The party had been okay, nothing great, the music had been some shitty top forty songs, and the food had been lukewarm at best, the drinks terrible. Really, Jonathan was not sure why he'd expected anything else, there were a lot of things the school could do, but organise a party was not one of them. Of course, most of the year were heading off to Connor Hawke's house for a house party that was supposedly meant to be one for the ages. Jonathan couldn't be bothered going, he didn't like Connor, and he didn't want to see him with his hands all over Mia. And then there was the fact that here he was at ten in the evening, sat on a bench waiting for his parents to come and pick him up, and sat next to him was Caitlin Snow.
Caitlin was slightly taller than him, with auburn hair and green eyes, they'd been friends since his first day at Gotham Metropolitan, and they'd always shared an enthusiasm for comic books and for history. Recently, something had been developing inside of him when he thought about Caitlin, butterflies, or something else, he wasn't sure. But he wasn't going to act on it, after all, Caitlin was going out with Ronnie Raymond, the star quarterback on football team, and Jonathan didn't want to get on his or his friends' bad side. He cleared his throat and spoke. "So, how's it feel? Being a graduate now?"
They'd spoken about it for a long time in the build up to graduation day, how it would feel, what they'd do, and as far as he could tell, Caitlin hadn't seemed happy throughout. Caitlin shrugged. "Not that much different to how I felt in the morning. I still feel as if there's something more out there for me to do, and I'm not sure what it is. How about you? How's it feel having won the Thomas Wayne prize?"
Jonathan snorted. "Well, you know that was a surprise. I honestly thought Connor Hawke was going to win that prize, considering how much he sucks up to the headmaster." Caitlin grinned, they both knew that it was the other way around. "And yeah, I get what you mean, Cait, I don't really feel that much different. I just think that now it's done, I'd quite like for the day to be over."
"You didn't like the ceremony or the party?" Caitlin asked.
"Nah, the ceremony was okay, and the hymns were something else. I've always liked the hymns." Jonathan replied truthfully, that was one of the things that had made him feel at home in Gotham Metropolitan, it reminded him of Smallville and attending church with Grandpa. "The party was a bit shit though." Caitlin laughed, and Jonathan felt an odd flutter in his stomach. "Truth be told, I won't miss going to these things. It just seems a bit fake, you know? Like they're trying too hard to make it all impressive because we're at Gotham Metropolitan you know?"
"Yes, I get what you mean." Caitlin replied. "I suppose it couldn't have been easy either, seeing Mia with Connor?" That last part was asked softly, Caitlin knew that he and Mia had broken up, and that it hadn't been a nice break up, if break ups could ever be nice, but she didn't know the details. Jonathan knew by the way she had asked the question that she was probing, she wouldn't ask more if he didn't give a more coherent answer.
Jonathan sighed, there was no point hiding from it, after all, he would never see either Mia or Connor again, it wasn't like he was part of the Titans after all. "Yeah, that too." He paused as he thought of the right way to put what he wanted to say, as he thought about it, Caitlin shivered slightly, he raised his arm, and in a familiar routine, she moved into his side. He found it easier to answer when she was pressed to his side. "It's just, I think that there must have been something I could have done differently, or said differently. I keep thinking over it, trying to figure out where I went wrong. I don't know what it was. I thought she was happy, I thought we were working things out, you know?"
"Maybe it wasn't you, Jon, maybe it was actually her?" Caitlin replied. "You know she's always been a free spirit, and has never quite liked being tied down for too long in anything. And I'm not saying that you were tying her down, or anything, but we're all just eighteen you know, and at eighteen, nobody really wants to be tied down in something as serious as a relationship, I think."
Jonathan hummed, he understood that, but he wasn't sure whether that was why Mia had cheated on him. He'd never asked, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to know the answer. "When did you get so philosophical, Miss Snow?" He asked teasingly. "I thought you and Ronnie were going to be one of those couples who ended up going out through university, and then got married and had a white picket fence and a lawn and two kids and a dog."
He expected Caitlin to hit him and reply with some sort of snarky comment as she had done the other times he'd teased her about this, he didn't expect her to sigh. "Ronnie and I broke up."
"What?!" Jonathan asked surprised. "When? Why?"
"Today, during the party. I think it had been coming for a while. We want different things. And I think he's been trying to figure out a way to tell me this for a while now." Caitlin replied.
Jonathan exhaled. "I'm sorry about that Cait. How are you feeling?" It felt like a stupid question to ask, but he wasn't really sure what else to say.
Caitlin didn't reply for a moment, then she said. "Honestly? I'm okay, if anything it's a bit of a relief. Not having to worry about keeping things long distance and all that. Especially as he'd be at CCU and I'd be in Harvard, it was already a bit difficult during the holidays."
Jonathan snorted. "Ever practical, eh, Snow?"
Caitlin laughed. "Well someone has to be." There was a brief pause, as Caitlin shifted slightly. "So, what are you planning on doing during the summer break?"
