Chapter Text
The seniors all graduated that year and summer rolled around and to say things around town where crazy was an understatement. Apparently when you're presumed dead for a month and then suddenly appear out of nowhere the whole world and its wife wants to speak with you.
Alex and I's names were over news channels across the world, everyone telling the story of how we solved the murders of countless peoples and put a billionaire behind bars.
Everything that Christopher Hinkle did was revealed, including his part in the assassination of Darren Parker 4 years ago, and he officially became the most hated man in America.
The years of data my dad collect on him was unmissable in court and the feds said without that he would have been a free man.
We explained to our friends and family everything from the very beginning, how Alex and I had started investigating my dad's murder, Em wasn't happy that didn't her help since she's living with us too but we had to explain the dangers of it all.
We told them about finding out the factory was actually his drug-making facility, and all about the code name CH actually stood for multiple things. By the end of it, everyone was in total shock which was expected when you're told two 17 year-olds were solving a murder without anybody knowing.
Kelley showed me the box my father left for when I turned 18 and I watched the video too. I'd be lying if I said I didn't cry my eyes out at it but it held to give me some closure in everything that happens to him.
She tried to give me back the necklace but I gave it back to her, it was what my mom always wore on her neck since dad gave it to her so I wanted Kelley to have it. Something special for us to keep in the family
Alex and I were awarded the FBI medals of Valor which are 'presented in recognition of an exceptional act of heroism or voluntary risk of personal safety and life'.
We had a little ceremony with a few close family and friends where Trevor was the one to give us the medals.
Summer progressed and life in our small little town slowly got back on track, life started to become normal again.
Alex and I went to a lot of therapy after our whole ordeal, I had multiple surgeries on my leg to fix the damage the car crash had done to it and everything Hinkle did while we were in captivity while Alex got a lot of psychiatric help. Sometimes we went in together but most of the time it was alone.
It was a struggle to move on but family and friends where there to support us along the way and I didn't feel the need to push them away and handle things by myself, something I would have done a little as 6 months ago, it made me realise how important it is asking for help when you need it.
We spent as much time as we could with everyone, wanting to make this the best summer of our lives and we did just that. We played in the garden for hours on end, it didn't matter what it was we found some way to make it into a competition. We had to show our seniors what they'd be missing when they left
Alex and I were key witnesses in putting Christopher Hinkle away and we spent a long time going to court and giving our statements, eventually, all the trauma was worth it because he got life without patrol.
Jaelene and her mother moved across the seas to Australia in hopes to get away from the backlash they were facing. I would feel sorry for her if it was anybody else but this girl made me swallow drugs and stabbed my girlfriend in the locker room so for all I'm concerned she can join her dad behind bars.
After school started back up in September is was quite a few of our last years. I was still the captain of both my teams but I had to sit out the first few months since I was doing rehab for my leg and all the bones that had been broken and healed wrong inside me.
I took that time to finish off my Criminology degree and managed to get that in the middle of my senior year.
When I did play sports again it felt like I had never left, the soccer team went on to win Nationals for the second time in a row and so did the football boys. I apparently broke some state records and my names now in the history books which is pretty cool.
Since Jaelene is no longer a resident at our school I somehow claimed the title of most popular person and both my teams finally got the recognition they deserved, Freshman coming in knowing that if you were on the soccer or football team you were classed as 'cool'. They also knew I had a no-bullying rule which helped to keep the school and enjoyable place
Alex and Serv won prom king and queen at homecoming which was well deserved since they soon became the school's favourite couple and they're both heading off to Berkley together in September, a little like Kelley and I.
The end of the year comes, too quickly for my liking, and I graduate high school with a 4.0 GPA along with Kelley who was the class of 08's valedictorian.
It was amazing seeing Kelley grow throughout the year, according to Alex she was back to being the bubbly and silly person she was before I arrived into town and I got to fall I love with her all over again.
I published all of my father's findings on the revolutionary drug and it was named the greatest discovery in medicine since the last century which is pretty amazing. I know dad would have been proud to help all the people he did, the people who are in moms condition especially.
And since I'm the only Parker left on the planet by blood, I inherit all of his fortunes he's getting from this drug, which is a lot, way too much for an 18 year old to have so I give most of it away to charity and into my high school now Hinkle isn't there to supply it with money.
Kelley and I are still going to Stanford while Alex is heading off to Berkley, it was a hard thing for both of us decide since having gone through that awful experience together we were very close. But we can't live in the past anymore and going to separate schools will help us both move on.
It was hard for Mom to let us go to College, ever since we got back home she didn't leave our sight and the thought about us both being across the country from her was difficult but she knew she couldn't keep us forever and at some point needed to let us go.
Currently, Kelley and I are unpacking all of our stuff into our new dorm room at Stanford. I got us the best one the school could offer much to her dismay but if we're staying here for 4 years I want it to be nice.
I flatten down the last empty box and collapse onto our new bed already exhausted from a the travelling and moving we've done today. Kelley soon joins me and cuddles into my side
"to think that almost 2 years ago, I was the new rebellious girl, shutting people out, biker chick with tattoos, rocking up to my third school if the year. Yet here I am now with the girl of my dreams playing the sport I love at a school my mother went to" I say kissing Kelley on the cheek
"when you out it like that, it's been a pretty crazy ride," She says letting out a small chuckle
"do you remember when you first walked into maths class and sat down next to me?" Kelley asks with a small smile on her face, grinning up at me
"of course I do, I sat down next to you because you looked like the only normal one in the class" I reply with a smirk on my face
"Well keep that in mind because I have a little present to celebrate the milestone we've reached in our life and relationship" She says walking over to her suitcase and pulling out a small box
She hands it to me and I open it intrigues as to what it could be. I take the lid off and pull out a silver pen with the words 'always your freckles' engraved down the side
"I love it babe," I say smiling at it, remembering our first interaction together
"now I don't have an excuse to ask you for a one in class," I say putting it behind me ear as I lean in to kiss her
"I love you," She tells me, a small blush creeping up on her face
"I love you too freckles" I reply, ready to start my future with this girl.