LCU, normal, simple, happy, part 2

LCU, spring semester, 2081 (part 2 of 3)

On the morning of their final exams, Micah comes upon a startling scene, his girlfriend sitting and having a conversation with Blossom, his ex-girlfriend from freshman year. "What are you doing here?" he says.

"Oh, you know, I was just spilling all your dirty secrets," Blossom says. "Just kidding! Dude, don't freak out or anything!"

Good thing Micah doesn't have any dirty secrets, he doesn't think. Or none that Mariah doesn't already know.

And it was nothing too startling for Mariah anyway, since her graduation present to Micah is quite impressive, as her presents to Micah always are. She must be running her daddy's credit card through the roof! And with all the money Micah dishes out for storage lockers, he realizes he might have been able to afford his own apartment this year after all.

It's five in the morning, and Micah is just brushing up on some mechanical skill, to pass some time. They're all a little sleepless over the graduation ceremony in the morning.

They've all passed their final exams, almost without a hitch - Chandler had a bit of a flake-out on his exam, but convinced his professor to let him retake it. He will be eternally grateful to her. Chandler says, "Hey, did you take that Putting Course Business Talk class, with Aurora Miguel, man is she hot!"

Micah says in a whisper, "Dude, Jane, she might hear you! And what are you doing wearing a pink sweater?"

Jane didn't hear him, consciously, but somehow makes a mental note anyway...

Isn't she cute? Chandler really lucked out, if I do say so myself. She's like an adorable little mouse!

Adorable but maybe a little unstable?

The graduation ceremonies are held at the LCU Campus Library. University President, Meadow Lind gives an opening speech to the graduates before their guests arrive. "You might not be guaranteed a lot of money with these degrees, but you are guaranteed a fine education!" And she adds, "And besides, the experience is priceless!"

Chandler's girlfriend, Jane is the class valedictorian. She graduated summa cum laude, with a 4.0 in History.

Must be nice being playable for only one semester! But really, she is VERY smart - she was just a regular dormie like the others, but for some reason almost all of her skills are maxed out.

Because of her top grades, and membership in the secret society, she was placed in the SCIA. Her speech is something about crime, and how dangers come from many things than just criminals, and about how she wants to work hard to keep Lake County safe. She talks a really long time, and everybody else is just really hungry, and they ignore the speech to discuss how HOT Cameron Gibson is.

Meadow gives out diplomas, and hugs too if they'll take them. Micah is nervous - he's had nightmares about tripping across the stage on his robe. Luke just wants to know when they'll get to eat.

Mariah toasts to her friends! And to Luke, who also graduated with honors, and would have made valedictorian of the class if Jane hadn't transferred in at the last minute. But he's top in Mariah's book!

Mariah greets her family after lunch. Bryson says, with a sing-songy lilt in his voice, "Heeeeeey!!! That's my girl!!!"

Keri says, "Oh my God, Dad, you're embarrassing me." Madison doesn't say anything, but she kind of agrees.

Mariah and her boyfriend ;)

The festivities are too much for some...

Chandler perks her up a little.

Luke and Jim. Never any drama with these two!

And Luke's family. Charlotte gives the guys a thumbs-up.

Orlando is so proud of Luke! Top of his class, and all paid for by scholarships too!!!

***

Back at Academy House that night, they're all too exhausted to throw any graduation parties. Instead, Mariah has made a small dinner for Micah and Keri, and Micah is going to help her pack up her room.

But while Mariah and Micah go upstairs to pack, and Keri actually contemplates loading the dishwasher herself, outside on the front porch, Justin is having a dilemma.

He should have shaved, shouldn't he? He would have gotten a haircut, but he was jetlagged. Dammit, he didn't even bring flowers! Of course he should have brought flowers! What dumb schmuck wouldn't bring flowers? Maybe he should come back later. Crap, she's going to take one quick look at his scruffy ass and send him straight back to Takemizu Village!

He's clean though - he might look like a bum, but he did shower, and brush his teeth. At least he has that going for him.

But he suddenly feels really nervous. They've been apart a really long time, and he was supposed to do something romantic, wasn't he? This was supposed to be a big deal, or something. Crap!!!

He looks around, frantically. He finds flowers! He yanks the vine up by its root before discovering that no, they're just tomatoes.

He could make a quick run to the 7-11, but man, he was really just looking forward to seeing Keri again. And, you know...

He's taking a chance on it. She called him every single day they were apart. That must mean something, right?

He finds her in the kitchen. "Hey," he says. "Since when do you do dishes?"

She puts them down on the floor, just inches from the dishwasher, and jumps into his arms. She didn't even notice he didn't bring flowers. Maybe she'll notice tomorrow, but not now. Right now, she doesn't care.

She says, "What happened to you? I mean, I think I kind of like it. My dad isn't going to like it. You're going to take the internship, aren't you? I mean, we just assumed you would. You can't manage an estates corporation looking like some mountain-man..."

