The graduation went off without a hitch. All of the seniors, including Esme, who had been held back the year before, walked across the stage without a problem. Who knew that through all of the drama these teens went through, high school graduation would be the easiest part. And now, it was time for the teens to become adults, and go off and do their own things. And that included Lola.
"Where is she?" Lola questioned, poking Frankie's ribs and causing the brunette girl to jump out of her skin. "Miles sat alone throughout the whole ceremony!"
Throughout the entire ceremony, Lola had turned around every few seconds and kept her eyes on Miles. She knew it was far too obvious, but it was an impulse thing that she just couldn't seem to get under control. When she walked across the stage, she almost tripped because she had her eyes locked onto Miles. But the thing bewildering her was the fact that this supposed girlfriend, Vivian, was nowhere to be seen.
"I don't know. I saw her for like five seconds last night and that's it. Maybe there was an emergency?" Frankie tried to rationalize, despite the fact that it was clear that the girl had no idea. "Does it matter where my dumb brother's girlfriend is? We just graduated high school."
Lola nodded. She knew Frankie was right. She knew that she had to stop thinking about Miles and start being excited for herself. She was past being the boy-crazy ditz. She did something amazing, and she deserved celebration.
"So, what are you guys doing tonight?" Shay asked. "My parents are taking me out for sushi. Yum."
Frankie gasped. "Uh, no you're not! You're invited to the Hollingsworth house for a pool party."
Another pool party. Damn. These Hollingsworth kids were going to have an issue when they moved away from home and couldn't constantly buy everyone's love by throwing an impulsive pool party at their mansion. Then again, their trust funds would probably buy them each a mansion with their own fabulous pool. Part of Lola was jealous, but part of her liked the concept of having to work for what she was going to have one day. It may not be a mansion, but it'd be hers.
"I can't tonight. I'm sorry, Franks. We've had this reservation for weeks." Shay said.
"I guess it's just you, me, and the rest of Degrassi, then. Just come home with me, you can borrow a swimsuit." Frankie said, wrapping her arm around Lola.
If she was being honest, Lola wasn't exactly planning on going to the party once she saw that Miles was in town. She knew he'd be creeping around the party, looking adorable and tempting her. But now she felt sort of roped into it, since Shay was ditching. One night at a party couldn't be the worst thing ever, right? What horrific thing could happen in one night?
"Fine, I'll go, but there's not a chance in the world I'm borrowing one of your suits. You have no butt, and I'd totally stretch yours out." Lola said. It was true that she couldn't possibly borrow one of Frankie's suits, but she also wanted to look her best. If she was going to be forced to see Miles and his new girl make out all night, she might as well look hot in the process. Who knew? Maybe someone would bring their hot cousin from out of town or something. She could use a new crush. "You know what? Let's go shopping. We can find you something new too."
Of course, Frankie was totally into the idea. What seventeen year old girl wasn't into the idea of going bikini shopping?
The two girls gave hugs and signed yearbooks, and hugged Shay goodbye. After all, Shay was going to FSU early in order to start her training. Lola couldn't imagine hopping from high school directly to college. She had to applaud Shay for her driven nature. She didn't know anyone who was half as dedicated to their education and their sports. And honestly, that wasn't really her type of friend. She wasn't sure if her friendship with Shay would last the long distance.
As the girls said their final goodbyes, Lola felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned and saw Miles. "Viv had to go handle something for the next few hours. Can I join you guys?" Something about Miles's tone was off. Like Vivian 'handling' something was an excuse. But maybe Lola was just reading too much into this. She was thinking a bit too wishfully.
"Yeah, sure. You can help judge Lo and I's bikinis." Frankie said, looking to Lola as if she was giving the silver haired girl a favor. Like she was setting the two up for some sort of magical reunion.
Miles made a face. One that Lola couldn't decipher. "I'll help with Lola. I'm not interested in looking at my little sis's body. Sorry Franks."
The idea of Miles looking over Lola's body and judging it suddenly filled Lola with self consciousness. She knew he liked her body, and she knew she liked her own body, so what the hell was she so worried about? It was just another set of eyes saying yes or no. No tension. Nothing like that. She just had to keep convincing herself, and maybe the idea that there wouldn't be anything behind this bikini judging might come true. Maybe.
The three made their way to a local boutique. Lola was silently cursing Frankie for inviting Miles along. His presence turned the bikini shopping from two best friends picking out hot bikinis to show off their bodies at a post-grad party to Frankie watching the Miles and Lola show to see what mess happened next. Lola knew Frankie did this partly because she was nosy and curious. She wanted to see where things were going. Why she cared so much, Lola would never know. But that was just who Frankie Hollingsworth was.
"We should be able to find something cute here." Frankie said, and Lola nodded. The girls had found many a cute outfit and bikini in this shop. "How hot would Lola look in this, Miles?" Frankie picked up a hanger that held a barely-there mess of black strings. Lola turned her head sideways trying to figure out how the hell anything in her body would be covered by those thin straps.
"Uh, it's a little much." Miles responded, and the self conscious feeling returned.
Lola knew it was a little much. She didn't even like the bikini. But suddenly, she felt offended that Miles didn't think Lola would look good in it. She took it personally. Stupid teen hormones were making everything way too complicated. She really wished Miles hadn't tagged along.
"How about this one?" Lola picked up a holographic bikini with a bit more coverage to break the awkward ice from the strappy mess Frankie had suggested. "This is good. Cute, right?" She said. Miles didn't respond, however. He just made his way to the seating area that existed mostly for exhausted husbands to sit and contemplate divorce. This was going to be rough.
"Why would you do this to me?" Lola asked Frankie, as soon as Miles was out of earshot. "This was supposed to just be a fun little girl's outing... Now I can't even focus."
Frankie looked relentlessly unsympathetic. It was so hard for Frankie Hollingsworth to understand anyone else's plights. Hence, the mountains of misunderstandings the girl had gotten herself into throughout her four years at Degrassi. She was always so caught up in her own pain and drama, and she had no time to even put others' lives into consideration. "You were drooling all over him, Lo. You're obsessed. I thought him seeing you in a few bikinis might make the girlfriend go bye-bye."
Lola felt nothing but annoyance. "He has a girlfriend." She said sharply. "He wants to be with her. He brought her all the way from London. Seeing me in a swimsuit isn't gonna change anything."
But alas, Frankie had convinced herself that this was her project and that meant she wasn't going to give up. "Why do you think she's not with him right now? Hunter told me they had some sort of blowup before the ceremony and she walked out. This is your time to swoop in and get what you want... Despite the fact that I totally think you could do better than my weirdo brother."
Suddenly, everything felt different. If this were true, if Miles and his new girlfriend were on the outs and ready to break up already... Maybe she had a chance. But did she want one? That was the eternal question. Sure, she loved Miles. Sure, she couldn't get over him and had him in her mind for an entire year... But would they really make it as a couple? And was the drama-filled life of dating a Hollingsworth something that new-and-improved Lola wanted? And would it even last if the two got together? The last thing Lola needed in her life was some crappy breakup that made her new adult life into hell.
"Try this on." Frankie said, shoving a black mesh one piece toward Lola. "Sexy, but sophisticated. Everyone and their mothers will have their eyes on you."
"There'll be peoples' moms there?" Lola questioned, but Frankie cut her off with a laugh.
"No. It's just a saying Lola." Lola pulled the price tag to see how much she'd be dropping, and before she could read the numbers on the small slip of paper, Frankie slapped her hand. Hard. "My treat. Think of it as a little graduation present. From me to you. Congratulations, Lola. Welcome to the rest of your life." She said.