Chasing Calls
History
INDIANA'S POV - JULY 25TH 2011
“…and once again, a round of applause for the class of ’11!”
I don’t think I’ve ever thrown something as high as my mortar board had managed to soar once the round of applause erupted throughout the theater; my limbs still shaking with excitement, emotions pounding inside my head and my heart set on fire with euphoria over the fact I’d graduated. The last 4 long years of what many would describe as pain and suffering had led to this day – a moment, where I could hold my head up high, degree tucked gently under my arm and give the world an, ‘I told you so.’
“Indiana, over here – quickly a photo with your brother.”
The sound of my mothers voice seemed to drain away through the sound scape of thousands of other graduates and their families as we all did the same thing; turn on cameras to snap shots. Not that the professional photographer we’d all paid for hadn’t taken enough already.
“Mom, really?”, I half nagged, just wanting to be left alone to keep the buzz going. Giving me a half guilt stare and Liam tugging at my arm to pull me in close for the shot my mother wanted, we both smiled our pearly whites and held expressions of bliss as the flash went off.
“My two babies, both now college graduates! Oh your father would have been so proud!”
I could hear the broken joy in her voice as it quivered with both excitement and heartache. We’d lost my father to lung cancer a few years before. Apparently heavy drinking and smoking a pack a day isn’t good for the body. Heading over and pulling my mother, who stood at my height into a hug – I felt the warm embrace and knew daddy dearest was somewhere watching. I’d be the first to detest that I was any kind of religious, but something was there. I could feel it.
“Indi!”
A tap on my shoulder pulled my attention away from my mother and within seconds of spinning on my heels, I felt lips press to my own. Hands flying up to greet the strangers’ sides – my eyes were shut, taking in the pleasure of a first kiss as a graduate.
“Proud of you baby girl”, Louis mumbled once we’d broken apart. His forehead rested against my own and my mother reached down to grab the testamur I’d dropped trying not to ruin the moment. Without fail, like always; our hands ran down each others sides, falling into a hold in which our fingers intertwined just like they were meant to be.
Louis and I had begun dating during my junior year of high school; we’d met mutually through my brother who had shared a handful of classes with him and throughout college we were on and off again like a tabloid couple who were making the most out of publicity. He was gorgeous, no – dazzling. It was as if Louis could do no wrong and not only brought out the best in me, yet the daring. Truth be told, with him around – life never had a dull moment; constantly filled with risks and surprises I often found myself questioning. Now though – a little more mature and a little less wild, we’d both seemed to have settled into routine.
“You ready for the party tonight?”
“Did someone say party?”, Liam piped up, throwing himself into conversation.
“Boys, I thought you were both meant to be behaving”, I stated with a smile yet somewhat quietly.
Both Louis and Liam had graduated the year prior with honours in law and sociology – the after party according to them having the roof blown off it. Of course, when they learnt of another party being held this year – aside from it being my graduation; both wanted to attend to ensure it was better than the last.
“We’ll behave babe – promise”, Louis reassured me with a sly wink. I knew better than to trust him; knew better than to trust the both of them yet in the sheer chaos of all that was happening, I let it slide.
The familiar scent of bvlgari swam past me and my hands quickly became my own property again as I turned to greet the friends I’d gone through it all with – Harry and Erica.
“CONGRATULATIONS GUYS!”, I half squealed, not realizing my own excitement as they began to chuckle and shake their heads. I had always been the dramatic one of the three.
I’d known Harry, well… forever. And a day! We’d gone through kindergarten together, elementary, junior and high school; sat the entrance exams for this course together and experienced the highs, the lows, the mini heart attacks of deadlines creeping up and cramming the night before exams to ensure we knew everything that was going on. Erica on the other hand had moved from Cardiff to Manchester a sunny 4 years ago; as an exchange student who just managed to extend her stay, we’d gotten up to more trouble and mischief than we should have – our friendship bonding closer and tighter after a night locked in a bathroom stall after hours where we’d drunkenly fallen asleep.
