True Blue (Imperium Coast #1)

Chapter 2

2

“ C ongratulations graduates. Your next adventure awaits!”

My smile tries to crack my face in two as the stillness of the sea of robe clad graduates explodes into a flurry of motion. The cacophony of cheers and whistles pierce my ears as Principal Desmond steps away from the podium and walks off stage. I stand, throwing my cap into the air, and watch it disappear amongst the hundreds of other emerald green airborne squares. Placing my fingers in my mouth, I whistle, and the sound melts into the other cheers and whistles going off around me as the applause from the bleachers surrounding the football field creates a dull thrum in the background.

Camera flashes go off and for a second, my smile dims. Most of the flashes probably emanate from proud parents wanting to capture the excitement of the day. But I also know some belong to telephoto lenses, zoomed in, trying to get a shot of Heather and Michael Marshall’s son for the tabloids. Shaking off the ever-present itch of being watched, my chest heaves, and my smile returns to try to crack my face in two. I glance around and just let the excited energy of the atmosphere invade my body, mingling with my own ecstasy. All around me, people hug and squeal and try to move through the crowd to find their loved ones.

Focusing on the bleachers, I attempt to find familiar faces as the caps rain back down upon us. Most of the crowd is either looking down as they shuffle out of their seats toward the field, or they’re stopping to wave at the people around me, having found their person in the green sea. Giving up, I search the crowd level with me and easily find my target, having seen her face nearly every day since I was five.

Mira stands near the stage, dark brown waves blowing around her face as she tries to push it back over her shoulders without the graduation cap to hold it in place. Her honey brown eyes search the throng of green clad seniors, not spotting me as her head swivels around. Having sat in the front row throughout our graduation thanks to her alphabetically superior surname, Adams, she has the luxury of standing in front of the stage to survey the crowd, all directly in front of her. Meanwhile, I was stuck in the middle with the other M’s waiting forever for them to call Marshall.

I weave through people, smiling and nodding to those that recognize me and those that don’t. Mira stares up at the bleachers, probably hoping for a glimpse of her own parents in the melding crowds that are now mostly on even ground. It makes it nearly impossible to find anyone just by sight.

A clear path forms from me to her when I get about three feet away. I zoom through it, grabbing Mira by the waist, and spinning us around.

She squeals and starts swatting my shoulders. “Bent! Put me down!”

I grant her wish and beam. “We did it. High school is officially over.”

She smiles up at me and shakes her head, eyes returning to the crowd around us. “And yet you’re still acting like a child.”

“I don’t think a child would have been able to pick you up.”

She rolls her eyes and sticks her tongue out at me, reaching up to poke the dimple in my left cheek.

I laugh, swatting her hand away. “Who’s being childish now, Mir?”

She slaps my chest before gasping and waving at someone over my shoulder. “Autumn! Over here!” I turn and open a space for our grim-faced friend to quickly slide in next to me. Her dark blue eyes flash, jaw set, and arms folded tightly over her chest.

“Shhhhh!” She grabs Mira’s hand and pushes it down. “I’m trying to avoid my parents finding me so quick.” Heat colors the skin beneath her freckles, shading her fair complexion.

“Pretty sure they’re going to find us eventually,” I point out, gesturing to the stage behind us. “We’re kind of the whole reason they’re here.”

“Yeah, but the longer I avoid them, the less time I have to spend at my grandmother’s with them fawning over Sage.” She rubs her forearm, and I throw my arm around her shoulders, squishing her into my side.

Autumn’s parents doting on her little sister on the day of her high school graduation doesn’t surprise me, but the usual spark of anger I feel toward the Greens kicks in anyway. “Don’t worry, we’ll come kidnap you in an hour or two. No way we’d leave you with your family all day.”

Autumn smiles up at me and Mira nods at her before going back to searching the shifting throng of people surrounding us.

I poke her side. “Settle down, Mir. April will find us eventually.” Mira’s mom probably already has eyes on the three of us and is just finding the politest way to push through the crowd.

“Harley came,” Mira whispers. Autumn glances up at me while Mira is distracted and raises an eyebrow. I shrug.

“He usually goes where Ramsey does,” I comment. Autumn nods. Mira always gets jumpy around her older brother’s best friend, ever since he started avoiding her like the plague a few years ago. Autumn and I usually try to soften the blow whenever we know Mira is going to be around him.

Mira glances back at us and takes a deep breath. “Yeah, that’s probably why he’s here. I didn’t even know Ramsey was going to show.” She laces her fingers together, but the tension in her shoulders remains.

“At least none of us fell off the stage.” I jostle Autumn’s shoulder with my arm, and she gives me a small smile, but glances over her shoulder, probably realizing her parents will find her sooner now that we aren’t moving.

