Lost Girl Ch. 20

"Totally," Kimi said. "But if this is a dream, I better never wake up!"

"It isn't a dream," Lucas said as he sidled up beside them. "If it was, Claudia would be naked beneath her graduation gown, and pulling me off to the bleachers so she could have me all to herself."

"What?" Kimi's brows knitted tightly together. "What the hell are you even talking about, Lucas?"

"Claudia knows." Lucas gave her a knowing smile. "We had a talk earlier and I told her all about it, right Claude?"

"Uh, yeah." With Kimi's questioning gaze pinned on her, Claudia began to feel self-conscious, but as Lucas leaned in to give her a hug, she opened her arms and embraced him.

"So we're officially outta high school, huh?" He hugged her tightly before pulling away. "That's definitely cause for celebration."

"For sure," Claudia agreed. "So I guess you'll be going to that grad party later tonight."

"Yeah, my friend Rob is giving it. You ladies should definitely come hang with us, It's gonna be a real good time."

"Sounds like fun," Kimi said, "but my boyfriend Ethan is driving me out to spend the weekend at his parents, so I won't be around to celebrate."

"How about you, Claudia?" A hopeful look crossed Lucas's face. "We always seem to have more dudes than females at these parties, so believe me when I say that we'd be happy to have you there."

"I don't know, maybe." She lightly shrugged and gave him a smile. "I kinda figured I would just order a pizza and watch a movie tonight, though."

"Come on, Claude. You're way too cute to spend grad night all alone at your house."

Her face went warm with a blush. "That's sweet of you to say, Lucas. But I think I'm gonna have to pass."

"Pass on what?" Having received his diploma, Tristan drew Claudia in for a congratulatory hug, then gave Kimi one as well before tilting his chin up in acknowledgment of Lucas.

"The party." Lucas's lips pressed tight as he noticed the way that Tristan stood closely to Claudia.

"Oh right, the party," Tristan said. "Everyone's been talking about it all day. It's supposed to be pretty major, right?"

"Uh...yeah, I guess." An annoyed expression crossed Lucas's face. "But It's by invitation only, so you'd have to talk to Rob."

"Oh I don't wanna go," Tristan responded. "I'm not much of a party person anyways, so I'll probably just hang out at home and do some drawing."

"Okay..." Clearly disinterested in anything that Tristan had to say, Lucas shifted his attention back to Claudia. "Sorry to hear you won't be at the party, but if you change your mind, you're always welcome to drop by."

"Thanks," Claudia said. "I'll keep that in mind."

"So anyways, I hope you guys have a great summer." Still focusing his gaze on Claudia, Lucas continued to speak. "And I hope I'll see you all around the rez before you take off for college."

Noting the sadness on his face, Kimi gave him a sympathetic smile, but it went completely unnoticed by Lucas, because he was still focusing only on Claudia.

"Most definitely," Claudia responded while looking deep into his eyes. "We'll see other again, no doubt about it."

"Good." A weak smile twitched at the corners of his lips, and with a voice that was thick with emotion, he uttered some words in parting. "Well, guess I'll get going, then. Take care, lost girl."

Before she could even say goodbye, he had turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd of students that were being greeted by approaching parents.

For a moment she just stood there, allowing her old nickname 'lost girl' to reverberate through her head, but as a melancholic mood began to settle upon her, she came to realization that she hadn't heard Lucas call her lost girl since the beginning of the year.

So much had changed since then that it seemed strange for her to once again hear that moniker, and realizing that her eyes were beginning to moisten, she lowered her gaze to the diploma in her hand and began to fidget with it.

At the touch of Tristan's hand on her shoulder, she knew that he was picking up on the sadness she emitted, and not wanting to bring down his joyous mood, she cleared her throat and turned to face Kimi, who was watching her with sympathetic eyes.

"We should probably try to go and find our parents, right? Seems like everyone else has already met up with theirs."

"My mom dropped me off, so I know she's here," Kimi said, "but as far as my sperm donor goes, he won't be showing up, and I thank God for that."

Completely sympathetic to Kimi's attitude towards her abusive father, Claudia offered a soft nod and a weak smile in response. But as she spotted Big John and Mona walking alongside Tristan's parents, a smile broke out on her face and she quickly stepped forward to meet them.

"Congratulations, sugarplum!" First to embrace her was Mona, who gave her a long, tight hug that nearly squeezed the air out of her lungs.

"*Minokapi, Claudia," Big John said while giving her a hug. "It's a happy time, isn't it?"

"Yes, very happy," she said to him, and as Tristan's parents pulled her in for an embrace, she happily returned it.

"We're so proud of you all," Tristan's father Ray said to the three teens, and although they weren't well acquainted with Kimi, both he and Winona offered her a hug as well.

