Living in a House Full of Ten Crazy Boys(completed book 1)

Chapter: 29

The principle was now reaching the R's name group, and my hands began sweating with nerves. I started bouncing my legs up and down with anticipation, until I felt Colton squeeze my hand, and I looked up to see his face only a mere inch away from mine. He gave me a sweet, genuine smile, then leaned down and kissed the top of my forehead. I closed my eyes and breathed out a content sigh.

I don't know how he manages to make me feel so delicate, and loved, but he does, and it makes my body tingly with mixed emotions. Suddenly, Colton's hand unlaced from mine, and I listened to the announcer say

"Colton Stroud."

Colton's smiled warmly down at me one more time, while I cheered along with my other classmates. Then, I thought to myself:

'Oh no! No, no, no, I'm next, what do I do? Just waltz up there!? Oh my gosh Cleo, don't trip, I swear, do not trip, I will kill y-'

"Cleo Tatum."

People began cheering as my body moved on it's own account towards the big stage. Because of all the attention, my face was flaming with red, and I kept my head down, focusing on the ground below me.

I reached the stairs.

'Ok Cleo, you've got this, one step at a time.'

That's exactly what I did. One by one, I made it up the four dreaded stairs, and once I reached the top, I grinned like a Cheshire Cat. I walked over to the principle and accepted my scroll, the made my way down the other set of stairs and sat next to Colton again. As I sat down, Colton immediately grabbed for my hand, then he said

"I knew you could do it, next time, don't doubt yourself."

~~~~~~

The rest of the ceremony went by pretty quickly, and once everyone was done, we all went to go greet our family members. Colton and I speed walked over to the huge Stroud family who had taken up quite a number of chairs in the crowd. We both grinned as we approached them, and right when I stepped in front of Jacklen, she pulled me in for a huge hug, much like the one she gave me when I first met her. I nuzzled my face into her shoulder, breathing in her strong perfume as she said

"Aw Cleo, my sweet, sweet girl, I am so proud of you, so happy for you! If your mother and father were here to see you, they would be even more proud, I just know it."

Suddenly, that made me start crying. I don't know what came over me, the tears just started running. Graduating from high school is a big moment in someone's life, and my parents weren't here to see it. Jacklen pulled me tighter towards her, and I gripped onto her shirt for support. After a minute or so, I finally stopped sobbing, and I said

"Thank you so much Jacklen. Thank you. You have no idea how much you mean to me. Taking me in and taking care of me like you have just means the world, and I know my parents would be very thankful."

She pulled away and held my shoulders at arm length, then with wet eyes, she said

"Aw, babydoll, thank you. I love you Cleo."

I smiled at her, and replied with

"Love you too Jacklen."

I brought my hands up and wiped under my eyes, because no doubt, I've got mascara running down my cheeks. Then, I said

"I probably look like a wreck right now."

"Well, maybe just a little" she smiled, then added "why don't you run to the restroom real fast and go clean yourself up before people want to take pictures with you, ok?"

I nodded at Jacklen, then turned around and began making my way to the bathroom. I only got two steps away, before I was engulfed in a huge bear hug. It lasted about five seconds, and I pulled away to see a grinning Eli. I smiled up at him, then he said