm not feeling anything Fiona isn't. Deep down, he doubted his excuse, but it soothed his mind.

"And now to hear from our Valedictorian, Leah Kingsley."

Leah's name jarred Wren from his pondering, and he clapped with the rest of the gathering as Leah walked to the podium. He could see her nervousness. She took a deep breath then paused to gather courage before facing the crowd. He ignored the disappointment she didn't look at him and chastised himself. She didn't need to rely on him for everything!

"Hello, everyone. I would like to first say how honored I am to be here today. There were moments when I thought this day would never come. When I was told I was the Valedictorian, my first thought was of this speech. I tend to stutter when I get nervous, and I worried I would stutter through this entire ordeal. But... I realized I have something to say, and I want it to be heard loud and clear. For this reason, I will not stutter. I will not be nervous. "

There was a few seconds pause as the blonde-headed young woman scanned the crowd. She continued. "My message is this... Thank you."

The murmur of approval seemed to give Leah courage. "Thank you to my teachers for all the time and dedication you gave me. It wasn't taken for granted, and I hope my grades proved that. Thank you for investing in me and giving me the gift of education. Also, thank you to the principal and cooks and janitors." Leah paused as applause dwindled. "Last, to Alyssa Breyner, I want to say thank you as well. You made me stronger. When I wanted to quit, you said the perfect thing to make me determined to keep going. When I was tired, you gave me energy. When I was lonely, you reminded me of the true meaning of friendship."

A touched 'aww' echoed from the crowd, and Wren smirked as he looked at Alyssa sitting among the other graduates on stage. Her stunned expression and agape mouth were priceless.

Leah turned to face her, appearing to onlookers sincere in every aspect. "Thank you, Alyssa. Your friendship even let me meet spider man. I mean, how many people can say that?"

Suddenly, a male graduate stood from the crowd and pumped a fist in the air. "Woohoo! Yeah! Go Spider-man!"

The audience laughed, but none more than Wren. He rolled his eyes as Dean grinned at him from the podium.

Leah giggled, turning back to the audience. "Thank you, everyone!"

Wren rose with the crowd, grinning and applauding. As she returned to her seat and their gazes met, his grin transformed to a wide smile.

***

"I can't believe you never told us!" Fiona hugged Leah tight.

"I wanted to surprise everyone," Leah said.

"Surprise us, you did!" Wren grinned. "Congratulations!"

Leah's cheeks turned pink. "Thank you. I wish Daddy could have been here, but I'm really thankful you two came."

Fiona squeezed her hand. "I wouldn't have missed it, and I'm sure your father wishes he was here."

"Yeah."

Wren's brow furrowed at Leah's disheartened reply, and he tampered his own frustration at Tony Kingsley. A quick glance revealed Fiona agreed the man could have done more to be a part of his daughter's special day. He was searching for a way to lighten the dampened mood when Charles's voice sounded from behind.

"There's the woman of the day!"

Leah surprised expression blossomed into a smile, causing Wren's stomach to plummet. He wasn't sure which bothered him most: Charles hugging his ward or his body's unwanted reactions. He schooled his features as Charles cast him and Fiona a simple nod.

"Thank you for coming!" Leah stepped away from her friend but appeared in all aspects, pleased.

Charles shrugged, his confident grin annoying Wren. "How could I miss it?"

"You should have sat with Wren and I!" Fiona said. "I looked but didn't see you."

"I slipped in a few minutes late. We had an emergency at the office."

Leah's face clouded with concern. "Is everything alright?"

"I think so. Hacker issues, but my team resolved it. Just comes with being the CEO of your own company." The wealthy man winked at Leah, but Wren didn't miss the sideways smirk cast his way.

Don't let him get to you, Wren thought, taking a deep breath to calm his irritation. It had been a long time since someone had gotten under his skin as much as Charles.

Charles spoke again. "Any big plans today?"

Leah brightened, nodding emphatically. "Hilda is making my favorite cake, and then I believe we are all going bowling tonight. Although, " the young heiress' grin turned sheepish, and she swiveled her gaze to Wren. "Since I graduated with honors, I was thinking something bigger was in order..."

Butler and maid chuckled.

"It totally is," Fiona said, while Wren nodded.

"Well, unfortunately, I can't join you today. Still some loose ends needing tied up at the office."

Wren studied Leah for a reaction to the news. Charles slipped a flat box from his jean's pocket. Whatever her response to him being absent of celebrations might have been was not to be discovered. Even Fiona gasped as the lid was lifted and sparkling diamond earrings twinkled at them.

"Oh! They're beautiful!" Gingerly, Leah took the gift, fingering one of the clustered gems.

Wren shifted, feeling awkward as his own simple gift burned in his suit pocket. Relief surged through him when his phone vibrated, allowing him an excuse to move away from the uncomfortable scene.

"Hey, Edward."

"Hey! Dude, what's with the tone? You sound down."

Wren clenched the cell pressed against his ear. Was his irritation obvious? He hesitated. "Charles graced us with his presence. I don't know why he gets under my skin so much."

"Probably because he rubs his wealth in our faces."

" Yeah. Maybe. Anyway, are you here?"

"Yep! I'm waiting for you guys at the door. "

"Sounds good."

When Wren returned to Leah's side, Charles had left. "Ready to binge on cake?" He forced a grin that became genuine when both women perked up.

"Yes!" Leah jumped a little, excited.

"Let's go, then! Edward's waiting with the car."

It wasn't long before the trio joined Edward, and the black vehicle sped down the winding roads. Chatter and laughter filled the vehicle as they rehearsed Leah's speech to Edward.

"So, what's with meeting Spiderman? I don't understand." Edward grinned into the review mirror at Wren and Leah in the back. Due to Fiona's carsickness, the seating arrangements had switched.

"Oh, its just....something." Leah smiled, but didn't offer more. She cast a shy glance Wren's direction. Wren's breath caught, and he scrambled to hide his reaction. Still, irritation blazed inside him. He recognized the pull of attraction. His younger self would have acted on the emotions, using the excuse of following his heart. Now? He tore his gaze from her pink lips to stare out the window. Leah was off limits.

A loud pop split the air, jarring Wren from his inward battle. The vehicle jerked back and forth. Wren's head slapped against the window, and his vision diminished to gray, then cleared.

Time slowed to a snail's pace for Wren; he saw and heard everything: Leah's panicked expression, Fiona's scream, Edward cursing. Wren reached out, instinct and adrenaline blasting through him, and pulled Leah as close to himself as the seat belt would allow and covered her head with his arms. The last thing he heard was his name whispered.

Impact broke the time freeze.

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