The Variations by Jones M (iphone ebook reader TXT) 📕

"They think they're going to get away with it," Emma spoke with an evil grin. "If they knew what I had on them, they wouldn't be comfortable in court."

The people Emma was speaking about involved Nathan's parents. She had confirmed that he was the person who had bullied her in high school. His family, the Akers, were a known, influential upper-class people who were among the top 50 richest families in the country. They resided in Bournemouth where Emma had attended middle school.

"I'm worried, Emma," Kate told her. "What if they do something much worse? What if, in a way, they make the prosecutors and the judges turn against you?"

"Don't think too much about it, Kate," she told her. "The dirt I have on them... It will be enough to have them shit themselves in bed."

"Do you have proof?" Marie wondered.

"Yes."

"I believe you should back it up on other devices."

"Done," Emma stated, facing forward. "And the backups are not in my dorm. Trust me, Kate. Those people are not going to get away with this one."

Kate and Emma soon reached their destination. It was the last week of the college year. Some people were about to go for the summer break. The seniors, however, were having their graduation ceremony. It was being held in a large building that was set aside for the theater students.

Kate and Emma entered the large hall. It kind of resembled a movie theater with the large, blue seats positioned almost everywhere in the area.

"Emma! Kate!" they heard Gwen call out their names. Marie furrowed her eyebrows, searching for her roommate. It was after a few seconds that she spotted her sitting a couple of rows in front of them.

The two made their way towards Gwen. Just like her, they had dressed up for the event. The three had worn dresses of varying colors and designs with high-heeled shoes. Moreover, they had worn makeup that defined their features.

"I'm so glad you two made it," Gwen said, hugging Emma and Kate.

"Gwen, no offense, but why are you here?" Emma asked.

"My boyfriend is graduating," she replied.

"Oh. Well, okay."

"You should be glad that I managed to get the front seats for us," Gwen added. They were actually four rows behind the first row, but it was okay for them. It was either that or the other rows behind them.

The three settled themselves as they continued with other conversations. Kate's phone beeped with a notification, and she turned her attention to it.

'Where are you?' Chris had texted. She grinned, looking up to observe the surrounding seats. She soon spotted her boyfriend on the row in front of her.

'Behind you,' she replied. Kate noticed her boyfriend's head move as he turned to look around him. His eyes soon spotted her, and he grinned before turning to face the front.

'You look beautiful,' he replied, and a blush instantly caught on her cheeks. 

'You too,' she texted back with a smile, and she heard him laugh from where she sat.

Minutes later, the ceremony began. A couple of lecturers were present, and Kate tried to listen to the speeches given. They mostly comprised of the times spent in the campus and the values the students had gained to carry into their lives.

Then came the time for the main event everyone had come for. The graduating students who sat at the front were each called by their names, and they each got a photo with the coordinators who gave them their graduation documents.

Later in the afternoon, the graduates were found mingling with their families and other students.

"Congratulations, Alex," Kate said, moving to greet the lad. He smiled at her, grasping her hand in his as he greeted back.

"Thanks, Kate."

"So, what are your plans for the future?"

"Oh," he groaned, earning an amused smile from her. "Why is everyone asking me that? I just graduated. Let me live my life and enjoy the summer breeze--"

"Is this your way of saying you'll be partying again?"

"Yup," he replied unabashedly as he turned to flirt with a girl behind her. Kate rolled her eyes with a smile.

"There you are," Chris said, wrapping his arms around her waist. He leaned down, giving her a small kiss on her cheek. "I've been looking everywhere for you."

"Well, you didn't have to look around that much. I've been here the whole time," she said with a smile, turning to face him.

Kate's heart stuttered at the sight of a well-dressed Chris. His crew cut was styled to perfection. He had worn a black cashmere suit that showed off his form, and it made him look delectable. 

"You have no idea how many girls are wearing the same hairstyle as you today," he said with narrowed eyelids, toying with her ponytail.

Kate laughed before looking back at him. She noticed he was looking at her with a serious expression.

"What?"

"I wonder what our lives would be like after college," he said.

"Chris, we have senior year to look forward to," Kate reminded him with furrowed eyebrows.

"Yes," he agreed, "but what if we get jobs that would take us far from each other?"

