Ginger was practically humming with excitement as our principal called out the names to receive diplomas.
"Johnathan Stirling, Brooke Stone…."
"Do our families know yet?" I murmured, keeping a close eye on one teacher who was trying to keep us quiet so no one's moment on the stage was ignored.
"Just my parents." She whispered back. She never thought of them as anything other than parents and had always called them mom and dad. The odd time I wished I had that but I could ignore that desire most days.
I nodded, still half lost in my own thoughts. But at this stage, it was getting impossible to ignore Ginger. She could barely sit still and her nails were clacking an erratic beat against her stiff plastic chair. Ginger was always excitable but graduating and finding a soulfinder in the one day would cause even the most calm Savant to act like her. I could sense her wanting to go back to El and I was sure his eyes were leaving a permanent mark in the back of her head.
"Jason Tracey, Kelly Turner…"
"Dominic is not a savant, is he?" I asked curious. As far as I knew, Dominic was as human as the majority of the room. He had been nearly as close to me as Ginger and it was hard to believe both Ginger and I had failed to notice that in all the time we had spent with him.
"Nope. From what I picked up in El's mind, Dom's mom has an adopted sister, who's a savant and happens to be El's mom. They all know she's a savant, Dom included."
"Ok." I replied, trying to relax my heart as it thudded. Ginger's gift really came in handy and I knew she caught all that from El's head without breaking a sweat.
"Ah! I really can't believe it!" she whisper squealed to me. "I found him! I actually found him…." and she continued to excitedly babble, probably planning her wedding already.
"Steve Walton, Gold Waters…"
Immediately all the Benedict's leapt to their feet cheering for me and I felt the glow of graduation day again. I slapped a smirk on my face and strolled up after Andrew. Waiting at the edge of the stage while he had his moment I geared myself up for the bet I lost to Xav.
I hate you so much right now
I can only be loved cupcake.
As soon as Andrew moved away with his diploma, I listened for it. Blasting from Phee's portable speaker, "Thriller" by Michael Jackson came on. And with that I turned around and moonwalked out onto the stage to the roaring delight of my friends and family. I spun around and got my diploma from the stunned Vice Principal and then continued on until the stairs down from the stage. My cheeks were burning but I had to admit I loved it.
I heard that Phee crowed in delight.
I had just sat down when "Ginger Weller" was called and I got up to clap for her. Dominic seemed a small bit confused when he heard his cousin yell out her name and she blushed a deep pink. She took a grand bow on stage which we all laughed at and before we knew it, we were being given well wishes. I ran over to Phee and we hugged tightly.
"I am so proud of you." She said like a mother. "Wait… Where is Ginger? I need to-"
Her voice cut off as we noticed her kissing El. They seemed to eventually notice the weight of our stares, including those of El's parents and siblings as they were finished congratulating Dominic. El and Ginger did not look the slightest bit sorry to be caught as they glowed in each other's company.
Gingers parents came over and hugged and shook hands with El. Bursting with excitement Ginger said "Everyone, meet my soulfinder Elliott." As his family and hers smiled and were congratulating.
"And meet my soulfinder Ginger." He said to his family as his mother looked tearfully delighted.
The congratulations continued and the Benedict's got caught up in the ecstasy of the moment. I smiled but I faded out of focus so if I cracked, I would only see.
"More cake?" Phee asked as she came over to sit beside me, a thick slice of cream cake on a plate in each hand. We had been celebrating in one of the largest event rooms of the nearest hotel for a few hours now and I sat in the corner, absentmindedly twirling a straw in my empty glass.
I gave her a grin. "Who can say no to cake?" I replied as I took the plate. Biting into the gorgeous slice, the sweet cream melting in my mouth brought me to Heaven. Before eating hers Phee pulled off some of the sugar flowers and sat, savouring their overly sweet taste.
"So, you ready for college in the fall?" she asked with a nudge of my shoulder. Giving her a weak smile, I nodded with my mouth full. I had managed to get a partial scholarship to Berkeley because of my good scores. Combine that with Yves sending off tuition money without telling me (I nearly killed him then thanked him for that) and me contributing as much as I could, I was heading off to college in good old California. And I damn well knew I would never have gotten into it without the tutor. Ever. Man I owed Phee and Yves.
"You do not!" Phee said having obviously caught the tail end of my thoughts. "Outside the Benedict's, you are the closest thing I have to family." She sighed. "You know my mother told me years ago your dad was her brother. She went on to talk about how we were all family in the community so I never thought much of it but she could have said him for a reason. Ever since we met two years ago I have wondered was there anything more to what she said."
"It is nice to believe." I mused as my eyes drifted to Ginger and El who were doing some version of a waltz to a song the DJ had playing. Their noses touched as they danced until Crystal whisked El away and Xav whisked Ginger away. I smiled as both Crystal and Xav gave each other satisfied grins.
Phee noticed where I was looking and I felt the sympathy I really did not want roll off her. "Did Crystal try recently?"
"Only a week ago but you get used to it." I sighed. She rubbed my back as I finished the cake.
"You might meet someone great in college. Plenty of Savants find humans they grow to love. Crystal has a sister happily married to one."
"I guess." I refused to despair over the choice every other Savant had but me. Getting up I held out a hand to Phee. She put down her cake and politely took my hand up.
"Go dance with Yves, I will be fine. Ginger just reminded of my "situation" so to speak but I am good. I really am grateful for today and you."
She studied me for a few seconds. "How about I get the DJ to put on the Macarena? How many amazing college parties will you get that at in the fall?"
"I own ass at the Macarena." I said cracking my neck and fingers. "Prepare to be blown away."
Author person here,
I meant to update this yesterday but I got distracted... With the internet in general... Yeah... I was also trying to make this chapter better. Unsuccessful but I tried. Thanks for the reviews, favourites and follows :) Hopefully this was not a let down chapter.
Hint for the next chapter... Let me just say it is definitely one not to miss. Someone might die...
Btw. Notice anything about the graduating students names, outside of Gold and Ginger... Leave what you think each references to in a review (I thought it might be a fun game :D )