Finals were underway for all of us, especially for Nixon and me. We had short days because of being seniors and had commencement practices, along with the girls.

After my last final, I walked out of the classroom and saw Nixon. I ran over to him, and he picked me up and swung me around.

"We did it!" He said, earning shushes from the teachers.

"We did it."

"Come on. Let's go find the girls."

We ran until we found their classrooms and waved. Kat was finishing up. She got up and handed in her final, then exited the room. She jumped on Nixon, and he kissed her. Next was Marcy. The three of us waved, and she nodded. She finished and turned in her final and made a hasty exit. We made our way to Macey's classroom. We plastered ourselves against the glass of the door, and she laughed and rolled her eyes.

She finished and joined us. "You guys are nuts."

"Who cares? School's over!" Nixon said.

We walked to the entrance, and I took one last look. The high school years were finally over. Now to graduate and start a new chapter of my life with the Gray brothers, especially Nash.

I walked out of the school to see Nash leaning against his car, waiting for me. I started walking towards him and then broke out into a run. When I reached him, I jumped into his arms, and he spun me around.

"You did it, baby girl. I'm so proud of you."

I smiled at him as I kissed him.

"Come on. We're meeting the others for lunch, but first, I need to make a stop." He set me down.

I gave him a look.

******

We pulled up to a building that was a factory of sorts and got out of the car. Nash walked up to the door as I followed him. We walked inside and past machines to offices. He walked to a doorway and knocked on the door.

Nate turned around. "Nash? What's up?"

"Is Ma around?"

"Yeah, she's checking on a shipment and should be back in a few minutes."

"Those idiots! Can't they get anything right?" We heard a voice yell.

"Never mind. Pat's on her way back," he said.

Pat walked in and over to Nate. "Nathaniel, you need to have a word with the shipping manager. He received the wrong shipment, so it must all go back."

"I'll make a call in a few minutes, but we have company." He nodded to us.

Pat turned and smiled at us. "Oh, hey, kids. What brings you to our neck of the woods?"

"Remember when you both wanted me to do something with my life?" Nash asked.

"Yes," they said.

"Well, I made a decision."

"And?" Nate asked.

"Well." He turned and pushed me forward. "Mags will be more than happy to tell you." He hid behind me.

I turned to him. "Coward."

He shrugged.

I shook my head and rolled my eyes. I turned back to them and said, "Nash decided to go to school and pursue an art degree."

They both stood there silent. I didn't know if that was good or bad. With Pat and Nate, you could never tell.

"Okay, they're not saying anything," Nash whispered.

"I stunned them into silence," I whispered back.

"This might be bad. We might want to make a run for it."

"I agree."

We slowly made our way out of the office when we heard someone say, "Art, huh?"

We stopped, straightened up, and turned around.

"Well, at least it's something," Nate said.

"Wait. You're not mad?" Nash asked.

"No, should I be?"

"Well, most parents think I would be wasting time on art."

"Hun, we aren't most parents. Did you hit your head or something?" Pat asked him.

"No."

"Are you sure because did you forget our last name is Gray?"

"I'm confused."

"Yeah, I am, too," I said.

"Nash Nathaniel Gray! You should know better than anyone that we would support any of you boys if you wanted to follow your dreams. It's better than being a hobo!" She said.

"Yeah, hobos are dirty and smelly. Girls don't dig them," Nate said.

"Nathaniel Mark!"

"What? I'm saying. Nash, don't be a hobo." He nodded his head and winked at us.

"Ignore your father. His mother dropped him on his head too many times as a kid," she said.

"She did not! Stop telling lies, woman!"

"Yes, she did," she mouthed while pointing at Nate and making faces.

"You're going to school for art! Great! Now can we get back to work? I have a shipping manager to hurt!"

We took off out of there as Nate and Pat argued about work. They might be my in-laws one day. Oh, boy.

We left the factory and met up with the others. I guess things were moving in the right direction for everyone. Why would things get interesting?