“I thought you were going to do a backflip,” Mira says, poking me in the stomach and grinning.

I shrug. “Guess stage fright set in.”

Autumn rolls her eyes and Mira audibly scoffs. “When have you ever gotten stage fright?”

I shrug, looking away from them. I didn’t remember to do anything flashy when I was walking across the stage. The second I got to the top of the stairs, shouts and flashes from the edge had stolen my attention. A couple school security officers tried to usher them off, but the half dozen paparazzi that managed to stick around kept trying to get me to look over at them or stop and pose. When I shook Principal Desmond’s hand, she apologized and patted me on the shoulder, posing for the school photographer as the people at the stage edge went wild. The only thing I could focus on was not falling in front of all of them after that.

“There you all are!” April Adams bursts through a hole in the crowd and walks over to us with a huge smile eating up half of her face. Wearing a blue sundress and sandals and sticking out amongst the other ultra-wealthy Emerald Grove Preparatory parents, her presence banishes all the frustration previously foaming up inside me. “Congratulations!” She grabs Mira in a fierce hug as Ramsey, Harley, and Conrad walk up behind her and fill out our little circle.

“Thanks, Mom,” Mira mumbles against her shoulder.

Pulling back, April holds Mira at arm's length with tears in her eyes. “I can’t believe you’re done with school!”

“Smothering, Mom,” Ramsey says in a low voice over her shoulder.

“Hush,” April responds, but releases Mira who smiles at her brother. April turns toward me and Autumn, as Mira’s eyes quickly flick to Harley who pointedly stares to the left of everything.

“Congratulations you two!” April holds her arms open, and I release Autumn just in time for her to wrap an arm around each of our necks as well. I bend down to help her out and return the hug with a smile. Her familiar warmth makes me close my eyes for a moment. Ever since I met Mira, April has treated me like I’m one of her kids, sliding into my life as a second mother without complaint or judgement.

“Thanks, April.” I hug her a little tighter.

“Thanks, Mrs. Adams,” Autumn replies and smiles up at April. I catch Ramsey rolling his eyes.

“I can’t believe you guys are all grown up.” April sighs as she releases us and steps back, placing a hand on either of our cheeks. Mira shakes her head over her mom’s shoulder.

“I can’t believe you’re all following me to the Coast,” Ramsey mutters, then looks up surprised. He smiles, eyes darting between Mira and me and openly avoiding the third graduate in our midst. “Just missed me so much the last few years, huh?” He throws his arm around Mira’s shoulders and squeezes her as she tries to shove him off.

“I’m just following this one,” I point at Mira with my thumb who rolls her eyes. “Figured we’ve gone to the same schools our whole lives, why change a good thing?”

“Oh please. You’re the one with alumni in your family. I’m the one following you, Mr. Instant Admission.” Mira rolls her eyes at my grin. “And of course, Autumn had to come along. No way we’d leave her here to fend for herself.” Mira finally breaks free of Ramsey’s hold when he freezes up at the mention of Autumn. She reaches forward, gripping Autumn’s hand as she smiles. Ramsey scowls and looks over at Harley who glances at Mira with narrowed eyes before looking away again.

Conrad stands off to the side in a dark blue three-piece suit, watching everything mutely. April gives him a pointed look and he steps forward, reaching out and gripping Mira’s shoulder. “Congratulations, Amiria,” he whispers when she looks over at him.

Mira beams. “Thanks, Dad.”

I smile. Someone taps my shoulder and I turn, nerves jumping only to find my grandfather behind me, alone. He opens his arms, and I lean in. “Congratulations, dear boy,” he says softly in my ear as I return the hug.

“Thanks, Grandpa.” We lean out of the hug, and I glance around. “Mom and Dad couldn’t get out of filming?”

Grandpa’s eyes crease a little further as he shakes his head slightly. “Afraid not. But they sent Ryan to capture the whole thing.” He nods over his shoulder, and I glance back, seeing my parent’s go-to stateside videographer wearing a chest mounted camera rig and watching a monitor in front of him as he films us from a few feet away.

I bark a laugh, giving the camera a wave.

“And they gave me this to pass on.” I look back at my grandfather and he hands me an envelope.

I take it from him, and he puts his hand on my shoulder. Inside, I find a letter in Mom’s curly handwriting. Scanning the words, I smile at the congratulations and well wishes as well as the comments on how fast I grew up. Near the end they apologize for not being able to make it and how much they miss me. My heart aches for a moment, but stutters at the last line.

But we will both see you soon. Love, Mom and Dad.

My mouth pops open and I look up at Grandpa who has a smirk on his face. He hands me a second envelope and I tear it open faster than the first and find plane tickets to Croatia then another to Spain. The first one leaves in two days.

“They’re flying you out to their film locations?” Autumn asks, on her tiptoes so she can try to read the tickets over my shoulder.

