Gate-Crashing Graduation

"Darrrrrrling!" River heard the voice echoing across the great hall in the most dramatic of fashions she didn't have to turn around to recognize that it was Amelia's mother. River turned around and plastered a sweet smile on her face. Amelia ran over to where her parents were standing and hugged them both. They were early. Her parents were both there to support her on the most important event possibly of her life and they were both early.

River looked around the room, it was filling up quickly all of the parents wanted the best seats. River wasn't sure if either of her parents were going to be able to make it. She was cheered up though as she saw Rose walking in through the main door and waving at her. River ran over to her.

Rose wrapped her arms around her, "How are you feeling?" Rose asked.

"Worried" River admitted. "Have you heard from either of my parents?' River asked hopefully.

Rose shook her head, "I'm sure they will make it if they can, but even if they can't they will be so proud. You look great in the robes too. Anyway I better go get a seat before they fill up, I will try to save two for your parents" Rose smiled softly at her.

"It's ok I doubt they are gonna come" River told her as the two parted and River went back stage to prepare. The head mistress of the college walked towards them a broad intimidating women that looked shockingly like a man in drag stopped just in front of River.

River felt Amelia as she hurried over to stand next to her just in time before the head Mistress started to speak, "Now the rules are as follows, everyone will go out in alphabetical order once your name is called. You will walk over to me, smile at the audience, shake my hand and then take your diploma, within your diploma will be a sheet of paper that sheet of paper is for your eyes only and that will tell you the career you have been given. You may not show your results to anyone. Not yet anyway. Congratulations Class" she said with out a hint of sincerity.

River seemed to be waiting ages to be called up on to the stage, it was doing nothing to help with her nerves. Amelia was called first River watched as she walked on to the stage and moments later when she walked back and eagerly opened her diploma. River knew that Amelia wouldn't be able to tell her anything but River hoped that she could at least see from Amelia's facial expression if she was pleased with the decision. She watched her intently and was sure she saw a hint of a smile. So maybe she hadn't got what she had wanted either but it didn't seem that she had gotten anything too bad all the same.

River heard her name called and she walked on to the stage, she looked at the audience and smiled her eyes lingered on the empty seats next to Rose but she gave her friend a sincere smile all the same, at least she had someone there for her not everyone was so lucky. Her headmistress congratulated her and out stretched her hand for River to shake. River shook it, cold and firm River thought just like the woman herself. River took the diploma and thanked her head mistress and then she walked back stage.

She looked around the room back stage and saw a mixture, some people looking really smug and pleased with themselves and some looking like someone had shot their mother in front of them. River looked over at Marley Saints who was looking mighty pleased with herself, Shame River thought to herself. River looked over at Amelia and she was now looking quite happy too which River thought was a relief, and then she took a deep breath and looked at the diploma in her own hands.

She opened it and inside there was a neat folded antique looking piece of paper she knew what that must be. She opened it expecting all of her questions to be answered.

They weren't.

Her note just read: Keeper

River looked up and saw a woman walking towards her in a jet black leather jacket.

She took River's arm, looked her straight in the eyes and said "We need to go"

"What do you mean we have to go? What about the after party?" River replied.

"You're a keeper now you don't get to celebrate with your friends I'm afraid" the odd woman told her as she began to tug River by her arm towards the back of the building. River passed Amelia and caught her eye but Amelia was busy happily chatting with another of the students and didn't seem to think anything of it.

They got to the back door, the woman in the leather jacket walking so quickly that River had to run to keep up.

She opened the door and continued hurrying forward, they were in the staff carpark and that was when River spotted her mother. She was standing there in Black jeans and a black t-shirt she was wearing giant sunglasses and standing on the other side of the car park. She looked at River, she didn't look happy.

"That's my mom she must have came to see the graduation, I need to speak to her" River said trying to pull away from the woman in the leather jacket.

"There isn't time" the woman told her. River looked back towards where she had seen her mother but she was gone.

A black van pulled up in front of them and opened the side door in the back, "Now get in" the woman told her.

"Why should I? I don't even know who you are?" River said stubbornly.

"My name is Gwen now shut up and get in the car" Gwen told her and with that she basically picked River up threw her inside the car and pulled the door shut behind her.

River sat there in pitch black darkness the back of the van was boarded up, separating it from the front. Then the van started to move.