Gem in the Rough

Epilogue

"Gemma, get your lazy ass out of bed!" I hear Alice's voice from outside my bedroom door, groaning in response.

"I don't wanna!"

"Now, sweets. Or I'll send Kieran in there."

I sit up immediately, screaming an "okay" to Alice. She's such an ass. She knows that Kieran has been a little more into his "punishments" lately. I'm not complaining, but I'm currently a bit sore, so being a "good girl" today is in my best interest.

I don't know why Alice is here anyway. Kieran and I got our own place for this reason. We wanted some peace and quiet. And Alice wanted to move in with her boyfriend. Chris is a good guy. I don't know how he puts up with her all the time.

"I can hear what you're thinking in there, Gemma. Don't forget, you lived with me for a long time! Don't be mean."

I laugh loudly, pushing the covers off my legs and rising from the bed. "Get away from my door."

Today is graduation day. I've been dreading it because I'm nervous about walking on stage, knowing I'll trip or fall or both. I also don't want to sit through the whole thing. These ceremonies take for-fucking-ever. Kieran talked me into it because he wants us to get pictures in our cap and gowns together. He's such a sap.

I rush through my morning, making sure I look decent for this picture Kieran wants to take with me. Also, to not look like a potato while I walk across the stage. Alice helps too, doing my makeup and curling my hair, my locks shiny and getting redder with the summer months ahead.

"Beautiful. I'm a miracle worker."

"Hey!" I smack Alice's ass as she walks out of the bathroom cackling. I roll my eyes just as Kieran gets to the door.

"I saw that, baby."

"Fuck," I mumble. I perk up again when I remember that he went to get coffee. "Where is it?!"

He laughs and hands me my coffee. "Genna says hello and good luck. She's going to miss seeing you every day."

"I know! I'll miss it too. But I'm also ready to get the hell out of this place. Start a life. With you," I add, a smile on my lips as I take a sip of my coffee.

Kieran leans in, taking my mouth with his, our coffee breath mingling together. I couldn't give two shits right now. As much as I've been dreading this ceremony, I'm even more excited to spend the summer traveling with Kieran.

We decided to take a road trip. Anywhere and everywhere, for the whole summer. I've saved enough money and so has he, plus the extra graduation money from my mom didn't hurt. My dad's old ways caught up with him again when he heard our plans, going back to how I need to be working during the summer before I start grad school. I had waved it off and he's come around for the most part. I can thank Bethany for that.

"I can't wait either. The next couple years are going to be hard, though. You being in grad school, me getting another degree in journalism. We'll be really busy." Kieran's eyes hold worry, but I distract him with another kiss.

"We'll be okay. Busy, yes. Too busy for us? No. I have all the faith in the world."

"Since when are you the one with the faith?" He laughs.

I pick up the pendant around my neck and grin. "Since she's always with me."

--

I didn't fall! I didn't fall. That's all I repeated in my head after the ceremony. It's what I thought until they told us we were done, and we threw our caps in the air. Just like the cliché movies. I fake-throw my cap and then put it underneath my armpit. I refuse to be searching for my cap in this mess.