A Beautiful Friendship

Lincoln is 18
Carter & Kate are 17

"Lincoln. Nathaniel. Thomas. Grant."

The huge outdoor stadium filled with people applauded loudly, shocking Olivia and Fitz and every member of both of their families who were sitting nearby. They clapped proudly right along with the massive gathering of parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, friends, and anyone else who wanted to come witness this milestone in every teenager's life.

Laughter began to bubble up within Olivia until it eventually turned to tears. Happy ones. Proud ones. She watched him walk across the stage made of wood that the school dragged out every year in May for this event. It was covered with some kind of green drape, so it resembled grass. Nothing super fancy. Just something for show and pictures.

The "stage" was elevated a few feet over the heads of the other guests seated in the middle of the football field. The ones wearing navy blue robes and brightly colored tassels and waiting patiently to hear their name called so they could grab that rolled up piece of paper and get the hell out of there. Several plastic blue chairs were lined up at the back of the stage with various faculty members sitting stoically in them.

But Olivia didn't see any of that. Her eyes were riveted to her son, as she continued watching Lincoln walked across the stage, get his diploma from the high school principal, shake his hand, fist pump the air, and get his picture taken with a more serious expression.

Her baby wasn't a baby anymore. He was a high school graduate. She continued clapping proudly for him amidst her tears, and felt large arms pull her close. She didn't have to look to know they belonged to her husband. He always knew when she needed him, and Olivia was thankful for that. She kept her face turned towards the center of the football field but held onto him tightly.

Lincoln had been accepted into his first choice, Columbia University. He had maintained a good GPA without having to study much. It was something that had caused tension between he and Kate as she stayed up all hours to hold onto her number one spot in her class while he spent his time with Anna or his friends. He also had a good head start with a few scholarships he'd earned from writing essays a few months ago. While he hadn't really known what he intended to major in while he was at college, Olivia reminded him that he had plenty of time to figure it out. It was only a two hour drive to the campus, and Olivia reminded herself that that wasn't such a big deal.

When the administrator had given out diplomas to each student in the graduating class, he instructed them to turn their tassels from the right side of thier caps to the left. The students did so in silence. The moment the closing words, "Congratulations class of two thousand eighteen" were spoken, navy blue caps were joyously thrown into the air by every student on the field.

Olivia and Fitz, along with everyone else in attendance stormed the football field in search of their new graduate. It took more than a few minutes for them to find Lincoln, but when they did, Olivia pulled him into her arms, holding on tightly and still crying those happy tears. "I'm so proud of you!" She gushed, wiping her eyes.

"Thanks, mom. I couldn't have done it without you and dad." Lincoln replied, holding her tightly.

Fitz shook his son's hand proudly, both sharing big smiles, and then pulled him close for a hug. "Congratulations, Mr. High school graduate! Love you."

"Thanks, dad. Love you too." Lincoln replied.

"Ohmygod! There you are!" Anna threw herself into his arms with a huge grin on her face. Pulling back, she happily kissed him. Lincoln plucked his cap off his head and put it on hers, keeping his arm around her waist.

"It'll be your turn next year." Lincoln reminded her.

Pictures were taken of Lincoln with his parents. With his parents and his siblings. With all four of his grandparents. With Anna. With Anna and her family. With any number of his friends who stopped by for a friendly hug and cheerful "congratulations" before they disappeared into the crowd looking for their own families.

That had been two and a half months ago.

Olivia only thought she knew what sad was when it came to her kids. She was so very wrong. Of all the times that they had said something or done something, like walking, talking, starting school, going to prom, voices changing, and having "the talk" with Kate; nothing made her feel sadder than when she and Fitz took Lincoln to his college dorm. And left him there. All by himself.

She sat in silence in the passenger seat all the way to the campus and constantly wiped the hot tears that fell from her eyes and slid down her cheeks. Her first baby was leaving home for college. It tore her heart in half to know that she and Fitz would be returning home without him. When she thought about the fact that Carter and Kate would be leaving to go to college a year from now, the pain was almost unbearable.

