Chapter 121
Mireya
Play - What Was I Made For by Billie Eilish
If you’re watching
The car park is swamped with what appears to be different government body agencies and their representatives, students and their families. I also see Ms Green and other teachers talking amongst each other and excited greetings.
“What a lovely turn out!” Edna says, looking around the large building that makes St. Ellesta.
My hair blows wildly in the wind as we all walk towards the large outside hall that’s further down the field.
“I’m going to quickly find Ethan, Rey,” Hayzel says as she turns to look at me, I nod briefly and she takes off further down the hill.
“Are you nervous, sissy?” Milo asks, holding Edna’s hand as he keeps up with our pace.
“A little bit firefly,” I tell him as I grip tightly onto his other hand.
“I remember my graduation and it wasn’t as grandiose as this, back in my day, you were sent your diploma by post and were forced to get on with it,” Edna says, turning back to me.
“Federal affiliated schools don’t joke around when it comes to graduations,” I reply shrugging.
Edna and Milo quickly find their seats, and I look around searching for Hayzel.
I mumble a few hi’s and hello’s to a few students I recognize when I feel someone bump into me.
“We’re supposed to say sorr—” I yell, turning to look at where the shove came from.
“Whoopsie,” Hayzel whispers in an innocent way.
“I was looking for you, idiot,” I sigh as she slips out her camera from her pocket and I grit my teeth. “Please, not again.”
“What? One last time for the road, it's not everyday people graduate from St. Ellesta,” she replies as she pulls me into her side.
“Smile, Reya!” She mumbles and I just laugh as she takes the picture. “You know,” Hayzel continues, “I feel sorry for Ethan, his dad is never around.”
We start walking over towards the small classroom by the entrance but I don’t even know why I’m following her.
“I guess some people are just not cut out to be parents, Hayz.” I replied. Ethan might be avoiding me, but I know how shitty his dad is. He’s probably not even sad to not see him today. “Also, where the hell are you taking me?” I ask, looking around the empty classroom.
She rolls her eyes at me in response before pulling out the cam recorder. “Remember when I forced you to record a video after we graduated high school?” I nod so she can continue. “Well…” She shakes the camera at me and I take it from her.
“No…” I tell her as she rounds the door to exit.
“No worries, I’ll give you some space,” she says calmly, closing the door behind her.
I'm just about to press record and get rid of this quickly when I hear her yell from behind the door, “Call me if you need me, I'm just here!”
I shake my head at her crazy antics before setting up the camera for the shot.
Here goes nothing I guess.
“Hey, if you're watching this, just know that Hayzel has forced me into this…”
Play - Just Give Me A Reason by Pink, Nate Russ
“I can’t believe you made me do that,” I say, handing Hayzel her small camera.
“And I will do this again at your next birthday,” she admits, shrugging.
“Where's Ethan?”
“He’s at the front, he'll be one of the first to receive his diploma, we can try and catch him at the end,” she replies and I glance up towards the front of the line to see if I can catch a glimpse of him.
The line goes fairly fast as there aren't a lot of us graduating today, since my name is Vitelli, I'll be walking on first and then it'll be Hayzel’s turn.
I rub my sweaty palms against my slacks trying to calm my nerves before I hear my name being called out.
“Mireya Vitelli,” one of the governors called out and that had me walking towards the stage.
My eyes roam around the sea of people and I find both Edna and Milo clapping their hands excitedly, I smile at them as I walk towards the small steps.
I approached the podium, meeting the person who’s going to hand me mine. Mister Caldwell. Smiling faintly, amused to see my reaction.
When I reach him, I shake his familiar hand and smile.
“Thank you Mister Caldwell.”
“Congratulations, Miss Vitelli,” he says coldly. His hand squeezes my fingers tighter and then he adds, low enough that only I can hear him, “Can’t wait to kiss you later.”
I bite down a laugh and walk towards the stage exit.
My diploma is tight in my hand when I spot Ethan standing there.
“Bennett!” I say. “Hey, wait up!” I repeat again, this time moving closer. “Ethan for fuck’s sake!”
I finally catch onto his arm, my fingers digging into his shoulder.
“Let go, Rey,” he says, trying to shrug me off.
“No, not until you tell me why the hell you're ignoring me. You’ve been avoiding me like the goddamn plague.”
“Hayzel Wynn,” the words echo through the room and I look back briefly towards the stage to see Hayzel walk across to receive her own certificate.
I hear Ethan start to say something but fails when we see Damien heading in our direction.
“Forget it. Happy graduation, Rey,” he practically spits at me then walks away.
“No wait, Ethan—,” I start to follow him but a large hand clamps down on my arm.
“Leave him.”
“But, I have to—”
He cuts me off, “Whatever it is Ethan will come round. You have to be here for your family.” He nods towards Hayzel who is making a beeline for me. I'm pushed back into Damien when Hayzel throws herself at me.
“That was the most nerve-racking thing I've ever had to do in my entire life!” She screams in my ear which causes a smile to curl around my lips.
Damien disappears as fast as he came.
“Happy Graduation, love,” I whisper in her hair which causes her to squeeze me even tighter than before. “…Too… tight, Hayz,” I add softly after a few seconds.
“Oh, sorry,” she replies, laughing.
“Sissy! Aunt Hayzel!” We hear Milo say excitedly.
“My little girls!” Edna joins in as both she and Milo walk through the small crowd to get to us.
“You both were so amazing, I can’t believe you guys made it!” Edna tells us as she engulfs Hayzel and I in a tight squeeze.
“I know, I can’t believe it either,” I say honestly.
“Let’s go out for a meal to celebrate, hmm?” Edna replies.
“We can go to that new diner in town,” Hayzel tells her grandmother and I turn around to find Damien.
He is standing slightly behind us, talking with one of the other professors, I gesture with my head for him to come back.
He nods once before shaking the other professor's hand and approaches us.
“Hey bud,” he says as he looks down at Milo.
“Hi sissy’s boyfriend,” Milo replies as his hand finds mine.
I choke on my own saliva and Damien chuckles softly at this. “Tell your sissy she looks beautiful today,” he says, eyes finding mine.
“You looked so beautiful, Reya!” Milo says as he squeezes my hand.
“Thank you baby, that means a lot coming from you.”
I look back at Damien, a smile appearing on my lips. “Are you coming with us?” I ask softly. “We’re going to a new place in town to eat.”
Damien grins back and nods. His hand finds its way on my lower back and we start walking to Edna and Hayzel.
“I still can’t wait to kiss you, Agent Vitelli,” he whispers against the shell of my ear.
Agent Vitelli…
I pause, looking back at him, then at the building.
He smiles, as though he could see in my eyes things I couldn’t express out loud. Need. Being with him alone tonight. Just for a moment. And all I could see in him was that he yearned for the same thing.
A second later he clears his throat, grabbing the tip of my fingers softly before turning back to Edna and Hayzel.
“I just remembered something,” he says. Nana raises an eyebrow before smiling sweetly at him. “I have her next affiliation details. If I don’t give them to her now, I’ll forget.”
Terrible excuse. I almost laugh but nod instead.
“Go on, then, we still need to see Ethan,” Edna replies as she links her arm with Hayzel.
“Yes, and I want to take Milo to see the gigantic statue in the courtyard, just go,” my friend adds, already taking my little brother from me.
“A statue? Yes please!” Milo yells excitedly before running with them away.
A large hand finds mine, this time less carefully than before, as a soft breath brushes my cheek. “Office, now.”
All I could feel was the warmth of his palm against mine as he rushed me to the building, and mine tightening around his.
I think…I’m in love with Damien Caldwell.