I paced the floor of the common room, biting my nails.

It was currently four in the morning and I hadn't gone to sleep yet. My mind was still reeling from what had happened earlier.

Monday. Monday I would have to go meet this person named Cain. This person who knew about my mother. This person that could potentially be the source of the answers to my countless questions about my mother and how she died.

I was finally going to find out what killed her.

That thought alone was the reason I was going to go. Forget that it could be incredibly dangerous. I had no idea who these people were. I had no idea who Gerrard was, no clue who Cain was. They could be murderers or dark wizards that were trying to lead me into a trap.

But he knew my name and he knew about my mother.

I had to take a chance; I had to take a risk and go meet this person. I needed answers and since I wasn't going to get them from anywhere else, I might as well try this person.

With this thought in mind, I exited the common room and made my way back to my dorm.

One week and then I would have my answers.

                                             ~~~~~~~~~~~~

"OWWW" I shouted. "OW OW OW OW OWWWWWWW!" I howled.

"Shut UP!" Abbey yelled.

I whimpered in pain as she yanked the wax strip off my legs, pulling the fine hairs off with it.

"This is completely unnecessary!" I cried.

"It's not! Do you want to be a hairy beast for graduation?!" Abbey exclaimed.

"I can just shave them!" I yelled back.

"Well, if you wax them, they'll take longer to grow back," she replied, spreading the hot liquid wax onto the next area of my leg. I howled in pain as she ripped it off.

"STOP! STOP IT! TORTURE!!!!" I cried out.

"Stop being such a baby," Abbey snapped.

I clawed at the ground to relieve some of the agony that I was feeling.

Currently, Abbey was waxing my legs. She insisted on doing this so that my legs would look amazing under the graduation robe. And despite all my protests and attempts to get away, here I was, sitting on the floor of our dorm room, getting my hair ripped out of my skin.

I felt like my skin was being ripped away from my muscles.

The graduation ceremony was to be held outdoors in the soccer stadium. There were 154 chairs set up already in neat rows facing the podium. Trey, my boyfriend of 7 months, and I had been taking a little afternoon stroll earlier that day and had seen the professors setting up the chairs by levitating them and setting them into place.

After Monday, we would be out of this place, probably forever. I didn't plan on ever coming back and visiting Trinity. I hadn't made any lasting impressions on the professors, except maybe Professor Little, who was my Spells professor. He had been my mother's professor when she had attended Trinity High, as well, which is why he took a liking to me. Like her, I was one of his top students, passing his final exam with a perfect score after successfully performing all of the basic spells flawlessly. I passed my History exam with exceptional marks, but was completely destroyed by the Potions final, although I managed to pass somehow. But just barely.

"Look, we're almost done," Abbey said, pointing at a small strip of hair that was left on my otherwise reddening legs.

"I look like I have two stumps of sausage for legs," I mumbled. It didn't even hurt anymore. I think my nerve endings were so tortured that they got fried.

"Go soak them in warm water for a bit and then put lotion on them," she instructed, closing the cap of the wax container. She tossed the strips into the waste bin and stood up. "Get up," she said.

"I don't think I can," I mumbled, looking at my immobile legs that were shiny, but still very bumpy and red.

"Do you think there's a spell that can get rid of hair instead of using this torturous method?" I asked as she pulled me to my feet. I grabbed ahold of her shoulder so I wouldn't topple over.

"There probably is, but I'm not professional at magic. I'd rather not blow your legs off," she said.

"I'd rather you not, either," I agreed. She laughed and led me to the bathroom, pulling up a warm water bath. I stuck my legs inside and instantly felt relief wash over me.

"Ahhh," I sighed.

"The redness is temporary. It should be gone by tomorrow," Abbey said.

"And if it's not?" I asked. She shrugged.

"Then you can wear pants," she said simply with a smirk. I glared at her.

First, it was her stupid idea that I wear a dress on graduation. And then she forced me to get my leg hairs ripped out of my skin. And now she was telling me that I would wear pants.

