Graduation and beyond

[mitochondriaaya]

Graduation was just before her birthday, so Aya was fifteen when she slithered into the graduation gown and tried her hat on. Walking with a tassel (as practice proved) was distracting. She wasn't katzu, true, but she still had the urge to bat at it. Instead she had to look calm. Sedate. Grown up.

Yeeeeah.

At least she wasn't Valedictorian, that would have added a whole new level of stress to her last year of school! And still she'd almost been swayed by the teacher who suggested she stay another year. Almost. Life didn't wait though and the boys were already so far ahead of her that it was a laughable idea to 'catch up' but hey, at least they could all be in college for some of the same years! Sure, not the same college but...yeah. She went out with her friends the night before graduation, a low key party out on a floating dock with a lot of silliness and loud music, but hey, they were all seniors, it was expected!

She made it home in the morning in time to toss back a mug of coffee and try to think about breakfast. "Have to be at the field at...four? Four thirty. Right. Yeah." More coffee. The message light on the answering machine was flashing so she hit the button and listened as her dad rambled cheerfully about it being the day, and he had his ticket to the graduation, and he wasn't going to lose it and what else did he need to remember? "Your head," she chuckled, listening. He'd been leaving messages all week as the day rolled closer. It was nice for Jerrig to be excited.

Granted, traffic was going to be hell with the town turning out to see graduation at the nearest sports field and tourists flooding in to see the surfing competition in the town nearby, but as long as everyone left early they'd be fine right? Right. It wasn't like she had to drive.

Maaaaaaaybe staying out all night hadn't been the best plan though. The coffee waqs sitting heavy in her stomach and she felt her hands tensing around the mug as REAL LIFE loomed up in her mind.

Ouch.

Yeah.

"What was I thinking?!" It was totally okay to ask these things of the empty kitchen, yep.

Comments

[mitochondriaaya]

"Tease him when he gets back," Elcy instructed. "And then let Aya tease him until he stutters."

[sliceitwithwind]

"Nah, I think it'll be better if we leave it up to Aya." Braig said, laughing.

[mitochondriaaya]

"That's fair. Speaking of, are they lining up back there? Can you see the robes or are they just shuffling around at the edge of the field?"

[sliceitwithwind]

"Lining up." Dilan said, squinting a bit, "Finally! I hope Jerrig gets back soon."

[mitochondriaaya]

"Oh good." Elcy leaned forward in her seat, craning her neck. "He might stay on ground level for better shots? I know we got heads in yours up here."

"They trimmed out just fine," Yinsi soothed happily. "You won't see her dear, she's short."

[sliceitwithwind]

"She is near the front, though." Dilan pointed out, "But, yeah. I can't see her, mom, so you really won't be able to."

[mitochondriaaya]

"End of the B's," Yinsi chuckled. "We'll see her when we see her!"

Like when some of her friend decided 'toss the bitty' was a fun game while waiting in line.

[sliceitwithwind]

"Ooops, there she is." Braig said, "She's the one being tossed back and forth..."

[mitochondriaaya]

Elcy blinked and covered her face with her hand. The gesture did not stop the laughter, naturally. "Yes, that is her." Yinsi agreed easily. "None of you ever managed to just stand in line..."

[sliceitwithwind]

"Lines are boring." their son said cheerfully, "But we didn't actively toss Dilan around."

"Only because I'm heavier than I look."

[mitochondriaaya]

"True, true," Yinsi laughed. "There they go, they'll settle once they're seated."

Well, except for the beach balls getting bounced around when teachers weren't looking and such.

[sliceitwithwind]

Bah, those beach balls were traditional!

Dilan started looking around, though, after a while, "Does anyone see Jerrig?"

[mitochondriaaya]

"No," Yinsi admitted. "And...there's a policeman on the field down there." Which was a bit excessive for beach balls really.

"He's talking to a few people....and Aya." Elcy's eyes widened when she noticed the man's trajectory. Three people were already running off the field.

[sliceitwithwind]

Dilan didn't hesitate. He got into the aisle and started running down the stairs and towards the group, at his top speed. Braig didn't hesitate much longer than that, although he rapidly fell behind the younger boy.

[mitochondriaaya]

Aya was struggling past the seats (she'd been sitting in the middle of a row) when Dilan hit the field. The Policeman had already moved on to ask the teachers on the podium something. "Dilan! Help!"

[sliceitwithwind]

Dilan quietly and carefully picked people up and got them out of the way, "What's wrong, Aya? I'm here." Strong arms picking her up to get her wherever she needed to be.

[mitochondriaaya]

"There was a bad accident at the intersection. Drunk tourists." Aya noted quietly once she had reached Dilan properly. "That's all we know."

[sliceitwithwind]

Dilan nodded and pulled her close for a second, then started pushing his way toward the cops. Braig wrapped an arm around Aya's waist and dragged her along in the bigger boy's wake.

[mitochondriaaya]

Aya hugged him, a fine tension singing through her arms, but nothing else showing just yet. No reason to panic, no reason to flail when there was so little information.

The cop was at the podium, talking to the principal when they arrived. "We can mail the diplomas, don't worry, they can all go."

[sliceitwithwind]

Dilan planted himself close enough to hear, with an expression that said more clearly than words that they'd have to arrest him to make him move. He wanted to know what was going on. Now.

[mitochondriaaya]

The cop eyed Dilan a moment then looked beyond him to the people who had followed. "You're going to the intersection, kids, if anyone else you know is in the bleachers let them know you'll probably be home late."

[sliceitwithwind]

"Mom and dad." Dilan said, while Braig started dialling his phone, "Should they come too? Or just go home?"

[mitochondriaaya]

"Adults would be a good idea," the cop admitted. Granted, he didn't mean to insult the boys, he just didn't know them intimately, being from the next town over!

[sliceitwithwind]

Braig nodded and relayed that, Elcy and Yinsi started fighting their way down. Elbows and knees abounded until they could reach their children.

[mitochondriaaya]

Aya was nibbling her lip by that point, worried. This wasn't good. This wasn't good but she wasn't alone and a few other students had headed toward the intersection too...

...yeah. "We need to go now."