The entire senior class of Francois Dupont stood nervously at the bulletin board Monday morning. Younger students and a couple parents stood with them, whispering encouragement. The seniors were finally going to know if they passed or failed their final exams.
Juleka stood next to Alya, allowing the girl to hold her hand. The parents of the Light Music Club had work that day, so they would be hosting family parties tonight or during the week. This left the five students waiting in front of the board as teachers brought ominous boxes to a table in front of the locker rooms.
She looked down the row, Alya holding Nino's hand, who was holding Marinette's hand who was holding Adrien's hand who was holding Chloe's hand who was holding Sabrina's hand, and on the list went, seniors all glued together in anticipation for their results.
Finally their principal emerged, Ms. Bustier and another teacher standing on either side of the board with papers in hand. Everyone tried to look as neutral as possible.
"Seniors of Francois Dupont," Mr. Damocles started, "Today, marks a turning point for you. Today you will know if you get to take one step forward or a step backwards in the world. But I would like to say we are proud of you, and wish you the best wherever your journey's take you. We hope you will remember your time here fondly, not just our teachers and the learning, but your friends here as well."
Juleka felt Alya squeeze her hand.
"Now without further ado, teachers, if you please."
He gestured to the teachers below, who had already started posting the papers on the bulletin board. The moment they stepped aside, students moved in closer, scanning the board for their names.
Juleka searched the list for her friends.
Adrien Agreste - Admis
Chloe Bourgeois - Admis
Alya Cesaire - Admis
Marinette Dupain-Cheng - Admis
Nino Lahiffe - Admis
The Light Music Club cheered with the rest of the seniors who passed, Adrien pulling everyone into a group hug as they jumped around. By the looks of the paper, everyone in the senior class passed. "Now, if the seniors could stand in line please, the teachers will give you your diplomas."
"I'll be back in a bit Julekat," said Alya as Adrien let go of the group so they could get their diplomas. He rushed to the front, battling with Kim and Alix to be in front while the other students fell into line after them.
Juleka waited for her seniors to return, a couple of other Junior students waiting around to further congratulate them.
One by one her seniors returned to her, showing off their diplomas to each other.
"I thought Adrien was first or second in line," commented Nino, the group looking around. Chloe just looked smug, Juleka wondering if she knew where Adrien had gone.
"MARINETTE DUPAIN-CHENG!"
Everyone turned their heads to see Adrien standing on the stairs, slightly elevating himself from the crowd.
"SINCE THE MOMENT I MET YOU, I THOUGHT YOU WERE THE CUTEST, KINDEST GIRL I EVER MET!"
"YEAH! Get some Agreste," cheered Kim, Alix and Ondine shushing him. Adrien turned bright red.
He mumbled something under his breath before coming down the stairs, Alya and Nino held Marinette so she couldn't run, but she didn't even look like she wanted to.
"Getting to know you," he stared again as he walked towards her, the crowds parting for him, "Has been one of the best experiences of my life so far. So even though we'll be an ocean apart I would like to continue to get to know you better and make a way for us to spend the rest of our lives together."
They could hear several students squealing in excitement as Adrien got down on one knee.
"So Marinette Dupain-Cheng, as selfish as a rest as a request as this may seem, will you wait for me?"
Chloe handed over a ring box to Adrien, the boy opening it to reveal a heart shaped pink fluorite with small diamonds surrounding it.
Juleka was certain Alya and Nino gasped louder than Marinette, subconsciously letting her go. Marinette immediately jumped towards Adrien, the boy standing in time to catch her. What she said was inaudible to all, but the way Adrien squeezed her tighter and spun her around must have been a yes.
The entire school cheered louder than any school ever could at graduation, Ms. Bustier probably cheering the loudest of them all. Rose nearly fainted, caught by some of her fellow Adrienette fan club members.
Eventually Adrien let go of Marinette to put the ring on her left ring finger, the girl giggling as he did. They stared at the ring for a moment before Marinette pulled him by his collar to kiss him, the school crazier than before as Nino fainted, Alya catching the poor boy. When the couple finally pulled apart, they were both very red, trying to hide their faces in each other as they hugged.
They were quickly pushed away by Chloe for them to run, Adrien taking Marinette's hand and running away. Alya looked over to Juleka, gesturing to the direction to the club room. Juleka nodded, moving to help Alya hold Nino as they carried him to the club room.
Marinette and Adrien were already inside, both giggling at the stunt they just pulled.
"A little more warning next time Agreste," chided Alya as she set Nino in his seat. She grabbed his collar and took off his hat, using it to slap him awake.
"But that would ruin the surprise. The only reason Chloe knew was because I needed help with the ring."
"And you didn't ask me? Or Juleka?"
"I had Chloe and Sabine's help. Or do I call her maman now?"
"We aren't married yet," Marinette elbowed Adrien, the boy just smiling like he won the lottery.
"Yet, someday, once I finish school, get a good job, I promise I'll come back for you."
Marinette smiled, hugging Adrien. The boy returned her hug with a tight squeeze.
"Have you decided where you'll go," asked Juleka?
Adrien looked up and smiled, "Georgia Tech. So only six hours difference. Then for Master's I'll apply again to the Tsinghua University in Beijing, which is actually where Plagg and Tikki live."
