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6
Graduation day was as anticipated. My parents seemed to be more excited than me; I was just going through the motions. I did okay in my exams but didn’t overly care. I just wanted out, and that time had finally arrived.
I gazed around the audience as I stood beside Marni, waiting for the rest of our classmates to receive their certificates. It was a small class, but most of the town was there to celebrate. I spotted my parents as they smiled and applauded with happy tears spilling from their eyes. I didn’t expect Nate to show, but he did, and he actually looked pretty proud of me.
Scanning the crowd, I searched for Jake. A familiar feeling of disappointment crept up as I realised he was a no show. I refused to let it get to me, so I focused my attention on my family. My eyes drifted back to where my parents and Nate stood, and I noticed two more figures had joined them. My mouth lifted into a hopeful smile, thinking Jake had finally arrived, but I was wrong.
“Luke,” I uttered in an inaudible whisper. I couldn’t believe it.
He towered over his nan’s petite frame with his arm wrapped around her shoulders as they watched the ceremony. Dawn dabbed her eyes with a tissue and sent me a discreet wave once our eyes met. I smiled excitedly at her, and shifted my gaze to meet Luke’s. His lopsided grin morphed into a wholehearted smile, the kind I hadn’t seen in months. My breathing faltered and I blinked multiple times to convince myself he was real.
His eyes gleamed back and I struggled to look away. I stood a little straighter, finally feeling like I had achieved something worthwhile.
As they concluded the ceremony, I ran out to my family to greet them properly, hugging them all individually. Suppressing my tears, I squeezed Dawn a little tighter than the rest. I wasn’t expecting her to make it, as I knew they were understaffed, but Luke made it happen. I turned to thank him, but he had disappeared.
Dawn noticed me scanning the crowd. “Sorry darling, Luke had get back to the pub.”
“Oh,” I responded, solemnly.
Dawn rubbed my back, sensing my disappointment. “We have a surprise for you,” she admitted with a cheeky grin.
“You didn’t have to do that, Dawn,” I protested, but she hushed me.
“Oh, it’s not just from me. It’s from all of us. Let’s go see!”
I followed my family out into the school carpark and noticed Dawn’s navy sedan parked next to my parent’s car. “I thought Luke brought you in?”
“Oh no, he followed me in his truck. I wanted to take this little beauty for one last spin.”
“Huh?” What on earth was she talking about? I knew Dawn didn’t like to drive anymore, but she hadn’t mentioned anything to me about getting rid of her car.
Before I could fully grasp what was going on, Dawn handed me her keys and my jaw dropped. I looked at my parents, then Nate, and back to Dawn. They were all smiling and nodding.
“No…” I couldn’t believe it. Dawn was giving me her car?
“I know you’ve been saving for a car of your own, but we’d all prefer you were in something a little safer than what you could afford with your earnings from Easton’s. I’m not driving it anymore, and it’s been stuck in the garage for months. Luke has serviced it and given it a few runs, your parents have organised the registration and insurance, and Nate has upgraded the stereo system, so it’s all ready for you,” Dawn explained.
My lower lip quivered. I had no idea how they managed to keep it a secret. I had seen Luke driving the car around town a few times, but hadn’t thought much of it. I gazed down at the keys in my trembling hand and blinked back tears. “Thank you so much,” I gushed and took a deep breath, gawking at my new car.
“Well, are you going to drive me home, or stand there and stare at it all day?” Dawn asked with a laugh, already getting into the passenger seat.
“Let’s go!” I hollered excitedly, jumping into the driver’s seat.
“I just need to stop past Easton’s on the way home, if that’s okay?” she requested, as we turned into Main Street.
It was more than okay. I needed to see Luke.
* * *
I pulled into the car park at Easton’s a few minutes later. All the excitement I felt suddenly drained out of my body when I spotted Jake’s car. I scowled. I couldn’t believe he had been at the pub, instead of my graduation.
Dawn and I entered through the back of the pub. She went straight into her office and I made a beeline to the main bar, where I knew I would find Jake.
He was drinking in one of the back booths with his mates, and by the looks of them, they had been there for a while. I sucked in my breath, preparing myself to confront him.
I was about to approach his table, when someone pulled my arm back.
“Blue…”
