Balancer's Soul (50 page)

Connor stood before her in a black on
black tuxedo that had to be custom made for they couldn’t possibly
make it in his size to be simply rented. “Surprise!” His smile
brightened her mood instantly. He spun on one heel to show his
every angle. His pants were pressed as well were his sleeves. He
didn’t have any shoulder pads and they weren’t required because of
his wide shoulders. His shoes were of polished black leather and he
didn’t wear a tie because he once told her ‘You should never have
anything around your neck just incase someone could strangle you
with it.’

Sarah stood up and whistled. “Hubba!
Hubba!” She said in honesty.

“Do you like it?” He smiled her
smile.

Sarah leaned back from where she stood
to see every angle “Oh Yeah!” and her mother looked at the two of
them and smiled. Sarah didn’t need to read her mind to know what
she was thinking.

Someone knocked on the door and Sarah
answered it for Connor because she was closer. “Good morning Mark,
how are you?”

“I’m really good!” And he spun in a
circle, showing off his tuxedo.

“Come in, Connor’s going to enjoy
this.” she smiled and let him in.

Connor came out of the kitchen as Mark
and Sarah came into the living room with the new guest. Connor
started laughing first, followed by Mark who caught on quick. They
bumped fists like usual.

Mark’s tuxedo was silver on silver and
he even matched down to his silver shoes. His spiky, jet black hair
made the perfect contrast to the tux. Plus his silver eyes shone
like his suit. Connor stepped behind Mark and they really did have
the same build only on a different size and frame. Their contrast
was shocking with Mark’s silver tuxedo in the fore and Connor’s
massive black background. It was picture worthy.

Kara finally stepped out of her room,
looking very pretty. Her hair curlers did their job because her
hair tumbled on her shoulders and bounced with the curls. As she
took each step in her white high heels she stopped cold when she
saw Mark in his tux. She then looked at her brother. “Wait right
there!” She ordered to the two gentlemen. She reentered the living
room with a digital camera a few seconds later. “Brother, you need
to go over there and stand behind Mark.” He did as ordered. “Mark,
hold your hands in front casually. Brother put your hands behind
your back. Lower your jaw a bit. Mark, twist your shoulders just a
bit clockwise… Good… Good… Hold it… Perfect!” Her camera flashed.
She hit a few buttons on the camera. “Sarah, come over here and
take a look at this!”

She walked over and Kara
revealed the exact picture she had in her mind.
“Princess, how did it come out?”
Sarah felt the calm, familiar touch of her mate’s
mind.

“Like she said
Perfect
!”
She looked up to see him smile as he left the
room while being followed by Mark whining “Buddy, I’m
hungry.”

Kara heard the remark and walked into
the kitchen quickly and her shoes echoed with every step on the
hardwood flooring. Sarah was curious so she followed them as well.
Kara threw a few pastries in the toaster and when cooked she handed
them over to Mark with a glass of milk. “Thank you.” He said and
started eating while they chatted idly.

Thirty minutes later Connor’s
grandparents showed up. “Where is my new granddaughter hiding?”
Rhoda called from the living room.

“She’s in here, Grandma!” Kara called
back, radioing her location.

David and Rhoda walked into the
kitchen and everyone received a hug from both of them. “Well how’s
married life treating you, Sweetheart?” David asked nicely, not
knowing she hated endearments.

“No regrets, Granddaddy!” Sarah smiled
at him to keep up pretenses.

“Give it time!” He started chuckling
until Rhoda hit the back of his head.

“Don’t put any ideas in her
head, Dear.” She rebuked and then grinned mischievously, exactly
like Kara. “That’s
my
job.”

Two hours before the graduation
ceremony, they all loaded up in the vehicles and drove to school.
Connor drove Sarah’s car with her riding shotgun. Kara and Mark
were quietly sitting in the back, holding hands. The trunk held all
of their cap and gowns. Jillian and Jack followed in her red sports
car. Jenny and her parents rode in her Honda.

