Months passed by. Bluey and Jean-Luc kept their little promise of talking to each other daily online. Everyday, they texted, and every weekend, they video called on FaceTalk. They had managed to retain their friendship, growing closer, and nearly forgetting all about their petty argument all that time ago.
One day, Bluey wrote again in her diary.
Hello, Diary.
I'm about to talk with Jean-Luc, but I wanted to write in you first.
I've been feeling much better each time we've been talking! Like, a complete turn around than how I was before months ago as you can tell from my other entries. And I've been getting to know Jean-Luc a lot more too. I wonder if he's been getting to know me a lot too. I hope so.
The video calls have been my favourite way of talking with him. Because that way, we get to see each other. I guess it's the closest thing to actually being around each other as if we were together in-person. I can't wait until we do get to see each other again though.
It's almost summer, so he's likely going to go camping again this year. If he is, I'll get to see him then. I'm so excited!
I'll write in you again soon. I just want to talk to Jean-Luc before he goes to bed.
XXXOOO
~ Bluey
She went to the back of her diary and there was her old drawing, along with an addition. She had the photo from the park printed out and tucked in along with the drawing. She looked at both and smiled. "Maybe we are meant to be with each other forever," she said to herself.
She then grabbed her phone and sent a text to Jean-Luc.
Bluey: Hey Jean-Luc.
A moment later, she got a response back.
Jean-Luc: Hello Bluey.
Bluey: What are you up to?
Jean-Luc: Just finished dinner.
Jean-Luc: How about you?
Bluey: Just finished a diary entry.
Bluey: Going out to have lunch in a bit but you know I wanted to talk with you before you go to bed.
Jean-Luc: I know. lol
Jean-Luc: Any plans for today?
Bluey thought for a while.
Bluey: I'm not sure.
Bluey: We might be going to the shops later.
Bluey: It's nearly Bingo's birthday and she's been wanting this new posie.
Jean-Luc: What's a posie?
Jean-Luc: Isn't that a flower?
Bluey: It's like a small handbag.
Jean-Luc: Oh okay.
Jean-Luc then wondered about something.
Jean-Luc: When's your birthday Bluey?
Bluey: Mine's a little after Bingo's.
Bluey: In December.
Jean-Luc: Really?
Bluey: Yeah. lol
Knowing this now, Jean-Luc was determined to do something for Bluey. However, he wanted it to be a surprise for her. But what could he do for her. He was all the way in Montréal and Bluey in Brisbane. He had to think of something. "What would Bluey like more than anything?" he asked himself.
Jean-Luc: What would you like for your birthday?
Bluey thought for a moment. There wasn't much that she could want. If anything, the one thing that she would want most in the world at that moment was for Jean-Luc to visit her, but she knew that would be a near impossible feat for him to do for her.
Bluey: I don't know.
Bluey: I didn't put much thought into what you could get me.
Jean-Luc: Isn't there anything at all?
Bluey: Well...
Bluey: If I could have anything in the world with no impossibilities...
Bluey: What I'd want most is to see you again here in Australia.
Jean-Luc smiled. He wishes that he could do that for her. He had an idea, but he knew he couldn't guarantee anything just yet.
Jean-Luc: That'd be nice if I could.
Bluey: Yeah.
Bluey: Especially since it's after my graduation too.
"Now I have to try and go see Bluey!" Jean-Luc said to himself, more determined now, "Not only for her birthday, but for her graduation too!" He tried to give a distraction reply to her.
Jean-Luc: Maybe we can have a special video call on FaceTalk?
Bluey was curious on how a video call would be more special than it already was. But she settled for it.
Bluey: Okay Jean-Luc. lol
Bluey: I'm looking forward to it.
Bluey and Jean-Luc continued their chat until it was time for Bluey to go. She and her family went to the shopping center to get Bingo her handbag present for her birthday. Meanwhile, Jean-Luc was planning on what he could do for Bluey's birthday. With some planning, he discussed it with his parents.
"Are you sure this is something you want to do?" Antoine asked him.
"Yes, Dad," Jean-Luc nodded pleadingly, "More than anything!"
Antoine thought about it for a while. "Let me talk about it with your mother first," he said.
He and Céline turned to each other to discuss it. It took them several minutes; enough for Jean-Luc to nearly think that his idea wouldn't be able to come to fruition. But just when he was about to lose hope, his parents came to him.
"Jean-Luc," Céline began to say, "Your father and I have decided that, since Bluey means a lot to you, we'll try to go through with your idea for her." Antoine nodded in agreement.
"Thanks, Mom! Thanks, Dad!" Jean-Luc gratefully exclaimed.
"It's still an expensive present," Antoine informed, "Are you sure you're willing to cut your expenses for her?"
