"Will you zip me?" Cate asked.

Abby nodded. She zipped Cate's white sundress. "You look nice."

"Thanks," Cate replied, offering her sister a smile.

"Are you sad?" Abby asked, watching as Cate applied make-up.

Cate turned around and stared at Abby, smiling slightly. "No. I hated high school. I'm ready to be done."

Abby frowned. "Its just, people usually cry at graduation."

"Well, if I cry, I can guarantee you it will be tears of joy," Cate replied.

Lux chose that moment to whimper from her crib. Cate scooped her daughter up. "If anyone cries, I'm guessing it will be Lux."

Abby grinned. "Or Mom because she has to go a whole two hours without wine."

Cate met Abby's gaze and smiled. "It might be three." Both girls laughed.

Cate carried Lux over to the closet. "What do you want to wear?" She asked the baby as she skimmed the contents of the closet.

Cate was being honest when she told Abby she was ready to graduate. She'd hated high school. This last year had been more bearable. Baze made everything better. Even Westmonte. Still, Cate was ready to leave the people who thought she was the biggest dork in Portland behind. Excitement coursed through her as she realized how close she was to never seeing the people who had made her life miserable for four years again.

Cate wasn't ready to bring her daughter to a high school event, though. She'd been dreading everyone at school seeing Lux. She'd even suggested that they skip graduation altogether, but surprisingly Laverne had insisted on attending the ceremony. It would be one of the only school events Laverne had ever attended.

Cate knew it was silly to get this worked up. It wasn't like her classmates didn't know she had a kid. Abby had told everyone. As a result, Cate's final year at Westmonte had been even worse than usual because of comments about her getting knocked up. Cate could handle it. She didn't know if she could handle the whispers and stares being directed at her daughter, though. She hugged Lux closer, wanting to protect her daughter from everyone and everything bad in the world.

Abby held up a pink dress. "Do you like this one?"

Cate made a face. "No." She always thought her daughter looked beautiful, but she wanted Lux to look her best today.

Cate rummaged through the closet, looking for Lux's navy and white dress. She found it in the back. She dressed Lux and held her daughter up. "You're gonna be the prettiest girl there," she murmured softly. She kissed the smiling baby.

Cate packed a bag for Lux. "Are you sure you don't mind taking her for the ceremony?" She asked Abby.

"I told you I would," Abby replied, her tone slightly annoyed. She studied her sister. "Can I ask you something?"

"Yeah," Cate replied.

"Why do you want me to take her?" Abby said.

"You mean, instead of Mom? She's pre-gaming graduation!" Cate said incredulously. Her mom had been drinking Mimosas all morning. Laverne claimed it was to celebrate. Cate was pretty sure it was just to get drunk before the ceremony. She hoped her mom wouldn't do anything embarrassing like fall down the stairs at the arena.

"No, instead of Baze's mom. You usually ask her to help first, you know? I mean, you know how much I love hanging out with Lux. I don't want you to think I mind taking her because I don't. I was just surprised is all," Abby explained.

Cate met Abby's gaze. "I don't ask her first because I don't want you to watch Lux. I ask her first because I don't want you to miss out on things. You're a kid. You should be having fun. Not taking care of a kid."

"So should you," Abby said quietly.

"I don't regret having Lux," Cate said quickly. "But I'd be lying if I said I haven't missed out on things because of her. I don't want you to miss out on things because of my kid."

"My niece," Abby reminded Cate.

Cate smiled. "And it's not just that. Baze's mom wasn't exactly happy that we're moving in together. I really don't want to ask her for anything right now."

"I thought she liked you," Abby said.

"It kinda seems like she hates me," Cate muttered.

"What did Baze say?" Abby wondered.

"It's hard for her to accept everything that's happened," Cate replied, her tone bitter.

"Everything being Lux?" Abby pressed.

"Lux and me," Cate muttered.

"You?" Abby frowned. "You're a step up from Baze's usual type."

"Blonde?" Cate smirked.

"I was actually going for brain dead." Abby grinned.

Cate smiled slightly. "But Baze wasn't planning on moving in with any of them."

"Have you told Mom yet? I mean, that you guys are gonna live together?" Abby asked.

