A.N. Hi! So sorry about the format error with the previous chapter. Thank you to KitKatz for notifying me about it. It was an error on my side and I have found a way to correct it. The updated Chapter 1 has been published if you would like to read it. Chapter 2 is much longer (approx 2200 words), I hope you do not lose interest. Anyway, hope you enjoy Chapter 2!

Chapter 2 — An End with a Beginning

Graduation Day soon arrived and the Mysterious Benedict Society and Co. (as Constance had named the large group) welcomed it with open arms. Everyone would be coming, even Tai Li and his aunt, and Rhonda would be flying in for the ceremony.

Reynie was excited, he would be reuniting with the Society and Co. Sure, he had gone back several times during holidays, but this time felt different. Today would mark the end of his college education which he finished at the early age of 21 (he was most likely the youngest person, other than Sticky, to have gotten a PhD). Today would also mark a new beginning for our young graduate, Milligan had invited Reynie to join his agency as an agent, not a field agent but as an intelligence officer. His role would be to analyse intelligence. Milligan also had in mind to use Reynie in interrogation, as others tended to trust him easily and for his intuitive understanding of humans and perceptive nature.

Reynie had packed his things up and changed into his Graduation gown before going down to receive his friends. He and several of his classmates were chatting about their plans after university when two cars drove down the road at break-neck speed. Reynie's family had arrived, and it was clear that Kate and Milligan were behind the two wheels seeing the speeds the cars were travelling at.

The cars screeched to a stop, and sure enough Kate and Milligan were the first ones to pop out the driver's side.

Milligan was in his favourite disguise, a three-piece suit with a daisy pinned to the lapel. He looked very neat with his hair combed and gelled.

Kate was wearing a high-neck dress, similar to the one she had worn to the Society's Private Pre-lunch Patio Party a few years ago. It had long sleeves and a flowing skirt. It was in a bright shade of red that perfectly complemented her sharp blue eyes and blonde hair (which was tied in a ponytail with two braids going through it). Though her outfit was simple with a plain belt snatching the dress to her waist, Kate still looked elegant, and Reynie couldn't help but stare, partly in awe and partly in amusement.

Milligan and Kate helped Mrs Washington out of the car in her wheelchair and Sticky and Mr Washington pushed her up the ramp while the others streamed out of the car, Tai jumping out of the car into Kate's awaiting arms followed by Dr Li (not into Kate's arms, of course), Mr Benedict was accompanied by Number Two and Rhonda.

The Washingtons were dressed in a matching shade of blue. Mrs. Washinton was in a dress while Sticky and Mr. Washington were in suits, Sticky was wearing his stylish glasses and both he and his father had clean-shaven heads.

Number Two was in a skirt and blouse of her usual yellow, and Mr. Benedict was in a suit with a green plaid handkerchief in the breast pocket. Rhonda was in an exotic print dress with her hair in braids.

Reynie had gone down to the roadside and was helping Pati and Amma out of the car. Pati's age had caught up with her and she needed the assistance of a walking stick. As the two women came out of the car they pressed kisses on Reynie's cheek and greeted him in Tamil. Reynie replied quickly and with great fluency as he had been practising the language with his roommate Rajeev. Ms. Perumal adjusted Reynie's tie. "I am so proud of you, beta," she said proudly as she enveloped her adopted son in her arms.

The last to come out of the car was Constance, having been woken up from a nap Constance was a bit irritable (but then again when is she not?). "I've often heard that graduation will result in humiliation," she proclaimed. She was wearing a green chequered dress with a string on which hung a pendant that spelt "NO!", which drew a parallel with her current state. But her mood was lightened when Reynie gave her a drawstring bag of British treats, mainly candy and as Mr Benedict wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

Kate caught Reynie in her signature greeting — a bear hug. Reynie stumbled a few steps before hugging back. Sticky and Reynie shared a brotherly hug. Constance greeted Reynie with a small smile and a scathing poem. The others gave Reynie pats on the back, warm smiles, congratulatory words or hugs.

