“Anything else.”
“Yes,” I said blushing, “Love.”
“Love for who?” he said with a grin.
“Love for me,” I blushed even redder.
“And only you,” he said wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me against his chest. He kissed me with such passion and force that I thought my head might burst.
We finally made it out of the forest and into the clearing where the entrance to the Coven’s headquarters was hidden. It was raining now and the black mustang was waiting like a silent warrior. I slid in and Jonathon took off into the night speeding down the wet roads as I silently wept for the life that was supposedly mine but seemed to be anything but.
Chapter Eight: Graduation
I couldn’t believe the day had come. Graduation. You wait your whole life for this moment thinking that it’s never going to happen. But here it is already upon me. This should be a happy day for me. Both my parents and brothers should be here. But instead my mom is locked inside a house so she doesn’t kill anyone, my dad is dead, and my brothers are doing extra classes over the summer and don’t have the time, though they say their sorry they have to miss it. Instead my vampire family will be there. Patrick, Amelia, and Joseph, will be watching from the crowds as I get my diploma for the first time, and Danny, Mason, Diana, and Jonathon get theirs for like the one-hundredth time or something like that.
But instead the day feels ominous. Tomorrow evening we leave. Everything is prepared and has been for weeks. The Coven is going with us. I haven’t spoken much to Isaac since that night. I know I should but I can’t help but fear an episode like last time. He keeps trying to talk to me and I keep avoiding him. It’s like playing cat and mouse. Although I don’t know whether I’m the cat or the mouse.
“Knock knock, Kylie are you ready?” Diana asked in her sing song voice as she danced lightly into my room clapping her hands together in glee.
“Am I?” I asked turning away from the mirror.
“You look perfect,” she said running her fingers through my perfectly straightened hair. She looked like an angel in her silver cap and gown. The silver fabric flowed elegantly down her thin shoulders. She made the simple piece of fabric look runway worthy whereas on me it looked like a rumpled mess of cloth.
Her blond waves bounced lightly as she flitted around me looking for stuff to add to complete my look. Diana had no doubt already been to see Jonathon, Danny, and Mason, to make sure they all looked their best and they probably had refused her offers. But I would take whatever she offered me if I could look half as good as she did in her cap and gown. Her beauty was absolutely ridiculous! How any one person, vampire, could be so beautiful, was beyond me.
“I think we should add a hint of silver shimmer to your eyes to pick up on the gown and make your green eyes pop. Ooh, and this shade of lip gloss will look lovely on you. Some bronzer for your cheeks and your look is complete,” she said, turning me back around to face the mirror.
I gasped. “How did you-?”
“It was simple. You just needed a kick to give your look an extra notch. Now you’ll be the prettiest girl there. The guys, especially Jonathon, won’t be able to take their eyes off of you. And to think you’re only wearing a cap and gown. Imagine what you’ll look like on your wedding day.”
“Wedding?” I gasped. What was with everyone talking about my wedding? I wasn’t even engaged yet?
“Well, you know, it’s bound to happen sometime. You and Jonathon are soul mates,” Diana said like, ‘duh’.
“Right,” I stuttered. The thought of marriage had never crossed my mind but it seemed to cross everyone else’s. And now that she said it, did I even want to get married? I shook my head. Of course I did. I loved Jonathon more than most people loved in a lifetime. Of course one day I would marry him.
“We’re going to be late,” said Diana looking at her watch. As she turned her back to me I saw that she had tiny silver stars woven into her hair. I followed her out of Jonathon’s room; I had kicked him out so I could get ready, down the attic steps, through the hallway, and down the grand staircase. Everyone, of course, was waiting for us, like always.
