[ 45 ] 2014

It was graduation morning when there was an urgent knock on Harley Quinn's front door at around nine in the morning. She was upstairs with Calum, getting ready for the graduation ceremony that would take place in the church at noon, right after a religious ceremony that was to start at ten. She didn't initially want to go, and she still really didn't. But she had been convinced by Billy and Cindy. The ceremony wasn't even mandatory to the students. Whenever a student didn't want to participate in the graduation ceremony, administration would pull their name from the event and sent them their diploma in a month's time. But Cindy insisted that they had worked hard for four years only to decide they didn't want the recognition. Harley had then pointed out that three of her high school years she went to Applecross Academy in Perth, but went quiet when Cindy shot her a look.

The hunters were going to be there too, as well we the two remaining original shifters. They had all left school before the end of the year and were not getting their diplomas from St. Genevieve's. But Arthur was paying for them to get tutors and online schooling, so that they could have their high school education. Even despite deciding to live a life like the one they had, Arthur Vega thought it was important for them to be able to advance in life in other ways too.

Harley was surprised she had even passed her classes. Not because she couldn't or didn't understand the material. But because she hardly paid attention to her studies or her homework. She was always out with the shifters or with the hunters, and she had run into troublesome situations more than once. But as they posted the list with the class ranks on them on the last day of classes, she had found out from Cindy and Billy that out of one hundred and twenty five students in the senior class, she was number forty five. That meant her grades weren't as bad as she thought. They were pretty average.

Harleen had jumped for joy when she found out that Billy was number one and would be giving the valedictorian speech. Harley rolled her eyes playfully at him. Another perfect streak for her perfect brother. He had perfect grades, was good at sports, and was now graduating with honors. But she congratulated him after teasing him a bit because he deserved it. Harley was even more surprised for Cindy, who ended up as number fifty two overall. Cindy herself found it unbelievable. But Billy had helped her a lot to pull her grades up and it had worked out in the end. When they had gotten their ranks at the end of the first semester, Cindy Hemmings was number one hundred fifteen out of one twenty five. Only ten students had worse grades than she did. 

Since Harley and Calum were in her room, and Billy and Cindy were in his room, it was only Harleen and Arthur that were on the ground floor of the house. When he heard the urgent knocking, Arthur went to check it out. It had only been two days since Calum was back with them and he was already looking much better. He was well rested now and had been able to eat. Harleen was no longer fussing over him not eating as though he were a child. 

As he opened the door, his expression dropped into a look of annoyance as he saw his older sister standing there. There was a scowl on her face and her arms were crossed over her chest. "What the hell is this about Calum being alive?" She asked. He thought that she would have been happy to know that her nephew was alive and doing well, but knowing the greediness that ran in her family, he knew he couldn't expect as much. He also confirmed what Harley had explained to him. That the humans never remembered Calum dying or there being a funeral. But those with supernatural abilities did remember. Clarissa clearly still remembered hearing that he was dead and then going to Arthur's home demanding for them to split the money from the inheritance. 

Arthur could only shrug. "I'm as surprised as you are."

He really was. All of his life, he was used to the shifters and the hunters interfering with life as though they had some sort of claim to it. Never before had he actually witnessed what could be considered an actual miracle. Something that was God's doing, and it had been granted to them because of Ashton. He had decided to cash in his favor to give it to Calum. It was one of the most selfless things anyone had ever seen.

Clarissa Hood continued to rant about her problem. "I called my lawyer and asked him if he'd sent you the papers for the estate sale of the other house. And he told me he couldn't do that because the inheritance was under Calum Hood's name." She had just about had a breakdown when she heard that because she knew the properties and money were under his name. But he was dead, so that meant that legally everything would go to the last remaining family members. As she tried to explain that to the lawyer, which she was surprised that he didn't know that already, he stopped her. "Your nephew is alive. I don't know what would give you any indication that he was deceased."

As she asked further questions, she found that the lawyer didn't remember discussing anything of the matter with her. It was as though all the memories of Calum Hood being dead were erased from people's memories. Only she remembered that she went to see Arthur on the day of the funeral. Even her family, which were only human, didn't recall Calum ever having died. She thought it had all been a dream, or some elaborately planned scheme they had. But she then also remembered that their kind had all kinds of powers. Perhaps his friends, or his little girlfriend, had brought him back to life and had somehow made the humans forget it ever happened.

With a satisfied smirk, Arthur told her. "Well, Clarissa, it looks like you're just gonna have to wait a couple of extra decades or more to get your hands on that money."

She rolled her eyes at him in annoyance, but said nothing as she turned around to leave. Harleen had walked up as she saw her get in her car and drive off. Placing a hand on his shoulder, she said with a little pout. "Aww Arthur. Was that your sister? You should have invited her in for breakfast. Maybe she wanted to see Calum. She could have gone with us to the kids' graduation ceremony."

Arthur gave a shake of his head, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "I don't think so, amor. She just stopped by for a second. She has a lot of things to do."

-

The ceremony lasted about three hours and after, the family went to have dinner together. Harleen took a lot of pictures of the four--Harley, Billy, Cindy, and Calum. Cindy and Calum were like her own children now too and though he hadn't graduated with the rest of his class mates, Calum was going to finish up his high school education over the summer and attend University in the upcoming fall. He wasn't worried about the cost, since he had money to spare, and he knew he could study sports management at any place he wanted. He was only waiting for Harley to decide, so that they could go off to university together.

