The second committee meeting started fifteen minutes late because Dante couldn't find the room.
"It's literally labeled," Astrid said, not looking up from her tablet as he strolled in.
"Got distracted," Dante said with a grin, dropping into his chair. "New school, lots of hallways."
"You've been here for three months," Elias pointed out dryly.
"Time flies when you're—"
"Can we begin?" Astrid interrupted, her tone sharp enough to cut glass.
Mabelle hid a smile behind her hand. Astrid didn't play.
The room settled, all ten committee members present. Tariq had a stack of printed venue proposals. Yuki's tablet displayed mood boards for potential themes. Isla sat beside her, nervously tapping her pen against her notebook.
"First order of business," Astrid said, pulling up a spreadsheet on the projector. "Budget. We have £250,000 allocated by the academy, plus whatever we can secure in sponsorships. Zion and I have drafted a preliminary breakdown."
The numbers appeared on screen—venue rental, catering, decorations, security, equipment, contingency funds. Every pound accounted for.
Amara leaned forward, scanning the sheet. "You allocated £60,000 for decorations? That's excessive."
"It's realistic," Astrid countered. "We're decorating for over three hundred guests across a venue that seats a thousand. If you want it to look like a high school gym party, we can cut it. If you want it to represent Goldridge's reputation, this is what it costs."
Amara's jaw tightened, but she didn't argue.
Zion added, "We've also reached out to fifteen corporate sponsors—alumni-owned businesses, parent companies, luxury brands that align with Goldridge's image. Early responses are positive. We could raise an additional £100,000 if we play it right."
Dante whistled low. "Damn, Vale. Didn't know you had it in you."
"There's a lot you don't know," Zion replied evenly.
The tension simmered but didn't boil over.
"Budget approved pending sponsorships?" Astrid asked.
Hands went up around the table. Eight in favor, two abstaining (Dante and Amara, clearly still salty).
"Motion passes," Astrid said, making a note. "Next: venue options. Tariq, Elias—you're up."
Venue Proposals
Tariq stood, his movements calm and deliberate. He was the kind of person who commanded attention without demanding it.
"We've narrowed it down to three locations," he said, pulling up images on the projector.
Option One: The Grand Conservatory A massive glass-domed venue in central London, surrounded by botanical gardens. Elegant, timeless, with natural light pouring through the ceiling.
"Pros," Elias said, taking over. "Stunning visuals, excellent acoustics, accessible location. Cons: expensive, limited parking, books up months in advance."
"We already have it reserved," Tariq added. "Conditional on final approval by next week."
Option Two: The Riverside Estate A historic manor on the Thames, with sprawling grounds, ballrooms, and outdoor terraces.
"Pros," Elias continued. "Spacious, versatile, iconic London backdrop. Cons: requires shuttles from central locations, weather-dependent for outdoor elements."
Option Three: The Apex Tower A modern high-rise event space with panoramic city views, sleek interiors, and cutting-edge tech.
"Pros: futuristic aesthetic, built-in AV systems, climate-controlled. Cons: sterile feel, lacks historical charm."
The room fell silent as everyone absorbed the options.
Yuki spoke first, her voice soft but clear. "For theme purposes, I believe the Conservatory offers the most flexibility. Natural elements blend with any design concept."
"I agree," Isla said quietly. "It feels... timeless."
"But the Riverside Estate has tradition," Mabelle argued. "Goldridge is about legacy. That manor screams legacy."
"It also screams 'outdoor wedding in the rain,'" Celeste countered. "I'm not risking weather disasters."
Dante leaned back. "Apex Tower is sick. Skyline views, modern vibes. Why are we even debating?"
"Because it has no soul," Amara shot back. "This is graduation, not a corporate product launch."
"You would know about corporate," Dante muttered.
Amara's eyes flashed. "Excuse me?"
"Enough," Astrid said sharply. "We vote. Majority decides, then we present to the full class. Conservatory?"
Five hands. Mabelle, Celeste, Yuki, Isla, Tariq.
"Riverside Estate?"
Two hands. Zion, Elias.
"Apex Tower?"
Three hands. Dante, Amara, and surprisingly, Astrid herself.
"Conservatory wins," Astrid said, though her expression suggested mild disappointment. "We present this to the class tomorrow. Prepare your pitch."
Later That Evening – Dorm Common Room
Mikey sat sprawled on the couch, controller in hand, as Celeste worked through flashcards beside him. The space was quiet except for the game's background music.
