Mayne Attraction: In The Spotlight (27 page)

He smiled when he said this, but he was
being sweet and sincere, not teasing.

I nodded.

“Coupons,” he said flatly.

Then smiling down at me he said, “The woman
of my dreams graduates from high school, and I get her some car
wash coupons to celebrate that important milestone in her life,”
shaking his head he continued, “and she subsequently dumps me
within seconds…as she rightly should.”

I laughed.

“You’ll have to get more creative than that
if you want me to dump you, Ash. The truth is, I’m afraid you’re
stuck with me; kind of like the bugs on the hood,” I said, nodding
to the front of the Jeep.

We both laughed.

“Is that a promise?” he asked.

He was still smiling but there was
seriousness in the undercurrent.

“Oh, absolutely. I promise to complicate
your life, and cause you trouble, and make you do my chores with me
for as long as you can stand the abuse. You have my word on
that.”

He smiled happily as though I had said
something nice. The truth was that he would have to kill me himself
before I’d ever willingly relinquish my hold on my own personal
miracle.

Chapter 23 -
Commencement

Graduation was the embarrassing protracted
ordeal I knew it would be. It was held on a very warm day in early
June at Freedom Hall, where apparently someone forgot to let them
know we were coming so they could turn on the air. My mom had tried
to ‘encourage’ me to wear makeup, but it was clear now that
uncharacteristic stubborn refusal on my part was the right choice;
it would have melted off within moments of entering the building. I
don’t know how the Goths pulled it off, but then they were both
naturally cool…

I hung out with Sam and Trevor as long as I
could, but when the commencement exercises began we had to take our
alphabetically assigned seats on the floor. Ash told me to look for
him in a section that ended in the number nine. Methodically
searching the crowd in section one-o-nine, then two-o-nine, then
three-o-nine, I began to get impatient and a little miffed at how
many nines there seemed to be. But then my eyes landed on the most
beautiful face in the whole audience, lighting up section
four-o-nine with a big smile just for me when he caught my
gaze.

Even in this place I didn’t want to be, I
felt joy just seeing his face. It was a considerable distance
across the floor and into the stands, but we still managed to lock
eyes and I smiled at him in return, hugely. I could feel my cheeks
burning, but I was used to that by now; it meant that Ash was near,
so it was a welcome sensation, even when I was already too hot.

I wondered if anyone else from the team had
come to watch me graduate; at least one other person, who drove
separately, no doubt. I considered it a huge importunity, but at my
mom’s unwavering insistence, I sent an invitation to Lidia. Still,
I certainly didn’t expect to see her on this unequivocally boring
occasion. She was my friend, but we weren’t close enough for her to
waste a perfectly good Saturday on me like this. Even an insurance
seminar would be more fun, or an elective root canal.

After my turn on the stage, where everyone
present witnessed one of the most amazing achievements in my career
as a student thus far: me managing to make it up the stairs, across
the stage, and back down again without tripping over my gown, which
was too long. Making off with my diploma without a single misstep,
I moved back to my seat as instructed, to sit and watch the other
half of the class repeat the process, some of them meeting the
principal for the very first time. Watching the audience watch
Trevor and Sam (each in full Goth with gowns overtop) receive their
diplomas was the highlight.

Afterwards I really wanted to bolt, but my
folks seemed to be in no hurry to leave. Mom wanted to congratulate
Sam, so we visited all together with Trevor and Sam, and her big
sister Serena and brother-in-law Sean for a few awkward moments in
one of those ‘worlds colliding’ situations that made me so
nervous.

Ash was out of sight now, but I knew he
wasn’t gone. I’d been racking my brains trying to think of a way to
get a few minutes alone with him, but all my schemes kept
unraveling.

