**Coming from Australia I am unsure of American sayings, history or places. I have researched and fact checked using the internet to try to ensure I am as close as possible, I do however sincerely apologise if they are wrong.**
**Characters and some story lines are owned by Veronica Roth**
TRIS – 1969
"…..and as I look out into our graduating students today I think back to my own over 30 years ago and want to share the important life lessons I have learned since…"
I shift uncomfortably in my seat as I listen to Mr Jackson, the schools principle, address the audience of family and friends for my graduation. The small fold up metal chair rubs irritably against my rear as I wish the entire ceremony were over. Mr Jackson is known for his excruciatingly long boring speeches and I can't help but slouch back against the back of the chair with an internal moan.
The fact that they had also chosen the one spot on the entire school ground with no shade also added to my discomfort as I sit in my black graduation gown under the hot sun. Adjusting the neck line I feel a small bead of sweat slowly run down my chest between my cleavage before pooling in the bottom seam of my bra. I have to resist the urge to scratch when it starts to tickle my skin. I also have to bat the tassel of my mortar board just like a playful kitten every time the wind blows it against my cheek adding to my annoyance.
"…. I encourage you to be the future leaders, truth seekers and healers in our community as you head out in these next steps of your life…"
I feel a soft nudge on my arm and look to see my friend Robert smiling at me. I suppress a laugh as he rolls his eyes and brings his hand up giving the universal sign of blah blah blah. We have been neighbours and friends for as long as I could remember along with his twin sister Susan. He hooks a thumb to his sister sitting on the other side of him and I lean forward to see her looking over her shoulder smiling into the crowd.
Everyone always expected Robert and I to become more than 'friends' but we both knew different. That's all he was, a friend. He was my anchor through High School and someone who I cherished. I was the only one he told when he joined the Army and when his family found out they tried their hardest to talk him out of it. With the war in Vietnam it wasn't a very safe career choice, but his mind was made up and he leaves for basic training next week.
Susan was different. While Robert and I enjoyed adventure and fun Susan was always more of a rule follower. In fact sometimes I often wondered if she was just my friend because of my brother. Her ideals for her future were to marry and raise a family, not that I think that's a bad thing but it certainly wasn't something that I had on my radar at the moment.
Watch he mouths and slowly creeps his hand over, hovering just above Susan's knee. With one quick motion he slaps it down causing her to jump with a squeal as she swivels back around and throwing her brother a death glare. We both have to press our mouths together tightly to fight the laugh that threatens to escape.
Caleb? I question.
Caleb. He confirms with a nod of his head.
I risk a quick glance over my shoulder to scan the crowd and look for my family. After a few moments a familiar mop of sandy blonde hair catches my eye. Leaning back a little further to get a better look I see the smiling face of my brother Caleb. I can't believe that he had returned from University just to see me graduate today. He has always been smart. Always asking questions and challenging the answers. Even though barely a year separated us in age he had graduated high school 2 years ago and received a full scholarship to Columbia University. I smile back and have to laugh as he pulls a goofy face in my direction. Susan and my brother have been 'dating' since he came home last summer much to the delight of both of our families.
Sitting beside him is my mum. She was a doctor who worked part time at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, the rest of her time was focused in her work with the free clinic that she had helped established. It was a medical service that provided care for those that didn't have medical insurance and couldn't afford to see a doctor, mainly families on welfare or low income and the homeless. I really admired and respected the selflessness of her and when I was younger I wanted nothing else but to be just like her.
My father sits on the other side. He was a lawyer and had his own small firm not far from home. Most of his clientele was made up of drawing up business contracts, wills and tax law, but he had also earned a reputation of taking on environmental cases, slum lords or government issues. Helping the little guys so to speak who couldn't under normal circumstances afford a lawyer, so he acted on their behalf for practically nothing. Another display of selflessness.
I give them a quick wave and smile before I turn back around and try to focus on Mr Jackson, who amazingly enough, still hadn't stopped talking. My fingers instinctively reach up and start to fiddle with a fire pendant hanging around my neck. It was a sweet 16 gift two years ago from my Aunt Victoria and Uncle Harrison who lived in San Francisco.
"Ladies and Gentleman. I give you the graduating class of 1969."
Finally I mouth to Robert making us both laugh.
Like a well-oiled machine from the countless practices we have had to endure over the last few weeks, the entire senior grade stands and row by row we make our way as our names are called to the stage to receive our diplomas.
"Hey shorty," Robert says as we walk towards our families, "I thought that would never end."
"I know. Here can you hold this please while I get out of this stupid thing."