Without these two, I doubt I’d have made it as far as I did. They both kept me going, kept me motivated and now – we were moving into the big world together. Of course, to celebrate we needed a last night of freedom – Erica was all for this, though Harry, we still had some convincing to do with.
“So you’re both coming to the Royale tonight right? We’re doing shots! Like 50 of ‘em each!”, I let be known the moment small talk began to cease. Erica looked at me with hazel eyes filled of amusement and delight whilst Harry rubbed the back of his neck – unsure about the offer.
“Oh Harry c’mon”, Erica tried to persuade him, “It’ll be fun. We’ll hook you up with someone.”
We both fell into a small fit of laughter, Harry seemingly unamused. For the longest time, I’d never seen Harry taken interest in a woman. Or men; believe me, we tried this out of sheer curiosity just in case. Throughout high school he’d always been shy and reserved, into college he’d begun to break out of his shell and now, moving into a corporate world, I couldn’t see him getting anymore exhilarating as what he already was.
Tonight was the night.
Tonight, we were turning Harry into a man.
“Girls, I don’t know if that’s such a good idea”, he argued subtly; his frame swayed back and forth, what he usually did when he was nervous.
“It’ll be good for you to get out Haz. Enjoy life a little.”
“Indiana…”
“Harry, c’mon please. It’ll be fun”, I pestered him whilst tugging at his fingers, “For me?”
His eyes shifting to the ground before making their way back up to meet with my own told me I had won this round. He’d at least be making an appearance – whether or not we’d get a drink into him or a bit of fun out of him would be an entirely different story – yet for now, he’d be there.
“Fine.”
“Awesome”, I felt spill from my lips before they turned into a warmest of smiles.
“Awesome it is babe”, I heard as Louis threw an arm around my shoulders, “Now c’mon. We’ve gotta get ready for tonight.”
“…and once again, a round of applause for the class of ’11!”
I don’t think I’ve ever thrown something as high as my mortar board had managed to soar once the round of applause erupted throughout the theater; my limbs still shaking with excitement, emotions pounding inside my head and my heart set on fire with euphoria over the fact I’d graduated. The last 4 long years of what many would describe as pain and suffering had led to this day – a moment, where I could hold my head up high, degree tucked gently under my arm and give the world an, ‘I told you so.’
“Indiana, over here – quickly a photo with your brother.”
The sound of my mothers voice seemed to drain away through the sound scape of thousands of other graduates and their families as we all did the same thing; turn on cameras to snap shots. Not that the professional photographer we’d all paid for hadn’t taken enough already.
“Mom, really?”, I half nagged, just wanting to be left alone to keep the buzz going. Giving me a half guilt stare and Liam tugging at my arm to pull me in close for the shot my mother wanted, we both smiled our pearly whites and held expressions of bliss as the flash went off.
“My two babies, both now college graduates! Oh your father would have been so proud!”
I could hear the broken joy in her voice as it quivered with both excitement and heartache. We’d lost my father to lung cancer a few years before. Apparently heavy drinking and smoking a pack a day isn’t good for the body. Heading over and pulling my mother, who stood at my height into a hug – I felt the warm embrace and knew daddy dearest was somewhere watching. I’d be the first to detest that I was any kind of religious, but something was there. I could feel it.
“Indi!”
A tap on my shoulder pulled my attention away from my mother and within seconds of spinning on my heels, I felt lips press to my own. Hands flying up to greet the strangers’ sides – my eyes were shut, taking in the pleasure of a first kiss as a graduate.
“Proud of you baby girl”, Louis mumbled once we’d broken apart. His forehead rested against my own and my mother reached down to grab the testamur I’d dropped trying not to ruin the moment. Without fail, like always; our hands ran down each others sides, falling into a hold in which our fingers intertwined just like they were meant to be.
