Blaine
Sitting at the front of the main hall, I wait patiently for her to appear. Graduation ceremonies are normally a drag I try to get out of, but for the first time I don’t feel like clawing my eyes out.
After all, I’m the only support she has here for this day. Despite sending invites to her family as an olive branch, none of them have showed up, not even Mia, her sister. I suspect that Massimo didn’t extend the invitation to her, and that’s why she’s not here.
“Excuse me, sorry. Sorry.” I glance up to see Mia pushing through to the seat next to me, followed by a reluctant looking Killian. “Blaine, I haven’t missed her, have I?”
“Quiet,” someone shouts as she drops into the seat next to me and Killian takes the one on the other side of her.
“Oh shut it,” she shouts back.
I smile, thankful that she made it for Azira’s sake. Even though she hasn’t voiced it to me, I know it hurts that her family has cut her off.
“She’s not been up yet.”
Mia sighs in relief. “Thank fuck for that. Traffic was ridiculous this morning from our motel.” She glances at Killian. “And someone wouldn’t get out of bed when I told him to.”
He grumbles, glancing at me. “Alright, professor?”
“Great, thanks.” It’s odd seeing the students that have graduated years ago. Killian was in the first senior year I taught, so I didn’t get to know him much.
Six years at this academy have flown by so fast, but no year was eventful as this one. No year was as important as this one, as finally a weight has been lifted from my shoulders.
Azira has lifted that weight, freed me from a burden that I thought was mine to carry for eternity.
“How long do you think until she’s up?” Mia asks, leaning toward me.
I sigh. “Well, they’re on L at the moment. It’s alphabetical by surname, so she’ll be on any minute now.”
Mia straightens and shuffles in her seat, leaning toward Killian. “She’s up any moment now.”
Killian looks like he wants to be anywhere but here right now. The guest speaker announces her name and I feel my heart stop beating for a moment. And then when she appears, it starts again, harder and faster than before.
It’s insane the effect one person can have on me. I always wanted to be on my own, a lone wolf for life, until she came blazing into my world like an asteroid falling from outer space.
A cynic all my life about love and emotions, but the fact is, I do love Azira. I haven’t said those three words to her yet, as every time I try, I freeze.
I clap hard for Azira as she takes her diploma and turns to the crowd, smiling.
Her eyes find mine out of the hundreds of other eyes on her in an instance, as if they’re drawn to me like a magnet.
Mia screams, “Go Azira!”
Azira laughs, rolling her eyes as she walks off the stage.
I track her as she goes to sit down on the other side, wishing the ceremony would finish already so I can go to her.
“She did good, didn’t she?” Mia asks.
I nod, unable to take my eyes off of her.
Mia pokes her finger into my ribs, forcing me to look at her. “You take care of her, you hear me?”
I smile at her big sister act. “Of course.”
“Good, because I only have one sister and I’m very fond of her, so if anything happens to her, I’ll set the wolves on you.”
I hold my hands up in surrender. “She is in safe hands. I would do anything to keep her safe.”
Mia nods, satisfied, and politely watches the rest of the ceremony in silence.
The next fifteen minutes are the longest of my life, as I watch Azira from a distance.
All I want is to be next to her, as if an invisible force is trying to pull us together.
Finally, the speaker announces the end of the ceremony, and I get to my feet. “I’m going to go and find her.”
Mia nods. “Okay, bring her back here.”
I don’t reply and walk toward the front of the hall where Azira was sitting.
When I find her, she’s standing in a little group with her best friends, Natalya, Adrianna and Eva, as well as Alex, as I approach.
Her lips purse together as she promised she’d tell them about us today. “Guys, I’ve got to tell you something.”
I walk up to her side and slide my arm around her back, and place my hand gently on her hip. “Indeed, you do, Miss Sidorov.”
Eva and Natalya gape at us, but Adrianna doesn’t look so surprised. My suspicion is that Arch told her.
“What the hell is going on, Azira?”
She shrugs. “Blaine and I are seeing each other.”
“Since when?” Eva asks.
I’m surprised Oak didn’t mention it to her, but I did swear him to secrecy.
“Since after winter break,” I say, squeezing her hip.
“No way? You’ve been with Luigi and not told us the entire time?” Natalya asks, narrowing her eyes.
Azira straightens. “Let’s be honest, you were pretty judgemental when I joked about going after Bly.”
“Bly?” Adrianna asks, smirking.
Azira shoves her in the arm. “Don’t be an asshole.”
“Is this why you haven’t wanted to swim all year? Because you’re too busy getting with a professor?”
Azira’s cheeks turn deep red. “Perhaps.”
Alex shakes his head. “What is up with this year? It’s totally insane. First Eva marries Principal Byrne and now Luigi is dating a student?”
“What is your point, Morales?” I ask.
His cheeks pale a little and I’m glad I can still scare him, even now when he’s graduated. “No point. It’s just fucking weird.”
“Very articulate.” I glance at the students one by one. “So, what are your plans now you are free of this place?”
Natalya moves closer to Alex. “We’re getting married over the summer in Mexico.”
Alex looks at Natalya with a look of pure adoration. “That’s right, you are going to become Mrs. Morales.”
Natalya meets my gaze. “You’ll have to come with Azira as her date.”
I clear my throat. “We’ll see.”
Azira shuffles uncomfortably. “Yeah, it’s a while away.”
Eva sighs. “Obviously I’m going to Alaska with Oak. He has bought a place there and wants to spend the summer there.”
Oak has mentioned purchasing a place up there, as he loves the quiet.
“You don’t sound too pleased about that,” I say.
Her lips purse together. “I’m not too fond of places that don’t have a distinct night and day.”
“You’ll change your mind,” I say, shaking my head. “It’s beautiful there.”
Azira looks at me. “When have you been to Alaska?”
“I’ve spent a few summers up there with Oak.”
Archer approaches, looking more nervous than I’ve ever seen him. “Adrianna, can I have a word?”
“Stil not giving up?” Natalya quips.
Adrianna nods. “Sure.” She follows him and they disappear out of the hall. I have no idea what is going on between the two of them, as Arch hasn’t mentioned his meltdown since it happened.