I hand him my diploma and start to tug at the big black gown in an effort to find some much needed cooler air on my body. Underneath I wore a new sleeveless sweater dress, another present from my Aunt and Uncle in San Francisco for graduation. They wanted to buy me a combined formal dress for graduation and an 18th birthday gift so with some quick wheeling and dealing on my part I received it in the mail last week ready for today. With its snow white bodice and sky blue, lime green horizontal striped skirt it was quickly becoming my new favourite thing to wear. I had saved my allowance for months to buy the matching pair of slick white go-go boots that covered my entire calf and stopped just about an inch underneath my knee.
"I love that dress Beatrice," Susan says as she falls into step with us.
"Thanks. Aunt Victoria and Uncle Harrison sent it to me for graduation," I reply as I finally manage the last button of the black gown and tuck my pendant under the turtleneck.
With it still hanging from my shoulders a gust of wind blows the two edges apart and it whips past my body, flying like a cape behind me. With a laugh I plant one hand firmly on my mortar board to make sure I don't lose that and grab my diploma back from Robert with the other.
"Oh just look at our babies Natalie," I hear Mrs Black say as we get closer, "so grown up now."
"Hi Mrs Black, Mr Black," I greet them with a smile.
"Hello Beatrice, you look beautiful. Doesn't she look beautiful dear?" she asks turning to her husband who nods in agreement.
"Thank you," I reply and watch as she moves in to hug Susan and a slightly crimson cheeked Robert.
"Well look at you shorty."
Turning I see Caleb standing next to my mum and dad. My family, all smiling with pride towards me.
Walking straight into my mother's arms I feel the warmth of her embrace immediately, "you do look beautiful," she whispers in my ear before placing a loving kiss on my cheek.
"I'm so proud of you Beatrice," my father says as he also pulls me in for a hug.
I turn to Caleb expecting a brotherly hug from him too, instead I only get a playful toss of my tassel. He is clearly amused by my reaction because he does it again and finds delight each time I move to hit his hand away.
"Knock it off! And stop calling me shorty!" I say as I finally manage to make contact with his skin.
"OW!"
"You deserved that."
"So what are your plans for this evening?" Mr Black asks as they move over to join our group.
"Well we are taking our young graduate here out for dinner at Riccos," my dad says as he moves over to shake Roberts hand.
"Oh I just love Riccos. Best Italian food in town," Mrs Black responds as she starts to pull her camera out from her oversized handbag.
"It was Beatrice's choice. She has wanted to go there for years," Mum answers.
Riccos Italian Restaurant did serve the best Italian food in town, or at least I had heard. We have never actually been, the closest I have ever come was walking past and looking longingly into the large window as the smells beckoned for me to come in. My mouth was watering just thinking of coming feast.
"Photos," Mrs Black declares.
Pulling the lens cap off her camera she immediately fusses over us making sure she has a picture of everything and everyone. At one point she even cornered a poor unsuspecting passer-by to take one of both of our families.
"I'll send over copies Natalie as soon as I get them developed," she says when she is finally satisfied.
"That will be lovely, Thank you Erin."
"Well, congratulations again Beatrice. We have to get going," Mr Black says in an effort to round up his family.
Moving over to give Robert and Susan another final hug, Roberts of course lingers a little longer.
"Make sure you come and see me before you leave," I whisper in his ear.
"You know I will," he whispers back.
"I'm just going to walk Susan back to their car," Caleb calls over his shoulder "I won't be long."
I nod my head and with a final wave we part ways heading in different directions to the parking lot. I watch as my parents hold hands and walk a few steps in front of me. Although not normally showing affection in public they must be happy today to be holding hands.
"So Roberts off to the Army next week," Caleb says as he catches up to me and swings his arms effortlessly across my shoulders.
"Yep, it's what he wants."
"Are you going to miss him?"
"Not like that idiot, we are friends. Yes I'm going to miss my friend. We've always hung out together."
"Is that why you look like you've just sucked a lemon?"
"Yes and no. I'm just, I don't know. You're off at Columbia, Robert is off to basic training and then God knows where, Susan I'm taking it will be following you to New York and all my other friends will be going off college. I'm just feeling a little lost, stuck in limbo. I don't know how to put it into words Caleb."
"Well take the year off that mum and dad have offered. Use it to figure out what you want to do. I'm sure that no matter what you decide they will love and support your decision."
It was true, I had been accepted into some colleges but I hadn't decided what I wanted focus my study on, nothing appealed to me. My parents, seeing this, decided that I could take 1 year to decide. The only condition was that I had to work part time with dad in his office. I considered it a fair trade and jumped at the opportunity.
