I hesitated. I glared at Nick as he waited for me on the other side of the stage. Well, now they all know we’re married, I thought to myself. I took my diploma to the sound of more hoots from our friends. Nick took my hand, and as we walked off the stage together, I said, “You suck. That is so not cool.”
“What?” he played innocent.
“Now they all know.”
“And? What’s the big deal? You’re the one who agreed to take my name,” he reminded me as we sat back in our seats.
“Yeah, but I’ve still been using my old name at school. You know how much it weirds me out,” I complained.
“Oh get over it already,” he gave me a stern look. I started to say something, but he leaned in and kissed me and I completely forgot what I was annoyed about.
Everyone gathered at Aberto’s for lunch. He closed the restaurant down for our circle/pack. “Congratulations to our wonderful children,” Mamma shouted over everyone. “And congratulations to our Nico and Sofia.” Daniela came out of the kitchen with a ginormous cake. It had three tiers and each one was a different color. As a joke, someone had placed a wolf figurine and a plastic witch on the top.
“Green for luck, red for health, and pink for peace, no?” Daniela looked to Mamma for confirmation that she had the color meanings right. Mamma nodded and put the cake down on the long table that we were all sitting at.
“That’s not all red stands for,” Nat whispered to Nick as she nudged him in the side. He raised his eyebrows at her.
“Oh? Do tell,” he said.
“Oh, it’s something you guys don’t have a problem with,” she grinned. I felt my face flush and turned my attention back to Babbo, who was was currently speaking.
“We never had a proper celebration for Nico and Sofia,” he was saying. “A binding is something very special to our people. Not only did it bring these two together, it brought an end to hatred. To Nico and Sofia,” he toasted.
“Salute,” everyone cheered in unison.
I didn’t want to admit it, but I was secretly excited to have a sort of wedding cake. “I’m really diggin’ the top,” Nick said.
“Whose idea was it?” I started to ask, but several of us came to the same conclusion at once, “Dash!”
Dash was at the other end of the table, grinning from ear to ear, lifting his glass to us. Nick shook his head at him. Once we were all finished with dinner, those of us who had graduated took off to the school for the grad party. The other pack members complained, but it was seniors only.
The party was being held outside in the football stadium. There wasn’t room in the gym for all the activities they had set up. “OMG,” Nat said about the bounce house as we walked into the stadium. “Race you there,” she challenged me.
We both took off at a dead run, leaving Jack and Nick shaking their heads at us. Dash wasn’t far behind and dove in after me. We bounced for at least twenty minutes, until none of us could breathe anymore. After searching for five minutes, we found Jack, Nick, and Rene bobbing their heads to the music at the edge of the make-shift dance floor.
“You guys look like those dudes from that Roxbury movie,” Dash laughed. The three of them instantly stopped.
“Well, we didn’t have our ladies to dance with,” Nick pointed out.
“Then let’s go,” I told him as I tugged on his hand. We walked out to the light-up, color changing floor that had been brought in for the party. The lights in the stadium were at a minimum. Bright enough to be able to see, but not so bright that it ruined the party mood. Jack and Nat were close behind. I saw Rene ask some random girl to dance, and Dash decided to ‘bust a move’ by himself in the middle of the floor.
“Check out my mad dance skills,” he shouted over the music. Ever since prom, he and Helene had started dating steadily, so he was content to go it solo. He was actually a pretty good dancer. He did everything from the robot to break-dancing.
“Go Dash, go Dash,” the crowd chanted.
“They really shouldn’t be encouraging him,” Jack said.
“Hey, give the guy a break. It’s his last night of high school to be a total…” I searched for the right word.
“To be Dash?” Nick finished for me.
“Yeah, exactly,” I said.
Nick came in close behind me, put his hands on my hips, and we moved together to the music. Nat moved in closer to Jack and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. He smiled at her, and surprisingly, he started to kiss her. He never kissed her in front of people that way.
“Whoa,” I said to Nick.
“What?” he turned and saw Jack locked in a very passionate kiss with Nat. “Whoa is right.”
