Moving Objects

Chapter 13

I could feel my face flushing and I tried to suppress my smirk and looked away. It was enough of an answer and she squealed, pouncing on the gossip opportunity. She instantly asked for the details and I kept it pretty PG13, considering what she's already seen. I mean, it only happened once. Eventually our conversation ended when the door rattled as someone tried to get in. Lissa made a face that screamed the conversation was going to continue and we headed out of the bathroom to grab our breakfast. I scanned the room and smiled as I observed my classmates sitting with their families. I spotted Eddie with his mom and my parents with Tasha and Christian. I stirred Lissa towards them and slipped into a vacant spot.

I smiled at Dad as he leaned over and kissed the side of my head and Mom gave me a happy smile. Eddie's Mom was so happy to see me and reached over the table to hug me while Mom gave Lissa a congratulatory hug.

"Your father was just telling me some spectacular stories about you," Eddie's mom said with a fond smile. I rolled my eyes and sipped my orange juice, catching Lissa's eye over my glass.

"I'm sure he did."

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This was a moment I didn't think I would experience, having a group of people cheering for me as I walked across the stage to collect my diploma. Nine months ago I would have laughed if you said my mom was going to be here, but she was. I had a father here too and his Guardian who was just as attached to me as my parents were. I had a family. I had Lissa clapping from her spot in the wave of the students, Eddie whooping loudly and Christian clapping as well.

Alberta smiled as she shook my hand and handed me my diploma and Kirova looked less hateful than normal. Maybe it was because she was finally getting rid of me? I smiled at Alberta when she stepped aside for me to walk past her and Dimitri greeted me. As a custom, any Novice who had a mentor was presented her stakes by them instead of the Head Guardian. Dimitri was uncharacteristically happy as he handed me the familiar box and pulled me into a quick hug. I was startled that he did it in front of the whole school, but I returned it quickly and pulled away.

I joined my classmates and clapped along as the last of them crossed the stage, giving extra enthusiasm as Christian crossed the stage. He needed extra support today.

As soon as the ceremony was finished, I made my way over to my friends. The first one I found was Lissa and I wrapped my arms around her, squealing just as excitedly as she did. We did it - I did it! Lissa had a few tears in her eyes when she pulled me into a hug and I could pretend all I wanted that I didn't have any either, but it would be a pathetic lie. I sniffed and pulled away, wiping the back of my hands over my cheeks to clear them away.

I just made it out of Lissa's grasp before I was swallowed up in a hug by Eddie. His laugh was pure and I was relieved to hear it for the first time since Mason's death. There was mention of Mason at the beginning of the Dhampir ceremony and there was a moment of silence to which Eddie turned his head to look at me in the row behind. The room full of people didn't stop me from reaching my hand over and squeezing his before the reading of diploma's started.

"He'd be proud of us," I said to him. He nodded and gave me a tight squeeze. He didn't need to say anything but I knew he agreed with me. Mason would have been proud and if he had been standing here with us today it would have been even better.

Our families descended on us and I was quickly preoccupied with them. Mom was red-eyed and Dad was loud, boasting about how proud he was of his girls, tucking me under his arm while pulling Lissa in as well. I was thankful that he considered her family as well, especially when she didn't have any.

"Can I see them?" Mom asked, pointing to my stakes. I nodded and pulled one out and handed it to her. She looked over it with a neutral gaze before her eyes landed on the inscription. She furrowed her brows and looked up at me and then to Dad and then back to me.