“Yeah!” I exclaim, tipping the tickets so that she could see them. “I fly out in a couple days. Looks like I’m traveling Europe for the summer!”

“You’re going away for the summer?” Mira asks, overhearing me telling Autumn.

I turn back toward the Adams family and nod, showing Mira the tickets. “Mom and Dad are having me meet them on location and spend the summer with them!” Mira smiles and I feel my stomach twist. “Fuck! This ruins our plans.” I read the tickets again, frowning. “I won’t get back till the week before school starts.”

Mira shakes her head and Autumn follows. “It’s fine, Bent,” Autumn says.

“Yeah, go see your parents,” Mira adds. She nudges my shoulder. “I doubt you’ll miss us much while you’re lounging on beaches in Europe.”

I grab them both around the waist and drag them into a tight hug. “I’m still going to miss you guys,” I say, pulling back. “Even from the nude beaches.” Mira slaps my shoulder and I laugh. “Don’t worry, I’ll send pics.” Autumn shoves me away.

“One more gift for you,” Grandpa calls, making me turn back toward him. He wears the indulgent look he sometimes has when he is around me and my friends. I smile at the sight of it. It usually meant he was going to sneak us cookies before dinner or let us take a ride in Dad’s mustang while he was out of town.

He hands me a third envelope, this one bulging in one spot and I open it slowly, feeling the weight of the item inside. The card I pull out sings Pomp and Circumstance as I open it and read the quick message scrawled in my grandfather’s chicken scratch. Don’t take the turns too fast is written at the end of the message and I turn the envelope over. A key fob falls into my palm. The Mercedes logo shines at the top. My jaw goes slack, and I whip my head up to meet my grandfather’s eyes.

“No way,” I whisper.

“She’s parked in the lot,” Grandpa says as his smile widens. He steps forward and grips my shoulder to turn me back to the bigger group. “In your name and everything.”

I’ve been begging my parents to let me get a car for the last two years, but they kept telling me it was unnecessary since they had several cars at the house that I could use whenever. But I wanted one that was mine. More specifically I wanted a Mercedes that was mine. Just mine.

I beam as Autumn and Mira laugh.

“Still can’t believe you didn’t notice when I stole your license,” Autumn says.

“You guys knew?” I look between them. I didn’t think they were good at keeping secrets, but now I’m not so sure.

“We helped him with the registration,” Mira says, pride playing in the tone of her voice. She’s a terrible liar so keeping this secret for however long has probably been killing her.

“Autumn Dahlia Green! We have been looking all over for you!” Autumn’s mother breaks through the people around us and pushes her way into our little circle as Autumn cringes slightly into my side. Mrs. Green wears a pinstripe pants suit and austere expression, blonde hair pulled perfectly back in a tight ballerina bun at the back of her head.

“Hello, Tina,” April says, smiling and forcing Autumn’s mom to look away from her daughter. Autumn’s father stands directly behind his wife, placing a hand on her shoulder.

Mrs. Green seems to realize the rest of us are here suddenly. “Hello, April,” she says with a strained smile and nods to Conrad, Ramsey, and Harley before turning to Mira and me. “Congratulations, Amiria and Bentley.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Green,” we both mumble.

She turns back to her daughter. “Let’s go, Autumn. Your sister is already at your grandmother’s practicing for her summer recital, and I want to make sure she’s nailing her fouetté.” Mrs. Green reaches forward and grabs Autumn’s arm. Autumn gives us all a half smile as she follows in her mother’s wake.

“Oh, Tina!” The trio stops and turns toward April. “We’re having a little graduation party at our house right after this. You’re all welcome to join!” Autumn smiles at April, but Mrs. Green frowns.

“We have a small family party to attend, but we might be able to send Autumn over after,” Mrs. Green says, looking to her husband who nods.

“Perfect! Congratulations again, sweetie.” April steps forward and hugs Autumn despite her mother’s grip on her arm. Autumn glances at us over her shoulder, and I mouth Jailbreak. One hour . She smiles and releases April, letting her mother pull her away.

Ramsey glares at the trio as they disappear, but I can’t tell which member has offended him most.

April watches them go, before turning back to the rest of us. “You’re welcome as well, Tyson.”

“Thank you, April. We would be delighted,” Grandpa answers with a smile. He always raves about the cooking at April’s parties.

“Well then, let’s get going,” Mira says, looking around and realizing we’re still standing on our high school football field with the majority of the senior class and their families around. “The sooner I’m away from Emerald Grove the better.”

I nudge her with my shoulder as we all start to walk around the stage and toward the parking lot. “It wasn’t so bad.”

“That’s only because you didn’t have to constantly fend off questions about how the ‘Regal Ravens’ pack are doing in college,” Mira says, using air quotes and rolling her eyes as she references Ramsey and his group of friends. Ramsey jogs up beside her and chuckles.