Cate sighed. "No, but, I mean, I'm not really worried about it."

"Yeah, she'll probably think congratulations are in order," Abby said.

"Not until there's a ring on my finger," Cate said lightly.

Abby's eyes widened. "Are you guys gonna get married?"

"No!" Cate said quickly. "I was just kidding!"

Abby looked unconvinced.

"Because Mom, you know, she's kinda a big fan of marriage," Cate continued.

"I thought she was a big fan of divorce," Abby retorted.

"That too."

"Hey." Baze grinned boyishly and pulled Cate to him, kissing her softly. "Where's Lux?"

"With Abby," Cate replied.

Baze frowned. "My mom could've taken her."

Cate rolled her eyes. "If I remember correctly, you didn't have a problem with Abby watching Lux when you wanted to go to your parents' cabin for Valentine's Day."

Baze's frown deepened at her tone. "It's just I don't think she's the best choice when we have other options."

"I wouldn't leave Lux with Abby if I thought anything bad would happen," Cate said defensively.

"No, I know!" Baze said quickly. Before he could say anything else, the graduating seniors were instructed to line up in alphabetical order. Cate and Baze were close to each other, but there were still several students in between them.

Baze found his place in line by another football player. They began talking about college, but Baze's mind was on Cate. He didn't know what he'd done wrong. She definitely hadn't been happy with him, though.

Cate shifted uncomfortably in between a cheerleader and football player. She didn't know them well, but they undoubtedly knew she was the loser who'd gotten knocked up.

The ceremony felt like it dragged on forever. It was unusually hot for Portland and the black robes didn't help. Cate kept darting glances backwards, searching the crowd for Lux. The arena was packed. Cate couldn't find her daughter in the crowd.

Cate breathed a sigh of relief when the ceremony finally ended. She joined the mob of students heading for the parking lot to find their families. All she wanted was to get out of there and hold her daughter.

"Cate!" Baze called. He'd hung back to wait for her. He grabbed her hand and pulled her through the crowd.

They were surprised to find both of their families waiting together. Laverne was trying to make small talk, but Ellen looked bored out of her mind.

Laverne and Ellen snapped pictures of Baze and Cate together. John handed Lux to Cate, so they could get a picture with their daughter, too.

"Can I get a picture of Nate with Lux?" Ellen asked.

Cate couldn't believe Ellen, but she obliged, moving out of the picture.

Two of Baze's best friends descended on him, wanting to get a picture together. Baze handed Lux to Cate and took off with his friends.

Cate scanned the crowd for Alice. She would have liked to get a picture with Alice, but deep down she knew Alice didn't count her as a good friend anymore. The girls had remained friendly, but Cate couldn't do anything ever, so Alice had grown closer to people who could. People who didn't have a baby to take care of. Cate gave up when she saw Alice with three other girls from their honors classes. She would only feel like an intruder if she approached them.

Cate blushed slightly. She was the only teenager standing alone with a group of adults. Everyone else was with their friends. For the first time since she and Baze started dating, Cate felt alone.

"It's so hot. I should get Lux out of the heat," Cate said, wanting an excuse to get out of there.

John smiled warmly. "Congratulations Valedictorian. We'll see you at the party."

"Thanks. Yeah, see you later," Cate mumbled.

The last thing Cate wanted to do was go to Baze's graduation party that evening. It would be difficult to avoid Ellen at the Bazile's house. To make matter's even worse, Baze's party would be filled with people who loved him and barely knew she existed. Cate wondered if she could tell Baze she didn't feel well.

Baze hurried back to his parents. He frowned. "Where's Cate?"

"She left," Ellen replied.

"She wanted to get Lux out of the heat," John added helpfully.

Baze's face fell. All he wanted to do was celebrate with Cate, but he felt like he'd only gotten a few minutes with her. She kept disappearing. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was bothering her. She'd been stand-offish to say the least. He didn't know what he'd done wrong, but he wanted a chance to make it right.

Baze couldn't wait to start the next chapter of his life with Cate. He was so excited to move in together and start college. He wanted to share his excitement with Cate. Why didn't she seem excited?