The five of them had spent the summer together doing any and everything, trying to cram in as much family time before Lincoln left. Olivia figured the memories would carry them all until Thanksgiving, when he would return home for the first time since starting college.

They had gone camping, among other things, which was a disaster! It had been a fun thought. Spending time with each other and nature always looked fun in the movies and television commercials. But the Grants were not those people. Not even close to being those people. They laughed about it when they got home, which wasn't the point of the trip, but it was definitely a memory none of them would forget.

Fitz was not an outdoor guy. He couldn't even pitch a tent. Carter sat on a nearby stump and began reading the set up directions while his father and brother teased him. When the tent looked like a small dilapidated home for retired circus clowns, the older Grant males were left scratching their heads while Carter sprang into action. The large three room tent had gotten pitched quickly and effortlessly by Carter and when he was done, Olivia and Kate went inside to set up bedding.

The five of them had gone swimming, cooked their dinner of hot dogs and smores over a campfire, and changed into their pajamas before calling it a night and crawling into their sleeping bags. It had poured the first night. Shortly after they had gotten settled into their sleeping bags in fact. And that was the moment the family learned that Fitz hadn't waterproofed the tent before they left home.

It started out with everyone complaining to Fitz and blaming him for their wet condition.

"How in the hell should I know that a brand new tent needs anything other than to be pitched when you go camping?" He had argued.

"According to Google..." Carter began with a chuckle.

Olivia had laughed along with her son. "You really should have asked when you bought the tent, babe."

"I couldda told you that, dad. Me and the guys go camping at the lake all the time. Never got rained on once while inside our tent." Lincoln bragged.

"Daaaaaaad!" Kate whined. "My sleeping bag is soaked! Can't we just, like, go stay in a hotel or something?"

"Uh uh! You guys wanted to go camping. Experience nature and all that shit. Well, rain is part of nature so deal with it!" He shot back.

After listening to the kids whining, the cold seeping into her bones, and wishing for the hundredth time for a hot cup of coffee, Olivia turned to her husband and whispered. "If this rain doesn't let up with in the next thirty minutes we are going to a hotel or you're not ever going anywhere wet again."

Knowing his wife wasn't one to threaten, Fitz made a declaration of his own in the sopping enclosure. "Let's give it twenty minutes. If the rain hasn't let up by then we'll go to a hotel."

Fifteen minutes later, the Grant family had thrown the brand new tent in a nearby metal trash can and made their way to a hotel. The five of them had stayed up late, laughing and playing cards until well past midnight. The trip had been a bust, but the memory was a fun one.

Olivia chuckled quietly, shaking her head back and forth at the recollection. How did her kids get so big so fast? They were just celebrating Lincoln's first birthday. Just yesterday he was a duck in his kindergarten class. She sniffed as quietly as she could. He'd always be her duck no matter how big he got.

Fitz reached over and held her hand, giving it a squeeze. "You okay, Liv?"

She nodded silently as she looked out the window. She was hiding the tears.

"Mom. I'm gonna come home all the time. I'll be home so much you won't even be able to miss me. Please don't cry." Lincoln pleaded.

She put on a stupid smile and said in a voice too high with too much forced cheer, "I'm not crying. There's something in my eye. Fitz, you really need to clean this car out more often." She pushed a button on her door and let her window down, closing her eyes. The cool air felt good on her skin. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Are you guys hungry?"

"Anna and I..." Lincoln began. He caught his father shaking his head back and forth in the rearview mirror and added, "were supposed to eat before we left, but we didn't get the chance."

Fitz winked at his son. He knew his wife was miserable and needed a little more Link time. "Where do you two want to go?" He asked his wife and son.

Lincoln sat in the back seat and remained quiet. He wasn't hungry. He had eaten with Anna before he left. The two of them had spent the entire day together. Right up until he got into the car with his parents and drove away. The two of them had been texting each other during the entire car ride. Lincoln planned to hang up his wall calendar in his dorm the minute he was settled in. He and Anna had marked both their calendars for every break he had at college and would return home to visit. Thanksgiving seemed like a lifetime away suddenly.