"Get out of here!" I exclaimed. She chuckled and exited the bathroom as I muttered obscenities at her under my breath.

                                                         ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"...we were surprised by the talent that this particular group of witches and wizards offered. We have no doubt in our minds that they will be successful in their future endeavors. These young Magii sitting before us are the future of our secret wizarding world. And I have little doubt in my mind that they will make a lasting impact on the history of the Magii," my father spoke clearly, effortlessly into the mic.

It was graduation day. The day that all high schoolers dreamt of since the moment they step foot into the school they would attend for the next four years of their lives. But I wasn't graduating with my classmates back in my old high school. No, I was sitting, among fellow witches and wizards, graduating from an academy for those who had the ability to perform magic.

Just a few months ago, I was an ordinary girl who was struggling with her mother's death. Today, I was so much more. I was the girl with the blue eyes who lost her mother to a mystery disease that had to do with magic. I was the girl that was really a witch. I was the girl that felt a calming sensation around water because that my element. I was the girl that had the most amazing boyfriend that anyone could ask for. I was the girl that had finally made friends.

I was completely different. I had moments, earlier in the semester, where I struggled with my changing personality. I even went so far as to fight it, but it was no use. Sometimes, there was no stopping change. It was an unstoppable and inevitable force and I let it take over me.

And now here I was, surrounded by my fellow witches and wizards, many of whom I had befriended. But none of them, not one of them, knew who I really was. I didn't even know who I really was.

There were so many questions that I had that had remained unanswered. But after today, after tonight, I would know everything...

"Caley!" I heard my name being called. I turned to see Abbey walking briskly up to me. Her cap was slightly lopsided, her gown a bit askew. But she had a smile that could light up a whole city that she was directing at me.

"Hey, Abbey," I said kindly.

"We're done! Can you believe it?! We're going to University!" she squealed, hugging me. I felt myself stiffen. I was never much of a hugger, but I forced myself to hug Abbey back awkwardly.

"Come! I want you to meet my parents!" she said, her eyes bright. She took my wrist and led me over to two adults that were undoubtedly Abbey's mother and father.

The woman had sleek, shiny brown hair, just like Abbey's. She had sharp green eyes, but a warm smile that her daughter had plastered on her face. The man also had wavy brunette hair. He had kind, chocolate brown eyes and a air of authority about him.

"Mom! Dad! This is Caley, my roommate," Abbey said, introducing us.

"Ah, Caley. We've heard quite a bit about you," Mrs. Green said.

"I hope they were good things," I joked. Her eyebrow twitched, but she smiled nonetheless. Abbey no doubt told her how obnoxious and rude I was to her when we first met. I guess her mother was one for grudges.

"Well, congratulations on graduating, Caley. Ready for the big university?" Mr. Green said.

"I'm as ready as ever, excited even. I feel like we haven't learned anything at all about magic here at Trinity. I'm excited to finally learn things of substance," I replied.

"That's how most graduates are. You'll be singing a different tune when you get there, though. The course work load is difficult and rigorous," Mr. Green warned.

"I think I can handle it," I replied cheekily.

"Well, you've certainly got spunk," he said, giving me an approving smile. I returned it and then looked at Abbey.

"I'm going to go find Trey," I said. She nodded and squeezed my hand before I went off into the crowd.

"CALEY!!!" I heard someone whoop.

I turned to see who had called my name and before I knew it, I was being lifted off my feet and thrown over a shoulder.

"JASON!!" I shouted.

"We're done!" Jason, Trey's best guy friend, cried.

"Jason! Put me down!" I yelled, pounding at his back. He set me down, a cheeky grin on his face. I punched him in the shoulder and he laughed, pulling me into a big bear hug.

"Congratulations!" he exclaimed in my ear. I laughed and smacked him on the back before he let go.

"You, too," I said. I stood on my tip-toes, scanning the crowd.

"Looking for your boyfriend?" Jason asked, wiggling his eyebrows at me.

"Yes, actually I--" I started, but am cut off.

"Caley!!!" I heard. I looked up to see Natalia running towards me, her arms out-stretched. She pulled me into a motherly embrace, kissing the top of my head.

