Stoneybrook Ayr

That's it, they've GRADUATED!

The students sat in their seats, playing with their navy and white caps and gowns. Some turned to wave to friends and family, some whispered with classmates sitting near them, and some slouched in their chairs, ready for the ceremony to start.

It had taken four years, some felt like the time had passed in no time at all, others felt it had dragged out forever. All the winter lodge trips, boy toy auctions, homecomings, proms, dances, parties. The trips to Disney World, California, Australia. The hook ups, the break ups, the scandals. This class had been through a lot together, and this was it. The end. Graduation.

"Prom!" Amelia read happily, locking her phone and looking up at Kara happily. She knew Kara would think she was crazy for being happy about Prom, and Brock and Ty probably would too.

"It's so close. Just another sign that we are almost out of here!" she said, shaking her whole body happily.

Although the lodge was a rather large place, it was still difficult for Shannon and Bock to find places to sneak away to when they wanted to be alone. They had to seize every opportunity they came across. Finding themselves in a completely deserted area of a hallway one evening, Shannon pulled Brock behind a large plastic plant in the corner next to the snack machine. She'd intended for this rendezvous to be rather short, but — like most times they were together — they got a little carried away.

It wasn't until Shannon happened to open her eyes and glance behind Brock that she even noticed they weren't alone anymore. There was Mia, standing a few feet away. She didn't say anything, but she did not look happy. Tapping Brock's shoulder to get his attention, Shannon nodded in Mia's direction. She felt sort of bad. Even though Brock had told Mia about them, Shannon wasn't one to go deliberately flaunting their relationship in front of her.

The students arrived at the Lodge mid-morning, and just like every other year, hot chocolate and cookies were waiting for them.

( Handed to Brock before classes on Thursday )

Brock had asked Shannon to help him pick out something for Charlie. It was hard, because he had to take her somewhere no one from school would see them. He already knew Mia wouldn't be out, because he'd checked, but you never knew who was watching.

So when he picked Shannon up, he drove for quite awhile, telling her he wanted to go to the mall his Ma took him when he was little. Which was partly true.

"We're here," he said finally, pulling into a park.

Wednesday evening, Mia was tidying the house for Brock's visit. He'd told her at school that he wanted to come by and see her and Charlie, and she'd agreed. They hadn't been spending as much time together lately and she kind of missed him. Running a dust cloth over a few surfaces, she decided the house looked neat enough. No place with a toddler was ever totally spotless.

She was in the middle of fixing Charlie's hair into pigtails when the doorbell rang. "Come on in!" she called, able to see through the window that it was Brock outside.

Brock had wanted to meet Shannon at her place, but they agreed to meet at Millers Park, where it was dark. It was also cold, and Brock could barely tell the difference between his breath and the smoke from the cigarette he was nervously puffing on.

Even though it was dark, he could see Shannon's blonde hair heading his way. He didn't know if he should get up off the swing and greet her, but decided to stay on it.

"Hey," he said, swinging slightly. 

Amelia and Kara were meeting up with Ty and Brock at Brocks place, and it was the first time Amelia would see Ty since that night. She said she wasn't nervous, but she was kind of worried about how he'd act, or how it would be to be around him. She hesitated before knocking on the door, and turned to Kara.

"How do I look?" She couldn't resist asking.

TO: butcherbrock
FROM: shankilbourne
SUBJECT: ( no subject )

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TO: stacey_nyc
FROM: shankilbourne
SUBJECT: ( no subject )

After leaving Ty, Brock was heading towards his car when he spotted Miranda. Giving her a wave, he gestured for her to meet at his car. He didn't want to be spotted, bhe just wanted to go home and sleep.

"You leaving too?" he asked her, assuming she was ditching also.

Brock had been in almost a catatonic state all day, he was so tired. After leaving Shannon's the night before, he'd gone home and crashed, but school had come too quickly, and so had the thought of facing Mia. He was, therefore, spending his lunch time outside with Ty, which wasn't unusual.

"Man, you wouldn't believe the night I had last night," he told Ty, lighting up his second smoke. He just couldn't stop smoking.

Brock decided after the near catastrophe at the Mall today, he should go and see Shannon, instead of calling her. He needed to see where they stood, and make a decision. Today was a close call, and it made him realise that he missed her too.

It was late, but he could see a light on in Shannon's room. Climbing up to her window turned out to be harder than climbing down, but he managed it, and knocked gently on the glass.

He liked to make an entrance. Plus, he didn't want Mia finding out.

The Washington Mall was almost the last place Shannon wanted to be that Sunday afternoon. Well, the last place she wanted to be with a small child, at least. The North Pole Village inside Lear's was filled to the brim with people, mostly excited kids who couldn't wait to see Santa. Shannon was there that day with Andrea Prezzioso. Although she rarely baby-sat anymore, Mrs. Prezzioso had called her up yesterday and practically begged her to take Andrea to see Santa. She had promised to take her herself, but had just remembered that she had to take Jenny someplace (Shannon couldn't remember exactly where. Mrs. Prezzioso had been talking a mile a minute) and couldn't. Rather than break her poor baby's heart, she was desperately trying to find someone else to take her. Shannon had been reluctant at first, but Mrs. Prezzioso had sounded so frazzled and had offered to pay more than her usual rate, so she'd agreed.

As she stood in line, Andrea excitedly chattering away about everything, Shannon idly wondered if she should tell one of the employees to check on the music. She was pretty sure the sound system had been blasting Feliz Navidad over the speakers for the last twenty minutes. She glanced down at Andrea and saw her looking at the Christmas list she'd insisted on bringing. Shannon hoped she wouldn't unroll it to show Santa — she was pretty sure the list was as tall as Andrea herself.

"When will it be my turn?" Andrea asked Shannon, just a hint of a whine in her voice. Shannon couldn't really blame her. They'd been standing in line for quite a while, and Andrea had been remarkably patient so far. "Soon," Shannon told her, which was what she'd said every time Andrea had asked. Andrea didn't look thrilled with the answer, but didn't say anything else. Shannon glanced behind her at the sound of more people approaching, and her eyes widened when who, of all people, should come down the candy cane lined path other than Brock. He had to be bringing Charlie, she reasoned. She started to raise her hand in a wave, when she noticed that it wasn't just Charlie with him. It was Charlie and Mia. She quickly turned back around and willed the line to move faster.

After reading the news about Cokie's pregnancy, Mia had the urge to visit Brock. It was like déjà vu all over again, only in this instance, Logan was marrying Cokie. Not that Mia wanted to get married or anything. Honestly, she wasn't sure where she and Brock even stood at the moment. They weren't exactly broken up, yet they weren't exactly together.

Grabbing her coat and her cigarettes (she only smoked outside, to keep the smoke away from Charlie as much as she could), she told her mom she was going out. Charlie was down for a nap, so there shouldn't be any problems. However, she always had her cell phone with her if there was an emergency. Arriving at Brock's house after a short walk, she rang the doorbell, then lit up a cigarette.

Brock anyone?

As soon as Amelia saw the announcement about school being cancelled the following day, she grinned. For once her d*uchebag father wasn't home, wasn't even in the state, and she didn't have to worry about him. She'd decided to take advantage of it, and invite some friends over. Ty, Brock and Kara had all managed to come, and Miranda might be coming later. Still, the three of them were enough to make Amelia happy, and very happy she was as she passed out some refreshments.

"Here's to no school tomorrow!" she said, holding up a plastic cup.

Ty left after all the beers had been drunk, and Brock decided to ignore his friend's advice, and text Shannon. He didn't know if she'd reply or anything, but he thought testing the waters would be safest.

So he sent her a text saying:

sup?