"It doesn't matter to me. Wherever the two of you want to go." Olivia said quietly. This would be her last meal with her first born until his Thanksgiving break three months from now. She sighed, knowing time would creep by at a snail's pace.

The three of them ate at a fast food place. The only chatter was questions that were lobbed at Lincoln asking if he had remembered this or that when he packed. If he had enough money on him. Things most parents typically ask their offspring numerous times as if they are still children instead of adults heading out into the world on their own for the first time. He patiently answered each and every one of them, knowing he had answered them already.

While Lincoln didn't fully understand what his parents were going through, he knew it was difficult for them and tried to give them some leeway. He'd bet his mom cried all the way home. He glanced at his dad and caught his gaze when he took a sip of his drink. Lincoln cut his eyes towards his mom and then back at his dad. He had another offering if they were interested? It wasn't much, but it would make the wait until November a little more bearable for everyone involved.

"You know the college has this thing every September for families. It's called a taste of home."

Olivia listened to her son but didn't understand. "What's that?"

"It's a contest where the cafeteria staff accepts recipes from the families of freshmen. Only one recipe per family though. They recreate those recipes and choose several winners from different categories. They have one night designated where they serve all of the winning dishes as their dinner meal in every dining hall. The winners are invited to come to the campus as the school's guests and eat dinner with their students. It could be fun?" Lincoln knew his mom would accept any reason to jump on this opportunity. He watched her eyes light up and grinned at his father.

"That does sound like fun. Fitz! We could do that!" she exclaimed excitedly.

Fitz put his arm around his wife in the booth they were sitting in. "Yea, we could kick their asses in the bakery department."

She gave him a look that made it clear that wasn't what she had in mind. "I was thinking momma could make her chicken and dumplings."

"Mmmmm! That's a great idea, mom! We'd definitely win for sure with that one. No one makes chicken and dumplings better than Mimi. God, I want some right now."

"Well, I'm gonna call her when we drop you off and while you're unpacking your room, we'll be at home eating the good stuff." Fitz teased. Olivia and Lincoln stared at him. "What? You two would have done the same to me." he chuckled.

"Remember the day we brought Lincoln home from the hospital? That was what she made for dinner that night." Olivia said with a wistful smile. When her attention was aimed back at her son, the smile faltered, and a sad look covered her face instead.

"Mom." Lincoln pleaded.

"It's okay." She said. "It's a great memory. And it sounds like the decision has been made for us due to the circumstances. We just need to talk her into it now."

"Leave that to me." Lincoln began. "She cried all over me yesterday. I know she'll jump at the chance for a little bit of fame, as well as a visit to my school. When I mention the part about being an honored guest, she'll make it even better somehow. I'll call her tonight or tomorrow and ask her. As long as you're okay with it, dad?"

"It's fine with me. I know my cupcakes are award winning." Fitz said with confidence as he popped a long crispy fry into his mouth.

"And how do you know that?" Olivia teased.

He looked at her and grinned proudly. "Because Duff Goldman gave me an award for it."

"He gave you that award for the Independence Day..."

Fitz leaned toward her and kissed her. "The point is, I got an award from him. That's all that matters, Liv."

Lincoln watched his parents and couldn't help the grin that covered his face. They were weird, but he understood it a little better now that he had been dating Anna for so long. He supposed after four years they were bound to be a little nauseating too? He already missed her immensely and sent her a text.
Are we as annoying as my parents when we are together?

Her reply was quick.
I hope so. Your parents are completely adorable together. I miss you

Lincoln grinned and looked up to see his mother wipe ketchup from his father's face before he quickly looked back down at his phone and moved his thumbs at the speed of a seasoned texter.
Don't ever get ketchup on your face LOL We'll be there soon & I'll call you when they leave. It could be tomorrow knowing my mom. I miss you more

"Okay, It's time to go you two." Lincoln stated. "This place is losing business because of your adorableness with the ketchup."

Fitz and Olivia grinned happily at each other, ignoring their son for a moment. "We are pretty damned adorable, aren't we?" Fitz asked.

"The most adorable." Olivia agreed. "I think he's trying to ditch us, so he can call Anna the second we leave?"