"I miss you," I say leaning in giving him an extra hard squeeze.
"I miss you too shorty," he says with a grin jumping out of the way from my hand. "Come on I'm hungry. Last one to the car has to do my bag of laundry that I brought home," and with that he takes off before I even realise what's going on. Both of us running past my grinning parents, so much for our moment.
He beats me to the car by a hair, both of us arguing over who was the loser and therefore responsible for the pile of dirty laundry at home. Our playful banter continues all the way to the restaurant with my parents refusing to take sides. This was when I loved my family more, at times like this it showed just how close we were.
When we finally arrive at Riccos and pull into the parking lot I already feel my tastebuds jumping for joy and can't get out of the car fast enough. Needless to say that I'm waiting impatiently at the entrance while the rest of my family seem to be taking their sweet time to get there. Especially my father who has to check and recheck making sure the car is locked. I know this because I watch every movement while bouncing in my boots.
"A little eager I see my sweet Beatrice," he says with a laugh when he finally joins us.
Swinging open the door he holds it open for us and I hear the ring of a small bell announcing our arrival as I walk past his smiling face with a skip. Still bouncing in my boots I wait as he gives our name and the waitress shows us to our table. I can't help myself but give a small gleeful clap when she hands me the menu.
"So sweet Beatrice, what are you having?" dad asks as he looks over his own menu.
"I have no idea. I want to try everything."
My eyes are darting from one delectable dish to another as I scan the writing loving how he chuckles at my enthusiasm. Once we had placed our orders my mother turns her attention to Caleb.
"So school is going well Caleb?"
"Yes mum. I've been offered a position to assist some of the teachers with the freshmen next term."
"That's good to hear son," my dad says as he makes way for the waitress to place his drink on the table.
"I'm really excited about that. Professor James seems to think that I should consider going for a teaching position there once I graduate."
"That is wonderful," mum says approvingly, "and how are things with Susan?"
I see him slightly blush with this question and give a nervous wriggle in his chair. Picking up his drink and taking a sip it seems to me as though he is avoiding this topic of conversation.
"What's happening with Susan Caleb?" I can't help but ask with a smirk. Enjoying his shut up glare.
"Well, they are going well actually," he places his drink back onto the table, "really well."
I see my father raise a querying eyebrow, obviously catching onto Calebs nervous wriggle as well. He looks at all of us staring at him, leaning back his head and looking towards the ceiling he gives a slight huff.
"OK, just don't say anything yet or Susan will kill me," he says looking at each one of us individually, gauging our response, "I asked Susan to marry me and she said yes."
With this news I feel my mouth slight hang open as my mother claps her hands together, her eyes tearing.
"Really?" I ask, not sure if I heard him correctly, "you and Susan are going to get married?"
"Yes really shorty, is that so hard to believe?" he says playfully throwing his napkin at my face.
Snatching it away and throwing it back at him I give a little laugh, "No Caleb. It's not hard to believe, I'm happy for you and Susan,"
"Congratulations son, I take it than that she will be flying back with you to New York?" I hear my father ask.
"Not straight away. She'll be here for a few months to plan the wedding and will come with me after."
"And when were you planning on having it?" my mother asks finally finding her voice again.
"End of next term. We don't want anything fancy, just something simple. Family and close friends only."
"And I take it you haven't told her parent's yet?"
"No we were going to tell everyone tomorrow morning before I leave. I'm seeing her after dinner thought to give her the ring."
"Just the ring?" I can't help but tease, this of course earns the napkin in my face again.
He is given a slight reprieve from our questions when the waitress comes with our order and my attention turns to the feast that I have been waiting so long for. Talk continued with plans of the wedding, me starting next week working at dad's office, mum's clinic and Robert joining the Army.
When I am finally full I lean back in my chair and stick out my tummy, running a hand over the now slightly swollen lump. Feeling Calebs finger give it a poke I bat it away and sit up straighter to avoid any further poking.
"Well I might just pop over to the ladies room before we leave," mum says as she picks up her napkin from her lap, dropping it on the table behind her half empty dish.
"It's time to make a move home anyway so I'll just go fix up the bill and will meet you all there," my dad replies as he also tosses his napkin onto to table before standing up. He moves to pull my mothers chair out for her so she can go to the ladies room.
When they had both left the table I feel something cold slide down my chest, reaching down through the top of my dress my fingers fumble around. Of course this raises an inquiring eyebrow of Caleb.
"I feel something crawling on my," I offer with a laugh.