"Got some chores I need to sort out in the farm at my grandparents' place, and then I'm going to be doing some travelling with Jaime and Roy. I think we said we're going to South America, and then to Europe. I've got some family in London, so we'll be staying there for a bit." Jonathan replied. "How about yourself?"
"Working at Mercury Labs, my mum managed to get me some time there, I'll be interning with Doctor McGee." Caitlin said.
"Oh, that sounds awesome, you must be looking forward to it?" Jonathan asked, he knew how much Caitlin wanted to be working for someone like Doctor McGee, to be able to bring new technology to life, and be at the forefront of new discoveries that would help humanity.
"I am." Caitlin said. "I also heard back from Doctor Wells as well."
"Oh?" Jonathan looked up at Caitlin and could see the excitement brimming in her eyes. "Do tell."
"He thought that my paper on the merging of DNA and the meta gene was something worth exploring in more detail, and he's also said that if I want, I can spend some time in Star Labs during the summer as well, to get to know more about how they go about doing their work." Caitlin said, practically bouncing up and down in excitement.
"Caitlin that's awesome!" Jonathan said. "I'm really happy for you!"
Caitlin smiled. "Thanks!"
"So, you're going to be going to Harvard with experience of working for two of the leading scientists in the world under your belt, well that is something. They're going to be incredibly lucky to have you." Jonathan said. Caitlin smiled, and was about to say something when Jonathan saw the lights of his father's car appearing nearby. He stood up, and said. "That'll be my mum and dad. How are you getting back home tonight?"
"I'm getting a taxi back." Caitlin replied.
"All the way out to Subs? Really?" Jonathan asked, surprised, Subs, where Caitlin lived was a good two hour drive away, and at this time of night, not a safe drive either.
"It'll be fine, honestly, I know the guy who said he'd come and pick me up." Caitlin replied.
"Alright, but before you go, just wait a moment." Jonathan said, hurrying over to his dad's car, he opened the passenger door and asked. "Caitlin's getting a taxi home, do you mind giving her a lift?"
"She lives in Subs, doesn't she, sweetie?" His mum asked.
"Yes. I…" Jonathan replied, and then it came to him. "Maybe she could stay over, for the night?" Caitlin had stayed over for the night before, a couple of times, so hopefully it wouldn't be too much of an issue.
His mum and dad looked at one another, and then his mum replied grinning. "Sure."
"Great, thanks!" Jonathan said, he closed the door, and hurried back to where Caitlin was sat. "My parents said you could spend the night at ours, and then we could drop you off at yours in the morning. Is that okay?"
Caitlin looked slightly surprised. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah." Jonathan said.
"Okay, give me a minute, I just need to call the taxi company." Caitlin replied.
Jonathan stood silently, as Caitlin dialled the number on her phone and spoke, once she was done, they walked together to the car, the doors opened and they got in. "Thanks for this Mister and Missus Kent, I appreciate it." Caitlin said.
"Not to worry, Caitlin." Dad replied. He started the car and turned and drove out of the school.
"So, how was the evening?" Mum asked.
Jonathan looked at Caitlin and grinned, his stomach did that odd flutter when she grinned back. "Well, it was something. It was a typical Gotham Metropolitan party." Jonathan replied.
"Lots of music, lots of lights, lots of food and drink, whether it was good or not, I think we'll have to wait for the school newsletter." Caitlin added. Jonathan snorted, and he could have sworn he heard his mum snort as well.
There was a moment silence as the car continued down the road, and out onto the freeway, then Mum spoke again. "So, Caitlin, Jonathan told us you're going to Harvard, have you managed to get things sorted with Doctor McGee?"
"Yes, I have, I'll be interning with her over the summer. And I'll be doing some work for Mister Wells as well." Caitlin replied.
"Doctor Wells?" Dad said, something in his tone indicating to Jonathan that he knew the name and perhaps didn't like the man behind it. "What sort of things would you be doing there with him, if you don't mind me asking, Caitlin?"
Jonathan found himself wondering what it was about Doctor Wells that had his dad's interest, was it something to do with the League? Or with Barry? After all, Barry and Wells worked together at Star Labs, so perhaps that was what it was? "I'll be seeing how they do the work they do, and also discussing one of the papers I wrote earlier in the year with him as well. He said he found it to be one of the best works he's read recently." Jonathan smiled at the hint of pride in his friend's voice when she said that.
Dad didn't reply, though he did hum in acknowledgement, things fell silent for a little while after that, and after some time they reached the house, out in the suburbs of Metropolis. Jonathan got out, and opened the door for Caitlin, and walked into the house with her, before nodding to his mum and walking upstairs. Within a few moments Caitlin's room was made, he smiled as she walked upstairs and saw it. "I'll never get over how quickly you can do things." She said.
Jonathan made his way to her room and grinned. "Goodnight Cait."
She smiled back at him and his heart thumped slightly. "Goodnight Jon."
He turned and made his way to his room, got changed, brushed his teeth and then got into bed. As he closed his eyes, he wondered whether Caitlin would want to come to London with him during the summer.