"You've always been the more observant of the two of you, mom. I really want to see my dorm and start unpacking too though. It'd be nice if I got there before my roommate did, so I could pick out which side of the room to get."

"You could get there a week later than him and I could finagle you getting your choice anyway. I'm a great lawyer, but nothing trumps mom powers."

"That'ssssss not necessary. But thanks, mom. I don't need my mother showing up at college and picking fights with my brand new roommate. I'll have my space and he will have his. It'll be fine." The thought of his mother starting trouble on his behalf was enough to make him shudder in embarrassment. She'd do it too, he knew.

They arrived at the college campus and Lincoln knew he looked like a true freshman as he gawked out the window in utter fascination with what he saw. There were buildings and people everywhere. Both were expected as the school sat within the city limits. The campus itself was a nice looking one. There was a huge open lawn where tons of kids were hanging out and talking. Lincoln couldn't wait to become a part of it all.

Fitz pulled up in front of a brick building that his GPS had been directing him to. There it was. Carman Hall. The place his son would be living for the next year of his life. A co ed place. He examined it quietly while they sat at a red light. He counted thirteen floors of windows. Lots of new people to meet for Link. Luckily, his firstborn didn't have a shy bone in his body and meeting new people wouldn't be a problem for him. A horn sounded behind him and at a quick glance up, Fitz noticed the light had changed to green. He followed what he assumed were upper classmen who were outside pointing where parents of freshmen should go to unload their stuff. Nice, Fitz thought.

Parking was a nightmare, but eventually they found one and Fitz happily pulled in. Students and parents milled around outside. Most of them were carrying new bedding still sealed up in clear bags, lamps, laptops, and everything else parents had spent their money on so that Suzie or Johnny would be comfortable in their home away from home for the next year. Fitz knew their car was also loaded with similar items and it gave him some relief. He remembered giving his wife a hard time when she bought what he thought was too much damn stuff. It seemed now that she knew what she was doing all along?

The three of them got a few light items out of the car and headed inside to find out which room Lincoln would be living in. They were greeted by a smiling upper classman who directed them to a desk where Lincoln would get his swipe card that would gain him access to his room.

Once he retrieved the swipe card, the three of them headed towards the elevators with several other families. There was a long line to get onto the elevator and they waited their turn. "Which floor are you on?" Fitz asked.

"Four." Link replied.

"That means taking the stairs isn't an option." Fitz muttered.

"It's good though. The bathroom is on the first floor. So, it won't take you long to get there." Olivia said with a smile.

Lincoln looked at his mother, full of questions. "How do possibly you know that?"

She shrugged. "Carter and I Googled it a while back. We know the layout of this entire building. It's very important to know in case I ever want to come bring you some comfort food in the middle of the night."

"And when you say bring me comfort food, you mean kidnap me, right?" He asked.

"More or less." She answered honestly. Olivia's honesty earned her a chuckle from the parents surrounding them.

"I like the way she thinks." One mother told her daughter as she pointed at Olivia.

"Thank you." Olivia said with a huge smile.

"Jesus." Lincoln breathed. "Dad, you need to get GPS on your wife at all times so something like this doesn't happen!"

"Who says I don't already?" Fitz asked with a smirk. "Besides, it wouldn't do any good. She's gonna do what she's gonna do."

"Thank you, babe." Olivia said, stretching her puckered lips up in his direction.

He pecked her lips amid Lincoln's groaning and politely said, "you're welcome."

After being crammed into the elevator, they made it to his room. The swipe card worked as it should, and the room showed no evidence that anyone had been inside yet. Perfect, Lincoln thought. There were two twin beds, one on each side of the tiny room with a window between them. There were two dressers, two small closets, and two desks. It just came down to right or left. Which was the more sensible choice?

Lincoln turned around and looked at his parents, who were standing behind him. His mother was glancing around the teeny tiny dorm room and appeared on the verge of tears. Maybe a full on mental breakdown? She looked at him and he saw her lip quiver. He immediately cut his eyes to his father and was met with an encouraging smile. "This is gonna be awesome, Link!" He said. That decided his fate. Knowing his dad was a leftie, Lincoln stepped to that side of the room and put down the lamp he was holding onto.

