Page 4 of True Blue

“Shhhhh!” She grabs Mira’s hand and pushes it down. “I’m trying to avoid my parents finding me so quick.” Heat colors the skin beneath her freckles, shading her fair complexion.

“Pretty sure they’re going to find us eventually,” I point out, gesturing to the stage behind us. “We’re kind of the whole reason they’re here.”

“Yeah, but the longer I avoid them, the less time I have to spend at my grandmother’s with them fawning over Sage.” She rubs her forearm, and I throw my arm around her shoulders, squishing her into my side.

Autumn’s parents doting on her little sister on the day of her high school graduation doesn’t surprise me, but the usual spark of anger I feel toward the Greens kicks in anyway. “Don’t worry, we’ll come kidnap you in an hour or two. No way we’d leave you with your family all day.”

Autumn smiles up at me and Mira nods at her before going back to searching the shifting throng of people surrounding us.

I poke her side. “Settle down, Mir. April will find us eventually.” Mira’s mom probably already has eyes on the three of us and is just finding the politest way to push through the crowd.

“Harley came,” Mira whispers. Autumn glances up at me while Mira is distracted and raises an eyebrow. I shrug.

“He usually goes where Ramsey does,” I comment. Autumn nods. Mira always gets jumpy around her older brother’s best friend, ever since he started avoiding her like the plague a few years ago. Autumn and I usually try to soften the blow whenever we know Mira is going to be around him.

Mira glances back at us and takes a deep breath. “Yeah, that’s probably why he’s here. I didn’t even know Ramsey was going to show.” She laces her fingers together, but the tension in her shoulders remains.

“At least none of us fell off the stage.” I jostle Autumn’s shoulder with my arm, and she gives me a small smile, but glances over her shoulder, probably realizing her parents will find her sooner now that we aren’t moving.

“I thought you were going to do a backflip,” Mira says, poking me in the stomach and grinning.

I shrug. “Guess stage fright set in.”

Autumn rolls her eyes and Mira audibly scoffs. “When have you ever gotten stage fright?”

I shrug, looking away from them. I didn’t remember to do anything flashy when I was walking across the stage. The second I got to the top of the stairs, shouts and flashes from the edge had stolen my attention. A couple school security officers tried to usher them off, but the half dozen paparazzi that managed to stick around kept trying to get me to look over at them or stop and pose. When I shook Principal Desmond’s hand, she apologized and patted me on the shoulder, posing for the school photographer as the people at the stage edge went wild. The only thing I could focus on was not falling in front of all of them after that.

“There you all are!” April Adams bursts through a hole in the crowd and walks over to us with a huge smile eating up halfof her face. Wearing a blue sundress and sandals and sticking out amongst the other ultra-wealthy Emerald Grove Preparatory parents, her presence banishes all the frustration previously foaming up inside me. “Congratulations!” She grabs Mira in a fierce hug as Ramsey, Harley, and Conrad walk up behind her and fill out our little circle.

“Thanks, Mom,” Mira mumbles against her shoulder.

Pulling back, April holds Mira at arm's length with tears in her eyes. “I can’t believe you’re done with school!”

“Smothering, Mom,” Ramsey says in a low voice over her shoulder.

“Hush,” April responds, but releases Mira who smiles at her brother. April turns toward me and Autumn, as Mira’s eyes quickly flick to Harley who pointedly stares to the left of everything.

“Congratulations you two!” April holds her arms open, and I release Autumn just in time for her to wrap an arm around each of our necks as well. I bend down to help her out and return the hug with a smile. Her familiar warmth makes me close my eyes for a moment. Ever since I met Mira, April has treated me like I’m one of her kids, sliding into my life as a second mother without complaint or judgement.

“Thanks, April.” I hug her a little tighter.

“Thanks, Mrs. Adams,” Autumn replies and smiles up at April. I catch Ramsey rolling his eyes.

“I can’t believe you guys are all grown up.” April sighs as she releases us and steps back, placing a hand on either of our cheeks. Mira shakes her head over her mom’s shoulder.

“I can’t believe you’re all following me to the Coast,” Ramsey mutters, then looks up surprised. He smiles, eyes darting between Mira and me and openly avoiding the third graduate in our midst. “Just missed me so much the last few years, huh?” Hethrows his arm around Mira’s shoulders and squeezes her as she tries to shove him off.

“I’m just following this one,” I point at Mira with my thumb who rolls her eyes. “Figured we’ve gone to the same schools our whole lives, why change a good thing?”

“Oh please. You’re the one with alumni in your family. I’m the one following you, Mr. Instant Admission.” Mira rolls her eyes at my grin. “And of course, Autumn had to come along. No way we’d leave her here to fend for herself.” Mira finally breaks free of Ramsey’s hold when he freezes up at the mention of Autumn. She reaches forward, gripping Autumn’s hand as she smiles. Ramsey scowls and looks over at Harley who glances at Mira with narrowed eyes before looking away again.

Conrad stands off to the side in a dark blue three-piece suit, watching everything mutely. April gives him a pointed look and he steps forward, reaching out and gripping Mira’s shoulder. “Congratulations, Amiria,” he whispers when she looks over at him.

Mira beams. “Thanks, Dad.”

I smile. Someone taps my shoulder and I turn, nerves jumping only to find my grandfather behind me, alone. He opens his arms, and I lean in. “Congratulations, dear boy,” he says softly in my ear as I return the hug.

“Thanks, Grandpa.” We lean out of the hug, and I glance around. “Mom and Dad couldn’t get out of filming?”

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