"Reynie!" Everyone turned towards the sound's source — a tall Indian boy who was also dressed in a graduation gown. The boy was accompanied by his parents and they were walking towards the Mysterious Benedict Society and Co..

"Hey, Rajeev!" Reynie called back, he turned to the rest, "This is Rajeev Gupta, my roommate. Rajeev, this is my family."

There was a round of handshakes and short introductions. Mrs Gupta commented that Reynie's "family sure is big". This was true, when the Mysterious Benedict Society and Co. got together, they numbered 14. Soon, Ms. Perumal, Mrs. Perumal and Mrs. Gupta were conversing in rapid-fire Tamil, but as Reynie listened closely he realised that they must have been speaking a sub-dialect instead as he did not recognise a few of the words they were speaking. Mr Benedict was in a deep conversation with Mr Gupta, who was a neurosurgeon.

Rajeev's watch beeped rapidly. "Oh, it's almost time for us to report. We had better get going," he suggested, tapping on his watch.

The group set off together, everyone was abuzz with excitement and chattering amongst themselves. At some point, Reynie found himself near the back with Kate, he could not help but feel enchanted by the elegance she exuded, but it was also quite hilarious to see Kate dressed up to the nines. "Whoa are you and what have you done with Kate Weatherall?" he asked teasingly.

Kate looked sheepish and said, "I wanted to wear a three-piece suit like Milligan but Number Two and Rhonda want me to be "lady-like" at this "formal event"." She rolled her eyes, "Milligan took their side so I agreed." She murmured, "The traitor." jokingly, staring daggers into Millgan's back. Reynie laughed. "They suggested that they pick out a dress for me but I drew the line there and chose this one," gesturing at the red dress she was wearing.

"You look beautiful," Reynie said, pressing a kiss on her cheek. Kate's face promptly turned as red as the dress she wore.

"The only reason I am wearing this is because there are pants underneath," Kate said laughingly, taking hold of Reynie's hand and squeezing it gently while resting her head on his shoulder momentarily. "But thank you for saying that. You don't look too shabby yourself." She took Reynie's Graduation hat off his head with her free hand, placed it on her head and crossed her eyes. The two laughed as Reynie returned the hat to its proper place.

They walked on, holding each other's hands.

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After some time, they reached the Graduation Hall and Rajeev and Reynie had to join the Graduating cohort. The others sat down in the pews (the whole group needed two) and mostly waited silently, except for Constance who was sucking on a lollipop. After a few moments, the emcee walked to the platform. "Good morning ladies and gentlemen," he spoke into the microphone. The ceremony had started.

The guest of honour was soon invited onto the stage and began to present certificates to the graduates.

When Reynie's turn came, the Mysterious Benedict Society and Co., along with many others, cheered and clapped enthusiastically. Kate placed two fingers in her mouth and set out a loud whistle, gaining odd looks from the audience around her and a sharp look from Number Two and Rhonda. Kate felt a familiar presence in her mind like a door opening and she knew she had a visitor. "Not very "lady-like"," Constance whispered, be for closing the "door".

"For crying out loud!" Kate muttered to herself, "Can't a girl cheer for her boyfriend?" "Boyfriend" that word still sounded weird coming out of her mouth.

On stage, Reynie heard the applause and the whistle, his heart soared and he shook the hand of the guest of honour and received his certificate with a bright smile and a polite "thank you". A camera flashed and took a picture of Reynie and the guest of honour.

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The graduates and their families were invited to a reception in the quadrangle. Reynie was at the drinks table refilling his cup with fruit punch when he caught a whiff of a familiar strong perfume. Reynie had had a bad history with strong scents, like cologne and the Ten Man. This scent in particular meant that a dreaded someone was coming. Reynie made a futile attempt to make himself scarce before an arm weaved into his.

