Thirty Nine: Graduation

Her mom and dad came on her graduation day. They took pictures together, a pat on the back, a clumsy hug, a kiss on the cheeks, a congratulations. The three of them again after eight years. She was smiling the whole day.

She told them about her plans, they told her how proud they were, shared one last hug and asked her to call them more often. That was pretty much the depth of their relationship.

After her parents left, Kelsey was there. They shared a long hug, enough to replace a thousand words they wanted to say to each other.

Kelsey tilted her toga hat with a smile, "I hope I'll look good in these next year." They laughed. "I guess this cause for a celebration ... let's go get some coffee, my treat," she added.

They went to The Morning Brew, still in her toga and her diploma in her grip.

"I can't believe you're leaving in a few days ... do you realize we've never been apart since we were four?" There was sadness in her face.

Julie touched her hand, "I'll come visit as much as I can."

Kelsey shrugged, took a deep breath, "Still ... it wouldn't be the same."

They were silent for a moment.

"I'm sorry I've been distant for awhile ... I've been doing a lot of thinking, and I want to tell you something ..." They looked at each other. "I'm okay now ... I really am."

"Kells ..." she too have something to tell her.

"No ... hear me out, please, I really am ... I was with him for four months, and that was three months ago ... and I was with Zach for half of the time I was with Nathan ... I blew it, Jules, I really did." She twisted her coffee cup with her thumb, she wasn't done talking, and Julie was listening.

"I guess I've always known he was too good for me."

"No one is too good for you."

Kelsey curved one side of her lips, "I wish that was true ... I don't blame him for falling in love with you, I wasn't truthful to him, and you were amazing ... you've always been amazing," she smiled.

Julie pursed her lips, "Kells ... I'm not ..."

Kelsey stopped her again, "If you ever decided to be with him ... please know that I'm okay with it, and in a weird way ... I'm kinda glad it's you rather than some stranger I don't know ... 'cause I know how good you are, and you deserve each other."

Julie hugged her, "I love you so much, Kells ... I hope you know that, you deserve to have someone good too, I love you more than anything."

Kelsey raised her eyebrows and smiled, "And I love you more than anyone too."

They held back their tears and laughed.

"Now let's' not talk about that again, I want to talk about our plans for the next couple of days," Kelsey said.

**********

Sixteen years of sisterhood was about to be tested by distance, the idea of separation was enough to make them cry all night after a quiet drinking session they had in their dorm room. One last slumber party. They even fell asleep on the same bed in each others arms. Sisters from a different planet.

They were sobbing uncontrollably at the airport, promised each other to stay in touch. Hoping that living separately won't change much of their relationship. But everything must come to an end eventually. If it's not a job, it's a relationship that ultimately will seperate them.

She sat in the airplane, still lingered in her thoughts of everything that's happened in the past year. How quickly things changed. She hasn't spoken nor texted Nathan since the last time they met. She hadn't told him her decisions yet, she figured she would just tell him in person.

She enjoyed watching him from afar when he wasn't aware of it. She sat on the balcony with all her luggage stacked under the stairs. Ardor was pretty busy in the afternoon during coffee and tea time. She waited until somebody finally noticed her and told Nathan about it.

The look on his face was priceless when he turned to find her there. His whole entire being was lit up to greet her. He walked out to the balcony with a wide smile. "You're here?"

She lifted her shoulders, "I'm here."

"You couldn't tell me this by phone or text me?" he walked over to her.

"I wanted to tell you in person ... I've cancelled my apartment in Lancaster, and I've rented a place here, not far from your villa ... it's a small place but ..."

Nathan chuckled, "You can always stay with me, you know that? I have an extra room, rent free."

She shook her head, "I know, thanks for the offer, but I'd love to have a place on my own ... I do need a lift later," she pointed to her luggage. "These are only half of it, I shipped the rest by boat."

His eyes were sparkling, he was agreeing to everything she said as long as she was there and back to working at Ardor. He was willing to work on the rest. "Fine ... I'll take you there, coffee?" he offered. She nodded smiling.

**********

Her new apartment was a simple studio with foldable sofa bed. It was a bedroom slash living room with a little kitchen in the corner and a two seated table for dining, a sliding door to a narrow terrace and a tiny bathroom.

"That's not even enough for your book collections," Preston said from the other end of the video call.

"Nathan offered to store all my books at his place ... which I'm a bit relieved, 'cause they're shipping it as we speak and I don't have anywhere to put them," she laughed lightly.

"Hmmm ..." he responded.

"What's with the 'Hmmm'?"

"Are you going to let him mauled you in his kitchen now? Sexing you up while preparing meals together?"

Julie frowned and turned the camera back to her face, "No ... that's why I'm renting this place, I'm not starting a relationship with him ... I'm just working for him."

"For now ..." Preston hung his face on one hand with a sulking expression. "How long do you think that will last?" he was skeptical.

"I don't know ... it depends."

"Depend on what?" his stare pierced through the camera.

She was amused by his jealousy, "Depends on how good he is in sweeping me off my feet, I guess, " she laughed.

Preston rolled his eyes, "I don't want to hear the details ... there are limits to what I can tolerate."

"There are no details to share ... what about you? I wanna hear about you," she turned the conversation around.

And just like that, they started their new normal. Preston had finished recorded his first album. He was going to promote the album through small performances on radios and public venues with the help of his new band that his label appointed for him.

A few months after that, people started to play his songs in the restaurants, department stores, in their cars. Within a year, he was recognized by the public, not only from his talent and his music, but also his good looks and unique persona.

He was on every music magazines, he gained hundreds of thousands of followers within that year alone. He was worshipped by women, young and older. Preston Hicks was a rising star but he never failed to keep in touch with his best friend on a regular basis. She had always been, and always will be the person he goes to for everything.