Chapter 270

I walked past all the reporters and made our way inside to our seats. We sat down with the rest of the students, saying hi, and settling in before one guy turned to me with a sad look.

“I don’t agree with what they are doing to you, Amy.” I looked, really looked, at Chad and raised an eyebrow. “Look, I know we aren’t really friends, and we have just had class together, but I know everything you and your dad have done for all of us. I may not like you personally, but your family doesn’t deserve this bullshit.” He shook his head. “We all talked about it, and all of us agree. They are painting a target on your back. This is happening today for a reason. I just wanted to warn you and to let you know we all stand beside you.”

I stared at him for a moment, trying to figure out if he was serious. We had never been close. Sometimes I thought he even hated me. I think my face conveyed that when he smiled again. “Like I said, I don’t like you, but you helped me, and my family. We won’t stand by and watch it happen.” He met my stare, and I could see he was serious. But everyone?

“Everyone?” I was skeptical, but as I looked around, I made eye contact with everyone from our program. But then others turned to me from other programs, and one by one, they all bowed their heads. Almost our entire graduating class turned and nodded. I felt my eyes fill, and I had to turn away. My eyes turned back to Chad, and he nodded. He went to say something, but he was interrupted by Vince making his way onto the stage.

He stood in front of the microphone and looked over at the crowd. His eyes landed on me for a second and I saw triumph on his face. He thought he won, and he was standing there preening on the stage like a prized wolf. He pushed his chest out a little more and smiled. He was so sure he had won, but we would see who was smiling after everything was said and done.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, please settle. We will begin the graduation ceremony shortly. I will say, after the speeches and before the grads walk, we have a guest speaker and another set of announcements that aren’t on the printed programs, so bare with us, please.” He smiled before he stepped back, motioning for a teacher to come up to start the ceremony.

We sat while everyone delivered their speeches. First the teachers, then the head students in each department. Then came the valedictorian speech. The teacher from the Art department was standing at the podium. “Please stand and join me in the pleasure of calling on our school’s valedictorian. This student held the highest GPA, but she also helped this student body so much during these last few years. From helping support group causes to volunteering her time to help with teachers' scheduling, she has demonstrated not only a dedication to this school but to our kind. She is a pillar of trustworthiness, steadfast dedication, and honesty.” This speech was pointed, and I felt a little vindicated. You could watch Vince’s face take on a hint of confusion as the teacher went on. Obviously, he didn’t know who this speech was about, but I did. “Please, allow me the pleasure of introducing this year’s valedictorian, Amy Maclean.”

The room erupted into applause, and Vince’s face fell. Apparently, the teachers had hidden this tiny, minor fact from him. His eyes connected to someone behind me, and I looked over my shoulder to see Brandon with furrowed brows. He leaned in close to my back. “You’re the valedictorian?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I was told last month when we got our final results.” I smiled as I stood up and walked up to the podium. The reporters were still in the back, and they were filming everything. “Welcome, class of 2021.” I looked out at the crowd. “I won’t keep you long, as I am the last in a million speeches, way more eloquently prepared than my own.” A few chuckles could be heard. “While I did have a full speech prepared, something happened today, and I think my time here would be better used addressing that.” I heard Vince get to his feet, but I ignored him. “Everyone here, the students, the faculty, have been witness to the past few years, but the rest of our world hasn’t, so I can understand what happened today. But I refuse to let this stand.”

“Amy, this isn’t the place.” Vince came up next to me, and I growled. He froze with his hand halfway to the microphone.