They arrived at school and he parked
her car in the faculty parking.

***

Getting out of Sarah’s car, Connor
knew it was going to be a beautiful day. There were overcastted
clouds and a cool northerly wind sweeping through the trees, but
the telltale sign of moisture wasn’t there to offer rain. Connor
walked around and opened her door while Mark did the exact same
thing for Kara. He popped the trunk soon after and Mark joined him
at the back while Sarah and Kara talked about something he couldn’t
follow. Mark gained Connor’s attention and asked quietly “Ready to
leave this place once and for all?” He pointed to the school behind
them.

Humiliating memories for the past eight years
could finally be put to rest.

“Yes I certainly am.” Connor looked
down at him and finally asked a question that’s been nagging at the
back of his mind for quite awhile. “Mark, I remembered a few years
ago when we went camping for the first time and injured yourself.
Now I’ve noticed several big changes since then.”

Mark took his best friend by the elbow
gently and stuck his head around the side of the car to talk to the
girls. The rigid grasp and serious expression was the only thing
keeping Connor from jerking his arm away. “I need to borrow Connor
for a minute. We will be right back.” Connor heard Kara tell him
“Ok.” He let go of Connor’s elbow when they were out of everyone’s
hearing range. “What kinds of changes are you talking about?” His
tone remained serious as his silver eyes searched for an
answer.

His eyes were now focused, but no
threat behind could be seen in their depths. It seemed he feared
being caught by something. “The day I brought everyone over to my
cottage and I noticed how you carefully stepped in every one of my
sister’s foot prints. Another thing was your movements. Somehow
your outdoor’s experience in tracking and moving has developed
dramatically in the past few years. Either that or you’ve been
faking about not being used to camping and hiking. The last thing I
never realized was how strong you have become.”

Mark smiled knowingly. “Connor, you
are not the only one capable of change and I’ve learned a few
things in my time as well. Nothing ever stays exactly the same.” He
laughed. For a split second and the third time his eyes flashed
weakly. Connor didn’t miss it or brush it off as his imagination
this time.

Mark patted him on the back as they
walked back to their women. Arriving at the car Connor noticed
everyone gathered together. Sarah spotted him and walked over. As
she walked, the breeze blew her dress and hair perfectly and it
made his heart thrum. She looked up at him with her luscious,
emerald green eyes and in her velvety voice asked “Was everything
alright?”

“No problems.” She walked with him to
the trunk as he threw the gown over his shoulder and held the
covered cardboard cap in the same hand. His mate then wrapped her
arm around his and shot him his favorite smile as he looked down at
her.

Mark held his and Kara’s gown while she held
the hats.

Everyone walked with them as they
walked through the entrance of the courtyard. As they were about to
enter the Football field Kara, Mark and Connor had to head to the
gymnasium, while visitors had to take their seats with everyone
else at the audience area.

Kara took her gown out of Mark’s hands
and ran into the girls changing room. Mark and Connor did the same
in the men’s room. He slipped the gown on over his black tuxedo and
stepped into a mirror to see what he looked like.

It was a solid blue-green gown that
went down to his shins and looked like a tarp. It looked completely
smooth, but felt rigid. Connor put on the blue-green cardboard
covered hat. It had a blue and grey tassel hanging off the side. He
knew this color could never work for him because the darker the
clothes looked better. An outdoorsman never chooses to wear
brightly colored clothes.

Everyone met in the auditorium and
heard the rules, procedures and the conduct of receiving the
diploma. Everyone was free to socialize for a few minutes while the
last of the preparations were completed. Mark and Kara caught up to
Connor a few minutes later and they talked about nothing of any
real importance.