"Hey, Reynie," a girl, with hazelnut eyes, brown hair and slightly too much makeup, greeted.

"Hello, Angela," Reynie said, trying his best to remain cordial. He shifted his cup to the hand that was currently clung to by Angela and lifted the cup to his lips, forcing Angela to let go of him.

"What are your plans for after graduation?" Angela asked, twirling a lock of brown hair. "Are you going to accept my offer to work at my dad's firm?"

"No," Reynie said, "I'll be going home to my family."

"Oh," Angela's face fell, "Are you sure though? I'll be working there too and you know… we're close but I would still like to get to know you better." She tried to hold onto Reynie's arm but the always observant Reynie saw this and took another sip from his cup to avoid her grasp.

"Reynie!" a voice called and Reynie and Angela turned to see Kate running towards them, her skirt flying up to her knees and revealing that the dress she was wearing indeed had pants. Just some metres from Reynie, Kate somersaulted, executed a double axel and landed in front of him. Kate stood in front of the two looking like the picture of composure, and Angela was startled by Kate's sudden performance and by her not breaking into a sweat or panting.

"Reynie, Mr Benedict wants to take a group photograph! Come on!" she informed Reynie, before pulling him by the wrist towards where Mr Benedict presumably was. Reynie waved apologetically to Angela with one hand, the other arm feeling like it was about to be popped out of its socket. Deep down he was glad to not be alone with her anymore. That girl was annoying, even more than Constance. He tried his best to keep up with Kate but only succeeded in stumbling as Kate dragged him along.

"Muldoon!" another voice hollered. Why was everyone calling him now? Reynie halted and so did Kate, seemingly annoyed. A tall boy came up and after a quick greeting with Reynie (he did not seem to realise that Kate was there, tapping her foot impatiently), the boy asked, "You know you can't keep avoiding Angela you know? At some point, you will have to put her out of her misery and tell her whether or not you like her." Kate heard this and her foot-tapping stopped and looked questioningly at Reynie. Unfortunately, Reynie was too busy looking at the boy confusedly for him to see her "look". "I am sorry," he apologised, "but I think you have got this wrong. Angela annoys me and disturbs me all day, but she does not have feelings for me. Why would she anyway?"

"She likes you!" the boy exclaimed, "why do you think she offered you that job? Muldoon, you are the star student in your class, all the girls in class like you!"

Reynie had just seen the impatient and questioning look in Kate's eye and decided to remove the boy's notions of the relationship between him and Angela. He pulled Kate forward, cleared his throat and said, "This is my girlfriend, Kate." Kate put on a smile and reached out her hand for the boy to shake. The boy did so sheepishly before hurriedly excusing himself.

"You owe me an explanation. Who is "Angela"?" Kate asked while pulling Reynie along, less hurriedly now. Reynie explained that Angela was a girl in his class, the one whom he was trying to escape from earlier, offered him a job at her father's firm and apparently had feelings for him.

Kate, unable to hold a grudge, found this hilarious. "Honestly Reynie," she mused, "How could you not know when "all the girls in class" have a crush on you."

"I have been working hard in lessons and doing my best to make you and the rest proud. And, well, I have not been paying attention to any other girls because I have you." Reynie smiled sincerely and wrapped his arm around Kate's waist.

Kate kissed Reynie on the cheek. "You know, sometimes I think I am in love with you."

They reached the corner where the Society and Co. were gathered. "Finally you lovebirds are here!" Constance exclaimed. The "lovebirds" in question promptly flushed. "Do you know how long we have been waiting for you?" she added exasperatedly.

"Now, now, Constance," Mr Benedict patted Constance on the shoulder. "Let us now take our photograph."

The group stood in an arrangement (squeezing to ensure everyone was in frame), beaming (even Constance) while they waited for Sticky to press a button on a camera and run back next to his parents and the Society.

The camera's light flashed and the faces of the Society and Co. were illuminated momentarily. There was a click and this millisecond in time was forever recorded in history.