________________________________________

BITTERSWEET
:: lxix. | that im your fool

It was finally the day of Cole's graduation. Cole's been at the school since early in the morning with Mia. Jj on the other hand, has not came back yet since she left to work the day before. Apparently this case was bad and it was all hands on deck. It's just Vanessa thought at least jj would've been back by then. But then again, the day is still young.

Vanessa sat with Henry in the living room, watching Elmo on cable. Just as she thought it was getting interesting, the house phone began ringing. In the middle of getting up, the phone was already answered by Briella.

Briella walked the phone over to Vanessa, "It's your girl."

"Thank you." Vanessa took the phone as she seated back down, next to Henry. She brought the phone up to her ear, "Hey babe, how's the case?"

"So, so. The case is —— I'm going to try to be there."

"It's important to Cole, jj."

"How mad would she be if I don't make it?"

Vanessa looked up to Briella as she continued to speak to jj, "She's unpredictable. You should know that by now."

Jj sighed, "Yeah . . . "

"It's ok, though. Try your best and if not, I'll cover for you. I'm sure she'll understand, you have to help people."

"Tell everyone I love them."

"Will do, bye."

The phone hung up and Vanessa passed it back to Briella who been standing in front of her the whole time.

Briella took the phone from Vanessa's hand, "So, she's not coming?"

Vanessa just shrugged. She continued to sit on the couch with Henry while Briella did her own thing until it was time to get ready for the graduation.

• • •

Everyone was now making their way to the gymnasium, family, friends, etc. Vanessa had Henry in her hands as briella, Arlo, and Ashton were finding their way to some seats. They had to make sure there was enough for everyone like Daniel, Will, and Florence who were on the their way. As well as jj, even though Vanessa wasn't sure yet if the agent was coming.

Not only a couple minutes later, Florence and Will were making their way into the gymnasium, following Daniel seconds later.

Vanessa flagged them down by waving her free hand while the other held Henry in her lap. Daniel went and sat next to Ashton, while Will sat next to Vanessa and Florence next to Will.

Vanessa passed Henry to his father, so the two could hang together while they're at the graduation. As everyone talked amongst themselves, Florence and Will noticed someone was missing from the bunch.

Florence reached her hand out to signal Vanessa, "Where's Jennifer?"

Vanessa shrugged, "There's a case and she's needed."

"Couldn't she take time off? Somethings are more important."

Will switched seats with Florence so the two women could continue talking but not over him.

"I wouldn't want her too. People need help and that's her job." Vanessa spoke sternly.

The graduation was then about to start. The principal had made his way to the podium that was centered on stage.

Florence leaned over and whispered as the principal spoke, "I understand, but what about the baby you're going to have? You'd want her to take time off then, right?"

Vanessa didn't answer, she just kept her eyes in front of her. However, she thought Florence was right. This was a big moment for Cole and Jennifer wasn't even there. Jennifer knew about the graduation ahead of time and maybe her not being there did bother Vanessa a little bit.

She understands her fiancé's job, but she wished it didn't intertwine with their personal life so much. That's one thing, she was quite blinded too up until Florence mentioned it.

As time progressed, so did the graduation. The names were now being gone through and there was still no sign of Jennifer. As minutes continued to go by, the closer it was to getting to the R last names.

Only after about three more students, the name they were all waiting for had finally been called.

"Cole Reigns!"

She walked up those steps and across the stage to the principal who held her diploma. As soon as she got it, she smiled and her eyes soon glossed over the audience. She stopped seeing her family and friends, noticing someone was missing —— someone greatly important to her. That smile she had slightly faltered as she began to get off the stage and back to her seat.

The names continued to be called, all the way to Z and then next was the valedictorian.

That was the longest speech of their lives.

• • •

After the graduation, everyone eventually parted ways. They all went back to their homes and just when things were going to wind down a bit, Cole had this inkling to check the mailbox.

She told Briella and her mom that she would meet them upstairs after getting the key to the mailbox from her mom. She headed over there and after finding her box, she opened it with the key.

Cole pulled out all the mail and looked through it. As she did, her eyes lit up, seeing three envelopes with her name on them. The moment had finally come, the moment that was going to make or break her relationship with Mia.

However, even though that was going through her mind at that moment, she was just ecstatic that she received college letters. It was just exiting in itself. After locking the mailbox back up, she zoomed to the apartment and barged through the front door.

"Mom!" She called out.

Vanessa rushed to the kitchen and saw all the mail on the table, but three envelopes in Cole's hand.

Cole continued, "I have to go to Mia's. I'll be back before dinner."

Vanessa couldn't even get one word in because Cole was already out the door, still in her cap and gown. However, Vanessa knew what it could be. She knew it was about the college letters because she has never seen Cole leave out the apartment or any place that fast in her life.

Usually when she's anxious about something or excited, she's gone.

