She Came From the Shadows (James and Tera: book 2)

27

The caps and gowns weren't really my style, nor was it anyone else's style for that matter. But we had to make our parents happy, and it was sort of required in order to graduate, so of course we had to pay for them beforehand and get sorted. I was in the middle of my bathroom wearing the gown while Mom was braiding my hair, which was sort of embarrassing since I didn't do braids much.

Fun fact: I actually had my mom braid my hair before graduation because we had to get the cap to stay on without problems!

"I never imagined having a daughter." Mom had said, using a hair tie to finish.

"Don't even compare me." I said, eyeing her in the mirror, which made her laugh, resulting in me joining her.

Once we were done, my brother, Zane, walked through the door. "I think you'd make an adorable little girl, Jamie." He teased. "Don't trip on stage. We all know how clumsy you can be sometimes."

I smirked. "Funny coming from the guy who fell backwards in his chair when he was leaning back too much during his graduation."

He punched my back just enough for me to feel it. "Shut up."

"Zane, shoo." Mom told him and gestured with her hand for him to leave. "He's got to leave before Sage gets here."

"Fine." He said, turning to leave. Before he walked out, though, he turned his head back towards me. "I wouldn't miss my chance to see my little brother get a taste of adulthood." And with that, he was gone.

Mom finished with my hair. "All set. Don't forget to grab your cap." She told me. I looked at myself in the mirror, and I saw her lean over and kiss me on the cheek. "I'm so proud of you."

"Thank you." I told her.

"We'll be right there when you get there." She said, and left my bathroom and my room.

I walked out and grabbed my cap. I sat on the bed and couldn't help but smile. I graduate today. It didn't feel so real. I finally am going to be legally able to go out into the adult world. May still have some limitations, but I can get past them.

Through my constant contemplating, I heard a car horn outside. It was Sage, in his new Honda Civic that he had just bought. Not my type of car, but at least it was reliable to get from point A to point B.

I walked downstairs and found my family sitting in the living room, waiting for the right time to leave. Dad was in his chair, and he turned when he heard me. "You goin'?" He asked.

"Yes, sir." I replied.

"Good." He got up from his chair and walked over to me. He patted my shoulder. "I'm proud of you, son. You earned this." He said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope. "Open it after you graduate. Little gift from me."

Dad pulled me in and hugged me. He was trying his best to make up for lost time he had for me. He had always payed more attention to Zane than me because Zane was the athletic and talented son he had admired. He wanted me to be more of a buff football player than a slim track star. He had changed this train of thought after chatting with Charles a bit when he and Tera first moved here.

We parted and I headed outside. Sage was waiting for me in his car behind Zane's truck in the driveway. I got in and sat in the passenger seat beside the matching robed friend of mine that was graduating alongside me.

"Ready to finally get this school life over with?" He asked as we pulled out of the driveway.

"Graduating school just to go to a higher school." I chuckled.

He shook his head. "For you maybe. I gotta get out of this town." He said with a grin on his face. "The music life is calling my name."

"You could try and get some gigs around local bars."