The boys all looked handsome in there black cap and gowns, especially Jonathon. We reached the bottom of the steps and he grabbed me up in his arms and kissed me. He dipped me down while he kissed me and my cap fell off. I heard what sounded like, “How sweet,” come from Amelia and Diana and “Yuck,” from the boys. Jonathon had never kissed me in front of his family so this was a weird experience all around. Jonathon broke off the kiss but kept his arm around my waist. My cheeks were bound to be a bright red. I was so embarrassed that he had done that in front of everyone. I looked up at him to see what he was feeling and he wore a goofy smile but seemed to be the happiest he had been in a while. It was probably partly to the fact that we were going to be leaving but I would enjoy his good mood nonetheless.
“Shall we get going?” he asked the rest of his family. They all nodded and murmured their answers as they bustled around.
“Patrick, did you get the video camera?” asked Amelia like an eager soccer mom.
“Of course, and the regular snapshot camera, too,” he said holding both up for her to see.
“Good. You only graduate once. Oops, well you know what I mean; you only graduate for the first time once after that it’s never as exciting,” she smiled and patted my arm.
They all seemed upbeat and I didn’t want to spoil the mood by making it clear, yet again, that I won’t ever be repeating a high school graduation, because I won’t be becoming a vampire. I knew they all hoped, especially Jonathon, that I would change my mind. But it just wasn’t going to happen. I didn’t know of anything in the world that I wanted more than my humanity. I don’t want to stay young forever. I want to grow old and age and be like everyone else. Live the life I’m supposed to live. I know it will be weird when I get older and look like Jonathon’s mom and then his grandma and then his great grandma but we’ll take it in stride. We’re soul mates after all. We should be able to make it through anything and come out okay.
Patrick clapped his hands together loudly breaking my trance.
“You guys better get a move on. You don’t want to be late,” said Patrick.
Jonathon looked at his watch. “Crap, we have to go now!”
We almost made it to the door when Jonathon turned around.
“Hey, Uncle Patrick? Aren’t you giving a speech this year?” asked Jonathon.
Patrick looked startled. “Am I?”
“I thought so,” said Jonathon. “You do every year.”
Patrick looked thoughtful for a minute. “No, not this year. I had said I would but when Kylie came into the picture I found it to be important to sit in the crowd as a proud father. I’m proud of all of you, not just Kylie.” He added, his eyes sparkling with happiness.
We finally managed to make it out of the house. I figured the way they all drove we’d make it in plenty of time but if we had any more hold ups we were going to be late.
We all piled into Danny’s Hummer H3. Diana, Jonathon, and I sat in the back and Mason sat up front with his brother.
Danny, of course, sped down the road. It amazed me how he managed to navigate the small streets and bustling cars in his huge vehicle. It looked like a monster truck next to the clown cars that most Italians drove. I appreciated the small cars for the gas saving capabilities but they really were entirely too small.
We made it to the school parking lot in plenty of time just as I had predicted.
I took in the castle like structure for what may be the last time. The building was so breathtaking. It never failed to amaze me. It was the kind of building you saw in history books and may never see in real life.
We went into the lobby area of the school and then a sign directed us to the auditorium. Pretty much everyone was already there waiting in their cap and gown.
Everyone was milling around, talking, with friends. A group of girls w
ere passing around year books and crying. At one point I would have found their behavior silly but now I wanted to join in and cry with them. This was the end of my youth. Of, maybe, even my life. Today had a much different meaning to me than it did for most. For the others it marked the beginning of their lives and for me it marked the end.
I saw Isaac a little ways away with his friends. His wounds were almost healed but his eyes still had a purple tint, a small cut on his lip, and his nose was still swollen. A part of me felt bad about his wounds but then again I didn’t. After his behavior that night he deserved what he got.
The dean clapped his hands together.
He said something in Italian and everyone bustled together so I followed suit. Jonathon’s hand weighed comfortingly on my back.
We all got quite and came further into the room. Anticipation hung thickly in the air. This was yet another right in our passage of life like learning to walk and talk. Only this was bigger. This was the real world we were going to be heading into. Jonathon moved his hand from my back and took my hand instead. He brought it up to his lips and kissed it lightly and then instead of letting it drop he held onto my hand tightly. It was as if he was afraid that if he let go I’d get swallowed up by the crowd and Selena would grab me up and carry me away from him.