Kate had no idea on how to reply to that.

"We'll deal with it when that comes," she replied. "For now, let's focus on the summer holiday that is coming. I'll be around in Stonedale, remember?"

"Yeah. Oh, yeah," he said, smirking as he moved to her. "I'm so glad you won't be traveling with your parents. We could go to the beach, we could stay at my home..."

"Yeah? What for?" Kate said in a breathy voice.

"Oh, you know what I'm talking about," he growled, and she shivered at the intense look in his eyes. "I'll be taking you everywhere we'll go this summer."

"Even the beach?" she teased.

"Especially the beach," his voice expressed promise.

Kate's breath hitched. She looked back at Chris, feeling a heated sensation between her thighs.

She quickly remembered where she was, and it caused her to blush.

"Thinking about me?" he asked.

"You know it," she replied, and she was momentarily shocked by her answer. Chris chuckled.

"Good, because I'll be taking what's mine tonight."

"Break it up, guys!" Gwen yelled, moving in between them with a smiling Ben in her hold.

"Hey, look! It's Begwe. Or is it Gwebe?" Marie started.

"Ha-ha. Very funny," Gwen said with sarcasm in her voice.

"What is that about?" Chris asked.

"Oh, Kate's just trying to find a ship name for me and Ben."

Then an amused expression appeared on Gwen's face.

"What about you two? Do you want to be Kris with a 'k' or Chate? What about ChriKate? Get it? Cricket?"

"That doesn't sound so bad," Chris replied, he and Ben laughing as Kate stared at her roommate with an unamused look.

"This is not over. I will find a suitable couple's name for the two of you," Kate announced.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Gwen dismissed with a wave of her hand. "So, anyways, are you two coming?"

"Where?" Chris asked.

"To the graduation party! I hear it's going to be epic."

"Okay," Kate replied with a shrug.

"Really?" Chris stated as he looked at her in disbelief. "What about our plans for tonight?"

"We'll have time to do that," she replied, patting his shoulder. "So, do you know where this party is?"

Gwen started leading the way with her boyfriend, and Chris followed them with Kate.

On the way, Marie couldn't help but think about her junior year. It had started in a way she had not been expecting. She was not complaining about how it was ending either. She was dating a guy she knew from her high school, and her roommate was in a long-term relationship with a college graduate. Apart from the issues that involved Emma and that car accident the two of them had gotten into, things were okay, and she wanted them to stay that way.

She was so glad that she was dating Chris. She knew there would be issues between them that would arise at some point in the future. Whatever they were, she believed they could fight through them. For some reason, Kate had a feeling she would not leave Chris for any other man.

And years later, she found her feeling to be true when they were having a second baby. There was barely any drama between the two, and they stayed together as husband and wife for a long time. They got to see their children grow, and they also got to see their grandchildren in their teenage years. They remained married to each other until death did them part.

Author's Note:

Hey, guys! Thank you so much for reading this book! 

I will be honest when I say it has been a hassle to paint the picture for the areas in this book and to work out arguments between characters. And I mistook 'bored' to mean that look... what is it?

When someone points out a fault in you and laughs, and then you give them a look to show you don't find it funny... What is that look?

That's why I went with 'unamused' :).

So anyway, I was thinking about writing Emma's story. I'm not sure about starting it because it will not be a light and fun read as I intended this one to be. And the kind of research I will have to do for it... Just picturing it makes me feel exhausted.

I'm not saying I will start on that book. I'm THINKING ABOUT IT.

Also, again, thank you for reading this book. 

{FEEL FREE TO STOP READING AT THIS POINT}

Now I get to venture onto other stories. So far, these are the ideas I am having for now:

  i) Emma's story that I might write if people want me to.

 ii) The Chief's Wife 2, but I plan it to be read as a standalone. That is if anyone has already read it. -_- . And if you have, do you agree with this plan? Did the first book feel like it was lacking something?

iii) And the one I keep postponing, The Witch's Revenge. I already have a storyline for the first book.

Yes, FIRST. I plan to make it into a series. Have been forming it in my head since 2016 and I'm yet to start typing it. But I worry people would find it unreadable. 

That is all. Thank you, and have a good one.

Publication Date: 07-12-2018

All Rights Reserved

Dedication:
To my readers :)