"What made you decide on this side of the room?" Olivia asked.

There was no way in hell he was going to be honest with her about this choice! He'd be dialing 911 within minutes! Either she would beat him or she would pass out. No, thank you! "It just seems more calming to me somehow. It feels...right."

Fitz clapped his hands together loudly. "Okay then. Let's go downstairs and start unloading the car."

It took almost an hour. Between carrying stuff inside, to waiting for their turn to use the elevator to unloading it into his cramped living space. The three of them sighed heavily as the room was now full of Lincoln's stuff. Fitz knew he would be of no use when it came to decorating so he sat down on Lincoln's bed and watched his wife take over. A few minutes later, Lincoln sat down beside him – clearly giving up on trying to explain to his mother where he wanted his belongings.

After a while, Olivia looked over at the motionless males and scowled at them. "Why are the two of you just sitting there? Do something!"

"What do you want us to do, Liv?"

She glanced around the room and decided she didn't want their help with anything she was working on. When her eyes landed on them once again, she gestured wildly with her hands and stammered out, "You can...make the damn bed! No wrinkles though. And tuck in the ends."

Fitz and Link looked at each other and rolled their eyes. They knew how to make a bed. They just chose not to do it. Link grabbed the brand new, still packaged sheets and opened them up. A few minutes later, and both of them were laughing about which direction the fitted sheet went on the rectangular bed.

"Give me that!" Olivia snatched the sheet from her husband's hands and bent to put the sheet on the oblong bed. "You two really don't know how to make a bed? Really?"

Lincoln pressed his lips together to refrain from laughing and went to sit down on his roommate's bed. "Sorry, mom. The scrunchy one is kinda hard." He glanced up at his father and was met with squinted eyes. It made him want to laugh even more.

"That's okay, baby." She looked at Fitz. "Your father should have been more helpful!"

"I was trying to be, Liv." Fitz cut his eyes to his son and watched as he imitated playing a violin. The older male grant scratched his head with his middle finger. "Kids these days don't pay attention to anything though. You know he's just trying to get done so we will leave, right?"

Lincoln dropped his fake violin and gave a horrified expression to his father from behind his mother's back.

"Is that true, Lincoln? Do you just want us to go back home and let you do this yourself?" Olivia added a little extra hurt in her voice. There might just be some truth to her husband's words, but these two fools were not gonna play her without her playing them right back!

Lincoln got to his feet quickly and went to stand in front of her. "No way, mom! I don't know how to do some of this stuff. I need your help." He flicked his eyes to his dad who was standing behind his mom and found him taking his turn at playing the fake violin. He dropped it quickly and acted like he was clapping his hands for his son's performance.

"Okay, but you need to watch me, so you'll know how to do this by yourself." She went in painstaking detail about how to put the fitted sheet on his bed. If she caught him goofing off with his father, she snapped her fingers in his face and got his attention back. She pulled the sheets and blanket off the bed and wadded it up, handing it to him. "Now you do it." It was petty of her, but fun.

Lincoln was pretty sure his mother was playing him with the whole bed making thing. He patiently worked on it just the same. When Lincoln was finishing up, the door opened and in stepped what he assumed was his new roommate. The other male had a buzz cut and a very short beard, was fairly tall - although not quite as tall as Link, and he was wearing a plaid button up shirt and a pair of jeans. Interesting. He straightened from his bed and said, "Hey. You must be Huck?"

"Yup. That's me." The boy said, extending his right hand. "You Lincoln?"

"Yup. You can call me Link it you want?" Lincoln watched Huck look around the room before settling his dark eyes back on his own. "I, uhhhh, took the left side already. I hope that's okay?"

"That's cool, Link. It doesn't matter to me. As long as I have a good spot to set up my computer, the rest is irrelevant." Huck said.

"Cool." Link said, grinning at him. He heard his father clear his throat behind him and Lincoln added, "These are my parents. Fitz and Olivia Grant."

"It's so nice to meet you." Olivia said shaking his hand with a smile.

"Nice to meet you too." Huck replied.

