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“Good. Because I’m thirsty.” She held out a hand and I grabbed a water from the side compartment. “You might have been late if you hadn’t snuck in the side. They’re about to start.”
The seats on the field were already filled as the professors, dean, and guest speaker finished setting up on stage.
“Do you know where Thatch is?” I asked, adjusting my floppy hat so the brim didn’t block out the stage if my head wasn’t tipped back enough. Then I pulled out my camera and pieced it together. I was holding onto it as long as possible, but at some point, I would have to turn it back in.
“He’s over there.” She pointed, and sure enough, there was Thatcher, dressed in crimson robes with a gold tassel swinging gently off his cap. And he was staring right at us with a wide smile engulfing the lower half of his face.
Raising my camera, I zoomed in and snapped a picture. I was going to miss this camera. It was older, and not the most high-tech technology, not when there were so many newer, more expensive models on the market, but it had been my real starting point into the photography world.
I grabbed some great shots, individual first and then moving out to capture the crowd. Perfect.
Today was the day Thatcher truly started his adult life. I was jealous, but proud. Although, adulthood was just an abstract idea set by society, that didn’t apply to us.
We were all about to set off on our own, and even if we were going to college, we were going to be supporting ourselves. That was as adult as you could get.
I waved, and I thought he winked, but he was too far away to really tell. For the duration of the ceremony, I should just watch through my camera. I’d rented a long-range lens for today, so I might as well use it.
“What’s happening?” Angel asked as he dropped down on the other side of Trinity.
Lowering my camera, I glanced over. Trinity stiffened in her seat as Angel crossed his arms, leaning back on the bleachers behind him. Graves rubbed at the scruff on his jaw as he arranged his own fancy cushion next to Angel.
“Hey, I didn’t realize you guys were coming?” They were Beck’s and Jonah’s family, and while they’d been nice to us all, I couldn’t really see them sitting through a graduation ceremony for someone not related to them. They just didn’t seem like that kind of men.
“We had to come to support Thatcher,” Graves rumbled. “After all the work we’ve done together, we weren’t going to let him go through today without his whole family here.”
I scrunched up my face, then focused on smoothing it out. “You’ve done work together?”
Thatcher had done the murals for them, but that was months ago. Literally last year.
Angel smirked. “I’ll let him tell you about it.”
Twisting to face the guys, they all had equally perplexed looks on their faces. I was about to subtly inquire more about this business, when the music started, and the ceremony kicked off.
I’d just have to ask Thatcher later.
Doing what I did best, I lifted my camera, and started documenting this milestone for Thatcher. Most of my shots were of him. But some were of his peers as they grinned or cried. Some of parents clutching hands as their babies finally entered into the realm of mystical adulthood. I shot the guys and Trinity, as they watched with avid interest, waiting for Thatcher’s name to be called.
Graves and Angel were by far some of the most interesting subjects, outside of my guys. They just didn’t fit the crowd in their ripped jeans and faded black band shirts with their club vests. While everyone else was in business casual attire for the occasion, they needed a shave last week and maybe a haircut.
But it worked on them, and the pictures seemed to come out great, although I wouldn’t know until I uploaded them onto the computer.
Then…his name was called.
I went crazy, getting shots of him as he couldn’t stop smiling. Some of Trinity, as she jumped up and down, crying and screaming his name. The guys, as they whooped and hollered.
Then I started the rounds all over again until he’d received his diploma and was exiting the stage. I got one final picture of him with his diploma raised in the air, grinning wildly at us.
After the ceremony, Graves invited us to eat at the pizza and wings place, letting us know whatever we ordered was on the house. Then they disappeared through the crowd. Not surprisingly, bikers were also a natural crowd repellent. They didn’t have a lick of trouble as they left.
Thatcher met us at the staff entrance, and I jumped in his arms, having already handed off my camera and bag to Beck.
“Congratulations! I’m so proud of you,” I whispered in his ear as he swung me around, squeezing my middle.
“Thanks, Astrid.” He set me down and cupped my jaw. His green eyes sparkled, making the small golden flecks stand out even more.
“Congrats, man.” Beck slapped him on the back.
I stepped back, giving the guys an opportunity to hug him. But not before I snatched my camera back from Beck, so I could capture these moments.