Jean-Luc made a determined nod. Bluey meant more than anything to him, and he was willing to do anything to make her happy. And he knew this idea was the way that would make her ecstatic.
"Also, Jean-Luc," Céline added, "We might not be able to go camping this year if we go through with this. I'll still have to talk to your Uncle Marcel, but I don't think he'll mind the change, knowing my brother." She took out her phone. "I'll give him a call now to talk to him about it," she said as she dialed Marcel's number, "I just hope he's still home right now."
"Okay, Mom," Jean-Luc said. He didn't want to inconvenience his uncle, but if he ended up being okay with the whole thing, it wouldn't be so bad after all.
"Okay, well, it's getting late now, Jean-Luc," Antoine informed, "We'll talk more about it tomorrow."
"Alright, Dad," Jean-Luc said, wagging his tail. He headed to his room, happy to know that he had a sporting chance with the best gift he could give Bluey. He and his parents said goodnight to each other and he laid in bed happily. Now all he had to do was try to keep it as a surprise for Bluey.
It was just a couple weeks until it was summertime for Bluey, and nearly time for her graduation from school. She couldn't wait to tell Jean-Luc.
One weekend, Bluey sent a FaceTalk video call invite to Jean-Luc. He answered.
"Hi, Jean-Luc!" Bluey greeted with a wave.
"Hello, Bluey!" Jean-Luc greeted back, waving as well, "How are you?"
"Doing good," Bluey explained, "Actually, I'm real excited because I'm graduating next week!"
"Really?" Jean-Luc asked, pretending to be surprised, "This soon?" Bluey had actually told him constantly about her graduation for the past couple weeks, but he liked to play along with it as if it were the first time hearing about it. Plus, he had to keep his idea a secret from Bluey, which was much harder than he'd thought, especially since everything he'd planned was now set in place. All that had to happen now was to wait. He wanted to tell her so badly. But he managed to keep it to himself.
"Yeah!" Bluey exclaimed, "Everyone'll be there too!" She then realized about Jean-Luc still being in Canada. "Oh, well, nearly everyone," she corrected herself.
Jean-Luc weakly chuckled. "Yeah," he said, "But it's okay, Bluey, I know you'll still have a wonderful graduation!"
"I wish it could," Bluey said, hinting that the only thing that would make her graduation remotely wonderful would be if Jean-Luc could be there. But she knew just how impossible that would be to happen. She sighed.
"Trust me, Bluey," Jean-Luc reassured her, "You will have a great one!"
Bluey smiled. She didn't see how, but she trusted him. "Okay, Jean-Luc," she said, "If you say so."
"I know so!" Jean-Luc smiled back. It was very difficult for him not to tell her why. But he managed to stay silent about it.
However, Bluey got curious. "How do you know, Jean-Luc?" she asked.
Jean-Luc didn't expect that. "Um, well..." he stammered, trying to think of what to tell her, "I'm your best friend, Bluey. You know I'll try to make sure you're happy no matter what. Right?"
Bluey thought for a moment. "Yeah," she finally said, "I guess you're right." However, she was still wondering about it in the back of her mind. But she decided not to question about it again.
"Anything exciting you have planned for it?" Jean-Luc asked, slightly changing the subject from it.
"Hmm..." Bluey thought, "Well, I think Mum and Dad are planning on taking us all out for dinner that evening. Bingo, Muffin, and Socks all said that they bought me a few little pressies. Uncle Stripe and Aunt Trixie want to take me to the park for a photoshoot. Even Uncle Rad and Aunt Trixie are coming over to help plan on an after-graduation party. And my grandparents are planning on attending my graduation too."
"Wow, sounds like a lot is planned!" Jean-Luc noted.
"Yeah," Bluey chuckled, "I'm really looking forward to graduating from school."
"Any plans for university?" Jean-Luc asked.
"Yeah," Bluey answered, "I want to try and get into a fine arts study. You know, since I really love to draw and be creative. I've been drawing a lot since I was very young and everyone says that I'm real good at it. So that's why I think that's my calling."
"I can believe that," Jean-Luc admired as he wagged his tail, fully listening to Bluey explain her artistic passion.
Bluey giggled from his words. "What about you, Jean-Luc?" she asked curiously, "Do you have plans to go to university?"
"Yeah," Jean-Luc said, "I'm just taking a couple semesters off as a break. But when I start, I'm thinking of starting some biological studies and see where that takes me. Like a doctor, zoologist, or researcher."
"Ooo..." Bluey said. She was very impressed with Jean-Luc's ambitions. "Sounds like you've planned this a lot!"
"I have," Jean-Luc agreed, "Science has always fascinated me, especially biology."
"That's cool," Bluey supported. She wished she was as good in science as Jean-Luc, but she also knew her own personal strengths.
