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.

The ties were tied, shoes were shining, dresses were flowing and the coursages left the lingering scent of freshness in the air. It was Senior Prom, four years in the making, and the excitement was palpable.

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 drinks are flowing, the guests are mingling, so lets party like its the end of the world!

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.

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. 

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

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

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.

Kristy surveyed the den with satisfaction. Snacks were set up, movies were out, and mattresses were strategically placed. Evereything a group of girls needed for an old fashioned sleep over. She only hoped Stacey and Dawn wouldn't break open the mud masks, or worse, the alcohol. She knew her friends peobably thought she was lame, but she didn't care. Kristy Thomas did things the Kristy Thomas way. She heard the bell ring and grinned.

The first guest was here.

To: Mary Anne, Claudia, Stacey, Dawn, Abby, Shannon From: Kristy Subject: BSC Reunion Okay, so maybe not a reunion as such, but humor me, okay? I want us to have a good old fashioned sleep over this weekend, to celebrate being Seniors! This year is just going so fast, and I know we're all busy, but I thought this could be fun. My place on Saturday, okay? Kristy

Luckily Sabrina was able to have her Halloween Bash as planned. None of her preparation had been foiled by Sandy for which she was grateful. Her home had turned into a spooky mansion. Halloween and regular party music played throughout the night.

Three different drink stations were set up. One on the far left of the property for alcoholic drinks, one on the far right for non-alcoholic drinks, and one in the middle for both. By all drink stations were tables filled with all kinds of food imaginable. The entire lower floor was open for guest as were a few rooms on the upper half for those who wanted a little privacy. Anything valuable that could be stolen had been moved to another location off of the estate so that was one thing Sabrina didn't have to worry about.

Everybody who showed up got a Halloween inspired goody bag filled with candy and other Halloween treats. Those who brought a donation of some sort received an additional bag containing a camera and a $100 Washington Mall gift card. People who didn't show up in a costume was given a mask and weren't allowed to enter until they put it on.

Sunny still didn't quite know how she'd managed to be accepted into AP English -- though she had been on the honors track all through Vista and when she transfered in -- but she'd gotten in and she wanted to do well in it. Shannon had invited her over that afternoon for a study session and Sunny had accepted, which was why she'd found herself ringing the Kilbournes' doorbell about an hour after school ended.

She hoped Shannon would answer the door and not one of her family members, because that could have been awkward, considering they'd never met.

"Hi," she said as the door opened, flashing her winningest smile.

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?

Climbing out of her car, Shannon was surprised to see her father's vehicle in the driveway as well. She checked her watch as she walked to the front door. It was a little before five, which is when she usually arrived home from school after one of her various club meetings. She wondered what he was doing home so early. It was usually seven or eight before he got home. Opening the front door, Shannon was immediately greeted with the muffled sound of her parents arguing. They'd been doing so much better lately, she thought, and now this.

Whatever. She didn't want to be there to hear it. Dropping her backpack on the small chair just inside the entryway, she headed for the phone in the kitchen, looked up Brock's address in the phonebook that was next to it, and exited the kitchen door. It wasn't until she was halfway to Brock's house that she realized he might be out or something. She really should have called, but she wasn't thinking very clearly at the moment. Pulling to a stop in front of his house, she hurried up to the front door and rang the bell. When she didn't get a response, she tried knocking. Still no answer. She didn't want to go to one of her girl friends' houses, not wanting them to worry about her, so instead she sat down on the front porch and waited. He had to come home sooner or later.

On his way home from Ty's, Brock thought about Shannon. Ty had said not to tell her, and Brock knew that was the smart thing to do. Fingering the phone in his pocket, he thought about her. They hadn't spoken in awhile, and maybe she was over it. For some reason, he wanted to know, so he pulled out his phone and scrolled through til he came to her number. After a few seconds of contemplation, he pressed call, fuelled by the thought of her, and a few beers.

"Hey," he said, smiling a little when she answered.

Dinner at the Waterfront Restaurant http://waterfrontrestaurant.com.au/