The evening was pleasant and the weather cooperative as the seniors of Beechwood high gathered for graduation. The ceremony was held on the football field with chairs on the field for the graduates and staff and the bleachers filled with their parents and guests. Stephen and Nicole sat with Josh and Andy to one side and Brian Taylor on the other.
"Thanks for inviting me, Nicole," Brian said.
"You're part of Jessie's family," Nicole assured him. "It was her idea, anyway."
"With all the things that they've accomplished, it seems incongruous to be proud of the fact that they're graduating from high school," Brian observed. "But strangely I am."
"It represents a rite of passage," Nicole said. "It's a step on the way to being an adult." She smiled and added, "That's even true for self made millionaires who are on the board of large secret organizations. It's also a link to our own past and experiences."
"I'm just glad they both made it to this point safely," Brian said. "It's been a difficult year for them."
"For all of us," Nicole sincerely agreed.
The names were called and the graduates took turns walking up onto the stage to receive their diplomas. Long after 'Bloom, Amanda' and 'McDonough, Declan', it became time for 'Taylor, Jessi'. She walked up and took her diploma, shook Principle Hooper's hand then moved on to sit back down.
Brian audibly breathed a sigh of relief. He turned to Nicole, "I was worried she might do something 'interesting'."
"She certainly might have," Nicole agreed. "But Kyle asked her not to."
"At least she listens to him," Brian said.
Nicole gave him a commiserating smile and turned her attention to watch 'Trager, Kyle' get his diploma followed immediately by 'Trager, Lori'. She sighed with satisfaction and sat back with a smile on her face. She squeezed Stephen's hand and they exchanged smiles.
A short time later, the ceremony over, the graduates joined their families. Kyle, Lori and Jessi received enthusiastic hugs from Stephen and Nicole. Brian gave Jessi a tentative hug and she kissed him lightly on the cheek. He shook Kyle's hand and said, "I'm surprised that the two of you weren't battling it out for Valedictorian."
"Principle Hooper said that it had to be someone who'd been here all four years," Kyle explained. "Jessi and I have perfect grades of course, but we weren't eligible. Besides, Cindy worked hard and earned it. It wouldn't be fair for us to take it away from her with our abilities. It would be too easy for us to win."
"You wouldn't have found it easy to beat me," Jessi objected, raising an eyebrow.
"It would have been a tie," Kyle answered with a smile.
Nicole said, "We need pictures." Kyle stood in the middle with Jessi to his right and Lori to his left. Nicole snapped a number of pictures then noticed Declan standing nearby, watching. "Declan," she called, "let's get you in the picture too." Declan stood next to Lori and Nicole took more pictures.
Her desire to document the event satisfied, she asked, "Declan, are your parents here? I've never met them."
"They couldn't make it, Mrs. Trager," Declan said. "Dad's away on a business trip."
"I'm sorry," Nicole said. "We're having a celebration at our house tonight. Do you want to join us?"
"Lori already invited me," Declan said. "I wouldn't miss it."
"You're coming, aren't you, Brian?" Nicole asked.
"I'm looking forward to it," Brian said.
"Well, are we ready to go?" Stephen asked.
"I just want to say goodbye to a few people," Lori said. "Declan and I will be home soon."
"I suppose you need to say goodbye to people too, Kyle," Nicole said.
"Not too many," Kyle said. "We have to take off these gowns, though. We'll be along shortly."
"Don't take too long or Andy and I will eat up all the snacks," Josh warned. Andy elbowed him in the ribs. "I'm just saying," he objected.
Stephen and Nicole headed for their car trailed by Josh and Andy. Brian looked uncomfortable, "I guess I should head over to your house too."
Kyle held up a hand, "Just a moment, Jessi has something she wants to give you."
Brian smiled, "Usually it's traditional to give gifts to the graduate, not get them."
Jessi smiled and held out a small box. Brian furrowed his brow slightly in puzzlement and opened it. Inside was a Latnok ring with the traditional blue stone. He looked up, not quite willing to believe, "A Latnok ring?"
"We understand why Adam took it away," Kyle explained. "But I'm glad Jessi exists. I can't have you punished for something that I think is so wonderful." He exchanged smiles with Jessi.
"Thank you," Brian took a breath, hesitantly took the ring out of its box and put it on his finger. He looked at them with a glint of tears in his eyes, "I didn't think I would ever get to wear one again. This means a lot to me."
Jessi hugged him and kissed his cheek once more. This time his hug wasn't as tentative.
Kyle warned, "You're going to have to work for it, though. There are three open board seats. We want you to take one of them. We'd also like you to take over management of the student program. You've spent years helping Adam make his ideas reality. You can do the same for the Latnok students. We want to increase the emphasis on that program."
"Will the board approve this?" Brian was still uncertain.
"We've talked to them," Kyle assured him. "It will all be officially approved at the next meeting. Gabrielle will be contacting you so that you can be there to take your seat after we vote."
"I guess you're the boss," Brian said with a smile. "I'll see you at your house, then?"
"We'll be along soon," Kyle said.
They went into the school building to drop off their gowns. After they had done so, they walked through the emptying hallway hand in hand. Kyle reminisced, "I remember when Nicole brought me here for my first day of school. It was all so strange. I didn't even know what to do when the bell rang. So much has changed since then. I'll miss it."
"The best thing about this place for me has always been you, Kyle," Jessi told him. "I'm glad to be done here. I'm looking forward to next year," She kissed him, then added, "and living with you in our house."
"It's time to move on," Kyle agreed. They walked down the hallway toward the door.
As they passed the stairwell, Jessi hung back. Kyle looked back at her and noticed her looking up the stairs. She gave him a mischievous grin and he smiled back, "The last hurrah?"
"The last hurrah" she agreed.
"We probably shouldn't be jumping off the roof," Kyle cautioned. "There are a lot of people around."
"I'd just like to go up there one last time," Jessi said. "The view is nice."
"It is," Kyle agreed and they headed up the stairs.