Page 27 of Our Moon (JACT #1)

The Monroe house is absolute chaos the morning of Ally and Alex’s graduation.

Mrs. Monroe is whipping through the house like a tornado, calling out orders and making sure everything is perfect for her twins’ big day.

I’m sitting in the living room with Trevor, Joey and Mr. Monroe, watching it all unfold.

There’s really nothing for us to do but stay out of the way.

Alex was sitting with us, until his mother demanded he make himself presentable.

She refused to go along with his idea to be naked under his gown, and insisted he wear a suit.

He argued with her until they finally agreed on slacks and a button down, but she insisted on a tie and gave him “the look” until he caved .

And Ally. God, Ally looks gorgeous. She’s wearing a knee-length navy dress with a dark red ribbon tied in an elegant bow around her waist, an homage to our high school’s colors. Her sandy blonde hair is done in curls, spilling over her shoulders and down her back. She’s positively glowing.

Once everyone is dressed, it’s time for pictures.

There are ones of Ally and Alex with and without their caps and gowns.

There are pictures of them with their parents, with Trevor, and of the whole family together.

Mrs. Monroe insists on getting shots of Alex with the band and of all the kids together.

Ally convinces each of the guys to take an individual picture with her, I know this is so she’ll have a picture with me from her graduation.

It’ll actually be our first real picture that isn’t a selfie taken from one of our cell phones.

I hope no one can detect the love, lust, and adoration in our eyes.

About an hour later, we’re finally on our way to the school.

The plan was for the ceremony to take place in the school’s auditorium, but since the weather worked out, school officials went with their alternative plan of having it in the football stadium.

The school is small, only about one hundred students per class, so the change works out without a hitch, and the stadium actually accommodates more people, so it won’t be standing room only.

Ally and Alex are whisked away behind the scenes with the rest of their class, and Trevor, Joey and I find a seat in the middle of the stands with Mr. and Mrs. Monroe. It isn’t long before the commencement commences, and the guys and I are bored to tears by the faculty speeches.

I’m fidgeting in my seat, trying to pick out the back of Ally’s head in the sea of navy blue caps up front, when Mrs. Monroe, who is sitting next to me, leans over and quietly says, “I see the way you look at her.”

I freeze. I stop fidgeting, and I think I even stop breathing.

“You two are not as subtle as you think,” she continues whispering. I look past her to Mr. Monroe and Trevor, and thankfully they’re not paying us any attention. Wasn’t looking forward to getting my ass kicked in the presence of all these people.

Not knowing how to respond, I just sit there. I can’t confirm her findings, not without Ally. But I can’t exactly ignore her either, that would be rude. This woman has been like a mother to me when my mother couldn’t, or wouldn’t.

I startle when she places her hand on my knee, I look to her and she’s still facing forward, but she’s smiling.

“I love you like a son, Chase. I just want my daughter to be happy. You make her happy. Don’t think I didn’t notice how down she was after she and Blake broke up.

She thinks she’s good at hiding that stuff from me, but she’s not.

She did a complete one-eighty last summer and I know part of that was because of you.

I know you’ll take good care of her. You’re a good boy.

” She removes her hand just as quickly as she had placed it there and continues watching the ceremony.

What the fuck just happened?

What do I say to that?

I can’t just sit there and not say anything, so I say the only thing I can think of to let her know that I will do what she asks, I will take care of her. “I love her,” I whisper. Out of the corner of my eye I see her smile widen.

“We know you do,” she affirms.

“We?” I panic.

She turns to look at me and lets out a small laugh at the petrified look on my face. “Her father and I. You don’t raise three teenagers without learning a trick or two.” She winks.

I groan.

“I think it’s almost over, man,” Joey says from my left, squirming in his seat, assuming my groan meant that I’m as disgruntled about the length of the ceremony as he is.

I nod to him and turn back to Mrs. Monroe. “We were going to tell you.”

“I’m sure you were,” she smiles, patting my leg again .

“So Mr. Monroe isn’t going to kill me?”

She stifles another laugh. “No. There will be no killing. Though I can’t speak for Trevor and Alex,” she grins.