"How's the committee?" Mikey asked without looking up.
"Exhausting," Celeste said. "Everyone has opinions, half of them clash, and Astrid runs it like a military operation."
Mikey chuckled. "Sounds like Astrid."
"You know her?"
"Not really. But I've heard stories. Swedish branch kids say she once planned an entire charity gala in three days because the original coordinator quit. Raised £50,000."
Celeste raised her eyebrows. "Okay, I'm impressed."
"She's scary efficient," Mikey said. "But hey, at least you've got Z and Mabelle back on solid ground. That's gotta help."
Celeste smiled faintly. "Yeah. It does."
Across the room, Isla sat alone by the window, staring at her phone. She'd opened and closed her messages a dozen times, hovering over Lucian's blocked contact.
Celeste noticed, setting down her cards. "Isla."
Isla looked up, startled. "What?"
"Stop torturing yourself. He's gone. Let him stay gone."
Isla's throat tightened. "I know. It's just... hard."
Celeste moved to sit beside her. "I know. But you're stronger than this. You proved it today—you spoke up in that meeting. That's the Isla we need. Not the one staring at old messages."
Isla nodded slowly, then finally deleted Lucian's contact for good.
It didn't fix everything. But it was a start.
The Next Day – Full Year Class Vote
The auditorium was packed. Every final year student from every branch crammed into seats, buzzing with anticipation.
Tariq and Elias stood on stage with the projector remote, professional and composed.
"Good afternoon," Tariq began. "As your venue coordinators, we've identified the best option for our graduation ceremony."
He pulled up the image of the Grand Conservatory, and the room collectively gasped. It was stunning—glass and greenery, light and elegance.
Elias explained the logistics, the accessibility, the aesthetic potential. His delivery was calm, methodical, convincing.
When they finished, Tariq asked, "All in favor of the Grand Conservatory as our graduation venue?"
Hands shot up across the auditorium. Mabelle did a quick scan—easily two-thirds of the room.
"Motion passes," Tariq said, a slight smile tugging at his lips.
Applause rippled through the crowd, and for the first time, the enormity of what they were building felt real.
Committee Debrief – That Afternoon
Back in the meeting room, the mood was lighter.
"First major win," Zion said, leaning back in his chair.
"Don't get comfortable," Astrid warned. "Venue was easy. Wait until we debate the theme."
Yuki, who'd been quiet most of the meeting, finally spoke up. "I've been working on theme concepts. May I present?"
"Go ahead," Astrid said.
Yuki pulled up a series of mood boards—each one more breathtaking than the last.
Theme One: "Eclipse" A blend of light and shadow, gold and black, representing the transition from one phase of life to another.
Theme Two: "Horizons" Soft blues and whites, symbolizing the infinite possibilities ahead.
Theme Three: "Legacy in Bloom" Rich greens and golds, combining Goldridge's tradition with the natural beauty of the Conservatory.
The room fell silent, everyone absorbing the visuals.
"I love Eclipse," Celeste said immediately.
"Too dark," Amara countered. "This is supposed to be celebratory."
"Horizons feels generic," Dante added. "Like a motivational poster."
"Legacy in Bloom," Mabelle said thoughtfully. "It ties the venue, the academy's history, and our future together. It's perfect."
Zion nodded. "Agreed."
Astrid looked around the table. "Vote. Eclipse?"
Two hands. Celeste and Dante.
"Horizons?"
One hand. Amara.
"Legacy in Bloom?"
Seven hands. The majority.
"We present this to the class next week," Astrid said. "Yuki, refine the designs. Make them undeniable."
Yuki bowed her head slightly. "I will."
That Night – Zion and Mabelle
They sat on the roof of the UK dorm building, legs dangling over the edge, the city lights twinkling below.
"It's actually happening," Mabelle said softly. "We're really graduating."
"Yeah," Zion replied. "Feels surreal."
"What happens after?" Mabelle asked, turning to him. "Have you thought about it?"
Zion hesitated. "My parents want me to go to Oxford. Study business, take over their company eventually. But I don't know if that's what I want."
"What do you want?"
He looked at her, his expression vulnerable. "Honestly? I just want to figure it out with you."
Mabelle's heart swelled. "We will. Whatever comes next, we'll figure it out together."
Zion pulled her closer, kissing the top of her head. "Promise?"
"Promise," she whispered.
And for now, that was enough.