Things Have Changed For Me [SEQUEL TO FORM A MOUNTAIN]

Ch. 43

Kendall's idea for winter break was great, we had a lot of fun traveling up and down the state to all the parks we wanted. We ended at Disneyland before Ryan drove me home on the Sunday before school started back up. 

"I'll see you for Spring Break, yeah?" he asked. 

"But that's so far away, surely we can find something before then"

"Well you have work, and the band is getting way serious, so..."

"I guess you're right. I'll call and text and Skype as much as I can" I told him. 

"Ditto"

He gave me a deep, long, lingering kiss goodbye and drove away while I went inside to unpack. 

The final few months of the school year flew by and soon enough I was sending out graduation invites and picking out an outfit to wear to the ceremony. Mom was scheduled to get out of rehab a week before graduation so it was all perfect. I had to call Ryan and tell him the good news. 

"RYRY!" I screamed into the phone. 

"Well hello to you too" he laughed. 

"Mom is coming home!" 

"That's great!" he replied "Perfect timing"

"I know right? I can't wait for you to meet her at the ceremony and--"

"Peyton I need to tell you something" he said "You might want to sit down"

I walked over to the bean bag chair in my room and made myself comfortable "Sitting" I told him. 

"Pey...our graduations are on the same night"

I shot up out of the purple vinyl bag and screamed. 

"That's...but...they have to understand that...fuck"

"I know Pey, I know. But I have something special planned for after both of our ceremonies. A little late graduation party at my house the day after. Bring your mom and anyone you want. It's going to be great"

"Would you do me a favor?" I asked. 

"Of course, anything for my love"

"Would you come down here to help me get mom out of rehab? I need support, someone to keep me managed"

"Oh absolutely" he said "I'll be down next weekend"

"Thank you thank you thank you" I repeated. 

"Of course" he said "I'm gonna hit hit the sack, okay? Talk to you tomorrow, sugar waffle"

"Nighty night" I blew a kiss through the phone and curled up in my bed. 

We all got through our final week of high school with minimal stress. The day after school got out Ryan was with me to go get mom. She took an instant liking to him and highly approved of us. When we took mom home, he sat us both down. 

"I have some news that is going to affect Peyton's future, well, possibly affect it" he said. 

"Oh?" mom asked. 

"Pey...Panic! got picked up by a record label"

I screamed with happiness and leapt up to hug him. "RYAN THAT'S GREAT"

"That really is" mom added "I'm proud that my baby found someone so successful"

"Mommy, this means I'm not going to college" I told her "Your baby wants to support her baby all the way"

"Oh you're a smart girl, if anything it's their loss. Plus you could do online school if you really want it"

"That's kind of my plan. It's cheap and I can do it anywhere" I said. 

"I'll leave you kids to your celebrating, don't stay out or up too late"

"We won't" Ryan said as mom went up to bed. 

"You're really okay with skipping school for me?" he asked as we sat in my back yard. 

"Not skipping, just picking an alternative" I told him. 

"Right" he smiled "I love you"

"I love you too" I told him. 

We gazed at the stars for awhile before going off to bed. We did a little extra celebrating to the tune of a few condoms before going to sleep. In the morning he had to drive home to prepare for graduation and such. 

Both of our ceremonies went well, mom cried buckets at mine because I got so many honors and awards. Afterward she took me out for dessert and I caught her up on my life. I told her about the party Ryan was hosting and she promised to come. We drove out to his house the following afternoon and he greeted me with a kiss. 

"You still haven't told me the finale to your special plan" I said. 

"I'll do it now"

He took me inside the house where the party was in full swing. I hugged Kendall and Brendon before Ryan clinked his glass to get everyones attention. 

"Thank you all for coming" he said "As you know the band I have with my friends got signed to a major label so we start recording soon. I wouldn't be able to do any of this without my friends or my girlfriend, Peyton"

I smiled and waved at the room. 

"But she won't be my girlfriend much longer" he said as he walked over to me "Because I want her as my wife"

He pulled a ring from his pocket and presented it to me. I was sobbing hysterically and he wiped away my tears with a napkin. 

"Peyton Renee Aldridge, will you marry me"

I nodded and he slipped the ring on my finger. I got up and kissed him hard as everyone cheered. We spent the rest of the party getting congratulated and such, especially by Kendall and Brendon. 

"I always knew" she told me "Always"

After the party was over, mom drove home and left me at Ryan's for however long I wanted. We cleaned up and went to sit on his porch swing. 

"Peyton Renee Ross..." I said "I like it"

"Good" he said "I can't wait to spend the rest of forever with you"

"Me too, RyRy, me too"

We looked at the stars shining above the horizon; he was everything I needed, this was everything I needed. Pure and utter perfection. 

"Things have changed for me, and that's okay" I said. 

"Hmm...those could be some good song lyrics for our second record"

"Whoa boy, you gotta record the first one before that" I told him. 

"I know" he smiled "And I know you'll be there for all of it"

"Always and absolutely" I replied. 

I started to cry a little out of happiness, I'd been through so much with this boy in such a small time frame, but now we had all the time in the world. 

The End <3

You think that's REALLY the end? Haha check back soon for the THIRD part of the series. Tata...for now ;)