Chapter 46
Chapter Forty-Six
Grace
The auditorium was buzzing with energy, filled with proud families, excited graduates, and the occasional bursts of laughter from students who were probably realizing that this was it—the moment they had worked so hard for.
Rows upon rows of chairs stretched in every direction, and on stage, a massive screen displayed the names of graduates as they stepped forward one by one.
I sat near the front, my fingers gripping the program as I scanned the list of names. Olivia Dauntless. Seeing it in print made something tight settle in my chest.
This was really happening.
Beside me, Dominic sat quietly, one arm resting on the back of my chair, fingers idly tracing patterns against my shoulder. The warmth of his touch was grounding, keeping me from letting too much emotion take over.
“She’s gonna trip,” I murmured, watching the procession as the students moved toward the stage in their caps and gowns.
Dominic chuckled under his breath. “She’ll be fine.”
“She’s clumsy,” I muttered.
“She’s also a Dauntless,” he countered. “She’ll make it work.”
I exhaled slowly, my grip tightening on the paper in my hands. I wasn’t sure why I was so nervous—this wasn’t my graduation. But as I watched Olivia inch closer to the front of the line, adjusting her cap every five seconds, I realized this wasn’t just about her getting a diploma.
It was about her stepping into a life of her own.
And I wasn’t sure I was ready for that.
Then—her name was called.
“Olivia Dauntless.”
The crowd erupted into cheers, and before I could even think about it, I was on my feet, clapping loudly, my voice carrying over the noise. “THAT’S MY SISTER!”
Olivia beamed, her face lighting up as she crossed the stage, shaking hands with the dean before receiving her diploma. She didn’t trip. Thank god.
Dominic smirked beside me, nudging my side. “Told you.”
I ignored him, too busy watching Olivia as she turned to face the crowd, lifting her diploma in the air like a victory flag.
And god, if I wasn’t so damn proud.
The ceremony ended in a blur of movement—families rushing toward the graduates, hugs being exchanged, endless photos being taken. Olivia found me in the crowd almost immediately, throwing her arms around me, nearly knocking me over.
“I DID IT!” she squealed, clutching her diploma to her chest like it was the most precious thing in the world.
I hugged her back tightly, pressing my cheek against the top of her head. “Yeah, you did.”
Dominic stood a few feet away, watching us with a small smile. Olivia pulled back, her eyes bright as she turned toward him. “I hope you were taking notes, Beethoven. I expect an EPIC graduation song in my honor.”
Dominic chuckled, shaking his head. “I’ll see what I can do.”
She beamed, then turned back to me, her expression shifting slightly, something more serious flickering behind her excitement.
“Hey,” she said, “I need to tell you something.”
I immediately went on high alert, scanning her face. “Okay…”
She glanced around, then grabbed my wrist. “Let’s go outside.”
Dominic stayed behind to handle the chaos of taking more photos with her friends, while Olivia and I slipped out onto the wide stone steps of the venue. The cool afternoon air settled around us, a contrast to the heat of the moment.
She hesitated, adjusting her cap before finally meeting my gaze.
“I’m moving,” she said.
I blinked. “What?”
She took a deep breath, then repeated, “I’m moving. I already have a job lined up in the city. I’ve been saving up for years. I’m ready, Grace.”
I stared at her.
I opened my mouth. Closed it.
Then, exhaled slowly. “You… planned this.”
She nodded, a small, hesitant smile forming. “I wanted to wait until after graduation to tell you because I knew you’d try to talk me out of it.”
I felt a mix of shock, pride, and maybe a little sadness, all twisting together inside my chest.
Olivia. My Olivia. The same girl who once cried because she accidentally burned toast. The same girl who used to crawl into my bed after bad dreams. The same girl I had spent my entire life protecting.
She was leaving.
But…
She wasn’t doing it because she was running away.
She was doing it because she was ready to stand on her own.
I swallowed, forcing my voice to stay steady. “Are you sure?”
She nodded, determination in her eyes. “You spent so much time protecting me. And I love you for that, Grace. But… now it’s my turn to protect myself.”
I looked away, my throat tight.
I had spent so much of my life making sure she was safe, worrying about her, making sure she had everything she needed.
But I had never stopped to think that maybe… maybe she didn’t need me to do that anymore.
Maybe she was finally strong enough to do it herself.
I sighed, rubbing a hand over my face before looking back at her. “And your job? You’re set?”
She grinned. “Yup. Full-time position. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s enough to start. And I’m moving in with a friend, so rent’s manageable.”
I shook my head, half in disbelief, half in pride. “Damn. You really had this all figured out.”
She laughed, nudging me with her shoulder. “You taught me well.”
I exhaled, letting it sink in.
And then, I reached out and pulled her into another hug, holding her close, my fingers threading through her hair.
“I’m so proud of you,” I whispered.
She squeezed me back tightly, voice muffled against my shoulder. “You’re not gonna cry, are you?”
I snorted, rolling my eyes. “Absolutely not.”
She pulled back, grinning mischievously. “You totally are.”
I poked her side, making her yelp. “Don’t push your luck, kid.”
She giggled, then her face softened again. “You’re gonna be okay, right?”
I paused, the question hitting me in a way I didn’t expect.
Was I?
For so long, Olivia had been my purpose—making sure she was okay, that she had everything she needed.
And now… that responsibility wasn’t mine anymore.
I thought of Dominic. Of the band. Of everything I had built in these past months.
And for the first time, I realized…
Maybe I didn’t need to hold on so tightly anymore.
Maybe it was okay to start living for myself, too.
I smiled, reaching out to adjust her graduation cap one last time. “Yeah. I think I will be.”
She beamed. “Good.”
And just like that, I knew.
She wasn’t my little sister anymore.
She was her own person.
And I had never been prouder.