I finally find the cause and slowly pull out the chain and fire pendant that I was wearing. Looking down at it in my hands when it I get it past the top of my clothes I see that it had come loose. Running my fingers along the chain I can see that the link at the clasp had broken.
"Oh my chain broke," I say holding it up for Caleb to see.
He takes it from me and looks it over, his ever inquiring mind working to see if he can fix it.
"The whole link needs to be replaced," he says finally.
Leaning over to look at it again I can see that there is no way we are going to be able to give it a quick fix tonight.
"I'll just leave it here so you don't lose it. I'll take you to the jewellers tomorrow before I leave to get it fixed for you," he says as he lays it down in front of me on the table.
"Thanks Caleb," I say and run my finger across the chain again, smoothing it against the table cloth.
When I was satisfied that it was straight enough my attention goes back to the ladies room door, watching my mother return to the table.
"Right, looks like your dad has finished with the bill. Are we ready to go?" she says standing behind her chair and picking up her handbag from the floor.
I nod my head as I grab my napkin from my lap, tossing it onto the table. With one final sip from my drink I follow everyone outside ready to head home. A full stomach and my graduation behind me I was ready for a nice long soak in a hot tub and bed.
Caleb waits a few steps for me to catch up and he hooks his arm through mine and we walk together through the parking lot towards the car.
"Did you remember your pendant?" he asks when we were halfway there.
Absently my hand flies to my throat, I can't believe I almost left it behind.
"I left it on the table."
He leans in and peaks a kiss to my cheek.
"I'll meet you in the car. Don't take too long ok."
"Anxious to get to Susan?"
He gives me a brotherly flick on the arm.
"Don't be impertinent."
"Imp what?"
"Didn't you just graduate. I don't know what they teach you young kids these day."
"Obviously how to be impertinent."
"Come on go and get your pendant. I'll let mum and dad know."
I walk back into the restaurant and head to our table, a rush of gratitude flows through me when I see that the waitress hadn't bussed it yet. Picking up the dirty napkin that I had used I find my necklace still lying where Caleb had left it. I smile and quickly grab it from the table before starting to head back out to the parking lot where my family is waiting in the car.
When I walk past the window I notice a movement out of the corner of my eye and look over. There is a man standing there casually leaning against the window outside, a cigarette hangs from his mouth. He stares at me with small dark beady eyes that are unwavering when as I look at him. They seem to be boring straight into the depths of my body, right to my soul. He is tall but his body is hidden underneath a long black trench coat with the collar pulled up around his neck. In the night shadows his pale face looked scared, not like cut scares but crater type scares. Like his skin was dimpled all over his face.
Everything about this man causes a shiver, an ice cold shiver to vibrate right through to my bones.
"Are you OK?"
I pull my eyes away from him to look at the waitress. Her kind young face looking at me with concern.
"Yes, sorry I forgot my pendant."
She gives me a smile before making her way to our table to start clearing it. I look back to where I had seen that man and he was gone. An ominous feeling creeps over my body causing my skin to break out in tiny bumps. I have to hug myself and rub my hands up and down my arms just to try and sooth the sensation.
With one last look around inside the restaurant I move to the door, the little bell above gives another tinkle as I step through onto the pavement outside. Glancing up and down looking again for this man who I don't see I blow out a relieved breath and look over to my parents' car. Mum is leaning in placing a kiss against my father's cheek and my brother is sitting in the backseat pulling another goofy face at me. I smile at him and roll my eyes, watching with a smile as my dad looks over to my mum and goes to start the car. Hearing the first turn of the engine I take a step towards the vehicle. That's when it happens.
A blinding flash of bright light as I feel heat course across my exposed skin a hot rush of air throwing me backwards onto the ground, knocking the wind out of my lungs. A deafening sound screams through my ears making them ring seems immediately follows. I struggle to catch my breath, my hands instinctively move to my ears to try to block the sound. I don't hear it but I can feel my throat burn from my scream as I look at the fire ball that now consumes the area where my parents' car used to be.
SNEAK PEAK AT THE NEXT CHAPTER….
"Attention unit 489, please respond to suspected bomb explosion at Riccos Italian Restaurant."
Zeke picks up the two way "Roger dispatch we are on our way."
With one flick of a switch the sirens wail,
"Fuck I love this feeling,"
I know exactly what he means, the adrenaline pumps every time the lights flash and siren wails.
"Sweet Jesus," I hear Zeke mutter as we pull in close to Riccos
I slowly nod my head in agreeance "Sweet Jesus," I mutter too.