“I will call you by your first initial, and then last name. You are to line up in a single file line in the alphabetical order that I call you in. There will be no goofing off. After you are in order we will take a stroll down these hallowed halls one last time and then we will proceed to the outdoor auditorium.” He cleared his throat. “Now on a lighter note. I wish you all the best of luck with your futures. Whether it is the universities or travels I hope you all find the greatest joys in life. Each and every one of you is special and I am proud to have known you all! You are all good people and you deserve the best! Good luck!” he cleared his throat again. “Alright enough talk. I’m going to start calling names so be paying attention.” He cleared his throat yet again and I wished I could give the poor man a cough drop.
Jonathon thankfully had whispered his entire speech in English in my ear so that I wasn’t lost.
He started calling names and the students lined up accordingly.
He finally made it to the ‘L’ names and mine was the last to be called.
“K, Lyons.”
I stepped forward behind a guy that was in my math class.
The line continued to get longer behind me. I heard the Pulmers join the line. More people continued to join the line and after what felt like an eternity the Dean finally called the last name.
He clapped his hands together again.
“Gli studenti seguono difuori. Soggiorno in formazione,” said the Dean. Students follow me outside. Stay in formation.
“Okay students follow me.” I assumed he said since we all started following him. Thank God I wasn’t the first person in line. This would be an utter nightmare. We went out the back of the building onto the stone pathway down the steps to the outdoor auditorium.
The outdoor auditorium was basically like an American football field. There was stadium seating and that’s where the parents were sitting. Chairs were set out along the field for us to sit on and a stage platform had been set up for us to walk upon to get our diplomas.
I followed the people in front of me to the chairs. Like our caps and gowns the chairs were black and silver. I took my seat and let out a breath. I had made it this far without incident.
The moment was here. When you’re a kid you never think this moment will come. But here it is. It happens so quickly. In the blink of an eye. Sometimes, even now that I have Jonathon, I wish I could go back to being a little girl playing dollhouse and Barbie dolls. But you can’t go back. What’s in the past stays in the past. You can’t go back and you can’t change it. It just is. You grow up and you move on. You make a new life and new memories. You meet new people and fall in love. Life continues.
The first of the names was called. And from there it went quickly. Isaac and his twin sister Isobel got their diplomas. Isaac looked preoccupied and Isobel seemed to have a permanent scowl upon her face. She always seemed most unpleasant the complete opposite of Isaac. My name was called and I bounded up the platform, a huge smile on my face, with claps from my family, the only family that matters. Joseph was standing and let out a big war hoop that completely embarrassed me Patrick and Amelia were standing and clapping for me too. They looked like proud parents. It made me feel so much better. I felt like I had a family behind me. People that truly care about me the way they should.
I shook my hands with the Dean, took my diploma, and moved my tassel to the other side. I just couldn’t stop smiling. I felt so happy for the first time in a long time.
I took my seat again and watched as my family got their diplomas.
Danny took his with a slight grin, Diana danced onto the stage like a ballerina, Jonathon took his diploma with a huge smile and winked at me, Mason bound onto the stage with much exuberance and a cocky smile plastered to his face. He blew me a kiss and sashayed off the sage. I couldn’t help but giggle.
The rest of the class got their diplomas and we all threw up our caps. From there we were free to disperse to meet our family and friends.
I spotted Jonathon coming towards me and ran at him. I crashed into his hard body, I was sure to have a bruise all down the front of my body but I didn’t care, wrapped my arms around his neck, and kissed him.
“Whoa! Where did this come from?” He asked after breaking the kiss.
I was breathless but I managed to huff out, “I don’t know when our last moment might be and I want to take advantage of every second I have with you,” I said tangling my fingers into his silky soft blond hair.
