We'd gotten through the opening speeches, we'd gotten through the sponsors, we'd gotten through awards and walking the stage, and now we were waiting to turn our tassels.

"Before we give our final statements, I would like to begin the closing of this ceremony with a moment of silence. Jordan Moreny was a wonderful young man and one of the best to have ever walked the halls of our school. He was taken too soon, and today we honor him." Our principal starts and I already want to cry.

The whole stadium went quiet for what felt like forever. Someway, somehow Jordan had come to be loved by everyone in that school, to have him gone is a loss for everyone.

"I would also like to call his family up to the stage, his whole family," He announces and we all just look at eachother.

We watch as his parents and Julia step up on the stage, Julia was wearing the little football jersey Jordan had gotten her at the beginning if their season.

My eyes meet his moms and she motions for me to join them.

"His whole family," our principal smiles "Arrex, Ace, Beck and Bailey Kalanski, Caleb Kazer, Emma Majoure, Tyler Powell, Amy Balenti, Wes Addams, and Lexi Pavola, please join us,"

"What?" Beck questions ad we all stand. Co just shrugs beside him as we make our ways through our rows and onto the stage, we all hug his family before looking back at our principal.

"Jordan was supposed to read a speech tonight. He won the nomination by a landslide. He reached everyones hearts and not one negative memory of him was left in this school. In his place today, we have his family, speaking on his behalf. It is an honor to introduce the man and woman who raised such an amazing young man. Mr and Mrs. Moreny"

We all watch as his mom steps up to the podium first. Holding back tear herself, she takes his dads hand and begins to speak.

"I want to start by saying that we did not raise him alone. And as much as we'd love to say that Jordan was all us, we can't because that would simply not be true. Twelve years ago, we moved here to find better for Jordan and our not even thought of yet, daughter, Julia. What we got was so so much more. We found friends, we found family. So I want to start with some thank yous. To Cheri and Adam, Aaron and Kay, and Kerry. Thank you for watching over him when we were not able to. Being working parents is never easy, especially at as demanding of jobs as ours. Having people like all of you around us, made everything so much easier. Jordan loved each and every one of you like he did us, he regarded you as his parents just as much as we were. For the late nights he was at your house, for the lessons you taught him, for the countless meals and for the family you gave him, we want to thank you. He would not have been the amazing boy he was without you." She begins and I almost break. I knew my parents were crying. They always saw Jordan as another son, and they loved him as one. He was one of us.

"He also would not have been who he was without his friends who he loved more than words can say. Amy, you were the one to drop anything you were doing whenever he needed help in English. He loved your study sessions, he loved the girl that made his best friend beyond happy and he loved the new friend he made this year." While it may have seemed like they weren't super close, Jordan and Amy had their own unique relationship. They became fast friends.

"Lexi. you were the girl he was scared to love because he thought he wasn't supposed to. Jordan never had a girlfriend before you, and boy let me tell you, he was terrified to mess up. I have never seen a look of pure love in his eyes until you started coming around." She wasn't lying either. He loved the boys and I, but Lexi he was in love with. His eyes lit up and he got excited when she was, he laughed and really showed interest in her. He was in love with her.

"Tyler and Wes," she continued "You were the two goofballs he talked about nonstop, you were two of the only people who could make him laugh like you did. With your crazy ideas and antics, how could he not" I look at the two of them standing beside my brother and see them smile sadly as tears ran down their faces. "Thank you for making even his worst days a little better,"

"From the day they met, Jordan and Emma became the fast bickering friends you all came to know and love. They were the epitome of siblings. They had their stupid arguments, but he loved her like a sister and I know she loved him like another brother," I can see Em nod out of the corner of my eyes with a small smile on her face. She was holding back tears just like I was. "Thank you for not taking it easy on him," that earned a little laugh out of the crowd and us

"Arrex, Ace and Beck. You were the first boys he'd met here, you were his first friends and grew to become his family much like the others. You showed him love much different than a parents but just as meaningful. You were the brothers he never had and will never forget. Thank you."

"Caleb," she says, smiling sadly at him "Now thats an interesting story. Our boy, actually hated Kazer when they were kids,"

Well this is the first I'm learning of this.

"He'd come home from football mad because 'that stupid' as he'd say, was mean to his new friend. But within days, Caleb went from 'that stupid' to 'my friend'. It wasn't long until 'my friend' became 'my best friend' to 'my brother'. Caleb and Jordan had a different relationship and Jordan grew to love Caleb. I'm sure Caleb was the same," she smiles looking back at Caleb who nods

"I'd just like to say, I had no idea he didn't like me when we were kids," Caleb announces a smile on his face as a tear falls from his eye. I just lean into him to somewhat comfort him as he wraps an arm around me.

He gets a laugh out of the crowd and all of us, including Jordan's parents.

"And Lastly, miss Bailey-Belle." She paused, I watch as she takes a deep shaky breath. Well damn.

"I'm sure all of you know the little spitfire she is," I can tell she's about to cry "That's what Jordan loved about her. It's what we all love about her. From day one, Jordan loved her. He would come home talking about his friends funny little sister, and eventually he was stolen from the boys by her." I can't help but smile. He was their friend first, days later he was mine and Emma's best friend. "She was there for him more than anyone and whenever he had a problem big or small, she was at his side faster than anyone else. Those two were inseparable and he learned countless things from her. Thank you for being his best friend and biggest confidante. You looked out for each other. Thank you for always looking out for our boy,"

And there I go.

And I couldn't stop.

As much as I wanted to be happy remembering Jordan and I. I couldn't be because it wasn't exactly true.

If I were looking out for him that night, I wouldn't have asked him to drive Beck home. I would've gotten Beck to stay and this would never have happened.

If I was there for him that night, I would've been able to stop the bleeding. I would have been able to lessen his pain.

If I was looking out for him a week ago today. He would not be dead.

"We would not be the people we are without them. And Jordan would not have been the young man he was without the incredible people around him. He loved this school and he loved the people in it. He believed in happy endings and true love and good things. He'd want us to look on the brighter side of things. So here we stand today, and I would like to call all of you to give thanks for that. We are all here on this beautiful day celebrating one of the biggest milestones in your young lives. Enjoy it. Jordan would want you to have fun today. So find something to celebrate, whether it be big or small. Celebrate his life, celebrate this great amazing accomplishment, celebrate your own lives. Nothing is promised, so please don't take anything for granted. My husband and I are extremely proud of the people you have all become. Thank you for everything and we wish every single one of you the best, we know Jordan would be doing the same."

And cheers erupt through the stadium.

Few by few people start to stand until every single person here is on their feet, cheering and clapping.

It was beautiful. And I am almost positive that there wasn't a dry eye in the vicinity.

"Thank you so incredibly much," our principal stated as he returns to the microphone. "As all of you may know, Jordan has a very bright future in Football. He was one of the few to lead our team to victory the years he's been here and has been a prospect for the National league for months now. He started and ended his football career right here on this field, and today I would like to announce that after a very quick deliberation amongst me and the school board, and a unanimous decision, we have decided to rename our stadium the Jordan Moreny Memorial Stadium. He is and always will be one of us."

"And now graduates, I would like to say congratulations. You've put in the work these past four years and this moment is the one you've been waiting for since you stepped foot in the building. Congratulations class! I am proud of the work you have done and I know many of you will go very far. You may now turn your tassels and call yourself official graduates!"

And with that, hats were in the air.

We did it.