"Keri!" Justin says.

"What?"

Keri shuts up. And maybe there is one person on this planet who can make Keri Riley speechless.

Their parents said they should wait until after graduation to be married. Their grades are at stake, and their chance to grow up into complete and individual young selves, but who can really say that they're too young to make such a huge commitment? Sometimes it is just this simple, a girl and a boy, no games and no drama, and the promise to build their lives together. They don't want to wait any longer. They'll be married in October, and they'll never spend a minute apart again.

Welcome home, Justin! And congratulations, Keri, your dry spell is about to be over! ;)

The next morning, Mariah and Micah goof around a little in the living room, waiting for her cab to come pick her up. They've added their pictures to the picture wall, to leave behind something of themselves for future young students. This house is going to be quiet for a little while now. But the future will surely bring more parties here, and who knows what fun and friendships and heartbreak and new loves might happen in this room?

Mariah says, "You better call me." She's just being dramatic maybe. It's not like they'll never see each other again - he'll be just down the street. Though they are all going their separate ways to some degree. They'll all be busy with new jobs and new friends. She hopes they'll still make time for each other.

He says, "Oh, I'll call you, baby." He's trying to be funny, but it doesn't turn out as funny as he thought. To be honest, he kind of wishes they were doing this together. Even Chandler is moving in with someone! They've all changed houses a good handful of times in the past four years, but this time feels monumental.

As occupied as Keri is that morning (and every minute of the night before), she still makes it downstairs to say goodbye to her sister, in underwear.

Micah walks back over to Luke and Jim's apartment to pack up his... t-shirts? He had to rent a storage locker for all of Mariah's massive gifts in their time together, and he really didn't have much else but an easel.

Everything else is mostly Luke and Jim's. It was their first home together, even they did end up sharing it. They didn't plan on bunking with two random friends, and later even three! But in the end, they found room for each one of them. It wasn't the experience they were planning on - it was crowded and noisy, it violated occupancy laws and there was NO privacy whatsoever! But it wasn't bad either. And they made some really good friends they weren't even counting on.

Micah goes first.

Then Chandler and Jane.

For just a few hours before they hand in their keys, they have their apartment back, just to themselves. They're too excited, talking about the new, real, grown-up furniture they'll buy for their new place, and all the possibilities it will hold. They're so excited they don't even realize it as it passes, the very moment their shared life ends and their real life together begins.


Congratulations Graduates! LCU Class of 2081!

Mariah Riley: B.S. Psychology
GPA: 3.2
Employment: Lake County Social Services, adoption caseworker.
Plans: Mariah will continue to work in social services, while pursuing her Doctorate degree in psychology and therapy at Lake City Memorial Hospital. She will live in the Rhondal Loft Apartments in Lake City.


Micah Buchanan: B.S. Political Science
GPA: 3.2
Employment: politics, lobbyist.
Plans: Micah will continue to pursue his political career, and is currently positioned as a lobbyist. He plans to rent an apartment in Lake City.




Chandler Price: B.S. Economics
GPA: 2.7
Employment: waiter, Deppiesse's Lakefront Bistro
Plans: Chandler is still working at Deppiesse's Lakefront Bistro, and intends to pursue business management. He bought a condo in Lakeside Heights, which he will share with his girlfriend, Jane Hudson.


Luke Centowski: B.A. Drama
GPA: 3.7
Employment: music, summer camp music teacher
Plans: Luke is teaching music at the moment, though he still hopes to pursue a career in dance. He will live in Lake City with his partner, Jim Bar.



Jim Bar: B.S. Biology
GPA: 3.0
Employment: Lake County Public Schools (Lake City Elementary) - substitute teacher.
Plans: Jim will start work this fall as a substitute teacher for Lake County Public Schools, in the Lake City building. He will live in Lake City, with his partner Luke Centowski.

Also graduating this year, Jane Hudson, and Blossom Moonshine.

Report Cards for 2081, Spring

Justin, junior, economics: A+
Keri, sophomore, economics C+

*** oh, but it's not over yet! to be continued, yet one more time... ***

notes: it appears I'm creating an epic, lol! I don't know what I'm doing here, and I don't plan on writing epics normally, but this one has just gotten out of hand! Part 2 ended up having almost 60 pictures, so I'm splitting it up. Part 3 should follow quickly.

Technically, I know the math does not work out that Micah and Blossom would have been freshman all the way back when Charlotte was in college, but we'll just go with it. They were a long-time dormie couple, so she has to age up with him.

*** outtakes ***

Before Justin came home, Keri often finds herself bored. She says, "Hey guys, what's up, what'cha doing back there? Making out a little? Wanna hang out? Wanna watch a movie or something?"

LOL @ this artsy gesture they do, and right at boob-level! And LOL @ how he's keeping an eye out for her dad!!! I guess he figures he'll grab a quick handful while Bryson isn't looking ;)

Stay tuned for more!