“Hey, congrats you guys,” Jenny from my math class said.
“Uh, thanks,” Nick smiled.
“See what you’ve done,” I complained. Nick was still behind me. I leaned back into him and wrapped my arms around his neck as he leaned in and kissed my bare shoulder. I looked to my side and saw Rene lip locked with a beautiful blond I didn’t recognize.
Nick’s lips moved to my neck and I heard a voice behind us. “Really you guys?” Dash shouted over the music. “Totally not cool for all of you to make out in front of me when I’m here alone.”
Nick didn’t look up and I continued to dance, but apologized to Dash, “Sorry. You looked like you were having fun out there surrounded by the crowd.”
“Yeah, but you’re really making me miss Helene,” he complained.
At the sound of his little sister’s name, Jack finally pulled away from Nat. “What about my sister?”
“I just miss her, dude. All you guys are making out in front of me. Even Rene over there with random, blond chick.”
“Dude, you better not be kissing my sister like that,” Jack threatened.
The old Dash would have made some rude or smart comment, but he just shrugged his shoulders at Jack.
“So help me Dash—” Jack started. He was interrupted by Nat kissing him again.
“This reminds me a little of Mexico,” Nick said in my ear as he kissed it.
I smiled at the memory. “Yeah, except tonight we can go home and…” I let the sentence drift off. He turned me around suddenly and kissed me deeply.
“Seriously guys, still standing here,” Dash complained again.
I pulled away from Nick. I felt bad and decided we should do something else. “Hey guys,” I yelled above the music. “I want to see Jack and Dash do the sumo wrestling.” Dash didn’t look like he was a fan of my idea. But Jack was excited at the chance to take him down.
We left Rene on the dance floor with blond girl and the rest of us made our way across the field to the wrestling circle. They had placed several large wrestling mats together from the gym and made a large circle out of duct tape in the center. There were two football players wearing giant sumo wrestler outfits that were blown up with air. The match started and they ran at each other, bouncing off one another as they collided.
We watched for several minutes as they both tried to throw each other out of the ring. Everyone laughed and Jack rubbed his hands together in anticipation. “Hey, no using magic to win,” Dash warned Jack.
“He can’t do it by himself,” I reminded him.
“Yeah, but you and Nat are here,” Dash said.
“Oh, good point,” I said.
“Fine, but no werewolf strength,” Jack agreed.
“Dude, that’s not something I can turn on and off.” Jack looked like he was starting to re-think the wrestling thing when the football players handed their suits over to them.
They looked absolutely ridiculous and I took my phone from my pocket to snap a few pictures. “Bring it on,” Jack said to Dash as they stood across the circle from each other.
“You’re goin’ down,” Dash yelled as the referee started them.
“Please tell me you’re recording this,” Nat laughed. I hit the record button on my phone. “You are so posting that online.”
As Jack ran at him,
Dash jumped to the right almost too quick to see. “Werewolf reflexes,” Nick grinned. “Sorry, Nat, but I don’t think Jack has a prayer.”
Dash continued to dodge Jack until I heard Jack yell, “Stay still!” Dash froze in place. I felt a little tingle in my fingers and realized Jack was using magic to stop Dash.
“Hey, no fair,” Dash complained. Jack finally collided with Dash and tried to shove him out of the circle.
“Sof, release him. That’s not cool,” Nick said.
“Fine,” I sighed. “Dash, move!” Dash was able to move and jumped just before he went out of the circle. He grabbed Jack’s ankles and tossed him to the side, where he landed outside the ring.
“Oh yeah!” Dash cheered. “World domination!”
Nick lowered his head. “I am not proud to claim him right now.”
“Hey, you’re the one who made me save him,” I reminded him.
Nat went over to help Jack up and mend his broken ego. “You did great!”
Jack wasn’t having any of it. “I can’t believe I let myself get beat by that freak.”
“Moi?” Dash raised his eyebrows at Jack as they took their suits off. “That’s not what your sister thinks.”
“You better run Dash,” I yelled.
Jack ran toward Dash as he took off. “Will he ever learn?” I asked Nick.