The two of them continued to talk in their video call until Jean-Luc was starting to get tired. It was actually one of the latest times he'd stayed up with Bluey. It was close to midnight, his time. They agreed to end their video chat and talk again the next day.
For the whole week, they communicated through text messages between each other. And before long, it was the day of Bluey's graduation. Just as Bluey had described, everyone who had planned on attending showed up at the pavilion of where the ceremony was being held.
"I'm so glad you all are here!" Bluey thanked as she gave everyone hugs.
Everyone was just as proud of her as she was. And they all crowded around her to tell her how well she's done throughout her life. Nothing but praise surrounded her.
"Aww, thanks, everyone!" Bluey gratefully said, nearly in tears from all their compliments.
Just then, Chilli noticed something in the corner of her eye. At first, she was surprised, but she soon smiled. She grabbed Bluey's hand and pulled her aside. "Check out over there," she whispered as she pointed in that certain direction.
Bluey gasped to the sight.
"Jean-Luc!" she called out, running towards him. She leapt into his arms. "I can't believe you're here!" she exclaimed, her eyes full of happy tears and her tail wagging enthusiastically.
Jean-Luc embraced her. "I told you to trust me," he smiled as he looked into her tear-filled eyes, "I promised your graduation was going to be wonderful."
"No," Bluey said, hugging Jean-Luc again, "You've made it perfect."
The two of them stayed in each other's arms as Bluey's family watched in awe, surprise, and admiration. Bluey and Jean-Luc looked so cute together. Bluey couldn't think of anything that could make that moment any better.
The ceremony soon began and when Bluey was called up to accept her diploma, her family and Jean-Luc stood and cheered for her loudly in their support for her. Some of them even cried happily. Bluey stood on-stage with a big smile, wagging her tail with accomplishment.
Afterwards, Bluey met up with everyone again.
Stripe and Trixie walked up to Bluey. "Ready for the graduation photoshoot?" Trixie asked.
"Yeah!" Bluey exclaimed. She then had an idea. "Aunt Trixie?" she requested, "Can Jean-Luc be in the photoshoot too? Please?"
Jean-Luc felt honored.
"Sure," Trixie permitted with a smile, "It's your graduation after all!"
"Let's all go then!" Stripe hyped.
The four of them began walking to the car.
"We'll meet you all at the restaurant," Bandit told them, "We'll finish up the party decorating in the meantime."
"Yeah," Frisky added, "We still need to set up a couple more things for the party this evening." She turned her attention to Rad. "You got them, right?" she asked him.
"'Course, babe," Rad answered, "The balloons and streamers are in the boot. And Nana and Bob have the tent folded up in theirs."
Frisky smiled. "Good boy," she teased playfully.
"Great!" Chilli said, "So everything should be done before dinner?"
"Yup!" Rad promised, giving a reassuring thumbs up.
"Good," Bandit said, "Now let's get this done!"
With that, they all started their way back to the Heeler house to set up for the party while Stripe and Trixie handled the photoshoot with Bluey and Jean-Luc.
"Which park are we going to?" Jean-Luc asked.
"Roma Street," Bluey answered, "It's my favorite park."
Jean-Luc smiled. "Sounds perfect!" he said. Roma Street was the perfect place for a photoshoot.
At the park, they all walked to various locations from flower gardens to fountain fonts. Stripe and Trixie took several photos of Bluey, some solo and some paired with Jean-Luc.
To Jean-Luc, it was like old memories again, only he was determined to not mess anything up. Not this time. Not to Bluey. Not today. And it was a successful attempt. The day was just perfect with lots of pictures taken.
"Would you like copies, Jean-Luc?" Trixie asked him.
Bluey nodded to him.
"Sure, Mrs. Heeler," Jean-Luc said, "Thank you."
Trixie sent him the copies to his phone. "There you go," she said, "I'll send everyone else during dinner, okay?"
"Okay, Aunt Trixie," Bluey said.
"Speaking of, it's time to get going to the restaurant," Stripe suggested.
Everyone ran to the car and they drove off to meet everyone else at the restaurant meeting place.
The restaurant was a rather contemporary-looking tavern place called The Kenmore. When Stripe pulled up into the parking lot, so did the rest of the Heeler family.
"Just in time, little bro!" Bandit teased Stripe.
"I try to!" Stripe countered.
Everyone walked in the restaurant and up to the host.
"We have a booking under 'Heeler'," Bandit told the host.
The host skimmed down the list, finding the name. "Oh, yes," he said, "I see you, right here. You reserved a private VIP section."
"That's right," Bandit responded, "'Cause nothing's too good for my girl here on her graduation day!" He pointed over to a giggling Bluey.
"Very good, mate," the host said with a smile, "This way, everyone." With that, he led everyone to their private area of the restaurant. It was a fancy secluded area close to the back.