I think graduation ceremonies must be more
for the parents (or big sisters, in Sam’s case) than the kids.
Neither of her parents had been invited to this occasion. I would
have preferred to get my diploma in the mail as opposed to all this
fuss. But Mom was clearly enjoying herself, and since it felt like
I was still way into the red zone of her emotional bank account
with me, I tried very hard to enjoy myself, too, for her sake. I
was a lousy actress, though. So instead I tried to imagine how I
would feel at a different kind of ceremony, where my outfit was
white and fit better, and where promises were exchanged and eternal
devotions were bestowed. Day dreaming about that kind of day made a
difference.

Sam called me on it.

“Did you finally get over your nerves?” she
inquired.

“I guess,” I replied, resurfacing from
pleasant distraction.

“Congratulations El. Just so you know, this
doesn’t change a thing. You’re still my BFF.”

“Best Framily Forever?” I asked.

She laughed like it was a joke, but it was a
gravely serious matter to me. My best friend forever and I still
needed to work out our post graduation living arrangements and
college destination in a way that was universally suitable. She had
been trying to nail me down for months, but I asked for a reprieve
from big decision making until after graduation. That being the
case, I knew I could expect a new round of grilling within minutes.
Knowing Sam, though, she had most likely moved ahead with the plans
she was going to talk me into eventually any way.

To my extreme surprise and pleasure, Lidia
and Ray approached our group. It must have been a slow day in the
fabulous life.

They looked like they’d taken a wrong turn
off of a Hollywood red carpet movie premier event. Glamorous and
stunning, Lidia wore a cream colored strapless dress with her curly
black hair pinned up so that her long graceful neck was even more
obvious and appealing, especially with an amazing sapphire pendant
resting just above her magnetically visual, amply proportioned
cleavage.

Sam had that same uncertain reaction about
Ray’s identity that I had experienced the first time I’d met him.
In her case, though, maybe she thought she already knew him…

Having made the introductions, my two
favorite couples were no longer unacquainted. Ray and Lidia
exhibited amazing control in repressing the impulse to stare at my
fully Goth and gowned framily members. Perhaps like Hoyt and Mom,
they’d gotten all their gawking in during the ceremony.

After small talk and more congratulations
and hugs, all the happily in love couples standing around holding
hands began to be too much for me and I had to go find my other
half as well. Being the odd one out simply wasn’t cutting it for me
any more—and it didn’t have to.

Making some claim about my need to find a
restroom, I made my way off the main floor and out into the
circular corridor surrounding the arena. In a moment of
inspiration, I headed for the other side of the building, setting a
course for a place that might suit my needs quite well.

There was a crowd gathered in front of the
Cardinal Shop, peering at the merchandise in the darkened windows
of the most expensive place in town to purchase every manner of red
tchotchke (a knickknack or trinket) available to honor the
University of Louisville Cardinal Basketball program.

Working my way to the center of the crowd,
near the tallest people, seeking a measure of cover behind them, I
stood and waited for happiness to find me. I’d only been in my spot
for thirty seconds or so, long enough to remove my disposable
‘gown’, which could be recycled into a tablecloth or perhaps a low
budget parachute.

As I worked to neatly fold the blue nylon
material into a compact square, strong arms gathered me from behind
and soft lips touched my ear whispering, “Congratulations,
Ellery.”

I took a deep breath like it was my first
helping of air for the day.

“I couldn’t be happier for you…or me,” Ash
continued, with a quiet laugh at the end, briefly nuzzling my neck
at the hairline. I could feel his breath on my skin. I was still
too hot, but I shivered in pleasure despite myself.

I turned around so I could see him. He was
dressed in a tan suit, a perfect collaboration with his complexion
and dark hair, which was neatly smoothed back, and not as curly
looking as normal.

“I’m happy for me right now too. But not
because of this,” I said, holding up my diploma.

“I think it has more to do with this,” I
explained, as I tugged lightly on the middle button of his suit
with my free hand.

“You clean up well. In fact, you look
amazing. Thanks for being the most handsome boyfriend…in
history.”

He actually blushed! It was fabulous. I’m
sure I was blushing too. I felt warm all over, and not because of
the shortcomings of the facility’s air conditioners.

“I’m sorry to rush this, but…”

He looked around as he spoke, turning my
body to face away from him again.