She has the same grin as Ally, or Ally has the same grin as her.

Whatever. I just got the “all clear” from my secret girlfriend’s parents, and I couldn’t be happier.

Not even death threats from Trevor and Alex could bring me down right now. I couldn’t hide my smile if I tried.

“And now we present to you, our graduates,” Principal Daniels states from the podium. We turn our attention to the front. Alphabetically, Ally and Alex are somewhere in the middle, so we’ve got a little ways to go.

“Jonathan Miller,” he eventually says and Mrs. Monroe readies her camera, knowing Alex will be next.

“Alexander Monroe,” he says. We all whoop and holler as Alex walks across the stage and accepts his diploma.

He gives a big grin and a wink to the crowd as he shakes the principal’s hand.

He steps off to the side, not leaving the stage just yet. I know he’s waiting for Ally.

“Allyson Monroe,” Principal Daniels calls.

We whoop and holler again when Ally’s name is called, Alex as well, startling Principal Daniels because he didn’t realize he was waiting beside him.

I smile as my girl takes her diploma and shakes his hand.

Then laugh as Alex grabs her in a bear hug and spins her around.

She swats at him, but I can tell she’s laughing, too, loving that she gets to share this moment with him .

Mr. and Mrs. Monroe have tears in their eyes as they watch the scene. Trevor is holding his cell phone up, capturing video, I’m sure. And Mrs. Monroe hasn’t stopped clicking on her camera. I’m sure they were probably like this when Trevor and I graduated, too.

The ceremony eventually wraps up, and Ally and Alex take pictures with some of their classmates. Mr. and Mrs. Monroe talk with some of the other parents, while Trevor, Joey and I hang out off to the side waiting on them.

“Where’s dinner?” Joey asks, referring to the celebratory dinner we will be having after we get out of here.

“Where do you think?” Trevor sighs.

“Lombardi’s,” I supply.

“Figures,” Joey laughs.

After Ally let Alex pick their birthday restaurant, she insisted that she get to choose their graduation restaurant. And Lombardi’s it was. No one was surprised.

“Alright, you kids ready?” Mr. Monroe asks as he and Mrs. Monroe walk over, Alex and Ally trailing behind.

“Yeah,” we three say together.

Mrs. Monroe laughs, “Hungry much?”

“Starving,” Joey answers. He’s always hungry .

“Come on, then,” she wraps her arm around his shoulder and starts walking to the parking lot. “Ally and Alex, I want you to ride with us,” Mrs. Monroe calls out. We rode in two cars because there wasn’t enough room in one, and because we’re planning to split up after dinner.

“Come on, Ma,” Alex whines. “I want to ride with the guys.”

“You’re going to that party with the guys after dinner, you can ride with them then,” she says. “I want my twinnies to ride with me.”

“Just entertain your mother,” Mr. Monroe nudges him.

“Alright,” he agrees dramatically.

“We’ll see you at the restaurant, drive carefully. Watch out for all these people,” Mr. Monroe gestures towards the full parking lot.

“Got it, dad,” Trevor says as we walk off to his car.

Before I follow him, I look over to Ally and catch her eye as she’s talking animatedly to her mom.

She smiles a small smile, and I smile back.

Tomorrow can’t come soon enough, I can’t wait until our relationship is out in the open, so I can swoop in and hug her or kiss her whenever I want and no one will look at me like I’m crazy.

Sure, I might get punched by her brothers, but at least I could hold her hand if I wanted to .

I can’t believe her parents know! And why didn’t they say anything sooner? Ally is going to be so relieved to know that. I can’t wait to tell her. It will make the big reveal tomorrow that much easier.

“You coming, Baker?” Trevor calls.

I take one last, quick look at Ally. “Yeah,” I call out and run to catch up with him and Joey.

“What was that about?” he asks once we’re in the car. I’m riding shotgun and Joey’s in the back, texting away on his phone.

“What’s what about?” I play dumb.

“You were lingering.”

“Sorry, just in a daze I guess.”

He looks at me funny. “Everything okay?”

I could tell him. I could tell him right now and he might be okay with it. Trevor was always the levelheaded one. He might understand. He might even be able to cushion the blow of telling Alex. But I can’t do that to Ally.