"What'd I miss," grumbled Nino as he finally woke up.
"Marinette and Adrien are getting married in, I don't know how many years."
Nino scowled, looking up to Adrien.
"I already talked to Tom and got the full speech, and from my dad."
"And Mr. Agreste already warned me too, and Nathalie, and maman, and papa," groaned Marinette.
"You knew," gasped Adrien.
"I had a feeling. You are terrible with your hints. That and once everyone knew, no one could really keep a straight face around me."
Adrien groaned, collapsing into a chair at his somewhat failed surprise.
"Well, so long as you know," said Nino, turning back in his seat.
Everyone at the club sat down in their seats, sighing in contentment.
"Do we have any tea," asked Juleka?
The group smirked at her, the girl blushing in embarrassment.
"I-it just seemed like it would be nice to have some tea now."
The group smiled, Adrien standing up and pulling the tea pot out of the cupboard and a couple water bottles. Their special cups he gave them were at home, the regular tea cups remaining.
Marinette stood up and pulled from an oversize bag a box of various pastries, setting them on the table.
Adrien brought over the cups, still waiting for the tea to steep.
Juleka looked around the room as she waited. Their memorabilia wall was still intact, Alya taking a picture of it to send Tikki along with the photos from their trip. She looked back around to see Nino had moved to sit at the drum set he was leaving for Ivan, everything repaired for the next drummer of the Light Music Club.
What was odd was the other three instruments were still in place.
"Your instruments are still here?"
Nino smiled, Juleka looking around at the others who all smiled.
"We wanted to do something for our favorite Junior as a," Marinette looked to Adrien for the right words, "thank you gift. For being the best underclassmen any senior could have."
One by one, Juleka's seniors took their spots at their turned around her seat to watch them perform, trying her hardest not to cry as they started.
Alya was the first one to start singing.
Hey, if we could put our names
On a piece of our memories and preserve it
Wouldn't that be the perfect "treasure"?
Marinette jumped in, taking over the vocals.
Right, these excitement-colored days
That have passed have filled our hearts
To their full capacity
Nino then started singing, Juleka trying hard not to giggle at his deep voice.
The familiar uniforms and indoor shoes
The doodles on our whiteboard
Adrien took over for Nino, giving the boy a smile before looking back to Juleka.
I guess we have to leave them behind
At the entrance to tomorrow
The entire Light Music Club joined in.
But hey, we met one! A wonderful angel
Graduation isn't the end
We're buddies from here on out!
Pictures of us together
Our matching keychains
Will shine on forever
And always, we thank you for your smile
Marinette started singing again.
Hey, the cherry trees
Seem like they've grown a bit too
Though its too slow for you see
Alya then started the next lines.
I'm sure, the sky above us saw it all
All the times we tripped
But also all the times we walked on till the end
Nino sang again.
The wings of the notes we played
Overflowing gently into the hallway
Then Adrien same in.
Until it piles up to be cuddly
It'd be fine if it stays the way it is now
The music club sang together again.
But hey, we were touched! By a lovely angel
This place will never change
You could almost say, "I'm home!"
Our email inboxes
Circled dates on our calendars
We were able to encounter an extraordinary dream
So we say thank you to music
The boys sang together.
The platform at the station, the path by the riverside
Then the girls sang together.
Even if we're apart, we can look up at the same sky
Everyone sang together
And sing in unison!
But hey, we met one! A wonderful angel
Graduation isn't the end
We're buddies from here on out!
If you say you really love us
We'll answer that we really, really love you!
There's nothing else we've forgotten
We'll be together forever and ever!
Juleka immediately stood up and applauded, the Light Music Club members smiling at each other before looking back at their Junior. Their smile then turned to looks of concern.
Alya was the first one to step forward, removing her guitar. She wiped her thumb along Juleka's cheek, the girl hardly noticing she had been crying.
"Thank you," whispered Juleka, Alya immediately hugging her and crying as well. One by one the light music club seniors joined the hug.
"We may not be here, but we'll always be best of friends," assured Alya.
The rest of the seniors nodded.
"You can't get rid of us that easily," added Nino, everyone giggling. They slowly let go of the hug, everyone wiping away tears.
"I think the tea should be ready now," said Adrien, heading over to the tea pot. Everyone took their seats, Adrien pouring everyone the tea in their cup.
"So technically speaking, if it's only a six hour time difference between us and you guys, we could have dinner/lunch tea parties," said Marinette, helping herself to a macaron.
"Oo, yes, I haven't scheduled my classes yet, but I could totally try to find a time when we could all have tea together," said Alya.
"But having tea wouldn't be the same without Dupain-Cheng sweets," groaned Adrien, helping himself to the largest dessert he could find.
"I could teach you before you leave, so you can at least make cookies or something," offered Marinette.
"Yes, cooking lessons at Marinette's," cheered Nino.
"And you're always welcome to grab snacks from maman and papa for the light music club," added Marinette, patting Juleka's hand.
"Oo, can we sneak back on campus then and visit, just for the snacks," asked Nino?
Thus the conversation went, Juleka sitting in silence and soaking up every moment. This wasn't the end of their friendship, she doubted she could escape even if she tried.
The seniors have officially graduated, and Adrienette is officially official ... two more chapters to go.
