The day Roosevelt High celebrates its graduates, Casey Jones skips the ceremony.

Okay, he doesn't skip skip, but he stands outside the school in a button-up white shirt and dress pants, fumbling with his tie and wondering why he bothered to show up at all.

Because of April, he reminds himself. He wouldn't be here if it weren't for hating the idea of disappointing her.

It's a load of crap, of course, because he already has disappointed her. All that tutoring they did, the years he managed to keep moving up a grade, then another, and then...then this. Being left behind again.

It's embarrassing enough that he's in the same grade as his little sister now. She must have gotten all the brains their parents had to offer them. The school counsellors have been as helpful as they have been condescending, in that they've fully laid out his options, all while trying to make him feel like the biggest dumbass on the planet.

Casey knows he isn't school smart. He's always been better with the streets. Too bad the streets can't give you a diploma.

He's missing a few core credits, credits that are vital to graduation. You need twenty-two to graduate and he's missing three of those—math, science, and Spanish. Taylor had a good laugh over that one, but he's hoping she'll stop laughing long enough to give him some extra tutoring.

So, all he has to do is get those credits next year, pass a few exams, and graduate. Hell, they're even letting him stay on the hockey team, although it seems like his coach would rather he move on to better things. Casey wonders if there's an adult league he could join if the school benches him too much.

Honestly, that's the part that bums him out most, almost more than April graduating without him. Hockey is the one thing other than vigilante-ing that gets his blood pumping. Sure, there comes a point when he can't keep playing with high schoolers, but still...

"Are you gonna go in or...?"

He nearly jumps out of his skin, until he realizes that Destiny is standing in front of him, humanized and ready to go. Casey blinks at her, then looks at the streets around the school. Where there's Destiny...

"The guys are on their way," she promises, folding her arms behind her back. Sometimes, he wonders if April isn't the only psychic one. "I came on ahead to see how you were doing. Andy said you had left, so..."

"You went to my house?"

"I was worried you were holed up feeling sorry for yourself."

He flaps his lips. "Please, me? Feeling sorry for myself?"

"I know, I know, it was foolish of me to think that the ever-so-proud Casey Jones would stoop so low."

She bows low at the waist, sweeping one arm to her stomach, and Casey puffs up his chest. After a second, they burst into giggles, and he's sure that her tail would be wagging a mile a minute if it weren't hidden away by the patch.

She wipes her eyes, taking a few breaths. "Okay, okay," she says. She comes closer to him, reaching for his tie. "So, how is the famous Casey Jones?"

He almost lets his default bravado fly off his tongue, but he stops himself. Destiny focuses on his tie, smoothing it as best she can, and he lets out a long sigh. She looks up at his face, tilting her head.

"Is it weird that I'm relieved, but not?" he asks.

"How so?"

"I mean, I should want to be free of high school. Go out in the world," he says. "But at the same time, high school is like...familiar. And safe. Feels like I can avoid adulthood for a bit longer."

She frowns. "Adulthood's gonna happen whether you like it or not."

"Yeah, I know."

She glances towards the doors to the school. "Is it hard knowing your friends are moving on?"

"What friends? You guys and April are all I've got, and you're not moving on from anything," he says. She blinks at him and his shoulders sag. "Okay, April is, and...yeah. That's harder than I thought it'd be."

"Well, no matter what, you've got all us Hamatos supporting both of you. I think you'll be just fine. This next year will fly by and then you'll be on your way to being a pro hockey player or professional bounty hunter."

"International bounty hunter," he corrects.

"Po-tay-to, po-tah-to," she retorts.

He smiles a little at her, then looks back at the school doors. She steps closer, hooking her arm around his waist in a gentle side-hug.

"Let's go, Jones. Can't hide forever," she says.

They head up the steps and disappear into the school.

----------

April takes her diploma and switches her tassel to the other side of her cap while Casey and the Hamatos (plus friends) scream themselves hoarse. Splinter and Kirby stand side by side, clapping along with the other more subdued audience members.

"O'NEIIIIIIIL!" Casey howls, wolf-whistling.

April waves at them as she hurries across the stage, her freckled face lit up with pride.

Seeing her so happy, Casey feels like he'll be okay too. He's been held back before. He can do it again. Everything will be fine.

----------

Casey waits patiently while April greets her dad, hugging him tight and basking in the slightly-teary praise she receives from him. Then, she turns to him and the rest of their teenage friends, and Casey opens his arms as she runs toward him. She collides with his chest and he lifts her off her feet, sweeping her into a long kiss, and when he sets her down, she's smiling and her cheeks are starting to match her hair. She reaches up to fix the swinging gold tassel near her ear.