"Thanks," Claudia said. "It's still hard to believe that high school is over, but It's a relief to finally be over that hump."

From the corner of her eye, Claudia spotted a teenage boy making a beeline straight for them, and on recognizing that it was Kimi's younger brother, she offered a wave and a smile. He waved back, but before Claudia had the chance to make use of her sign language skills, he shifted his attention to Kimi, who immediately grinned and pulled him into a hug.

No sooner had Kimi released him from the embrace was she greeted by her mother, and although it was the first time that Claudia had ever laid eyes on her, she instantly knew that the woman was related to Kimi.

"Na'a!" Kimi called out with excitement, and on embracing the older, yet near replica of herself, Kimi gave her a tight squeeze.

"Congratulations, baby," said Kimi's mom, and on pulling back to look at her daughter, she reached out to caress her face. "I'm so proud of you, sweetheart."

"Thanks," Kimi said, and after grabbing her mother's hand, she began introducing her to the group. "Everyone, this is my mom, Sylvie. Mom, these are my friends Claudia and Tristan, the ones who are going to U of M with me.

"It's nice to meet you both," Sylvie said while shaking their hands. "Kimi's mentioned you lots throughout the year, so it's nice to finally have a face to go along with the names."

"Nice to meet you too," Claudia said. "As soon as I saw you approaching us, I instantly knew you were her mother. You look so alike, I almost thought you were sisters."

Sylvie lightly chuckled. "That's a very nice compliment, Claudia, but I think Kimi's got me beat in the looks department."

"No way," Kimi disagreed. "Just lose the mom jeans, put on a tighter shirt, and you'll have all the boys after you, too."

This time Sylvie gave an outright laugh. "Thanks, but I'll leave the boys to you younger girls. I'm not trying to hook any jailbait."

"I hear you, Sylvie," Mona said. "Leave the boys for our girls to date, and let us have the men, right?"

"Amen," she agreed. "I want a big cat, not a cub."

At this, Winona, Sylvie, and Mona all shared a deep laugh, but Claudia, Kimi, and Tyler offered nothing more than awkwardly crooked smiles. Curious to see Tristan's expression, Claudia turned her head to look at Tristan, and on noting that his cheeks had turned a bright red, she soothingly stroked his forearm.

"It's a joke, Tristan," Claudia assured him. "They're not making fun of you."

"I *know*." Still sporting a flushed face, he shifted his feet, then purposely focused on a group of teens who were walking right past him.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that." Now looking at Tristan, Sylvie's smile began to lessen. "I didn't mean to offend, you understand. But boys your age should be going out with nice young girls, like Kimi or Claudia. Not old ladies like us."

"Since when am I an old lady?" Winona playfully placed her hands on her slim hips. "I'll have you know that I occasionally catch the eye of twenty-year olds, and from time to time, I even get approached and asked out."

"By who?" A deep crease marred the spot between Ray's eyebrows. "You've got a ring on your hand. Don't they realize that you're married to me?"

"I guess not," she said, and holding her hand out in front of her, she studied the gold band. "Guess It's not large enough for them to see. Maybe you should upgrade and buy me one with a bigger diamond."

"That's the way to do it," Mona said while giving Winona a supportive nudge. "Just slip it on in there and let him know what you want."

"I don't get it," Ray said while glancing at Tristan and Tyler, before finally focusing on Big John. "What is it with women and diamonds? Why do they love them so much?"

Shrugging at the exact same time, Tristan and Tyler exchanged a look that seemed to say, "who knows?" But eager to chime in, Claudia spoke up and gave her opinion.

"Well, they are shiny and pretty, but personally I think it's because of clever marketing."

"And that Marilyn Monroe movie," Kimi said. "You know the one where she sings 'diamond are a girl's best friend,' while wearing that strapless pink dress?"

Claudia nodded. "Yeah, diamonds are nice to look at, I guess. But if I was getting a gift from a guy, I could think of at least a dozen other things I'd rather receive than an expensive rock."

"Like what?" Kimi asked. "Name one thing that you think is better."

Falling silent, Claudia took a moment to contemplate her answer, but she didn't have to think very long before she responded to Kimi's question.

"I don't know, I guess I'd prefer something really meaningful," she said while staring off into the distance. "Like a key to his apartment, or maybe a surprise trip to a romantic getaway in a secluded spot."

"Well that's really cool and all," Kimi stated, "but you don't know any guys who have their own apartment, Claude. And surprise trips take money, which is something most guys our age don't have a whole lot of."

"You know what I meant, dork," she quickly rebutted. "The point is, I like sentimental gifts. Ones that are creative and come straight from the heart."

Unbeknowst to Claudia, Tristan was giving her a hard and thoughtful look, but Winona, who had been observing how intently his eyes were pinned on the black girl, completely understood what was presently going through his mind.