“I highly doubt it,” he said.
“Should we help him?”
“No,” Nat said. “Maybe he’ll finally learn to shut up.”
“I highly doubt it,” I repeated Nick. The three of us laughed and walked to the food tables. They had thought of everything. There were five types of pizza, tacos, burritos, giant soft pretzels, chips in every flavor (including ketchup), cake, rice Krispy treats, and mass quantities of candy. There wasn’t a single piece of fruit or vegetable to be found.
“I’m gonna gain five pounds tonight,” Nat said. “But it will be worth it.”
I filled my plate with cake and pizza. “Didn’t get enough wedding cake?” Nick teased.
I stuck my tongue out at him. “Actually, no I didn’t. So shut up.”
The three of us sat down to eat. It was a good fifteen minutes before Jack and Dash showed up to join us. “Hey, you’re not dead,” I smiled.
“Just barely,” Jack grumbled.
“Oh, it’s all good. Jackie here knows I was kidding. I would never take advantage of the lovely Helene,” Dash said.
“Do not call me Jackie—ever,” Jack gave Dash a dirty look.
“Pardonnez moi,” Dash apologized. “I was just trying to lighten the mood.”
“Dashiell, you and I will never be buddies. No matter how long you date my sister,” Jack grumbled. He didn’t say it in a mean way though.
“D’accord, Jacques. No probs,” Dash answered back. “But someday we might be brothers.”
“Oh snap, no he di-int,” Nat said.
“Dash, you might wanna run again,” I added.
“Whatever. I am officially ignoring that moron,” Jack turned to get some food.
“Do you really mean that?” Nat asked. “I mean about Helene?”
“Oui, Nathalie. I am head-over-heels in love with that girl,” Dash smiled, and I could’ve sworn his eyes twinkled.
“Dude, she’s only sixteen,” Nick said.
“Actually, her birthday is Saturday. She’ll be seventeen. And besides, it’s not like I want to marry her tomorrow or anything. I just think someday, when she’s ready maybe.”
“Wow,” I managed. I had never pictured Dash as the one girl kinda guy.
“And what about you, hypocrite? You’re freakin’ married and you just barely graduated high school,” Dash pointed out.
“Yeah, but—,” Nick started.
“He’s right,” I defended. “Leave him alone. Hey, let’s go get our fortunes told.”
“Ooh, yeah. That’ll be fun,” Nat said excitedly.
“Oh, this’ll be good,” Nick rolled his eyes.
There were several tents set up throughout the stadium with various activities. There was a photo booth, a place where you could dress up and make your own music video, the fortune teller, and a few carnival games.
“Well, I vote we do the manly thing and try to knock down all the milk bottles,” Dash announced.
“Fine. You guys go be men while Nat and I get our fortunes told,” I agreed.
Nat went first. The grad night committee actually hired a ‘professional’ fortune teller. She did palm readings. “Give me your left hand,” she said to Nat as she sat down at the table in front of her. She pointed out the four major lines: the heart line, head line, life line, and fate line. “Let’s start with the heart line. See how it starts in the middle?”
“Yeah, is that bad?” Nat asked.
“Not at all. That just means you fall in love easily,” the “Amazing Lucinda” answered.
“Yeah, she did,” I giggled.
“Your head line is straight and is separated from your life line. That indicates you have enthusiasm for life, but you also think realistically.”
“That sounds about right,” Nat agreed.
“Now for your life line—it’s long and deep. You’re full of energy. And finally, your fate line. Well, let’s see. You don’t have one actually.”
“Oh crap. What does that mean? Am I gonna die young or something?” Nat worried.
“Not at all. Not everyone has a fate line, dear,” Lucinda assured her. Nat frowned, but got up so I could take her place.
The Amazing Lucinda took my hand and stared into it. “Your heart line, here,” she pointed to where it started beneath my middle finger. “You are selfish when it comes to love.”
“O-kay. Whatever that means,” I mumbled.
“Your head line tells me that you already have, or will have some emotional crisis and momentous decisions to make.”
“Whoa, freaky,” Nat said. “She’s right on about that one.”
