WHEN I'M GONE: MATTIE AND LANCE : I own no characters except for Mattie and Lance and a couple of others, the rest is Stephanie Meyer's characters...also, no profit is being received for this short side story, more's the pity 'cause it's really good if I do say so myself.
AN: Next chapter is the last chapter...I am still working on it and won't post until I get reviews of every chapter...this is directed towards four of my When I'm Gone readers yes, I am talking about you, Gaby, Ses, Hilja and Lynn.
Also, if you enjoyed the explicit...what is it that they're called? Lemons, then tell me in reviews so I can give you one last one in Chapter Ten, which is the closing chapter to this side story, a treat for me to write as a reward for all you who have reviewed faithfully on my Seth story.
For those who haven't read Seth's story before starting to read this one, I recommend you to read it. When I'm Gone: The Third Installment of the GONE saga...and on that note, if you have read the second and first installment the I also recommend you to read them...the first is Jacob's story and the second is Leah's story...oh yes, one more thing...
REVIEW!
CHAPTER NINE
Mattie smiled at the cheers coming from the stands as she walked across the stage, shaking the college president's hand as she took her diploma with the other.
Smiling at her Daddy, who was standing near the stage with a camera, she stopped to give him the chance to take the picture, laughing as she walked down the steps, taking the dozen roses from Lance as her mother moved to hug her.
"I'm so proud of you sweetheart," her mother whispered into her ear, her blue eyes bright with tears as she cupped her face in her slim hands kissing her nose before her Daddy wrapped his arms around her shoulders, pulling her into a bear hug, "You did it baby!"
"Yes, sir, I did," Mattie hugged her father, blinking back tears as he kissed her nose, looking up into brown eyes identical to hers, "I'm so glad you and momma got to come, Daddy."
"We wouldn't have missed it for the world, baby," he kissed her forehead before letting go of her, looking over at Lance with the serious look he'd used since Mattie introduced them before the ceremony started, "I suppose your young man wants to hug you too."
"I do, yes," Lance stared at him straight in the eye before looking down at Mattie with a slow smile, reaching out to pull her into his arms as he kissed her cheek, "You are amazing. I'm so damn proud of you."
Mattie laughed, reaching up to stroke his jaw before pressing a kiss to his mouth, "Thank you…I'm so glad you got to come."
"Wouldn't have missed it for anything."
"Mattie!"
She turned around just in time for Seth to yank her off her feet, spinning her around before actually tossing her towards Embry, "We did it girl! We survived and now we're going back and doing it all over again!"
"All for a better future," Embry squeezed Mattie before setting her on her feet, laughing as he reached up to straighten her graduation cap, "You, Mattie-girl, were by far the best speaker of the lot…including the president."
Mattie laughed, a blush staining her cheeks, "Thanks guys. It was a bit nerve wracking giving the speech what with you and Seth making faces at me…I was trying so hard not to laugh."
Seth laughed as he reached out to pull her into a hug, pulling out a small wrapped gift from the pocket of his slacks, his graduation gown already unzipped, "This is for you. Also, there's a huge party going on down at the rez if you want to come…bring your parents with you…and Lance, of course."
"Of course," Embry echoed, giving Lance a side glance before turning to Mattie, handing her a gift of his own, "Here you go, that's from me."
"You guys are great," Mattie tried to wipe her tears away but what with holding her diploma, a dozen red roses and two wrapped gifts, even though they were small, it just didn't work, "And I would love to get the chance to go to the party but Lance is taking us out to dinner…he made time out of his schedule so I don't think it fair to change the plans."
"We can go if you want, Mattie," Lance stepped next to her, watching out of the corner of her eye as her father frowned at him, "That is, if your parents would like to go."
"No," Mattie looked over her shoulder at him, "You already made reservations. Besides, my parents won't get the chance to know you at a party," looking back at her friends, she smiled at them, seeing the understanding in their eyes, "You guys have fun though…and I'll go by later to bring you two your gifts."
"Ah, you didn't have to," Embry said at the same time that Seth asked, "What did you get me?"
Mattie laughed, reaching out to slap Seth's shoulder, "You'll find out. Hey, have you heard from Julie? She send me a card and a gift, told me she wouldn't able to come because of her tight schedule."
"She's doing real well," Seth grinned down at Mattie, "I'll tell her to give you a call next time I talk to her."
"Do that. I miss that crazy girl and her crazy conversations."
Seth laughed in agreement, "Yeah, me too. Anyway, I gotta go. We're kinda doing a combination party for my graduation and Gabe's birthday…Leah's probably ready to go home and rest before the whole thing starts."
"How is your sister," she turned to look at her parent's, "Seth's sister is pregnant with her second kid."
"A little girl," Embry smiled as he shared that information, not even caring when Seth looked at him with laughing eyes.
"She's about ready to pop…we've got a bet going on as to when the baby's going to be born."
"What? Are you serious?"
"Yeah," Seth grinned at Mattie, "Collin's adamant the baby will be born before the tenth of this month…definitely before Gabe's birthday, which is tomorrow. My brother-in-law says the baby will be born on May tenth. I've decided to side with my brother-in-law…gotta get back the two hundred dollars I lost to Collin last year."
"You are a horrible man, Seth Clearwater," Mattie gave him a playful scowl, "Making money from your sister's discomfort."
"Hey. I'm going to open my niece's college fund with that money."
Laughing, Seth looked over his shoulder as a loud piercing whistle sounding across the auditorium, "Believe it or not, that's my mother. Time for us to go. We'll see you around Mattie-girl."
"Okay," Mattie hugged them, laughing as they ran off, neatly dodging the little groups of people here and there.
Turning, she smiled at her mother before looking over at her Daddy and Lance…oh, there they were again, silently staring at each other.
It was going to be one interesting dinner.
