154
Lucy
David wiggled his eyebrows. “I figure that this requires a proper celebration.”
He opened the door to one of the SUVs. “Shall we?”
Sarah darted ahead to climb inside. As we piled into David's car, he had a huge grin on his face.
"Congratulations, everyone! I knew you could do it," David said, patting each of us on the back.
"Thanks, David! I can't believe it’s… over," I replied, still feeling a little giddy from the whole experience.
“Nonsense,” David said. “This is just the beginning.”
I smiled back at him, nodding. Passing the GEDs was just the beginning. Soon, I’d be finishing college and entering the enforcer academy or doing something else that was totally different from the life I thought I would lead.
"On to bigger and better,” Duke chimed in as he climbed into the car behind me.
We drove to a nearby restaurant to celebrate. It looked like a pretty fancy place, but no one said anything about us being clearly under dressed. They brought us pitchers of drinks and filled out water glasses.
"I'm so proud of all of you," David said, raising his glass. "To new beginnings and a bright future!"
We clinked our glasses together, toasting to the future and the adventures that lay ahead. I didn’t recognize everything that was coming to the table, but I knew it was going to be delicious. Sarah took not time in loading up her place and telling us how unsure she was when she got through half of it.
The food was delicious, and the atmosphere was full of joy and celebration. We laughed and David spoke with us about the exam, and kept the food coming. As the night went on, we continued to share stories and laughter. It was like a weight had been lifted off our shoulders. I could hear the relief in everyone’s voices. Even Michelle looked more upbeat that I had seen her in a while.
"Thank you, David," Sarah said, her eyes shining with gratitude. “That was so good.”
“You’d better have room for dessert.”
“Always!”
David smiled warmly at us. "I'm so proud of each and every one of you."
He looked over at Michelle. “And you, soon-to-be manager…”
Michelle turned bright red. “How did you know that?”
“You told me,” David said. “I can’t afford to miss any work. I don’t want them to pass me up for promotion.”
“You didn’t say anything!” Amy said, nudging her.
“I… didn’t want to jinx it.”
Sarah began to clap loudly. “Oh, is it because you have your GED now?”
I turned my head, looking around the restaurant when I noticed Peter across the room, engaged in a conversation with another person. He hadn’t seemed to notice us yet, but it was probably only a matter of time. When I turned back, I noticed Michelle looking at him and looking nervous. Sarah and Amy were telling David a story about one of their studying sessions going wrong. Michelle kept glancing over there and sipping her drinks.
"Hey, Michelle, do you know him?" I pointed discreetly in Peter's direction.
Michelle looked flustered for a moment, and I could see a hint of discomfort in her eyes. Before she could respond, Sarah spoke up.
“Is that him?”
“Sarah, don’t cause a scene.”
“That is him!” Sarah growled. She was about to stand up when Michelle grabbed her arm and yanked her back down, but it was too late. Peter had glanced over and his eyes widened with interest.
"Yes, that’s the guy I was seeing. Can we drop it?”
I glanced over. Peter seemed to notice us looking in his direction, and he raised a hand in greeting. I waved back before he leaned over to say something to his companion before he stood.
"Small world," Duke said, breaking the moment of awkwardness. "But let's focus on our celebration, shall we?"
“I think he’s coming over here.”
Michelle looked like she wanted to disappear as he reached out table. David drank quietly; his gaze was trained on Peter.
“What luck,” Peter said before smiling at me. “Lucy, a pleasure as always.”
I nodded at him. “Hi, Peter.”
He turned slowly to look at Michelle.
“Michelle.”
Michelle acknowledged him with a nod, but I could tell she was still a bit uneasy about the encounter. Sarah flushed but I could tell that Michelle was holding her in place.
“It’s been a while.”
"Yeah, it has," Michelle replied, a touch of uncertainty in her voice.
"I hope you've been doing well," Peter continued, glancing at the rest of us briefly.
"We have," I replied, trying to keep the conversation light. “We just passed out GED exams.”
"Congratulations on passing,” he said warmly. “I suppose that means that soon you will be a manager, Michelle?”
Her eyes widened and she stuttered. “That’s the hope.”
He hummed and reached into his suit pocket. “I had intended to give you this for your birthday, but I think this may be more fitting now.”
He pulled a small gift wrapped in elegant gold paper from his suit jacket and extended the gift to Michelle.
Sarah’s jaw dropped as Michelle looked at the box then up to Peter.
“Y-You really didn’t have to.” Michelle cleared her throat. “M-My birthday isn’t for another two weeks…”
“I know.”
My eyes widened as I looked between the two. There was a conversation happening that no one else was a part of, but Michelle took the gift with a trembling hand.
“Thank you…”
Peter nodded. “If it… wouldn’t be too much to ask, perhaps we could meet for lunch? At the café you like.”
Sarah opened her mouth, but Michelle spoke first.
“I’d love to.”
He nodded. “I will call you. Until then, enjoy your celebration, hm?”
She nodded before looking at me. “I will have to find a suitable gift for a new college student.”
“Oh, that’s not necessary.”
He chuckled. “It’s the least I can do. Have a good evening.”
He nodded at David who watched him with a curious tilt to one of his eyebrows before his gaze drifted to Michelle. She looked down at the gift with a small smile, cradling it in her hands. Sarah looked shocked, but she didn't say anything until Peter was farther away.
"Are you sure about this?" Sarah asked Michelle.
"I am," Michelle replied biting her lip with a bashful smile. “I should at least hear him out and see what he has to say."
Sarah growled. “But—”
“It's important to give people a chance,” David said. “When they show themselves to be worthy of it.”
Michelle bobbed her head. “Yeah.”
"Are you okay?" I asked, concerned.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she replied, taking a deep breath. "It was just unexpected. I didn’t even think he’d remember me at all… let alone my birthday."
“Why?”
She shrugged, but didn’t give me an answer.
“Romance can wait,” Duke said. “I want to know what’s in that box, though, but we’re celebrating academic progression right now, not rekindling romance.”
Michelle turned bright red, shoved her present in her bag and scowled at him. He grinned. The rest of the evening was filled with laughter and joy. After we were done, David took us back to the arcade. We played games all night, and I was sure that Michelle’s smile was a million times brighter than I had ever seen it.
“Unexpected,” David said, settling into the seat beside me as Michelle and Amy played a dancing game together.
“Is it going to be okay?” I asked.
He smiled and took my hand. “I’ll look into it, but Peter didn’t seem… nefarious when talking to Michelle.”
I frowned and looked at him. He sounded like there was more to say. The serious look on his face melted away, and then he smiled at me and pulled me out of my seat.
“Come on. Tonight is meant for celebrating.”
The rest of the night passed in a blur. No one tried to attack us. It felt like everything that had happened here before was just a dream. David drove us back to Sarah, Amy, and Michelle’s apartment, dropping me off to spend the night. Duke was already dozing off in the back seat as we got out.
“He’s such a lightweight,” Sarah said. “I’m never going to let him live it down.”
I laughed and waved David goodbye as I followed them into the building. Amy fussed at Sarah, and Michelle was mostly quiet. She slipped off quietly to her room after giving me all the blankets and pillows I needed for the night.
“Good night everyone!” Amy said. “Oh, you’re coming to the mural painting right, Lucy? Sarah’s already flaked out and I think Duke can’t come either.”
I nodded. “I don’t think I have anything to do.”
“It’s in a couple of days.”
I frowned and opened my phone, fumbling my way to me calendar.
“I have a doctor’s appointment, but I could come after that.”
“Great! I’ll see you then!”
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