Kass took her diploma from the principal as her friends and brother cheered from their seats. Blushing, she grinned at them and dashed off the stage, waiting for the rest of her graduating class to receive theirs.
A pang of disappointment ran through her. Kody had been avoiding her since that night. She'd barely seen him except for glimpses here and there. She was hoping he'd be there, to watch her walk across the stage. The feeling turned to anger when she realized he was still looking out for her, though at a distance.
Once the ceremony was over, Kass and her friends headed to their families to take pictures. Kacc's dad flew in the night before to attend the event for his daughter. Gem's parents were there, beaming in pride at their daughter. Arti's parents showed up with her younger brother, and even Em's mom took time off from her job to attend.
With a sigh, Kass smiled as Beck took a million photos. Her and Bates, her by herself. Her with her friends and of course, her with Beck. She grinned when he kissed her cheek in a cheesy pose while Bates took the picture.
"Our parents would be so proud of you, dollie." Bates kissed the top of her head and hugged her tightly.
Kass smiled at the term of endearment. It was given to her when she was a baby. Bates claimed that she wasn't real, and that she was just a doll because she never cried and slept all the time. Bates even saved up some of his allowance once and bought a bunch of doll clothes to dress her up in. Her parents thought it was the cutest thing, which looking back on now Kass thought the same thing.
"Love you," Kass squeezed him back just as hard.
They pulled apart and Gem came skipping toward them, a gleeful smile on her face. "Mr. Orinka is taking all our families out for dinner at his restaurant. C'mon, let's go give these hideous gowns back."
Without waiting for an answer, Gem grabbed Kass' hand and dragged her back to the building. Bates and Beck chuckled from the behind them. Feeling a pair of eyes on her, Kass turned her head to the parking lot. Kody was standing there, leaning against his car watching her. His shades hiding his eyes and his expression blank. Ignoring him, she let herself be pulled away by an excited Gem.
Dinner was amazing. Milan Orinka pulled no stops when it came to his daughter and her friends. His restaurant was closed for them and their families and decorated to the nines. Tons of food and alcohol was being served to them, and even though they were underage the parents allowed them a night of freedom.
Kacc's mom, Hanna, had died in childbirth. She looked so much like her mom from what could be seen through photos, but instead of resenting his daughter, Milan doted on her and showered her with affection. He was a busy business man, flying all over the country to obtain struggling businesses to flip, and sometimes sell, but he made sure to attend important events.
Em's mom, Virginia was strict. She always wanted her daughter to excel no matter what and being a lawyer, she had a no-nonsense attitude. However, she had come around to their group of friends when she realized they were serious about their educations and weren't like most people at their private school.
Arti's parents, Edwidge and Blossom, were more laid back. Her father was a famous writer and her mom owned a successful florist shop that was well known for the exotic, rare and pricy floral she tended to in the huge gardens in the back. Most wealthy families went to see her for all their vegetation needs.
Gem's parents, Ramses and Nadia were divorced and while she stayed with her dad, he was rarely home. Ramses, half Egyptian and half Chinese, was a pilot. After the divorce, her mother returned to Poland to live with her family, calling Gem on the phone all the time. Nadia's family hated the fact that she married someone of a different race and berated her for giving her daughter his surname. They were relieved when she moved back home, but Nadia missed her daughter and wished she would go to Poland to stay with her.
