The Speech

Chapter 2: The Speech

Cole and Nick walked into the hall wearing their blue graduation gown and holding the caps in their hands.

"Cole." A tiny voice called from behind.

Cole rolled his eyes before forcing a smile on his face and turned around. "Charlotte! What's up?" Cole asked Trying not to show that he is uninterested to speaking to her.

"It's that the way to greet your sister?" Charlotte asked smiling.

Charlotte was Cole elder sister but Cole didn't really appreciate the idea anymore. Cole and Charlotte were close when they were younger but that relationship didn't last long because Charlotte was six years older than Cole so they were not exactly on age bracket so when Charlotte started high school she became really distant and she was a lot of freedom to become a medical doctor.

"What do you want Charlotte?" Cole asked impatiently.

"You haven't been home for a week now Mom and Dad are worried." Charlotte replied.

Hmph

Cole chuckles and said "really Dad's worried? Cole questioned. " If you had said Mum I would have believed you but dad...….. I just don't buy it." Cole added.

"Really?" A cold voice said from behind Cole and Nick. Cole turned around with a frown.

"Dad! You're here." Cole said through his teeth

"Where have you been?" Philip asked coldly.

"I've been at Nick house or his apartment." Cole answered. Philip took a glance at Nick coldly , Nick waves but Philip just looked back at his son.

"Where is Mom?" Cole asked as he tries to find her around.

"She's with Phoebe at our seats." Charlotte answered.

"Phoebe is here?" Cole asked with complicated emotions in his eyes but it was just for a few seconds and nobody noticed it.

Phoebe had been Charlotte best friend since birth, infact the Sawyer's and the Kane's have been best of friends from the parents.

Megan, Cole mum and Rita, Phoebe mum had been best friends since High School while Philip and Oliver have also been best of friends since childhood and they met themselves on the same day at a night club. They even did their marriages on the same day at the same place. They gave birth at the same year but Charlotte was born four months before Phoebe but the two girls have been best friends just like their parents. But Rita gave birth to Phoebe through a C.S Operation and could no longer give birth.

Cole had a huge crush on Phoebe when he was younger that he even kissed her once but Phoebe made him swear not to tell anyone or try it again and that was the last time Cole saw Phoebe because the Kane's went back to London to take over the family business. So hearing that Phoebe was back in Seattle was kinda weird for him.

"Yes." Charlotte answered

Cole put his hands together and said "I have to give a speech you know as the valedictorian...... So I need to get going." Cole said with pride and left Charlotte and Philip standing there.

As soon Cole and Nick left Philip said " that boy is getting more arrogant."

"Just cut him some slack Dad." Charlotte said as she left too leaving Philip standing there with complicated emotions in his eyes.

Philip had always been proud of Cole because of his brain but lately he have been feeling a bit disappointed at Cole rebellious attitude.

.........................................................................................................

At the other end of the hall Phoebe and Megan were sitting next to each other while Megan was telling Phoebe about stories of she and her mother when they were younger but Phoebe mind was elsewhere and was really down, Megan noticed this and immediately stopped talking and asked her "Phoebe darling, what's the problem why are you sad?

Phoebe snapped back to reality looked at Megan and said nothing "Aunt Megan I'm just really stressed." It was really obvious she was lying but Megan was pretty smart and didn't want to ask again so she said

"Okay but shouldn't you rest I'm sure the company Is really stressing you out."

Phoebe had a very good life back at London, she had a good job as the general manager at her dad company, a boyfriend and some friends but her dad, Oliver called her into his office one evening and told her she's is coming to manage the company the Kane's and the Sawyer's just opened at Seattle. At first Phoebe was really rebellious and didn't wanted to come and she had a fall out with her dad but after her Mum extreme and pitiful pleading with her she had no choice but to come back to Seattle. Since the company is a new company she had been really busy ever since she got back.

"Thank you auntie." Phoebe nodded.

"Hello con everyone take their seats the event is about to start?" A man in his early forties wearing a black suit said from the podium, immediately everyone started sitting down in less than a minute the hall was in order and everyone was seated except the man on the podium.

"Okay thanks for your cooperation everyone my name is Eliza Finchman and I am the master of this ceremony today and I am known as Mr E by the students so you can't call me Mr E." Mr E said teasing everyone.

"The event today is going to be opened by my principal, your principal, our principal Mr.... Kevin Swiss." He continued as he introduced the principal.

A gray haired man who should be in his late fifties stood up from his seat and walked to the podium as the people in the hall gave him a round of applause. Mr E bowed down at him before stepping down from the podium leaving Principal Swiss alone on the podium.

"Good afternoon everyone...." Principal Swiss was greeting everyone when he was cut of by....

Switzerland!

Swiss Swiss!

Kelvo!

The granduands were calling him the names they call him behind his back before openly in the hall. Everyone in the hall burst into laughter.

Principal Swiss was actually embarrassed but there was nothing he could do so he smiled and said "that okay everyone." Immediately the hall was silent once again then he continued with his speech after his speech everyone gave him a round of applause as he walked down the podium.

The MC climbed up the podium smiling and said "well that was our principal with a wonderful speech and I hope that our valedictorian who is going up next can top that.

Cole who was sitting next to Nick composed and smiling on the surface but really nervous on the inside turned to Nick and asked "are you sure I can do this?"

"Yes, but it's also up to you just remember it's your speech not any other motherfucker owns it and you'll be okay." Nick said reassuring Cole.

"Thanks." Cole said

"And our valedictorian this year is no other than Cole Sawyer." Mr E said proudly as a deafing applause filled the hall.

"Mr Sawyer can you please come up to the podium please?" Mr E said politely. Cole stood up smiling and took a deep breath before walking up the podium, Mr E shakes his hand and whisper something into his ear before stepping down the podium leaving just Cole on the podium.

Cole was really nervous and he had never been nervous as this before but he had to face reality stand up for himself.

Cole looked around and said " good afternoon everyone.... Wow I'm really happy to be given this opportunity today to represent my class I can't say thank you enough." He paused for a little while before continuing "although I know every valedictorian is supposed to write a speech... I didn't write any..." They was an uproar in the people around the hall and everyone was shocked except Nick who was bitting his finger nervously.

"Wait wait wait everyone it is not that I can't write or forgot to write but I don't just want to because I feel this speech should be from the heart and not edited at home so I chose not to write but speak up mind here right now because that would be the real speech!" Cole said as he spirited. He looked around the hall again before continuing with the Speech, "High School was one of the best time of my life because that where met different people, the one's I could call my friends or the one I call enemies.... Although I met my best friend way before high school I also made good friends and worthy foes, we were like a family in this school both the teachers and the students we always gat each other backs and also stab each other backs, it's clearly the circle of life..... I learnt a lot and I also taught a lot also because that's what family does we care for each other so all I have to say here is I'll miss you all and I'll also miss all the times we spent together thank you." Cole said as he cleaned the tea droplets on his eyebrow.

"GO TIGERS!" He shouted as he left he podium. There was a thunderous applause around the hall while some of the graduate were crying.

Cole took his seat and looked at Nick who smiling proudly at him and asked " how did I do?"

"Good man real good man." Nick replied as he cleaned the tear on eyebrows.

Mr E walked up the podium and said "wow that was really beautiful from our valedictorian and I'm sure we didn't expect any less from him."

"Now onto the next event of today." MR E continued.