“Yeah, everything’s fine. Just remembering our graduation. And hungry. Can’t wait to eat.”

He looks at me for another moment, then starts the car. “Me too, I’m starved. ”

I let out the breath I’ve been holding and relax back into my seat.

One more day. Just one more day.

***

The seven of us are seated at a table near the front of the restaurant, finishing up our dessert.

I am sitting across from Ally, which is proving to be difficult.

Every now and then her shoeless foot finds its way against my leg and causes me to nearly choke or spit out my drink.

I tried to give her a stern look the first couple of times, but it was useless. Now I’m doing my best to ignore her.

Ally excuses herself to the restroom once she finishes her tiramisu, giving me a look and a slight nod of her head. I quickly look around to see if anyone else noticed, but they’re all chatting and finishing their desserts.

I finish my cheesecake and excuse myself as well. The guys are none the wiser, but Mrs. Monroe has a small smirk on her face that leads me to believe she knows exactly what’s going on. I don’t know if I should be elated or completely weirded out about what she might be thinking.

I’m walking down the back hallway to the bathroom when I’m suddenly pulled into a dark service hallway. Next thing I know, Ally’s arms are around my neck and her lips are on mine .

“Whoa,” I say pulling back. “What’s this?”

“I’ve been wanting to do that all day,” she breathes out as she pulls me in for another kiss.

“Not that I’m not loving this,” I say into her mouth. “But we can’t be back here for long, you’ve already been gone for a few minutes. Might get suspicious.” I think about telling her that her parents know about us, but she kisses me again, and I forget my own name.

“Today has been one of the best days ever,” she sighs happily as she lays her head against my chest. “I’m so glad I got to spend it with you, even if I wasn’t really with you.”

“Yeah, nice going with the pictures.”

She laughs, “I had to have at least one of us together.”

“I’m glad you did it.”

She leans up and kisses me again. “I wish I could go to the party with you guys.”

“I know, baby girl. But you’ll have a good time with Lucy. With you both going to separate schools in the fall, you won’t get to spend much time together after the summer. But the guys and I will always be around.”

“I know you’re right. I’ll just miss you tonight.”

“I’ll miss you, too. ”

“Don’t get into any trouble,” she warns.

“Who? Me?” I laugh. She knows as well as I do that I don’t get into any trouble.

Hell, none of us guys do. I barely drink at all, and the others may indulge in a celebratory beer or two, but we’re all pretty mild when it comes to partying.

We go for the music and to hang out with friends, possibly score gigs at other house parties. That’s about it.

“I can’t wait until I can go to those parties with you as your girlfriend.”

I pull her in tight and hold her close to me. “You will.”

“Soon?” she asks.

“Soon,” I promise.

***

When I return to the table a few moments later, the bill has been paid and everyone is getting ready to leave.

“Drop a deuce, man?” Joey asks.

“Ew, that’s disgusting Joey,” Ally cries.

I roll my eyes at him, “I got a phone call.” He accepts the lie as truth, and we all head out of the restaurant.

“You boys behave yourselves and please don’t stay out too late,” Mrs. Monroe says as she gives us each a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

“No curfew tonight,” Mr. Monroe says. “Be safe. ”

“You, too,” Trevor calls out as he walks to his car.

“I love you all,” Mrs. Monroe calls as she gets into their car.

“Love you, too,” we all call back.

I wink at Ally as I get in the backseat, Alex is riding shotgun this time. I’m pretty sure she blew me a kiss in return, and I can’t stop my grin. I don’t even care if anyone saw.

“You ready to par-tay?” Alex calls out.

“Hell, yeah,” Joey says and I nod.

“Let’s do this,” Trevor agrees.

I’m not really looking forward to the party, I’d much rather be with Ally and celebrate with her tonight. But it’s Alex’s night, too, and he wants to party. After tomorrow, I’ll have the rest of my life to spend with Ally. Alex may hate me.

We pull out of the parking lot heading south, and in the rearview mirror, I watch the taillights of the Monroe’s car with the love of my life, my Ally, heading north.

Soon.