Elite || Marhinki

•Chapter Twenty-Eight: Graduation•

•A Month Later•

"How do I look?" Joven asked as he examined himself in the mirror, smoothing out his suit.

"You look fine, Joven," David reassured him as he stood behind him, trying to tie his tie and failing horribly. A few seconds later, Ian stood up and helped him with, not being able to stand watching his boyfriend fail anymore.

The four of us, Wes, Anthony, and Keith were in Ian and David's room, getting ready for the ceremony. Mari was in the bathroom, getting changed, along with Ericka, who Joven had at some point pulled into our group. Apparently, she'd ditched Shayne and his posse after realizing how big of a jerk he and everyone else were, and grown really close to Joven while Mari and I were away. The rest of us were straightening our ties and smoothing out our suits, trying to make ourselves look as good as possible.

Lord Raub had given us a rundown of what was going to happen yesterday; there'd be a little ceremony in the garden, where we'd get signed papers confirming our profession, and then we'd officially have graduated. Afterwards, there would be a little party to celebrate.

Then, finally, we'd go off to our jobs in whatever Jewel District they were located in. I was excited to get to work, but I didn't like the idea that I wouldn't see Joven, David, and Wes as much. Lord Raub had assured us that we'd be able to visit each other, however, so I wasn't too worried.

David and Ian were a bit skitterish though, seeing as they'd be going to completely different Districts, but I wasn't worried about them. They really loved each other; you could tell from the way they looked at each other. I did not doubt that they'd be able to make long-distance work.

As for Mari and I... well, that wasn't an issue.

We were officially together now. Had been for the past three weeks. When we'd told everyone, they hadn't been that surprised. David said that he'd been expecting us to get together since day five. I still didn't know if I should have taken that as a compliment.

"Mari! Hurry up!" Joven shouted.

"Hold your horses!" she screamed back. A few seconds later, she stepped out of the bathroom.

She was wearing the same suit as the rest of us, but somehow managed to pull it off ten times better than any of us could, even though it was tailored for men. Her hair was combed to the side and held in place with a series of complicated small braids that I assumed Ericka had done. Ericka herself was wearing a simple red dress and had her hair down.

"I thought they were making the girls wear dresses?" I raised my eyebrow as she walked over to me.

"Since when have I been one for rules?" she asked, smiling.

"She bribed a Blue to find her one," Ericka explained as she looked at herself in the mirror. Mari lightly punched her arm.

"So, are we finally ready to go?" Keith asked. He had somehow found himself a hat, setting him apart from the rest of us slightly.

"Oh, shut up," Mari complained, lacing her fingers through mine as she gently tugged me towards the door. Everyone followed us out.

It was a short walk through the hallways and down to the garden. The ceremony was taking place where we usually ate meals. The picnic tables had been replaced by a wooden podium, and two rows of seven plastic chairs. Noah was the only one there, and had a book open on his lap. He looked up when we came into the clearing, and I gave him a thumbs up.

I felt bad for him, honestly. He hated spending time with Olivia, Shayne, Courtney, and Damien, but he had no choice; they'd rip him alive if they saw him with me outside of class. So I had to settle with giving him waves and thumbs ups for communication. It sucked, but it was all we had.