Witch Hunt

Chapter 25

Graduation. A milestone in any high-schooler's life. The light at the end of the tunnel, or the end of everything you've ever known – that depends on perspective - but it's always milestone.

And we'd made it. All of us. Through long lost relatives and witch hunters, we'd made it. We'd heard nothing more from the witch hunters after that day. Generally, I tried not to think about it.

It was a brilliantly sunny afternoon. So bright that Reid complained when his mother told him that he wasn't allowed to wear sunglasses during the ceremony. She took them anyway and we all laughed. We – students, parents and grandparents – were gathered in the car park, exchanging final words before the graduating ritual. I watched, slightly enviously, as mothers fussed and fathers looked on proudly. It was a scene that was probably played out every year at every high school all over the country.

Tyler quietly slipped his hand around mine and I smiled. It wasn't a day to be cynical. I was sad that Mom and Dad weren't physically there to fuss over us, but I liked to think that they were there in spirit somehow, watching over us. Mrs Simms caught my expression and hurried over from where she'd been talking to Pogue's parents.

"Now Tyler," she began, straightening his perfectly straight robe and brushing imagined dirt from his face. He somehow managed not to fidget. "Remember to stand up straight and…"

"Mom!" he broke in. "I'm eighteen! If I haven't learnt to stand up straight by now I don't think your reminding is going to do any good. Just… calm down. It'll be fine."

"Right. Yes," Mrs Simms caught herself. "And Summer," she turned to me, reaching to adjust my cap. Mr Simms arrived magically at her side, just in time to take her hand and saving me from her fussing. I smiled at him.

"We're so proud of you both," Mrs Simms continued. I could see her hand twitch and Mr Simms grip tighten. "Of all of you. You have no idea what it feels like to be here today, to watch you all graduate."

"We have a small present for both of you," Mr Simms took over from his wife. "We realised you would want to celebrate with your friends afterwards, so we thought we would give it to you now."

Mrs Simms pulled an envelope from her purse and handed it to Tyler. He withdrew his hand from my grasp to open it. I watched his blue eyes light up and his mouth curve into a familiar grin as he took in the contents.

"Mom, Dad, you shouldn't have," he managed, though he was undoubtedly glad they had.

"What?" I asked. He grinned at me.

"Tickets. To Europe! For both of us!"

I'm pretty sure my mouth fell open at that point.

"We thought you would like to decide on specific destinations yourselves, so these are just the trans-Atlantic flights. When you decide where you want to go we'll organise the rest." Tyler's father told us.

"I… thank you," I stumbled. "It's really wonderful. But it's too much. I…"

"Now now," interrupted Mrs Simms. "We've talked this over with your grandmother, and she agrees you both need a break after… everything. There's no…"

We became aware that the rest of the milling crowd was settling to silence, and that the Provost was speaking.

The graduating class moved away from their families, still chatting and laughing. Mrs Simms retrieved the envelope from Tyler for safekeeping and we followed our classmates, gradually forming into an alphabetical line. Caleb stood at the front, even before Aaron Abbot. Spenser's golden boy was, as expected, valedictorian. The guy could do no wrong.

Dan stood in front of me – we'd agreed that D was definitely before S, and that it had nothing to do with who was older.

"Did you like your present?" he whispered over his shoulder as Caleb settled at the podium.

"You knew?" I asked.

"Gran told me. Reid and I are going road-tripping instead. His Mom bought him Porsche."

"Damn."

"Yeah," Dan chuckled quietly. "We've gotten ourselves in with some pretty spoilt company."

"I was beginning to think that."

"Good company though. It's going to be an awesome summer."

I glanced back along the line to where Tyler stood, chatting nervously with Kate. He looked up and caught me staring. We grinned at each other.

It sure was.

THE END!! It's been epic people. Thanks to everyone who stuck with the story despite my patchy updating. Sorry there's no fluff in this chapter, but I didn't really want it to be too long. Let your imaginations run wild about the post-graduation celebrations though!

I'm kind of planning a Twlight story at the moment, so look out for that :)

girlonthehill