I sighed. I couldn’t be too unhappy, though.
At least we’d hugged and spoken. That was actually more than I had
expected.

“I’d better give you my gift before we get
interrupted,” he explained as he pulled something from his pocket
and his hands quickly passed in front of me, then up and around
either side of my face, out of sight.

I could feel his hands brushing past my hair
as he pulled the bulk of it up and over a chain he’d just clasped.
The cool metal came to rest on the back of my neck.

I looked down to see a glistening round
pendant, sterling silver perhaps, resting on my chest. As I pulled
it up for a better view I realized it was an extremely customized
gift indeed.

Inside a delicate locket style frame was a
mint condition Kentucky Quarter with the scene of Federal Hill—the
inspiration for the song ‘My Old Kentucky Home’—and a Thoroughbred
horse in the foreground looking over a plank fence.

“Oh!”

I was absolutely thrilled! What an
unbelievably cool, perfect, insightful present—just like its
presenter!

“This is just wonderful! I love it! Oh,
thank you so much!”

I was all grateful enthusiasm, as I swung
around and hugged him tight. Then I stepped back in case maybe I
shouldn’t have done that. He didn’t seem too alarmed as he beamed
back at me. There was a trace of humor in his expression as he
appraised me.

“Look at it very carefully,” he
suggested.

I turned it over to inspect the back. The
convex surface was rounded and intricately detailed with a vine
work motif, reminiscent of Middle Earth style Elf artisanship. In
the center there was an exceedingly ornate calligraphy inscription
of the letter E in relief. It was an absolutely gorgeous
production, and one of a kind beyond all doubt.

“Thank you so much, Ash. This is amazing,” I
said, my eyes glued to my present, admiring the exquisite artistry
in every element.

“Did you notice the hinge, there?” he asked
after a quiet moment where my gaze was still held by the jewelry
and not his face for the first time ever.

“The hinge?”

“Yes, it opens,” he explained, “but you have
to push this part here to release the lock,” he continued as his
fingers brushed over mine, demonstrating the proper technique.

My thumbnail found the hidden latch while my
fingers pried it open. The true treasure was now revealed: a tiny
black and white laminated photo of my soul mate. It was a head
shot, no doubt the production of a photo booth at the mall. His
expression was serious but not severe—just contemplative. Probably
at that moment he was wondering how much trouble fulfilling my
ill-advised request would ultimately cause him.

“Ha!” I yelped in childish glee, my
emotional response catching up with the visual stimulation.

I literally jumped into him and hugged him
fiercely. He hugged me back but then he extracted himself with firm
hands on my waist, opening the distance between us with
irresistible force.

“Thank you! Thank you so much!”

I was almost as happy about this picture as
I was about him in general—and that was on cloud nine in
Blissville.

“You’re quite welcome. I’m glad you like
it,” he said with a chuckle. “I have to go now. Enjoy your big day,
and I’ll see you tonight?” he asked.

“And I’ll see you sooner!” I said as I held
up my little Ash icon.

He took a deep breath, the look of concern
gracing his features. Before he could voice his thoughts I tried to
reassure him.

“I’ll be careful not to make a big deal
about it. I don’t want anybody getting too curious about my
gift.”

“Just be careful about having it open around
any one. With the hidden latch, its locket quality is quite well
disguised,” he said, preparing to walk away.

I looked up at him with a confused
expression.

“What?” he asked.

“Just one question,” I said, tilting my
head.

“Yes?”

“Where are my candle and my coupons?”

I couldn’t control the impulse to tease.
Even as delighted and joyful as I was, I still had to be
perverse.

He smirked, reached out and tousled my hair
while shaking his head. Reconsidering, he reached out once more to
smooth my hair back into place with soft strokes from his
fingertips, all the while fixing me with a long look that awakened
every dormant butterfly as my stomach did a happy flip. Then he
turned and disappeared into the crowd. But now I could assure
myself that he was real, even when everything about him was like a
dream.