Everyone chose their seats with Bluey and Jean-Luc sitting next to each other at the table.
"Your server will be with you in a short moment," the host said, handing each of them a menu "I hope you enjoy. And congrats to you, young lady." Everyone thanked him as he left back to the front.
"You'll love this place, Jean-Luc," Bluey said, "They've got very good food here. See?" She pointed to all her favorites and recommendations on the menu.
It all looked so good to Jean-Luc. He didn't know what exactly to get. He pondered over it for a while.
"Mum? Dad?" Bluey asked, "Is it okay if Jean-Luc and I get a cocktail? Please?"
"Hmm," Chilli thought for a moment, "Well, you are just a couple days of age, so sure. Why not?" She turned her attention to Jean-Luc. "What do you think, Jean-Luc? Would you want one too?" she asked, "It's no biggie."
"Um, okay," Jean-Luc answered rather shyly. His parents had let him drink since his birthday, so that wasn't a problem. He just felt funny about another family letting him drink and he had yet to get used to it.
"What drinks would you two want then?" Chilli asked.
"Something real fruity," Bluey requested.
"Same," Jean-Luc asked as well.
"Got it," Chilli said, "I know what you two'll like."
The server soon came by and asked for their orders. They told him what they wanted and the server took it back to the kitchen and bar. After a while, they'd all gotten their food and drinks.
"Mmm! This is great, Mum!" Bluey exclaimed, "What drink did you order?"
"It's called Sex on the Beach," Chilli explained, "It's the fruitiest drink I know."
"I like it!" Bluey said excitedly, "How about you Jean-Luc?"
Jean-Luc blushed by its name, but he simply nodded in agreement as he sipped his drink.
"Don't you two get any ideas now," Bandit said subtly.
"Bandit," Chilli scolded under her breath, "Don't you start with that kinda crap. It's just the name of a drink for your adult daughter and her adult friend."
"For now," Bandit retorted.
Chilli just growled quietly at Bandit, causing him to cower. She wasn't going to let Bluey's night be ruined over a mere drink name.
The rest of the dinner actually went smoothly. Everyone enjoyed their meals and drinks. They gave the server a hearty tip for the service and started to go back to the Heeler house for the post-graduation party.
At home, Bluey was surprised by how decorative the backyard had been transformed. "Thanks, Uncle Rad! Thanks, Aunt Frisky! Thanks, everyone!" Bluey exclaimed in gratitude.
Everyone then began to celebrate and have fun at the party. There were lots of music, dancing, and more drinks served. The younger girls had their own non-alcoholic ones to enjoy too.
After a while, Bluey took a break and sat at the house's front steps, sipping on a drink. She sighed contently before Jean-Luc joined her.
"Taking a break too?" Bluey asked.
"Oui," Jean-Luc nodded, taking a sip of his drink.
Bluey giggled. "I like it when you speak French, Jean-Luc," she said, "It's cute."
Jean-Luc blushed. He couldn't help but smile. "Vraiment?" he asked playfully, "Parce que je peux te parler français si tu le veux..." He laughed.
Bluey giggled even more from his French. "Come on, Jean-Luc," she said, gently bumping his shoulder with hers, "You know I don't know any French."
"I can teach you," Jean-Luc offered.
"You can?" Bluey asked.
Jean-Luc nodded. "It's not too difficult to learn," he said.
"I'd love that, Jean-Luc," Bluey accepted, looking at him.
Jean-Luc smiled.
The two of them sat and looked up at the stars for a while, making up their own fun constellations as well as Bluey pointing out the ones she was familiar with as the stars were different than on Jean-Luc's hemisphere of the world.
Jean-Luc soon remembered. "Oh! Bluey," he said, "Before I forget, I got you something."
Bluey looked at him curiously. "What is it?" she asked.
Jean-Luc gently took out his gift from his pack by the railing. "It's a rose corsage," he said.
Bluey gasped in amazement.
It was a beautiful corsage that was covered in a ring of red roses.
"I want to give you this just in case I won't be able to see you on your birthday," Jean-Luc explained, "And I wanted to get you something that was just as beautiful as you are."
Tears formed in Bluey's eyes. She had never heard such love and kindness from him before. And the corsage was a surprise in itself.
Jean-Luc gently put it on her wrist. "Though, I think it's really you that makes this corsage look pretty," he commented with a blush.
Bluey didn't know what to say. Her heart was pounding and her tears began to fall down her cheek and by her smile. "Oh, Jean-Luc," she said happily, looking at the corsage, and then at him, "Thank you!" She then gave a quick kiss on his cheek and ran back to the party to show the corsage off to her family.
Jean-Luc was surprised by the kiss, nearly losing his balance from it. He stood there, sheltering the spot with his hand. He had a wide lovestruck smile on his face as he watched Bluey return back to the party tent.