Chapter 20: Rapid Departure

Most of the ceremony was a lot of speeches and congratulations, so many that it took almost two hours before they actually started handing out diplomas. They exited their rows as instructed, in alphabetical order, and after a few minutes, it was finally Jasmine’s turn.

She stood up and shook the hand of the dean, received her diploma, then quickly posed for the camera stationed in front of the stage. She glanced up where she knew her friends were seated but found Morgan and Merrick were mysteriously missing.

When she reached her seat again, she glanced back up at the stands. This time, Nick was on his phone in a very animated discussion, and Morgan and Merrick were still gone.

The ceremony only lasted another thirty minutes. Worry set in where hope had been before, wondering what could have dragged her friends away from this important moment of hers.

She quickly made her way into a less dense part of the field, where Nick almost immediately found her.

“Congrats!” he said, his excitement evident. However, his eyes kept flicking between her and the crowd.

“Is something wrong? Where is Merrick?” She heard the holler of Natalie in the distance and called her over to their location.

“It’s nothing to worry about. There was just an important call from a client to take,” he said. He scratched the back of his neck, but before she could question him further, Natalie burst into their small group.

“You’re finally done with stupid school! Does that mean we can actually hang out for longer than an hour? Oh my god I love your cap!”

She took off the hat and admired her work from the night before. She’d embroidered several fleur de mayo flowers onto it, and in the center, in bright pink letters that stood out against the light blue cap, were the words “The best things come to those who don’t give up.”

“Thank you. It felt right. Also, you just spent a whole day with me not three weeks ago.” Jasmine placed the cap back on, determined to wear it for as long as appropriate.

She pouted. “It’s not enough. I used to see you at work, but he keeps you busy now,” she said, and pointed at Nick with her thumb.

“I assure you; I’m not trying to keep her at work. In fact, I was thinking we could perhaps leave now for Cannes?”

Natalie’s eyes bulged. “You’re going to France? Why didn’t you tell me!’

Jasmine looked back and forth between them, trying to process all the questions thrown at her. “I didn’t even know I was going until yesterday, but I haven’t packed yet. Astrid sent me some very nice dresses that I’m sure she wants used.”

“Well, we can head back to your place now, get you packed, and then head out. There’s a movie premiering tomorrow evening that I’m sure you’ll want to see, but you’ll need time to recover from the flight.” He glanced over his shoulder. Jasmine swore she could hear screaming coming from the crowd behind him, and it did not sound like an excited scream.

“I mean, sure, but I’d like to see Morgan and Merrick before we leave,” she said, pushing past him towards the crowd.

He grabbed her arm, lightly but firmly. “Please, Jasmine. We need to go.” His voice was pleading, and Jasmine was taken aback by the bold gesture.

She turned back to the crowd, and for a brief moment, she saw a flash of Morgan pushing her way over to them. She gently pulled her arm away. “See, Morgan is right there. Let me at least say thank you to her. It’s a lot for her to show up in the middle of a workday.”

Her best friend broke through the line of the crowd, looking as panicked as Jasmine did earlier that day. “You need to go. Now.”

She stared, confused between the two people telling her to leave. “What the hell—”

Morgan grabbed her hands and squeezed them tight. “Beetlejuice is here.”

Jasmine’s eyes went wide and stepped back, bumping into Nick’s chest. “Okay, yeah, let’s go now.”

Natalie looked bewildered as Nick took Jasmine’s hand and rushed them away from the commotion. Her cap flew off as they ran to a Mercedes-Benz parked around the corner, but she couldn’t care less. Carl was already at the driver’s wheel, engine on, when they hopped in.

“We need to hurry. If they’re here, it won’t be long until they check my apartment,” she said, chewing on her nail to the point of making it bleed.

He pulled her hand away from her mouth and squeezed it tightly. “Don’t worry. I’ve got Merrick running interference. Also, you can stay in the car if you wish. I messaged Astrid, and she’ll meet us there. You can give her the key, and she’ll grab your things. If anyone shows up, she’ll scare them off.”

She laughed, a painful, despair-filled laugh. “I sure hope so.”

Nick refused to let go of her hand the whole ride back to the apartment. He grabbed a small first aid kit and cleaned the skin she’d broken from her nervous habit.

Her thoughts swirled in a panicked haze. Of course, they’d know she was graduating this semester; it just made sense. The ceremony information was all over the school’s website. And it wouldn’t take them long to figure out where she lived with their connections if they didn’t know already.

As they pulled up in front of the apartment, she was hit with a sense of dread. Her home that she had worked so hard to keep didn’t feel safe any longer, not if they were in town. Without a word, she gave her key to Nick. He hopped out and was back within 30 seconds. He locked the door behind him, and Carl kept the engine running.

Every car that entered the parking lot made her jump, squeezing Nick’s hand even tighter. Precisely seven minutes later—Jasmine was keeping track—Astrid came down with her biggest suitcase. Carl popped the trunk and placed it in.

Astrid opened her mouth, about to say something about her tiny apartment or the baggy gown she was still wearing, but when she saw Jasmine’s face, she shut her mouth and nodded at Nick. “Take care of her,” she said, and closed the trunk.

They pulled out of the parking lot, and before the first turn, they were passed by a very nice, very clean white BMW that stuck out like a sore thumb in the neighborhood. Jasmine buried her head in Nick’s chest when she saw it. She didn’t care about politeness or boundaries at this moment; she wanted to feel safe in Nick’s arms, like she had those months ago.

He obliged, wrapping his arms around her and holding her tightly. When the car sped up to freeway speed, she felt safe enough to extricate herself from him, wiping the tears from her cheeks. “I’m sorry. It’s just…”

“It’s okay. I’m here to make sure you’re alright.” He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “I liked your cap too,” he said softly.

She managed to crack a smile through the tears. “Thanks. Please tell me this plane has food.”

He laughed. “Yes, there will be food on the plane and a bed.”

“Thank God.” The adrenaline began to die down as the airport came into view. She realized she was still holding Nick’s hand and carefully brought her hand back to her lap. “Thanks for calming me down.”

“Not a problem.” They pulled into the private hanger she’d just arrived at the day before. “Now, are you ready to see the City of Love?”

Jasmine grinned. “It could be the middle of the bushlands of Australia, and I’d be ready. Let’s get out of here.”