The very next day, Billy and Cindy packed their bags. They were going to spend the next week in California, doing their orientation for USC and then looking for an apartment on their free time. The school had offered Billy a full ride with a dorm and expenses for his books, food, and transportation. Cindy had to pay everything out of pocket, and since her parents had disowned her, she had nothing to fall back on. Harleen and Arthur had offered to pay for her tuition and her needs. But she refused, assuring them she would get a job on campus to pay for her books and meals. Billy let go of his room at the university and was given scholarship money in return, which would pay for them to live in an apartment or loft. He would also use his transportation and food money to share with her. Cindy almost cried when he told her. Since he could have had a full ride, coasting on everything easy. But he had decided to give most of it up so that he could share everything with her.

It scared Harley to see that the two of them had it all figured out, while she didn't even know what university she wanted to go to. It made her feel worse that Calum was just waiting on her to make his decision. She had asked him so many times to just go on and pick without her. But he always told her the same thing--that he could study sports management anywhere. But he knew she was thinking of becoming a marine biologist like Bobby had studied for. There were very few universities in Australia that were known for having a good program.

There was St. Sofia's which was a Catholic all women's university. It was best known for its programs in the sciences and music. St. Sofia's was known as the older sister school to St. Genevieve's and it was only a thirty minute drive away from where Harley lived. Then there was USC, which was the same school Cindy and Billy picked. But Harley hadn't even bothered applying. For one, an application costed fifty dollars that she didn't want to spend. Especially when she doubted she'd get in. Her grades were average and she didn't have the money to pay for it. Sure her parents or Calum could pay for her. But she didn't feel comfortable accepting money from them. She felt like part of going to college was taking up new responsibilities. 

There was another one in Melbourne that seemed promising and a couple more in the United States. But at the moment she was leaning more towards St. Sofia's. 

She had to decide fast because their orientation was in another week and she hadn't even mailed her intention to attend letter with her two hundred dollar deposit. They sat around the dinner table at home after changing out of their graduation clothes. Harleen had called over the hunters and the originals as well. Now that Arthur had promised Michael that he would not kill them, things were very much less tense between everyone. Arthur was even actually making an effort at getting to know them as people, and not just a target he had to kill.

They played games, had a few drinks, which Harleen pretended not to see, and told Cindy and Billy how much they'd miss them. Sure they'd be back after one week. But they would leave again after the end of summer and Harley wouldn't see them until the end of the school year. Maybe they'd come back for Christmas, but Harley didn't want to get her hopes up. 

As they went around the table, everyone talked about their plans following their graduation. 

Cindy and Billy were going to USC where Billy was going to study the sciences and Cindy was going to study dance. 

Paul and Dempsey had initially moved to Sydney to watch over Harley. But since that part of their lives was over, they were going back to Mexico. Paul had an associates degree in math and art history. He wanted to use that to teach. But he also wanted to coach soccer, which was his favorite sport. For that, he wanted to work in a school. Dempsey still had one year of high school left and she was going to complete it in Mexico. From there, she wanted to go to university.

Niall and Andrea had thought about going back to either England or Ireland. But they had nothing to go back to. Instead, they decided to stay nearby in Sydney. They didn't have the money to pay for university. And they found out through a school counselor that community college was free for students straight out of high school. They would do that for a couple of years, save money, and then transfer to a university. They were the same as Harley. Calum had offered to pay for them to go to whatever school they wanted. But they wanted to earn it and Calum had done so much for them already.

Jack was going back to Brazil. He had been living there, among the natives in the jungles, for a few years before all of this happened. He wanted to go back there, where he truly felt at home, and settle down.

Michael and Hazel were going back to Canada. It was her home, and she missed it, and he wanted to take her there. Australia was his some, and he'd miss it. But he knew well that they could always visit. 

They all looked to Harley, who was the last one to voice her plans for the future. 

"I think I'm going to pick St. Sofia's." She told everyone, and she soon added. "I want to study Marine Biology like my grandfather Bobby Vega."

Calum felt his heart drop at her words. "But that's an all girls school."

How could he choose to follow her if the university she picked did not take men? 

She nodded her head in agreement. But she had that well thought out and she had a solution that would work for the two of them. "St. Sofia's is one block away from University of Sydney. You could go there and we could meet up every day for lunch."

The news not only made Calum happy, but it made Harleen happy as well. Billy was leaving to the other side of the world to study, and so was Cindy. Having two of her children stay close by was a win for her. She knew that if all four of them were to leave, she'd still have the twins. But she'd miss them.

For Harley, being there with all her friends and family was a perfect culmination to the strangest year of her life.

-

now i'm honestly going to use the last five chapters of space that i have left to write little glimpses into the future for our characters. thank you all again so much for reading and supporting me with this story.

it means the entire world to me.

i'll try to post another update today. but i have the rest of the week to work on this. yesterday, i was pulling up into my driveway with my crush. and a stupid kid on a mini bike hit us. he dented my car and busted my glass and i had blood straming down my face. but im okay. 

now i have to make some calls to my insurance to see if they can fix it. but if possible, im gonna sue that seventeen year old boy so hard, his grandkids are gonna owe me money. bc i was telling my parents, i dont think its fair for me to fix it with my hard earned money and he just gets away with it. thats not how life works. HE hit ME. i was pulling glass out of my scalp for hours. 

idc how he's gonna do it, but he owes me money to fix up my car. and also for trauma and stuff. 

-clary

-clary