"I'm glad we got to meet you." Fitz said, shaking his hand. "Hey, do you need help carrying your stuff upstairs? We'd be glad to help. Unless your parents are already headed up here with an armful of your things?"

"Nah, it's just me here today. Help would be great. Thanks." Huck replied.

The three of them followed him out the door and Fitz and Olivia rode the elevator in silence as the two boys talked with each other quietly. It turned out that Huck didn't have near as much stuff as Link had brought with him. Olivia made sure he had all the essentials before she would even consider leaving them. He had toiletries, bedding, and the computer he wouldn't let anyone else touch besides himself. Still, she wondered what kind of home life he had where his parents didn't show up to move him in to college? She couldn't wait to talk to Fitz about it in the car.

"I think the two of you are settled in fairly well. We should head for home and let you guys get to know each other." Fitz explained.

Lincoln stood up and hugged his dad goodbye. "Thanks for everything, dad. You suck at playing the violin though." he chuckled.

Fitz pulled away from his son. "I took lessons from you. Eighteen years of 'em. You remember how to make your bed all by yourself, right?" He began laughing loudly as his son gave him the stink eye. "I love you, son. If you need anything, you let us know. I know you're gonna do great." He pulled out his wallet and handed his son a fifty. "Take Huck out to dinner tonight. I think he could use a good friend here and you could be that for him if you try."

Lincoln slid the bill into the front pocket of his jeans. "Thanks, dad. He seems like a nice dude. A little touchy about his computer, but a nice dude. I love you." He lowered his voice to a whisper. "Please keep mom from driving here in the middle of the night to stare at my dorm from across the street. Please."

"Where's the fun in that, son?" Fitz replied with a laugh. "Besides, she's gonna do..."

"What she's gonna do." Lincoln finished. "I got it."

"Give me a hug goodbye my big baby." Olivia said, cutting off their talk. It was her turn now.

Lincoln put his arms around his mother. "Mom. I'm not a baby."

"I said big baby. I'm allowed to be sad today if I want to. I'm expecting good things from you, Lincoln." she told him.

"Yes ma'am." He muttered, holding her closer. She really was his biggest cheerleader. So, he'd miss her some. So what? "Thank you for everything. I love you so much, mom."

"I love you too. And you're welcome." She wiped her eyes before she pulled back from him with a smile plastered on her face. "If you need anything, and I do mean anything, you call me or your dad, okay? Promise me."

"I promise. I can't even make a bed by myself. How am I gonna get through the next four years without you?" Maybe that was pouring it on a little too thick?

Her smile grew wider. She pulled out her wallet and handed him some money. "I know that's a lie, but I needed it today. Thank you, son. I love you to the moon and back."

"Mom, dad already..."

"Shhhhh. His probably came with instructions. You can do anything with this that you want. As long as it's legal." She winked at him.

"Love you too, mom." He winked back. Lincoln closed the door behind them and thought he would feel some measurement of relief now that they were finally gone. Instead, he felt a little bit separated. It wasn't really the right word, but it seemed to fit. He was thinking about how weird it was to feel that way when he remembered that he wasn't really alone here.

He watched as Huck finished up setting up his computer monitors, yes he had more than one of them, and turned them on to make sure they were working properly. Apparently, he was satisfied with it and turned it off, pushing his chair back into place in front of the desk. "What do you want to do now?" He asked. "Normally, I'd sit in front of my computer for hours. I'm a pretty quiet guy. I don't mingle with a lot of people. I'm not a partier. I like to keep to myself."

"I'm not really into the party scene either. I like making friends with new people, but I'm not really interested in having them up here all hours of the night. That's what the common area is for. I like my space. I think I'm going to look into majoring in creative writing. What about you?"

Huck turned to his electric set up and gestured to it. "Computers."

"I should have seen that one coming. We could go get something to eat?" Lincoln suggested. He watched Huck's face turn shy. "My treat. My parents left me enough money to feed the entire fourth floor."

"Okay." Huck mumbled. "Next time it's my treat though."

"This could be the start of a beautiful friendship, Huck." Lincoln said with a grin.