"You're so deep in thought, Tristan," Winona said while giving her son a soft smile. "Those wheels are so loud, I can hear them turning in your head."

Smirking at his wife's remark, Ray gently nudged her and then chuckled, but Tristan, who was less than amused, was sporting deep red cheeks. While Mona and Big John shared a grin of their own, Sylvie sent a signal to Kimi with her eyes, and upon receiving a gentle nod in return, Sylvie looked back at Tristan and gave him a wide, knowing smile.

Feeling like the odd ones out, neither Tristan nor Claudia were smiling at all, but they did awkwardly shift their weight as six pairs of eyes came to rest on their faces.

"So," Claudia said before lightly clearing her throat. "Is anyone hungry? Because I could really go for some fast food right now."

"Fast food?" The face Ray pulled conveyed his disapproval. "You kids need some traditional Blackfoot food, like sweetbread and fishhead stew, not the slop that they serve at those quickie restaurants.

"Oh Ray, let them eat what they want," Winona said. "They deserve a treat, they just graduated high school."

"They'll have plenty of chances to eat junk in college," Ray said. "Hearty food is important, and nourishing to their bodies and spirits."

"I wouldn't mind some traditional Indian food," Claudia said. "I mean how many more chances will I get before moving off the rez to go to uni?"

"That's right, Claudia. I'm glad to hear that you realize that." Now shifting his gaze to Tristan and Kimi, he gave them each an imploring look. "You two kids wanna join us, or would you rather poison your bodies with fast food?"

"I'm up for it," Kimi said. "I mean free food is free food, so I'm not complaining."

"Great. What about you, son?"

"Sure. I'd never turn down mom's sweetbread and fishhead stew."

"And I already know you two are coming," Ray said to Mona and Big John. "But I hope you'll join us for dinner for as well, Sylvie."

"I'd love to," she said. "But I told my husband I'd be back home by six, so unfortunately I'll have to pass on the invitation."

"Come on, Mom." Kimi gave her mother a pleading look. "We all want you there with us, so blow off the asshole for one night and come have some fun."

"Watch it, Kimi," Sylvie sternly said. "You know better than to use that language around me."

"Well he is an asshole," she rebutted. "And I'm sick and tired of him always controlling you like this. Are you ever going to leave him, or just put up with his shit for the rest of your life?"

"Kimi, *please*." Sylvie's lips were pressed tight, forcing her to speak through clenched teeth. "Not the time or place, alright? So calm down and stop embarrassing me."

"I will if you agree to go to dinner at Ray's," she said. "Let that animal you call a husband eat one of those crappy TV dinners, because I want you with *me* tonight."

"It's not that simple," she said while shaking her head, but Tyler, who had been silently standing by up until that point, began exuberantly forming his fingers into the correct shape for certain words.

"He's right," Kimi agreed. "It's the day of my graduation, and It's the least you can do."

Clearly hesitant to give in, Sylvie looked away from her daughter and son. But Kimi's stare held firm and her body language indicated that she wasn't backing down.

"Alright Kimi," she finally said after several long moments. "I'll come to dinner."

"Really?"

"Yes." She offered a nod, followed by a weak smile.

"Awesome, that's great." Kimi leaned in to give her mother a quick hug. "You'll have fun tonight, I know you will."

"It'll be great to have you over, Sylivie." A wide smile graced Ray's face. "It'll probably take us an hour to get dinner together and on the table, but everyone is welcome to come over and hang out until then."

"That would be great," Mona said. "Why don't you and Winona lead the way, and we'll all tailgate behind you in our cars."

"Sounds like a plan," Ray said, and with he and his wife leading the way, started forward and across the field so that they could reach the parking lot.

Upon arrival, the adults all headed for their individual vehicles, but Claudia, Kimi, and Tristan seemed uncertain whether they should split apart and go with their own parents, or travel together in a particular car.

Perhaps worrying that her mother would change her mind and return home, Kimi opted to accompany her, and realizing there would be plenty of room for them in Sylvie's minivan, Tristan and Claudia made the decision to ride along with Kimi.

Two minutes later, Ray and Winona lead the way out of the parking lot in their gray Toyota. Directly behind them was Big John's Chevy Blazer, and last in line was Sylvie's white minivan, which carried the three newly graduated teens.

The sun was just setting as they pulled out onto the road, casting bright gold rays across the pavement they were traveling along. Gradually Browning High School began to recede behind them, and feeling an urge to take one last look,

Claudia turned her head to look out of the rear windshield. She didn't have long to take in her alma matter, however, because the sensation of Tristan's hand against hers immediately stole her attention.

Look forward, he seemed to silently say with his eyes, and so she did. It was at this very moment that the high school disappeared entirely from sight, and no longer visible from the rear windshield, it was now nothing more than a memory.