Louis and I had begun dating during my junior year of high school; we’d met mutually through my brother who had shared a handful of classes with him and throughout college we were on and off again like a tabloid couple who were making the most out of publicity. He was gorgeous, no – dazzling. It was as if Louis could do no wrong and not only brought out the best in me, yet the daring. Truth be told, with him around – life never had a dull moment; constantly filled with risks and surprises I often found myself questioning. Now though – a little more mature and a little less wild, we’d both seemed to have settled into routine.
“You ready for the party tonight?”
“Did someone say party?”, Liam piped up, throwing himself into conversation.
“Boys, I thought you were both meant to be behaving”, I stated with a smile yet somewhat quietly.
Both Louis and Liam had graduated the year prior with honours in law and sociology – the after party according to them having the roof blown off it. Of course, when they learnt of another party being held this year – aside from it being my graduation; both wanted to attend to ensure it was better than the last.
“We’ll behave babe – promise”, Louis reassured me with a sly wink. I knew better than to trust him; knew better than to trust the both of them yet in the sheer chaos of all that was happening, I let it slide.
The familiar scent of bvlgari swam past me and my hands quickly became my own property again as I turned to greet the friends I’d gone through it all with – Harry and Erica.
“CONGRATULATIONS GUYS!”, I half squealed, not realizing my own excitement as they began to chuckle and shake their heads. I had always been the dramatic one of the three.
I’d known Harry, well… forever. And a day! We’d gone through kindergarten together, elementary, junior and high school; sat the entrance exams for this course together and experienced the highs, the lows, the mini heart attacks of deadlines creeping up and cramming the night before exams to ensure we knew everything that was going on. Erica on the other hand had moved from Cardiff to Manchester a sunny 4 years ago; as an exchange student who just managed to extend her stay, we’d gotten up to more trouble and mischief than we should have – our friendship bonding closer and tighter after a night locked in a bathroom stall after hours where we’d drunkenly fallen asleep.
Without these two, I doubt I’d have made it as far as I did. They both kept me going, kept me motivated and now – we were moving into the big world together. Of course, to celebrate we needed a last night of freedom – Erica was all for this, though Harry, we still had some convincing to do with.
“So you’re both coming to the Royale tonight right? We’re doing shots! Like 50 of ‘em each!”, I let be known the moment small talk began to cease. Erica looked at me with hazel eyes filled of amusement and delight whilst Harry rubbed the back of his neck – unsure about the offer.
“Oh Harry c’mon”, Erica tried to persuade him, “It’ll be fun. We’ll hook you up with someone.”
We both fell into a small fit of laughter, Harry seemingly unamused. For the longest time, I’d never seen Harry taken interest in a woman. Or men; believe me, we tried this out of sheer curiosity just in case. Throughout high school he’d always been shy and reserved, into college he’d begun to break out of his shell and now, moving into a corporate world, I couldn’t see him getting anymore exhilarating as what he already was.
Tonight was the night.
Tonight, we were turning Harry into a man.
“Girls, I don’t know if that’s such a good idea”, he argued subtly; his frame swayed back and forth, what he usually did when he was nervous.
“It’ll be good for you to get out Haz. Enjoy life a little.”
“Indiana…”
“Harry, c’mon please. It’ll be fun”, I pestered him whilst tugging at his fingers, “For me?”
His eyes shifting to the ground before making their way back up to meet with my own told me I had won this round. He’d at least be making an appearance – whether or not we’d get a drink into him or a bit of fun out of him would be an entirely different story – yet for now, he’d be there.
“Fine.”
“Awesome”, I felt spill from my lips before they turned into a warmest of smiles.
“Awesome it is babe”, I heard as Louis threw an arm around my shoulders, “Now c’mon. We’ve gotta get ready for tonight.”
Notes
Hey guys, you might notice a language difference between the prologue and this chapter - I was trying to write it through the perspective of someone who was a little younger rather than set in current time. Either way, I hope you enjoy it and it's given you a little more of an understanding of where this story might go without giving too much away xo <3 Let me know what you think xx
Update soon!
8/12/14