CHAPTER SEVEN
YURI
Sneaking into the graduation ceremony wasn’t difficult. This campus needs to focus on its security. With all the crime in this city, I’m surprised they still use rent-a-cops. How are they going to fucking keep anyone safe if I can slip in? Armed with my Makarov, 9mm holstered at the small of my back, I make my way through the South Entrance of the Lincoln Arena.
Maxim and Andrey tried to talk me out of going to the ceremony, but I knew I had to see her. I kept a close eye on Charlie and Dominic yesterday. They were planning to go to some pre-graduation celebration together. I was livid when that bastard abandoned Charlie. She was stuck there, by herself with no one to protect her while he was on the fucking phone and she had to walk back to her dorm alone.
It’s the second time he’s done that. I wanted to wring his neck for not protecting her like I would, but I followed her instead. What kind of man lets a girl walk alone in the dark in this city? He knows how unsafe it is!
Dominic is a fucking prick. I wish I could have warned Charlie about him the moment they met, but the whole point of keeping myself hidden is to keep her safe. Dominic is an arrogant son of a bitch! When I’m physically tailing the two of them, he never appears to sense anyone following them, but I’m not terribly surprised. He thinks he is untouchable. I can’t wait to prove him wrong!
The Grand March begins bringing me out of my furry and I settle into my seat. I’m not worried about Charlie finding me in the crowd because she doesn’t even know I’m alive, but I won’t take any chances. I decided to wear a baseball cap to better hide my hair and face, but I wasn’t about to wear all black and look like a man about to shoot up the place. I went for my usual, casual look: a pair of dark wash jeans, a black and grey striped button-up with a black undershirt, and a black sports coat. I want to blend in with the other family members here to see their graduates.
I pull the cap down to cover my eyes but leave just enough space to still see into the crowd of seated graduates. I spot her right away. I already knew where she’d be seated because I was able to sneak into the commencement organizer’s office and take a picture of the seating chart. For fucks sake, this campus is lacking in good security guards.
As I wait for it to be her turn to cross the stage, I study her. She decided to wear an emerald green dress that hugs her every curve to the ceremony. Seeing her in that slip of a dress nearly sent me into a frenzy as I watched her leave and head to breakfast with her parents earlier. It’s too bad the graduation gown covers up her luscious body; I love every curve.
Looking at the side of her face as she scans the crowd, I wonder what she’s thinking about. Then she stares in my direction and I freeze. Lowering my head just a fraction, I wait until her eyes close before I slouch and pull my cap further over my face. I see that she’s distracted when her row is called. Fuck! Did she recognize me? There’s no way. It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other. My hair and general facial structure hasn’t changed, but I am not the teenage boy she once knew. She walks elegantly toward the stage and takes careful, calculated steps up to the platform.
As she glides across the stage my breath catches in my throat. She’s so beautiful. I wish she knew I was here, but it’s too damn dangerous. I clutch my hands into fists so tight my knuckles turn white thinking about anyone trying to hurt my Charlie.