“I won’t let anything ever hurt you,” he said fiercely.
“I know but things can happen that are beyond your control,” I said looking away from his penetrating gaze.
“I will die to protect you.” He said with passion.
“Jonathon, there is no life without you. You are my life,” I said trying to get him to see reason.
“And you are mine.” He said giving me a quick kiss.
“There you two are,” sounded Amelia’s voice.
Jonathon put his arm around my waist and pulled me close to his side. I noticed Amelia held a camera in her hand.
“Smile!” she said just before the flash of the light blinded me. I was sure I had blinked and probably looked like a complete goober in the picture especially when I was standing next to someone who was so absurdly gorgeous.
“Okay, now a group picture! Mason get over here!” she said scolding her son. Diana, Danny, and Mason joined Jonathon and me. “Mason! Smile and stop goofing off!” Amelia scolded him yet again.
“Come on mom! These are supposed to be the best years of my life!” She couldn’t help but laugh since her sons were stuck as teenagers for the rest of their existence. Every year was the best years of their life.
“Just smile!” She said shaking her head with indignation but with humor in her eyes.
“Cheese!” said Mason as loudly as he could causing some other families to stare us down for the unwanted interruption. “Sorry!” he yelled even louder not helping the situation in the least bit.
Amelia continued to rearrange us and take more pictures. It was all so normal that for a while I forgot they were vampires.
The field began to clear out so we decided to leave as well. There was no need to stay any longer.
“We’ll meet you at the restaurant,” said Patrick as he, Amelia, and Joseph began to head in the direction of their cars. After the afternoon I had, I was still on a high, and what Patrick had said didn’t click with me until we were all back in Danny’s hummer.
“Wait, restaurant?” I asked stupidly as what Patrick said finally clicked into place in my head. “Why are we going to a restaurant? None of you guys eat. Well, except for maybe Danny and Mason but that’s not really eating it’s m
ore like inhaling.”
Mason and Danny grinned.
Jonathon chuckled, “True, but Principessa you do eat. This is a special day for you and Patrick and Amelia wanted to make sure you experienced it as so.”
“That’s nice of them,” I said.
The rest of the car ride was mostly silent. We drove a little longer before Danny soared into a parking lot and the car screeched to a stop. I think I left stomach behind me. I put my hand to my head in attempt to steady myself and keep myself from being sick all over Danny’s car. He probably wouldn’t appreciate it that much.
I saw Amelia’s Mercedes SUV already in the parking lot. I didn’t see Joseph’s corvette anywhere so I assumed he had ridden with Amelia and Patrick.
The place looked ordinary enough.
Until I stepped through the doors.
Oh, God what have these vampires done to me?
I tried to turn around to leave but Jonathon caught me around the waist with his stone cold arm. “Let me go,” I said trying to dislocate myself from his grip.
“No, not so quick. We are going to have a nice dinner as a family. There is nothing for you to be fussy about.”
“Fussy? Jonathon, a drink probably costs a small fortune here! Let alone a meal! I’m not letting your family throw away a bunch of money for a meal that only one person will eat! This is beyond ridiculous! Let’s go to freakin’ McDonalds!” I said running out of breath.
“Shhh, principessa, you are going to give yourself a stroke. Your heart sounds like a little baby bird’s. Don’t get yourself into such a tizzy. Danny and Mason eat human food to,” he defended.
“They eat like wolverines so I’m not sure you can call that eating. It’s more like devouring.” I said in all seriousness. But he laughed anyway. “Come on, Jonathon, this is silly!”
“Kylie, be a good sport. They want to do something special for you. They think of you as their daughter. If your family was here don’t you think they’d want to take you out for a nice meal in celebration?” He asked; giving me the puppy dog eyes that melted my heart. I didn’t miss the fact that he avoided the words mom and dad.
Forbidden (Fallen Series Book 2) Page 9