"Congrats, Red," he says. "Proud of you."

"We all are," Raphael cuts in, elbowing Casey aside. "Get over here, April!"

She laughs as he hugs her, squeezing her tight, while Casey rubs the freshly sore spot on his side. Michelangelo rushes in for his own hug the second Raphael lets her go, lifting her off her feet and shaking her a little. Leonardo and Donatello give her far more subdued and far shorter hugs.

"Now, I'll know you'll be busy with higher education and all, but you're gonna make it to our grad too, right?" Donatello asks.

"I wouldn't miss it," April promises. "Besides, who else is gonna make Destiny fight for her dragon tanto?"

Destiny flashes a pointed grin. "Oh, you're on, April."

"It's gonna be weird not having you around school," Annalise says.

"Hey, at least Casey's sticking around," Taylor jokes.

"Don't remind me, Tay," Casey groans.

"I know, but you guys'll be fine," April assures them. "Next year will fly by."

"I don't even want to think about it," Annalise says. She points between Taylor and Casey. "'Cause then both of you will move on and I'll be alone."

"You'll always have us, Lisey!" Michelangelo says, hooking his arm around her waist and tugging her close. She giggles as he leans in to nuzzle her cheek with his nose.

Raphael puts his arm around Taylor's shoulders. "Ugh, public affection. Gross."

Taylor grins and kisses his knuckles before gripping his hand. "Yeah, disgusting," she agrees. "I—"

She freezes, her eyes going wide, her face paling. Casey and Raphael both follow her gaze just as a woman pushes through the bustling families around the gymnasium. She's tall, heightened by the bright red heels she's wearing, and her chest-length black hair has been curled perfectly. Her dark eyes, framed by smokey eyeshadow, latch onto the group. A blinding smile rimmed in red lipstick brightens her face.

"Mierda," Taylor breathes.

"TAYLOR!" the woman squeals, rushing forward, her heels clicking as she extends her arms.

Taylor backs up, recoiling so fiercely that Raphael backs away from her too. The woman doesn't seem to take that into account, swooping the poor girl into a tight hug. Taylor locks eyes with Casey over her shoulder, internally screaming for help.

"Oh, mi princesita, I'm so glad I found you!" she coos, pulling away and starting to fiddle with the dark red-tipped hair framing Taylor's face. Taylor stays stock-still, a statue. "Where is your gown? Don't tell me you took it off!"

Taylor seems to snap out of it, batting the woman's hands away. "What are you doing here?" she hisses.

"I'm heeee-ere!" the woman crows, almost singing it as she throws her hands into the air. Casey narrowly avoids being hit by her hand, as well as the giant, glittery rock clinging to her left ring finger. "I went by Carmela's and she said you were at graduation! I'm sorry I missed the ceremony, my dear, but—"

"Excuse me," Leonardo cuts in. The woman's gaze switches to him, blinking once. "Who are you and why are you harassing our friend?"

"Harass—" The woman lets out a long laugh, pressing one manicured hand to her chest. "Oh! Oh, my goodness, I'm sorry. Taylor, did you not tell them I was coming?"

"You didn't even tell me you were coming," Taylor says, glowering.

"Well, don't be rude!" She grins, gesturing widely at the group. "Introduce me to your adorable little friends!"

Casey swears he can hear her teeth grinding. "Everyone...this is Bianca," Taylor mutters. "My mamá."

Somehow, in the bustling gymnasium, things gets far too quiet. Bianca grins and puts her hands on her hips as if posing. Taylor just stares.

"I can't believe how big you've gotten!" Bianca says, once again reaching for Taylor, who once again avoids her touch. "And you've graduated already! I can't—"

"I didn't graduate today. I'm here for April," Taylor says.

April, standing nearby, waves awkwardly. Bianca looks her over, at how she's very clearly wearing a cap and gown, and her lips part.

"Ohhhh," she says, nodding. "I must've gotten my years mixed up! Silly me!"

"Taylor," Sarina says, stepping closer as she lowers her voice. "Do you need an exit? I can create a diversion."

"I'm good," Taylor mutters back. She lifts her chin. "Raph, take me home, por favor."

"On it," Raphael says. He takes her hand and, without a sideways glance at Bianca, they hurry away into the crowd.

Bianca spins around. "Oh, don't be like that!" she calls, hurrying after them. "We have so much catching up to do! And you have to introduce me to this fine young man!"

The others watch in stunned silence as she hurries after them. When they're out of sight, nervous glances pass around everyone.

"Yikes," April says.

"Big yikes," Michelangelo agrees.