Chapter 34

Loren got her diploma and started to walk toward her family. Nora couldn't help herself and she ran over to Loren. The hugged tightly, Nora crying into her high school graduate of a daughter.

"I'm so proud of you!" Nora said, hugging tighter.

"Couldn't have done it without you mom, I love you so much." Loren started to cry even harder, the reality of her life finally hitting her. She was all grown up; moving in with her boyfriend, graduating high school; she was no longer the little girl that would run around her house.

"Nora, you're suffocating her…" Max said, slowly prying them apart.

"Sorry…sorry." Nora said as Eddie hugged her, winking at Loren.

Max hugged Loren tightly as well, "Congrats kiddo."

"Thanks Max, I love you, you know." Loren said.

Max paused to choke back tears, "I love you, too, Loren."

Eddie butted in afterwards, "Congratulations Loren." he said wrapping his arms around her.

"I'm kind of sad it's over. I'm not a kid anymore."

"Yes, but now you're an adult who gets to spend the rest of their life doing what she loves."

"Making music."

"No, me." Eddie whispered.

Loren hit his arm, "Shut up!" she smiled.

Mel came running up two minutes later, "Hello Tate, and Durans."

"Hey Mel, congrats!" Eddie said hugging her and then Max doing the same.

Nora started crying again as she hugged Mel tightly. Lisa and Gus hugged Loren, Gus was fine but Lisa's hug felt cold and awkward.

"What are you guys doing now?" Max asked Gus.

"We are going home." Lisa answered.

"Well, why don't you guys come with us to my club? I have a whole table set up; it's a feast."

Gus and Lisa nodded at each other and Mel, without her parent's consent, screamed, "Yes!"

Everyone laughed and got into their cars while heading to Max's club. Mel and Loren got in the car with Eddie.

"So, Mel, are you coming to New York with Eddie and me?" Loren asked as they started moving.

"Gus said it was okay, Lisa has an issue with it, of course."

"She wouldn't be Lisa if she encouraged it."

"I'm going, though, all my stuff is packed. Lisa is going to have to drag me off the plane if she doesn't want me to go," They laughed, "Hey Eddie is, uh, is Ian going?"

"He's already there, for what I have no idea. Why?"

"Just wondering."

"Mel…" Eddie said giving her a look in the rear-view mirror.

"I…kind of like him."

"I KNEW IT!" Loren screamed and Melissa smiled.

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They all sat around the table, eating their lunch. Loren took a minute to look around. Next to her was her mom, then Max and the head of the table, then Gus and Lisa, them Mel and Eddie at the other end. Everyone was laughing and having a good time, Lisa, Gus, Nora and Max telling stories about Loren, Eddie and Mel's childhoods.

20 minutes later, Mel's phone went off, she stared at the phone, dumfounded.

"Who is it?" Gus asked.

"I think its Phil," she said answering the phone, "Hello?"

"Hey little sis." Phil said.

"Hey, Phil, how are you doing?"

"I'm good; I called to say congrats on graduating."

"Wow, thanks Phil, you didn't have to do that."

"I wanted to, tell Loren I said congrats."

"I will. You know I miss you."

"Of course you do," They laughed, "I gotta go, love you Mel."

Mel paused, "Love you too Phil."

He hung up the phone and Mel started to tear up. As much as she and Phil used to fight, she missed him terribly. Loren gave her friend a hug while putting her head on Mel's shoulder.

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Everyone went home not too soon after. Everyone had to get their bags to bring to the airport; they were leaving sooner than they thought.

"Are you excited?" Eddie asked walking in the door.

"I'm almost as excited as I was when I moved in."

"So are you even planning on singing with me or…?"

"Well I guess I could sing one song with you." Loren smiled.

"Oh, you 'guess' you could do that." Eddie said leaning forward, kissing her.

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