Delicate

Hotline Bling

Serenity pulled into the parking area in the back of her former residence. Leah's uncle had finally gotten around to having it paved so she felt comfortable parking back there now. She unlocked the door and walked into her apartment. Gideon and Nessa were in the kitchen and looked at her. "Hello you two," she said as she wheeled her luggage in. "Shouldn't you be at home? You graduate tomorrow," she says to Nessa. "I know. I just made a stop over here to drop something off". Serenity raised her eyebrows as she walked back to her room. Gideon and Nessa could be heard whispering in the kitchen. She sat in her room until she heard the front door close. She walked back out into the main area and glared at Gideon. "What?" he asked.

"Does that girl live here now or something?" she asked as she walked towards the fridge. "No, I told you, she's just over a lot". Serenity opens the fridge and puts her hand on her hip. "You knew I was coming into town and there's no kombucha in the fridge. What the fuck Gideon?" she sneers. "I didn't have time to stop at the store," he whined. "You knew I was coming months ago!" she bellowed. He pursed his lips and then shrugged. "If I'm being honest, I just kept forgetting to get it".

"Did you at least remember to record episodes of General Hospital for me?" she asked. "When I was watching them I forgot you wanted to watch them as well so I deleted them when I was done". She slammed the fridge door shut. "Oh my god!" she she yelled. "I have never been so close to murdering someone as I've been right now. I have so few joys in this life little brother. All I asked for was kombucha and General Hospital recordings". Gideon bit his lip to keep from laughing at his sister's antics. He started laughing and Serenity cocked her jaw and chuckled along with him. "You're so funny when you overreact," he says. "You know I have a flair for the dramatics," she grins.

"I guarantee you mom has the episodes recorded though. She never deletes anything," Gideon says before he walks into the living room. Serenity follows behind him and sits next to him on the couch. She smiled widely at him and he pushes her face away. "Stop! I know exactly what you're thinking," she says. "Oh whatever. Tomorrow is a huge day for you. You're graduating high school! That's so big!" she exclaims. "Everyone graduates high school. It's no big deal," he says as he turns the TV on. "That's not true. Some people drop out or get their GED. Some people don't even make it to high school. Don't downplay this huge achievement".

*****

Serenity walked into the Kaufman household and looked at Neri who was in her usual spot on the couch. "You look cute," Neri says to Serenity. She was wearing a Elie Tahari tie-neck belted dress with Jimmy Choo Romy 85 pointed toe pumps. Neri was wearing an Aqua paisley faux wrap dress with Sam Edelman ballet flats. "This will be you in like two years," Serenity says. "Eww. Don't remind me". Kathy and Aaron walk out of the kitchen and into the living room. "Oh good, you're here. Let's go," Kathy says. "Gideon's not riding with us?" Serenity asks. "No. He and a few of the other football boys rode together and are already there".

Aaron and Kathy rode together and Neri went in Serenity's car. They met at the entrance of the arena of the university the graduation was being held at. They showed their tickets to the person at the door and found seats. Neri was talking to the girl next to her as they were classmates. Once the ceremony commenced, they had to sit through the boring speeches of the principal and valedictorian. When Gideon's name was announced, the family cheered loudly for him. A tear fell from Kathy's eye as she watched her only son walk across the stage.

Once everything was over, the family stood in front of the arena snapping pictures. Gideon got a slew of pictures with his football team. Nessa came up and they took a few pictures together. "We have to get going Gideon! Make it quick!" Aaron said to him as he and Nessa took some pictures on her phone. "Maybe we should give them a little privacy?" Kathy suggests. "No. We're expecting guests at the house in half an hour". Serenity stepped forward and said, "Let them take their time. Neri and I will go back home and set up". Neri and Serenity walked back to the car.