“See how your life line swoops around in a semicircle?” Lucinda asked.
“So, how’s it going in here with the cuckoo lady?” Dash asked as he barged into the tent.
“Shut up, imbécile,” Nat elbowed him. Jack and Nick entered quietly behind.
“As I was saying,” Lucinda gave Dash a dirty look. “The shape indicates that you have strength and energy,” she smiled.
“That’s for sure. I’ve seen it first hand,” Jack interrupted.
“Young men, if you are not going to be quiet during my reading, I will ask you to leave,” Lucinda looked up at the three of them standing there. They looked down at the ground like little boys in trouble. “Yes, thank you. And finally, the fate line.”
“Do I have one?” I asked.
“Yes, you do. The line is deep; your life is strongly controlled by fate.”
“No way!” Nat exclaimed. She realized she might get in trouble for talking and quickly shut her mouth.
“And here, see how it breaks and changes direction?” she pointed to the center of my hand. I nodded. “You are prone to many changes in life from external forces,” she finished.
I sat there in awe. “Maybe there’s something to this juju stuff after all,” Dash conceded. Lucinda gave him the evil eye, but didn’t respond.
I stood to leave, “Um, thank you. That was very insightful.” The five of us left the tent. “Have you guys seen Rene yet?” I asked.
“We walked past the dance floor a minute ago and he’s still over there with that blond chick,” Dash answered. “What’s her name anyway? I don’t recognize her. And is it just me, or does she look like she’s like twenty?”
“I didn’t recognize her, but that doesn’t mean anything,” I answered.
“Yeah, but we know all sixty of the kids we just graduated with. One of us should’ve seen her at least once before. Do either of you guys know her?” Nat asked Jack and Nick.
“Don’t look at me. I’ve only been here since March,” Nick shrugged.
“Never seen her,�
�� Jack added.
“Hmm… well how did she get in?” I asked.
“Who cares? He’s having fun. We’ll get him later,” Dash said.
“So, how’d you guys do in your milk jug toss thingy?” Nat asked as she laced her arm through Jack’s.
“Nick is champion,” Dash announced a little too loudly. I raised my eyebrow at him. “He knocked all ten bottles down with one ball.”
“You did?” I asked, rather impressed by my man. We laced our fingers together as we continued to walk around the booths. He just shrugged like it was no big deal.
“Well, how did you do?” Nat turned to Jack.
“Meh,” he said. “I got them all down in three.”
“Hey, let’s do the photo booth,” I suggested as we came to a stop. “I want at least one of our whole group together.”
“Yeah, but we have to get Rene. And do you really think we’d all fit in that thing?” Dash asked.
“Then you go get him while we do couple ones,” I said.
“Fine,” Dash hung his head. “This sucks,” he added under his breath as he walked away.
I pulled Nick into the booth first and closed the curtain. “So, what should we do for the pictures?” I asked.
He pushed the button to start before I could stop him, and he kissed me. The first flash went off. He pulled back and smiled at me while the next flash went off. “Hey, we have to at least look at the camera for one,” I said with a frown as the third flash went off. “Damn it,” I grumbled. Nick wrapped his arm around my waist, pressed his cheek to mine and we both looked into the camera for the final flash.
“See, we got one,” he grinned. I rolled my eyes.
“I’m a little sad we never had any pictures from our ceremony. It would’ve been nice to have something to remember it,” I frowned as I opened the curtain.
“Our turn,” Nat bounced on the balls of her feet excitedly. Nick and I waited for our photos to print out while Nat and Jack took theirs.
“I don’t need any pictures to remember how incredibly beautiful you looked that night and how perfect the ceremony was,” Nick said as he leaned in for a soft peck on the mouth.
Dash was back with Rene. The blond girl was still on his arm. Dash looked miserable. “This is Gia,” Rene announced. To say she was beautiful was an understatement. Her caramel blond hair flowed down to the middle of her back, her lips were full and rosy and her amber eyes looked almost copper in the low stadium lighting. And Dash was right. There was no way she was a newly graduated high school senior.
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