The Dilemma of Parker

Chapter2

Parker stood when her name was announced and headed to the microphone. Even her peers could see that something had changed in Parker. Her smile wasn't her true smile and no one knew why. Parker read her speech and did what she was suppose to do while starring at the empty seats her family should of occupied. At the part in her speech where she was suppose to thank her family she stopped.

Parker looked up from her paper and stopped reading. "You know what. I want to say to everyone, we did this ourselves, we got here on our own. Others have supported us but they couldn't do it for us. We did it, we should be thanking ourselves for all we have achieved because as they saying goes, you can lead a horse to water but can not force them to drink. So instead of thanking friends, family that couldn't be bothered with me, I thank me and I promise myself this. I will find me, I will find the real Parker Jones and where I belong because it's not here. Thank you" Parker said before going to sit back down.

William was shocked, he turned to Parker to see she now held herself differently. She wasn't looking at the empty seats at all, she was watching her classmates cheering at what she had said while the teachers tried to quieten them down. He shook his head slightly amused at what Parker had just done and how she finally called her family out, even if they weren't here to see it.

The rest of the ceremony went on and as Parker's name was called to be presented with an award, Mrs Andre beamed at her achievements which were read along with announcing how Parker had got a full scholarship to uni to study and wishing her well. William was presenting the award and couldn't be prouder of the girl. William had seen Parker grow up and treated her like a little sister. William was an only child so loved spending time with the Jones'. "I'm so happy for you Parker" he whispered when he pulled her into a hug.1

Parker smiled for the mandatory photo but again the smile didn't reach her eyes at all. She was hurt and angry and felt let down. "Parker you deserve this. Celebrate your victory" William whispered and tickled her side until finally a genuine smile was on her face. The cameras flashed just at the right moment and William also had a huge smile on his face. He was glad he got to share this moment with Parker and that she wasn't alone even though her family had let her down.

As the ceremony drew to a close Parker threw her hat up with her classmates and wished she was far away from her family. Parker moved around thanking her teachers and taking pictures with some friends. All she wanted to do was go and hide in her room and pretend today never happened.

William tried to get to Parker but was continually stopped by different people wanting to talk. William was going to make tonight special for Parker if he could just get to her. Most of the girls in the class had flowers or a teddy but not Parker, that didn't sit well with William at all. He didn't have romantic feelings for the girl, he genuinely saw her as a little sister.

When William managed to get away he couldn't find Parker at all. He was upset with himself that he couldn't make tonight all about celebrating her so decided to head out. When he got to his car he saw Parker sitting at the bus stop and he knew what he had to do. William called a local restaurant and booked a table while asking the manager who he knew, to grab a bunch of flowers explaining his little sister has just graduated. The woman, Nancy, promised to organise it all.

William pulled up in front of the bus stop and rolled the window down. "Little Jones, hop in. I am taking you out to dinner to celebrate" William called out. Parker just shook her head no, she just wanted to curl up in a ball at home. She didn't know if her family were hurt or not. "Come on Parker, you know you want to" William coaxed. Parked again shook her head no, she honestly just wanted to go home.

After a few more minutes of William trying to coax Parker, she finally agreed getting in the car. She wouldn't admit it was because the bus was cancelled and she didn't want to be out in public though. "Ok Parks, I'm taking you to dinner to celebrate and you are going to tell me about this uni offer" William said before driving to the restaurant.

As Parker and William pulled into the restaurant she was smiling again. William was a goof ball and couldn't help but crack jokes all the way there. He saw the hurt in Parker's eyes and he didn't like it. William still hadn't had a chance to message Leon about ditching his sister for a piece of arse. "Hey William, please don't say anything to my brother" Parker stated as she stepped out of the car.

William lead Parker into the restaurant wanting to find out why she didn't want her family to know. "You don't want your family knowing you graduated?" William asked. Maybe Parker hadn't of wanted them there. "I don't want them knowing about uni. I haven't decided if I'm going" Parker corrected before adding, "they all know about me graduating, I'm just not important enough for them to attend".

William was stunned but didn't say a thing to Parker. He wanted tonight to be about her achievements. As they got into the restaurant Nancy was waiting with a bunch of bright yellow and orange Gerber's and a little graduation bear. "Hey William this must by miss Parker the graduate. Well done" Nancy beamed handing the teddy and flowers to Parker. Parker couldn't stop the tears, this is exactly what she wanted from her family and here a stranger and her brothers friend, were giving her what her family hadn't bothered to do. "Thank you" Parker mumbled out wiping her eyes hoping no one noticed. William did and he was glad he could do something special but also annoyed that he had to step up because her family couldn't. William reminded himself that tonight was about Parker and making it special for her.