Sophitz

Graduation

Unsurprisingly, Sophie stumbled a little bit and heard someone snicker. Probably Stina. But, Sophie didn't fall, and to Sophie, that was an accomplishment. 

Magnate Leto smiled an shook her hand in a firm, strong grip. The crowd applauded and people whistled and screamed. Magnate Leto handed Sophie a scroll and escorted Sophie to the other side of the stage where she would give a short 2 minute speech.

Sophie took a deep breath and smiled.

"Hello," she said into the microphone, "I am honored to be standing with and graduating with so many talented, amazing prodigies. I am incredibly grateful to have this opportunity to give a special thanks to my friends, family, and supporters. First off, Grady and Edaline have encouraged me every step of the way and I am so proud to say they are my parents. Also, I would like to thank my crazy awesome friends who have been supportive and dealt with my mood swings. None of this would have been possible without them. Thank you."

Sophie hoped with all her heart that that didn't sound too mature or too cheesy. The crowd cheered loudly and she could almost feel Grady and Edaline's praise. Sophie walked off stage and waited patiently in a chair. Every few minutes, another chair would be filled by another official graduate. Soon, Keefe joined her.

"Good speech, Foster. But mine was better," Keefe said.

"I wasn't listening, sorry."

Keefe our a hand over his heart and "fainted" into the vacant chair next to her. "How could you, Foster? I even mentioned you in my speech! And you didn't listen? I am truly offended."

Keefe pouted in his chair and Sophie decided to be clever and use Keefe's words against him, so she said, "you know, you are adorable when you pout."

Keefe perked up in his chair. "You think I am adorable? Aww? Foster loves me!!"

Ugh. So much for clever.

"Whatever Keefe."

Keefe snickered, but Sophie shushed him when she heard Fitz's name called. Sophie couldn't see him from backstage, but she could hear his speech:

"I have spent eight years at Foxfire, dreaming about this moment. And now here I am. I have grown so much since level one and that is all because of the amazing teachers and mentors, my parents and family, and all of my friends. Without them, I don't know where I'd be. Actually I do: I would be retaking a few grades!"

The audience chuckled and then Fitz went on.

"I am speechless and I have no words to describe how much my friends and family mean to me. I know that was cheesy, but it is also true. Standing up on this stage is an accomplishment I wouldn't have been able to achieve if it weren't for them. Thank you."

The crowd clapped and clapped. They obviously liked Fitz's speech. Or they overall liked Fitz. Probably the latter.

One minute later, Fitz sat down in the other empty chair next to Sophie.

"How did I do?" he asked.

"You did alright," Keefe said, "but, like I told Foster, you didn't beat my speech."

"You did fine," Sophie reassured him, "Keefe is just jealous of all the loud clapping and screaming you got."

"Yeah," Fitz said, "I noticed that people clapped louder than normal for me."

"Are you teasing me?" Keefe asked.

"Nope. Just stating the facts."

"Eh. Believe what you want, Fitz. I happen to have a whole group of admirers that follow me around the school."