"We did it!" Sandra cried, gripping her fake diploma tightly.
We stood in the parking as parents and students took photos around the school. Luckily, I didn't have to worry about that.
"We need a picture," Brissa said. "Let me see if my dad can come take it."
She hurried off before we could say anything.
"It's a shame Prince Rothchester didn't stay," Amber lamented.
"He's busy," I told her.
She made a face. "I mean, you get to see him whenever you want. We have to wait until he makes a public appearance."
"Wow," I teased. "That makes it sound like you won't miss me."
Amber gaped at me. "No! That's not - no!"
I smiled. "I'm kidding."
Brissa returned with her father. She had mentioned he was an accountant.
"Dad," she said. "These are my friends."
After our round of introductions, we posed for a few pictures. Our parents took turns snapping pictures with their phones. Even my mom took pictures of everyone. Just as we were finishing up, my phone went out with an alert. Then everyone's phone went off.
I looked down and saw Alexander's message.
"You threw a party!" Sandra squealed. "For the whole school?!"
I looked from my phone to her. What message did they get?
"OMG! The limos are here!" Brissa exclaimed, pointing.
As the girls - and the rest of the school - waited excitedly by the sidewalk, I read my message.
"I have a surprise for you," it read. "Come to this address. Joseph will pick you up."
A very familiar car pulled up to the curb beside me. When I peeked in through the window, I saw Joseph.
"What's going on?" my mom asked from behind me.
I turned. "Alexander invited us to a party," I told her.
"Have fun," she said.
"Really?" I asked for a frown. "I thought you wanted to have dinner together."
"We can do it tomorrow," she said. She nudged my dad. "Right?"
"Sure," Dad said. "Be safe though."
I glanced at the car. "Okay," I said. "I won't be out too long."
My car led the procession all the way downtown where we stopped in front of a hotel.
"What's going on here?" I asked Joseph. "Did Alexander plan all this?"
"You'll see," he told me.
Exiting the car, the hotel staff rolled out the red carpet for us. Everyone practically swarmed inside. I loitered around the entrance. I wasn't sure why I hesitated. If I had to try to explain it, it would probably be this feeling of surrealness.
"Rin," Brissa called. "You coming?"
"Yeah, in a bit," I told her. "I want some air."
"How about waiting in the lobby?" Sandra asked. "A little safer too."
I smiled. "Yeah, okay."
They held the door open for me as I walked in.
"Are you sure you alright?" Amber asked.
"Yeah," I told her. "You guys go on ahead. I'll catch up in a moment."
I stayed in the lobby and sat on one of the leather benches. What was wrong with me? I should be happy and excited. My hands wouldn't stop shaking. Standing, I paced around.
It was just graduation. I'd attended so many more important events in front of strangers. So, why was so . . . anxious?
"Rin?"
I turned and saw Alexander walking out of the ballroom. He wore a white tux with gold trimmings. Wordlessly, I reached for him. He took my hand and pulled me into his chest.
"Are you okay?" he asked. "Your friends are worried. Did something happen? Your heart rate is a little high."
"I don't know," I told him.
"It's okay," he said, rubbing my back. "I'm here." He planted a kiss on my head. "Do you want to go inside?"
I shook my head.
"That's fine. We can stay here."
I closed my eyes, trying to calm myself. After today, everything would change. It was so . . . unpredictable. What was I supposed to do after today? Everything plan I had went out the window.
"What am I supposed to do?" I whispered.
"In regards to what?"
I looked up at him. "My life."
He smiled. "That's easy," he said. "You stay with me."
His smile was contagious. "I have to go to school," I told him. "I need a job."
"You don't have to go to school," he amended. "You don't need a job."
"Uh, my parents will beg to differ."
"You're mine," he said. "If you want to lounge around all day, you can do that too. I want you to be happy."
Speechless, I gaped at him. "I can't do that! Everyone expects me to - "
"I don't care what everyone expects," he interrupted. "I care about what you want. You won't even lift a finger if you don't want to."
"I don't want that," I told him.
"Then what do you want?"
"I want to go to school and work and -"
"Then do it."
"It's not that easy!"
He frowned. "Why not?"
I looked at him. "I - it's not, okay? I didn't get accepted anywhere and -"
"That's okay."
"Is it?"
"Yes. You can't start in the Spring or Summer. Apply again. Attend online school. It's not the end of the world."
"Easy for you to say," I grumbled.
He gave me a look. "Rin, I'm not going to college."
"You're not?"
He led me to the bench and we sat.
"I'm learning from my father," he said. "Soon, he'll step down and I have to be ready. No college will teach me how to be a vampire king."
I looked down at our linked hands. "I need to get a job."
"Then apply tomorrow. Royal Prints is hiring."
"I don't want to be given a job. I want to earn it."
"Rin, it's all about connections. Besides, I'm sure they would love to have you back."
"It's the last resort," I told him. "I want to find a job on my own."
"Violet does want her assistant back."
"I didn't do much."
"No, but this time she'll teach you the ropes. Why don't you give it a thought?"
"What about her? Does she want me to help her?"
"I wouldn't be asking if she didn't, but with everything going on, she thought she'd wait for the right moment."
I bit my lip. Working with Violet would be amazing.
"I'd like that," I told him.
"I'll tell her tomorrow. Tonight, we should enjoy this."
He stood, pulling me up to my feet.
"Where are we going?"
"To party."
I glanced at the ballroom. "I don't have a lot of practice," I began.
He smiled. "Don't worry, I'll help you."
Arm in arm, we headed to the ballroom. The lights had been dimmed. Everywhere I looked, people were dancing, eating, and laughing.
Alexander pulled me onto the dance floor.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Dancing."
"Um, I don't know," I said.
"It's alright," he said. "Just follow my lead."
As we swayed to the music, I instantly relaxed. The tension in my chest disappeared. As I stared into Alexander's eyes, I couldn't help but think that being in his arms was right where I belonged.
The END.
A/N
Thanks so much for reading! I'm sorry for taking so long to finish. Thank you for your patience!
This chapter will mark the end of The Vampire Prince graduates High School. I hope you enjoyed reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it.
As of right now, I don't have anything else planned but that may change in the future. I'll have a Q&A chapter at the end in case I get enough questions about anything regarding the story, etc.
-Mama_Kas