Chapter 3
Mary-Lynette's POV
Five days later, it was the twentieth – Mary-Lynette's graduation day. She had passed all her tests with flying colors, despite the alarming news she had received before. In fact, she had simply put it from her mind until grad was over. As such, Mary-Lynette was at the hairdresser's having her hair done. The hairdresser had left her hair in its natural, dark curls, but did it up in a messy sort of bun, leaving a few wisps of hair falling down around her face. At home, Mary-Lynette got changed into her twilight blue dress with white sparkles, and put a small amount of make-up on – enough to be noticed and to emphasize her eyes, but not so much that it looked trampy.
Around three, Mary-Lynette headed down to the school to get ready for the ceremony. All the while, her nerves slowly built in the pit of her stomach as the clock hands moved ever forwards towards four-thirty, when the students would take their places at the far end of the field. Eventually, the time came for the graduates to walk up to the stage and take their seats. Mary-Lynette looked out at the crowd, her eyes searching for her family and for the Redferns, who promised they would come watch. After they were found, Mary-Lynette allowed her eyes to wander over the rest of the crowd while the principal stood up to begin his opening speech.
As her eyes skimmed over the back row of chairs, someone just behind them caught her eye. He was tall, blonde, and his lazy posture reminded her of a cat. Mary-Lynette's heart skipped a beat when their eyes met. It was Ash! He had come!
Ash's POV
Standing behind the many roles of chairs, Ash stood watching his soulmate sitting up on the stage looking stunningly beautiful. As she looked over towards him from her seat in the front row, Ash felt the tug of that little silver cord that connected the two of them. He caught her eye and gave a slight smile, before she turned her attention back to the principal, who was calling the valedictorian forward for their speech. He had made it to the ceremony just in time to watch. If he had been fifteen minutes later, he might not have made it in time. He had driven all day, stopping only for food and short rests so he could be here for her.
Ash watched as Mary-Lynette stood up in her twilight dress with the sparkles that glittered like stars in the sunlight. She walked over the podium, looking graceful and scholarly as she began making her speech to the class and those watching about high school and it being such an amazing time, and that no matter who you were, everyone had their place in this world, and though many were not interested in astronomy, their fates still lied in the stars. She had also mentioned many typical things about how graduation was a time for new beginnings, but the mentioning of astronomy made her speech unique – made it so typical of his little dreamer.
As each student stood up to receive their diploma, Ash heard some stray whistles throughout, but when Mary-Lynette stood up, there was a clear and defined wolf-whistle from a few boys in the back row on the stage who were waiting to receive their diplomas still. Mary-Lynette blushed slightly and smiled as her picture was taken while shaking the principal's hand. After all the students had received their diplomas, the principal wished them well and congratulated them once again. All the students took off their caps and threw them in the air – they were finally done high school!
Mary-Lynette's POV
I'm done! Those words ran through Mary-Lynette's mind a few times before they sank in. She was finished high school – no more getting up early, no more homework, no more dealing with the popular girls who think they're all that. Well, for the summer anyways. Then it was off to university to study astronomy.
As Mary-Lynette walked off the stage with the rest of her class, they were swarmed by family and friends. Her father and step mother found her quickly and each embraced her in a tight hug, giving their congratulations. Mark soon followed suit, with Jade close behind. Kestral also came over and hugged her. Mary-Lynette was somewhat surprised – Kestral had never hugged her before, or even given any sort of recognition that she really liked her. Before Mary-Lynette could dwell on this for too long however, because Rowan came up and hugged her tightly. All six of them stood back and looked at her, complimenting her speech and her dress and her hair and everything about her. Mary-Lynette thanked them all and smiled widely.
Suddenly, she heard a familiar voice behind her.
"I don't mean to interrupt, but I just wanted to express my congratulations to the young lady."
Mary-Lynette whirled around to find Ash standing behind her with a smile on his face, his ever-changing eyes gleaming. She immediately threw her arms around him, and he wrapped his arms around her back, surrounding her by his warmth.
You came! She said through the telepathic link which had opened up between them when they touched. Surrounded by the pink haze, silver cord thrumming, Mary-Lynette felt whole for the first time since Ash left her.
Of course! I couldn't miss your graduation! He replied. She could feel his happiness emanating from his mind, overflowing and entering hers.
What felt like hours later, Ash untangled himself from her embrace, keeping only her hand in his. It was enough to keep Mary-Lynette distracted as her father looked upon the two of them with confusion. Claudine looked pleased, and Mark and the girls looked somewhat smug.
"Um, Dad, Claudine, this is Ash Redfern. He's Rowan, Kestrel, and Jade's brother." Mary-Lynette tried to explain.
"Is he your boyfriend?" her father asked, with a slight hint of irritation from not having been told earlier.
"Something like that," she answered with a hint of a smile.
"Well, what do you all say to heading over there?" her father asked, gesturing towards the gym, which was the only area in town large enough for the dinner planned for that night. They began walking over towards the school, when Mary-Lynette could feel herself getting dizzy. Suddenly, the whole world went black.