Jake peeked through the curtains, her cap slipping over her eyes as she searched through the crowds.
This is the same Jake from 3 summers ago, still with spiky hair and a slim figure. Even her graduation gown was bulked out over cargo pants and three shirts.
"Where is she? Where is she? Where is she?" she muttered to herself under her breath. Suddenly, she screamed as an arm snaked around her waist.
"Hey boy." a voice breathed into her ear. Hamilton. A considerably older-looking Hamilton, with more stubble, more muscles, more intensity in his stare, more common sense, and a whole lot more love for Jake. If that were even possible. She smiled a secret "I love Hamilton" smile, and turned around.
"Not here! We've got through 4 years without anyone guessing that I'm a girl and we're together. There's only a few hours left to go! We can't ruin it now." She hissed at him.
Hamilton arched an eyebrow. "No plans to come out to the world now then? They can't touch you, you know. Officially, you've already graduated – this is just the ceremony of giving you your papers. Oh, that reminds me." he dug a deep into his gown, producing a little purple tube. "For you." Jake smiled curiously as she took the tube from him, and opened it quickly. Out fell a roll of paper. Unfurling it, Jake grinned as she read the flowing script covering one side. "Jacqueline Annabelle Pratt" had graduated from "Rawley Academy".
"Oh wow!" she squealed, throwing her arms around Hamilton's neck and hugging him, provoking a few odd looks from some nearby classmates. "I mean," she removed her arms and slouched, stuffing her hands into her pockets, "Uh, thanks dude." Leaning closer to him, she whispered excitedly, "This means that I can actually go to college! I won't have to worry about my papers saying Jake Pratt from Rawley Boys! Do you have any idea how much I love you?!?!"
Hamilton laughed. "Uh, no problem. Dude." He said, blatantly mocking her. Pretending to straighten her cap, he breathed into her ear "You can thank me later…" Jake blushed, swatting his hand away with her own.
Scout and Will appeared, as if from nowhere, taking Hamilton's attention off her for a second.
"Yo peoples!" that was Scout – always the loud one, saying the wrong thing or just talking purely for the sake of it. Jake grinned, watching him punch Will playfully at something the blonde boy had said. No, Scout hadn't changed a bit.
Will on the other hand…Will was a strange one. Always a pensive guy, he'd turned into a sensitive man that everyone respected and loved – although love wasn't really on the agenda for him right now. He'd been accepted on scholarship into every college you could think of, and was having a hard time making up his mind which one to attend.
"Jake, Cameron's out there trying to find out where you're gonna sit. I told her you'd come and point it out to her. That OK?" He rubbed his freckle-dusted nose with one hand.
"That's fine, thanks Will. I'd better go find her." She scurried off to find her sister, who wasn't hard to find. "Cameron!" she called, causing her small sister to turn in her direction, long ginger hair rippling at the movement. She was a beautiful child, with copper freckles and clear green eyes, and a toddler's love for everyone.
"Found you!" Cameron exclaimed, grinning as Jake scooped her up in her arms and swung her round. "Where's Mommy? And where you gonna sit? So I can see you."
Jake smiled at her sister – four now, and getting far too big to pick up! "I'm sitting riiiiiiight there." She pointed at a seat near the back of the stage, which were all arranged like the Coliseum, all going up. "So you'll be able to see me, right?"
"Right!" Cameron grinned, and hugged her sister. "Love you. I'm going to sit down now."
"Love you too." Jake gave Cameron one last squeeze, then put her down and watched her run to a seat in the middle of the audience. Apparently it was traditional for Rawley to hold the graduation ceremony outside, seeing as the weather was so beautiful at the end of the summer. She'd seen it happen every summer for four years, and now, finally it was turn.
As she made her way back up to the door that led behind the stage, Jake caught sight of Bella and waved. The blonde gave her a thumbs up and grinned, and Jake smiled as she went backstage.
Soon the ceremony was underway. Jake filed onto the stage with all the other graduates, and sat in her seat between Liam Pollard and Mike Prewitt – they had to sit in alphabetical order. She could just see the top of Hamilton's head where he sat, directly in front of her but down a few rows. Will was right at the end of the row – as valedictorian, he had to get out easily to go make his speech – and Scout was right near the front.
Glancing through the scores of people in the audience, Jake tried to find her mother. She could see Cameron, sitting with Bella and Sean, but Monica was nowhere to be seen. Jake sighed. You'd have thought that she'd be there for her own daughter's graduation! she thought sadly. Maybe she hasn't changed that much at all.
About to give up looking in despair, a movement at the back caught her eye. There was Monica, dressed up as usual, and late as usual. Jake sighed again. Oh well, at least she's here, she thought, and better late then never!
When her name was called, Jake was up in a flash and walking down to the podium to receive her papers. Hamilton watched her, smiling. Not that it matters that she's getting them, he thought, seeing as she won't be using them anyway. Jake looked really beautiful, even in her bulky gown with no make up and messy hair. Thank G-d her mother's here. She'd be so upset if Monica missed this. And she deserves to be happy. I'm just glad her mother has finally realised how amazing she is!
As soon as the graduation ceremony was over, Jake bounded over to her mother.
"Hey sweetie," Monica said, hugging her. "That looked really great. Congratulations on graduating! Can I see your papers?"
Jake handed over the ones the school had given her with a smile. "Hamilton has got me some others with Jacqueline one though, so I think I'll just put those others in a drawer somewhere and forget about them."
"That's a good idea." Monica replied, smiling at her beautiful daughter. "Hey, where's Hamilton? I was thinking that perhaps he wouldn't mind taking a picture of you in your cap and gown. And then maybe some with Cameron and I? We don't have that many pictures of you up at home."
Jake grinned. "I'd love that!" she said. "I'll go grab Hamilton and Cameron!" she ran off, leaving a smiling Monica behind.
Hamilton suddenly appeared behind her, his Polaroid camera round his neck. "Hey Monica," he said, "Where's Jake? I was hoping to take a little family portrait with you and Cameron."
"She actually went off to go find you, Hamilton. And Cameron – I already suggested it, actually. Oh wait, here she comes."
"Here you are!" Jake said breathlessly, rushing up holding Cameron's hand. "I was just trying to find you. Mom's sugge…"
"I know." Hamilton interrupted her. "I'm one step ahead of ya!"
He walked behind the three ladies, moving Jake nearer to her mother and making Cameron stand between them. "Now, Jake put you left arm behind Monica" he instructed, "and Monica put your right arm around Jake. Then both put your other arm on Cameron's shoulders. That's perfect. Just stand right there…" he put the camera up to his face. Click!
The photo slipped out the end of the camera, and gradually revealed a portrait of three members of the same family, each with the same greeny eyes and identical grins. Jake studied it carefully. This is my family she thought. It had taken a while, but she'd finally got herself a proper mother – and a little sister too! Blood was definitely thicker than water, and these family ties were bonds that couldn't, wouldn't be broken.