Disclamer: Don't own 'em.
Paul looked up as the door slammed and was met with a tearful Casey. Inwardly, Paul sighed, but he had enough empathy to know not to do it outwardly. He gestured for her to sit in the chair in front of the desk and swiveled back to grab the box of tissues, then looked down to see that it was almost empty. I must not be doing my job if I can't get the students, namely Casey, to stop crying he thought glumly, trying to remember why he'd become a a councilor. Paul sat back and spent the next half an hour listening to Casey cry and trying to turn her mood around. She was babbling that her birthday was the next day and Sam hadn't done anything yet and that even though they weren't going out anymore and they were still friends she still wanted some recognition...I must've said "How does that make you feel?" at least fifty times already he thought.
No sooner had Paul thought he was drowning in self-pity than the bell rung. As Casey got up to leave, somewhat less tearful than she had arrived, Paul sweeped the many tissues off the table with his hand. Is it just me, or lately do we make next to no progress during Casey's appointments? Paul asked himself. A quick glance at the clock told him he should be getting home soon. Paul desperately wished the clock moved slower. He didn't want to go home to his wife and her nagging attitude. But he got up nonetheless and walked out to his car. As he exited the school and was met with the bright sun, an idea occured to him. What the heck he thought It'll get me out of the house anyway. So Paul, instead of turning right to go home, he turned left, knowing Casey wouldn't be home yet but the rest of the family would.
Casey walked up the driveway and sighed, dramatically wondering if her life was worth anything anymore. She sighed glumly and rubbed her hands together for warmth. Aren't birthdays supposed to be happy times? she thought, sighing again. Casey reached the door and walked inside quickly, taking off her coat and hanging it on the hook. She heard a bunch of "shhhh"s coming from the dark kitchen.
"Hello?" she called out. She walked to the kitchen slowly.
"Surprise!" The second she stepped inside the lights were flicked on and the entire MacDonald/Venturi family, Emily and Sam, and Paul jumped up from various hiding spots around the room! Casey's eyes widened and her hand flew to her mouth, and she let out a squeal of happiness, eyeing the balloons and streamers strewn about and the cake in the center of the table. Marti jumped up and down and giggled, and Nora eccentrically captured a digital picture of her daughter's face.
"Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!" Casey cried, and Derek groaned. "You're not going to get all mushy on us, are you?" he said.
Casey stopped jumping up and down and stared at Derek. "Was this...your idea?" she asked. Marti yelled "No!" and Lizzie pointed at Paul, who grinned sheepishly. Casey ran over to him as the family cheered and wrapped him into a hug.
Oh yeah Paul thought with a laugh, This is why I became a guidence councilor.