17

Graduation day finally arrives.

The day welcomes me with two open hands, it is a good day, a promising one. The ceremony is commencing. The sitting arrangement is based on honours classification and alphabetically based on the student's surname. I am on the front row because I am graduating with a first-class, and so is Quinn. He is a seat away from me.

I can't bring myself to concentrate on what is being said ahead of me. I have my tablet pretending to be taking photos but I am chatting with Jack. I invited him for my graduation despite the terrible date we had the other day. He sends a GIF, it is so damn funny. I put my hand over my mouth to stop myself from laughing. Someone lets out an annoying cough, I turn to find Quinn giving me a wicked stare. I roll my eyes and concentrate back on my chat with Jack. I will not let him ruin my day like how his words ruined my date.

What did he even mean with his words? Does he know something I don't? Shit, I am doing it again, letting Quinn win. His words might have had some truth in them but he just said them to spite me.

Still there? A text comes in from Jack.

Still here. Got distracted a bit but I am all yours. I send a quick reply. Immediately the text I delivered a piece of paper is passed to me by the guy seated between me and Quinn.

I hold it for a while before I unfold it.

Meet me behind applied science faculty after the ceremony. It reads. It doesn't have the name of the sender but I can guess of one person who is that arrogant.

I don't have a pen so I take my eye pencil and scribble a large, No.

I give it back through the guy seated between us.

I don't even get to release my breath before the note is passed back again. With a response of, Why?

I get agitated and state two reasons, you are married and two, I hate you and you aren't my boss to order me around.

I pass it back through the same guy. He always finds many ways to irritate me. It is like he gets off from my irk.

The note is passed back. Those are three reasons. Anyway, I have something you may want."

Instead of responding I scrunch the paper and throw it. I get weird looks for littering but I am too angry to care. Quinn is just trying to ruin my day, he is a negative energy. I will not give him the time of my day.

I zero my attention back to my tablet, I find several messages from Jack. Sadly, it is like he got tired when I didn't reply. He is offline.

All over sudden everyone stands and I realize the ceremony is coming to an end when the vice-chancellor gives the graduands the power to read. The caps the thrown to the skies and people scream in joy. I can't help but feel tears form in my eyes. I never thought I would actually come this far. It is the only thing in my life I have started and finished successfully. I look up to the skies and mutter, 'Mum, Dad, I made it.'

I feel warm breath on my ears when I look down. I find it's Quinn. "Be there." He whispers to my ears.

I ignore him and start walking towards the back of the graduation square to find my brother, Kelly and Jack. Ryan stops me by blocking my way. He smiles and I smile back. When will he ever get a hint? I keep on rejecting him but he still persists.

"Hi?" I say hugging him. Which comes off as weird since I never do that. But I am in high spirits. I am finally done with this place and the people in it. Including him.

"Congratulations," He says to me.

"Thanks." I say and add, "Congrats too."

"I graduated without honours, there's nothing to congratulate about." He shrugs and he seems okay with it.

The silence stretches between us before he breaks it again. "There will be a graduation party at my house. You should come everyone will be there." He explains.

"More reasons I shouldn't come," I state.

"Quinn and Courtney will not be there if that is your reason for declining the invite."

"My reasons are personal." I clarify.

"My mother insists, she says she has something important to tell you."

That gets my attention. I am too desperate for answers though I don't trust his mother. She claimed she and my mom were once best of friends. Yet my mother has never mentioned her or a previous boyfriend. She always said my father was the first and only man she ever loved.

"We will be there." I finally answer. It is not like I have anything to lose. I might get answers which will bring me closer to my goal.

"We?" Ryan asks. I glare at him and he clears his throat. "Never mind. She will be thrilled."

"See you then." I brush past him my eyes searching for three particular people. I smile when I see Oliver waving. He is holding a big box. He pulls me in for a hug when I am in front of him.

"I am so proud of you." He declares.

Once he steps back Kelly dives in a big genuine smile on her lips, "You look beautiful. I hope someday this will be me." She confesses. After I poured my heart yesterday she vowed to help me.

Jack stands awkwardly as Kelly steps back. He lightly brushes my arm, "Congrats on your big day."

I nervously smile at him before I sense someone staring at me. I shift my focus a bit and I find Quinn starting at me. He is surrounded by his family including Theo. Theo looks up to follow his fathers' gaze. He immediately breaks away from his grandmothers' grip and starts rushing towards me. Both his mother and Father turn to see where their grandkid is rushing to. Meg, Quinn's sister waves at me when our eyes met.

"Cara!" Theo says as he rushes towards me. His tight embrace is unexpected.

"Theo, " I breath.

"You didn't keep your promise." He scolds.

"Theo get over here." His grandmother walks towards us followed by everyone except Mr.Nickel who has joined other parents into some conversation. This doesn't look good. Both Jack and Kelly are in awe.

"Quinn, I found Cara." Theo innocently says.

Quinn's mother grabs Theo from me. I can feel eyes on us.

"Stay away from my family. Haven't you done enough?" She points at me.

"Mum..." Quinn begs.

"My Quinn wasn't enough now you want to get your claws on my other son." She harshly states. Her nose is up in the air like my presence pollutes it.

"Hey lady, I am not going to stand here and watch you insult my friend." Kelly dives in.

"Who are you?" She snickers at Kelly.

"The girl you do not want to mess with."

Mrs.Nickel access us for a while before she huffs and points at me again. "Stay away from my Son and family."

The family part gets into me. They took mine away. I find myself shouting back at her. "Son or grandson?" I retaliate.

She whips her head to face me. "What?" She is burning.

"Is Theo not Quinn's son?" I say in a victory as I hear people gasp in shock.

Mrs.Nickel turns to Quinn, "You told her?" Disappointment is very evident in her tone.

Quinn slowly turns to me and it is like he has transformed into some alien creature. His nose is flaring in anger. " You have no idea what you have done." He says to me before taking Theo away to shield him from the people and the pictures they are taking. What have I done to that poor kid?

Just then Andre joins us, "Splendid, what a way to finish school." I ignore him and walk away.