"Congratulations, sweetheart!" she exclaimed. I laughed.

"Thanks! It's so good to see you, Natalia!" I replied. She smiled and kissed my cheek.

"I've already spoken to your father. You are welcome at our house any time you wish over the summer. And I've already asked him if you can come along with us to our vacation home in Georgia. It will be nice to get some sun and get away for a bit before University begins," she told me in quick tones.

"I can't wait," I replied simply. She smiled at me and wrapped her arm around my shoulder.

"Trey's taking group pictures with the boys. Come on, you should take some, too," she said, pulling me along.

She led me to Trey, who was in the middle of a group of all of his friends. I could see Jason, Bradley, Michael, Lance, and Jacob. Trey looked over and his eyes fell on me, brightening immediately.

He broke away from the crowd and came up to me, lifting me swiftly into his arms and planting a kiss on my lips. He set me back on my feet, our lips still attached, and I wrapped my arms around his neck. His friends whooped in the background, calling out jeers and making kissing noises.

When we pulled away, I knew we were both starry eyed.

"Hey," he whispered, a smile on his perfect lips.

"Hey yourself," I replied. He chuckled and tucked a strand of my hair behind my ears.

I looked up into his amazing multi-colored eyes. I could make out clearly the grey-green-amber flecks in his irises. He leaned forward and kissed my forehead.

"Abbey dragged me to meet her parents. Jason threw me over his shoulder and crushed me with one of his hugs. And your mom nearly tackled me over when she saw me," I said. "I feel like I'm being beat up," I added. Trey laughed.

"They're just happy," he said.

"I know," I replied.

"Are you?" he asked, his expression turning slightly serious. I looked into his eyes and a flash of the night I met Gerrard went through my mind. The steely blue-grey iciness of his eyes compared to the warmth in Trey's eyes was alarmingly different.

"Of course I'm happy," I replied, a smile forming on my lips. He leaned down and kissed me again before leading me back to the group. I saw Christopher, Trey's father, with the camera as he snapped shots of Trey's friends doing crazy poses with their diplomas.

"Congratulations, kiddo," he said to me with a warm smile. I felt a pang of pain run through my chest. Where was my father?

"Thanks, Christopher," I replied.

"I believe my wife has already passed on the message to you?" he asked. I nodded.

"What message?" Trey asked.

"I'm going to stay at your vacation home in Georgia when you go down," I replied. Trey's eyes lit up immediately.

"Really?!" he exclaimed excitedly. I nodded. He grinned and kissed the side of my head. Christopher swiftly took a picture of this.

"Stand over there. I want a proper picture of you two," he said. We stood aside, our arms around each other, holding our diplomas out and smiling. Christopher took the picture and then I joined the group of boys. Eventually, Abey came up and joined us.

After about a half an hour, I was completely blinded by flashing lights. I had little colorful squares bouncing in front of my eyes, obscuring my sight. We were all ushered into the common room for an after-graduation party. It was decorated with Trinity's colors: red, gold, and navy. There were streamers hung up artfully, the Trinity crest in an ice sculpture, and confetti everywhere.

For the next few hours, I indulged in the delicious food with my friends that I would be reunited with again at University.

Trinity University of Magic.

It was crazy to think that in three months, I would be attending college. And not just any college, one that taught magic.

I excused myself from the laughter and games and walked outside into the slight chill of the New York spring air.

The sky was dark now, a mix between a deep midnight blue and black. Littered all along it were tiny silver dots. That was one thing I liked about Trinity. We were so far off from civilization, in a hidden and inconspicuous part of New York, that there were no buildings or artifical lights to obscure the night sky. I could clearly make out the constellations that we learned about in astronomy: Ursa Major and Minor, Draco, Orion's belt.

I stood staring at the sky and didn't notice that someone else was present beside me. I didn't need to look over to see who it was, though.

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A/N: Graduation chapter! Next chapter will be her meeting with "Cain".

Comment and vote! Let me know how you like the story so far!

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