𝚃𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝: 𝙴𝚌𝚕𝚒𝚙𝚜𝚎 (𝙳𝙺 𝙼𝚎𝚝𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚏 𝚡 𝙽𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚒)

𝙲𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 2

~

𝚂𝙴𝙽𝙸𝙾𝚁 𝙴𝚇𝙲𝙸𝚃𝙴𝙼𝙴𝙽𝚃

{𝙳𝙴𝙺𝙰𝚈𝙻𝙸𝙽}

Me and Mani had lunch with the squad – Stella, Renée, Q, Michael, and Damson – in one of the food courts.

It was a miracle all of us were even sittin' together. Everyone besides Jorja, anyway. Mani was becoming a professional at hiding her distaste for werewolves. But she thought Stella was pretty cool, so she tolerated the scent.

I know it's been a little rough for Q, since he still had feelings for Stella. She knew that, but didn't throw that in his face. The vibe wasn't weird. In fact, it was like we hadn't even lost time.

We were preparing for graduation. Even though she's been MIA for the past few months, Renée was to be the valedictorian, and she was goin' over her speech with us. Damson thought it'd be good to put any suggestions we had in his phone to send to her later.

"My fellow students," he began. "We are the future. Anything is possible if we just believe, blah, blah, blah..."

"Yeah," Renée snickered. "That'll be my speech. If I want people to throw their diplomas at my head."

"You gotta embrace the clichés, darlin'!"

"They're the bread and butter of all valedictorians," Q chimed in.

"And this is why you're not valedictorian," Stella teased, everyone else chuckling.

"For your information," Q replied, "I chose to exit the political arena to spend more time with my family."

"You stupid, bro," Michael snickered.

"Renée doesn't really need clichés, anyway," Mani commented. "She's got this."

"And do," Renée cheesed.

I chuckled, kissing the crown of Mani's head. As the conversation continued, Victoria and John appeared with their trays of food that, of course, they won't eat.

"I decided to throw a party," Vic exclaimed, cheesin' like a little kid as her and John sat down.

"After all," John chimed in, wrapping his arm around her, "how many times will we graduate college?"

Mani and I stifled our smiles as best we could. That was a running joke in this family.

"A party?" Stella asked. "At ya'lls house?"

"I've never seen your house," Renée said in shock.

"No one has," Damson said.

"Another party, Vic?" Mani asked.

"Don't start, Mani," Vic combatted. "Come on, it'll be fun!"

"That's what you said last time, sis," I chuckled.

"Okay, but this time, it'll be fun for all of us."

As the conversation continued, I saw Vic's eyes suddenly glaze over as she froze.

I knew she was having a vision, but no one but no one else aside from me, Mani, and John noticed. Mani locked eyes with me before she sported a nonchalant smile.

"Wake up, Vic," she said, gently shaking the brunette as she came to.

"She hasn't been gettin' much sleep lately," John explained as everyone else finally noticed. "Senior jitters, I guess."