Something felt off in the feel and
flow of the room. Connor knew this feeling well. It was his
instinct warning him that something was happening. Connor looked
around and saw nothing but a sea of blue-green flowing in every
direction at first, like the ocean in a storm. Something caught his
intention a moment later before they lined up to proceed to the
field. Connor saw in the gym’s far dark corner Mr. V. and another
student huddled together. He was unable to get a clear view of the
other person the teacher was talking with. He saw his former
teacher hand something small and black to the classmate. The
classmate lifted his gown and put the black object in his pants
pocket before anyone noticed the exchange.

The vice principal was a middle aged,
short heavyset woman whose idea of fun was pushing a student beyond
their limits just so that she could expel them. She came close to
pushing Connor to that point a few times. In a smokers voice she
yelled “Get in one of the four lines that you were assigned!” A
minute later Kara stood behind her brother. When the graduating
class were in one of their four assigned lines and silent, she
continued “You will all follow the rules or you will not receive
your diploma! If you understand that, let’s go.” She turned and
walked out the doors.

The four lines followed her silently
outside and onto the Football field. Before they stepped out into
the light Connor heard applause and screams from the spectators.
Shielding his eyes he caught the first glimpse of the graduation.
There were metal chairs, all perfectly rowed together, awaiting the
seniors like a farewell salute. The stage laid at the goal area,
covered in many variations and colors of flowers. The presenting
teachers all wore black gowns while the rest of the participating
teachers wore regular clothing. Since some of the students this
year were in wheelchairs they made a ramp. The safety rails going
along the stage were also wrapped with flowers.

Connor wanted to find where his family
situated themselves and he knew the quickest solution. Focusing on
the bond at his stomach he felt out his mate’s loving emotion,
distance and direction. He instantly turned his head to look at her
while she found him the same way. Everyone else from the family was
searching anxiously. Connor turned his head back and followed the
student before him until he sat at his appointed seat. Kara sat
next to him. As she sat she asked “Where is everyone?” He pointed
to the left without taking his eyes off of Kara.

“Fifth row up, ninth from the left.
That’s where they are all sitting together.” Kara looked and smiled
when at last she saw them.

As the principal walked up
to the podium to begin his speech Connor felt a familiar
sensation.
“Connor I never asked, but what
are your plans after this?”
He turned his
head to look at her.

“I’m thinking of becoming a
survival expert and guide or maybe a carpenter.”
He smiled at her even though she couldn’t see it
from this distance, but she could feel his emotion.

“I think those would be a
perfect job for you.”

“Are you still planning on teaching?”

“That’s my hope.”

“It’s the perfect job for
you as well, Princess.”

When their conversation finished the
first row of students stood and walked up to receive their
diplomas. Mark was in the second row and he raised his diploma like
a trophy. Kara started to giggle at his antics.

A few minutes and five more
row later it was their turn. As the next person received her
diploma and shook the principal’s hand he said “Connor May!” The
most amazing thing happened. Most of the student body stood up and
started clapping.
Connor turned back
around to see the principal hold his hand out and he smiled
sincerely. He turned off the microphone to tell Connor privately
“Congratulations, it’s about time people see what I do. It seems
like everyone has recently changed their opinion about you. I hope
you have a wonderful life Mr. May.” Connor was deeply touched and
thankful as he walked off stage.

“Kara May!” and she received her abundant
applause as she walked off stage with her diploma.

When the last person walked off stage,
everyone threw their caps in the air. Connor had to hold back
because if he used his new strength it would seem like it
disappeared in the clouds.

The principal had one last thing to
say. “Congratulations to you all. Now let’s all celebrate this
wonderful day with a party in the court yard!” And everyone yelled
and started heading to the courtyard.

Connor first headed back to the car
and put their three gowns in the trunk because they were too hot to
wear on a day such as this. As a last thought he threw the heavy
tuxedo jacket in too. He headed back into the fray and caught up
with everyone while dodging and weaving through the crowded
courtyard. The courtyard was completely packed with the joyous
students and their proud families. Flashing from cameras
immortalized memories. Some students still wore their blue-green
gowns, but most decided to take it off.