“I’m sure our admirers were glad you were there to give a full report,” he says.

I laugh. “I’m pretty sure they stopped asking after the second time she told them you were all probably jacking off together in your dorms.”

Harley chuckles quietly behind us, and Ramsey touches his chest in mock outrage. “Saboteur!”

Mira shoves him. “Like you lot don’t do fine on your own. I doubt me telling a few cheerleaders you guys were gay really had any effect on your game.” She smiles but her eyes flick back at Harley for a second and I see the look slip.

Ramsey shrugs, facing forward and missing the moment. “It’d be weird to try to get with anyone in your grade anyways.” He shakes his head as we stop at the crosswalk and wait with another group of graduates to cross the road to the student lot. “Way too young.”

April and Conrad catch up to us as we wait and I glance over at them, just catching April scowl and whisper something that makes Conrad’s jaw clench. I turn back to the group, angling myself between Mira and her parents.

“Think you guys will finally let me into your clubhouse when we get to the Coast?” I ask, seeing Mira glance back at Harley again. He stands with his hands in his pockets and stares at the ground with a frown.

Ramsey rolls his eyes. “I’m sure you and Mira will make your own clubhouse when you get there, like you always do.”

I laugh and we start walking across the street. I twirl the silver ring on my new key fob around my finger. “Wanna find my new baby?” Mira’s eyes light up and she nods, jumping to grab the key as I hold it higher, out of reach.

The brownish-red brick facade of Emerald Grove looms ahead. We all walk through the opening in the chain-link fence surrounding the school’s student parking lot. I double click the lock button on the fob and a couple beeps go off to our left. I share a smile with Mira and Ramsey laughs behind us. Mira takes off toward the sound and Harley rolls his eyes as Ramsey and him walk after her. I go to follow, but my green graduation gown swishes around my legs and starts to trip me up in the wind. I stop to take it off and ball it up before jogging to catch up.

A shout carries on the wind and stops me. I glance back to find Conrad and April among the people making their way into the lot. They stand off to the side, by the entrance still, a good ten feet away. April is gesturing and her mouth is set in a hard line when she stops. Conrad stands over her, jaw tense and arms crossed.

I look back over the lot to find Mira. She’s two rows over, still running with Ramsey and Harley walking after her. I catch up to them and elbow Ramsey before nodding my head over his shoulder at his parents. He looks back and sees them before turning to find Mira, Harley doing the same. Mira stops a little bit ahead of us and looks around at the cars near her. I beep the Mercedes’ horn again and she shoots off to the next row over, where the sound came from.

“Come on Bentley!” she yells, and I throw my gown at Ramsey before following her. We reach the car, and I stop right in front of the hood, fingering the little silver logo in the middle.

Mira jumps up and down beside me. “Unlock it!” I click the button, and she runs to the passenger side.

Green covers my eyes and I push the fabric away, my graduation gown falling to the ground.

“Not your pack mule, Marshall,” Ramsey says to me and crosses his arms.

“They still arguing?” I whisper, watching Mira climb into my new car. She starts pushing buttons on the dashboard before looking through the windshield at me and waving me in.

“Probably,” Ramsey whispers back. He nods toward the driver’s side of the car. “Go on. We’ll make sure she doesn’t see.” Harley nods behind Ramsey, looking back toward the entrance.

I walk over to the driver’s side door, letting my hand glide along the shiny black paint as I do. Getting in, I put my hands on the steering wheel and smile, taking in the smell of the leather interior.

Mira shakes my arm. “Start it, Bentley!” I laugh and press down the brake while pushing the start button to my right. The engine purrs and Mira claps. “This is so cool. You have a car!”

“Most people we know have cars, Mir.” I roll my shoulders, studying the lights and controls on the dash. “I’ve driven you to school every day for the last year and a half.”

She looks over at me. “Yeah, but this is your car, Bent.” I smile and she follows suit.

A knock on the window startles the two of us and I huff out a breath when I see Ramsey standing next to my door. I roll down the window.

“We’re going to head back to the house with Mom and Dad.” He leans down to look across me. “You riding with him, Mir?” She nods and he pats my shoulder. “Nice car, Marshall,” he says before walking off with Harley.

I roll the window back up as Mira puts her seat belt on. I adjust the mirrors and buckle my own belt. “Ready to go celebrate our academic freedom?”

She giggles. “It’ll be a short-lived freedom. Freshman year starts in less than 3 months.”

I shrug and put the car into drive. “A window of freedom then.” I pull out of the spot and marvel at the smoothness of the ride. Looking back in the rearview mirror, I watch my forgotten graduation gown float back to the ground and Emerald Grove disappear as we drive out of the lot.