Just roughly a good fifteen minutes later, Cole was already off the bus and walking the block to Mia's house. She figured she ran enough as it was.

Soon, the teen had reached her girlfriend's house.

Cole didn't even need to knock on the door because Mia was already waiting by it. She had got letters to and she figured it was only a matter of time before Cole showed.

Mia opened the door and showed the three letters she held in her hand. Cole walked in and Mia closed the door behind her. The two went up to Mia's room and sat on the edge of the bed.

"Want to open Oxford first?" Mia asked, glancing at Cole.

Cole nodded.

She and Mia picked it up from their sides and held it in their hands. The two opened it at the same time and their eyes scanned the letter.

"Didn't get in, you?" Cole kept her eyes on the rejection letter.

"Same." Mia spoke, "George Mason now."

So the two picked up the letter from George Mason and once again, they opened them. Their eyes scanned the text on the paper and both were a bit surprised because . . .

"I-i got in." Mia couldn't believe it. Her insides were beaming.

Cole looked to Mia with a smile, "Me too."

The two didn't even hesitate to open the last ones, which was NYU for Cole and UCLA for Mia. As soon at their eyes met the texts, that smile never left their faces.

However, they soon realized an important decision was to be made in that moment. A decision that would affect the rest of their lives.

Mia sighed, "So . . . we both know what school we want to go to right?"

Cole hesitantly nodded, "Right." She then took Mia's hand, "Regardless where life takes us, I'll always treasure these moments we had."

Mia felt tears welling up in her eyes but she tried to hold them back, "We'll always be best friends. That, no one can take away from us."

"No one." Cole repeated confidently.

Mia couldn't hold it in anymore, she just let the tears out as she stared in Cole's eyes. Cole attempted to wipe the tears away but more just streamed down Mia's cheeks.

Mia eventually laid her head on Cole's shoulder and the two continued to sit there in silence, comforting one another in a time of heartache.

• • •

Eventually Cole ultimately had to leave. She and Mia shared a kiss and then Cole was on her way back home. The regular bus and a fifteen minute drive, like usual when she's coming back from Mia's place.

She was crushed but she knew it was for the best and besides, that day was supposed to be a happy day. She had just graduated and she didn't want to bring the vibe down by her sad news. So when she got home, walked through that door . . . she put on a smile.

There was one problem though, her smile didn't last long. That was because she saw jj as soon as she walked through the front door. She was genuinely hurt by her absence. Because of how she was feeling in that moment, she didn't even give jj the time of day. Cole walked right pass her to her room where Briella was chilling.

Jennifer felt so bad. She knew there was nothing she could do because what's done is done. The only thing that she could do was talk to her but she knew whatever she said to Cole would just go through one ear and out the other. But she had to give it a try.

Jj got up from the kitchen table, leaving Vanessa to Cole's room. Once she reached it, she lightly knocked on it to announce herself before opening the door.

"Can we talk alone?" The blonde only ask because Briella was in the room.

Cole looked up from her phone, "Whatever you want to say to me, you can say in front of Briella."

Jj sighed, "I'm sorry. I really wanted to be there but there was certain circumstances and —— "

"And I wanted you there too." She interrupted jj, "You've literally been there since the beginning and you weren't there."

"I know. It was an important moment. At least let me try and make it up to you?"

"Just be there for my mom and my siblings when im gone." Cole spoke softly, "Oh and jj, im going to NYU."

The agent lightly nodded, then made her way out Cole's room. She closed the door and then headed to her room where she found Vanessa getting into bed.

• • •

"How was it? She ok?" The burnette had her head resting against the headboard.

Jennifer nodded slowly, "Yeah. I think so. Have any ideas of how we're going to pay for NYU?"

Vanessa's eyes grew wide, "She got accepted?"

"Seems like."

Jj began to get change out of her work clothes but that didn't hide her sudden tone. Vanessa sensed something was up. The complete vibe was off and she wasn't sure if was the talk between jj and cole or something else.

Vanessa treaded lightly when asking, "Are you ok?"

"Yeah —— " Jj turned around, "You know im there for you, right? At least, I try to be."

Vanessa nodded, "I know. I don't blame you for not showing up. You were on a case miles away."

Jj had then finished getting her pajamas on and made her way into bed. She sat next to her fiancé, back and head against the headboard.

"I'm not going to let the job get in the way of raising our kids. I'm going to be there. I'll try at least."

"Things happen, jj. That's ok, but I appreciate it." Vanessa lightly smiled, "Just promise me you'll be there when the baby comes? Cause then we'll have a problem."

Jj lightly chuckled, "Wouldn't miss it for the world."

The two curled up together, cuddling with one another as the night progressed. The silence was enough for them. Just being together was all they could ask for . . .

Forever.

a/n:
&& on to BOOK TWO,
which is called Until The
End of Time.