Chapter 72

A few days later, Mercedes, Colby, and the kids flew home to Moline, Illinois. Everyone had had a great week. But they were all happy to get back home. Mercedes knew she was. It had been a very emotional time in Boston. But she was happy to have been there. The kids and Colby were too.

The kids couldn't wait to get back to school and tell of their adventures. Evelyn had talked a little bit with her three best friends. But she had enjoyed a lot of her time with her siblings, grandparents, Becky/Fergal/their kids, Ashley/Rami/their kids, Pam/Aaron/their kids, plus many others. All of the kids were actually given an assignment from their individual teachers to tell of their adventures at WrestleMania.

Mariah would do a show-and-tell for her classmates. Katianna, Aaron, and Evelyn had writing assignments. Plus, getting up in front of their classes to talk about their trip. Aaron and Evelyn would be giving their presentations of their trips in their English classes. Evelyn's history teacher wanted her to do a written assignment on the trip, but with the historical aspects of WWE and WrestleMania. So, Evelyn had to present to two classes, which she was very excited for. The kids had all loved doing those assignments.

The older kids ended up receiving A's on their assignments. All the kids in Mariah's class enjoyed her show-and-tell. The teacher did as well. She was not much of a wrestling fan. But she had enjoyed her student's stories and things she showed to the class. All the kids did as well.

Evelyn's history teacher loved hearing about the history of WrestleMania. Evelyn had done a presentation with most of the pictures of each thing she had taken at WrestleMania Axxess. She also showed off a few programs and such from the events.

The kids got up into the routine of school. They only had a month and half left of school before it was summertime. They were all looking forward to it.

However, Evelyn had a lot of exciting things approaching with the coming end of the school year.

She would be graduating middle school and headed to high school at the start of the new school year that August. There was the eighth-grade dance, which was a formal dance. Her first formal dance other than attending weddings. But a school dance was completely different from a wedding reception. But there were also the try-outs for the color guard and dance team in marching band for high school.

"I still can't believe Evie is going to be graduating middle school in exactly one month and headed to high school in August," Mercedes said to Colby as they were in bed just two nights before the end of April.

"I know," Colby replied. "Time flies!"

"It does. It has flown by too fast! I'm not ready for my oldest to go to high school!"

"God help the first boy to break her heart when she starts dating. I have a long list of people that will kick his ass."

"Aaron will be number one," Mercedes smiled. "He's very protective of his older sister as he is his younger ones."

"They're his girls. And us Lopez men protect our girls!" Colby replied.

"And you do a great job of it!"

Colby smiled. He leaned over to his wife and kissed her. "I love you so much."

"I love you too."

"I am ready for Evelyn to blossom into the girl she wishes to be."

"I am too. We hate them growing older sometimes. But we can't wait to see who they'll be."

"Evie's talent show is two weeks from Friday," Mercedes said.

"Yeah," Colby replied. "She's been practicing with Mona and Liza."

"She sounds great when they are practicing here."

"She'll do great. Mom and Dad can't wait to see that one."

"Everyone's excited! I'm glad they'll each be recording it with that of you. Because I know I can't. I'll be too busy crying!" Mercedes laughed, wiping away tears.

Colby smiled. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her head. He knew they were happy tears.

One week later, Evelyn was at the high school with her friends. She was out on the football field. It was try-outs for color guard. She was both nervous and excited. She was nervous, because it was try-outs. But she was also excited, because some of the marching band members were there to watch. Among them was Andy.

"Oh, my God, he is so damn cute!" Evelyn said to Christina.

"He thinks you are too," She replied.

"Oh, my God!"

"Chill out, girl," Liza said. "You need to focus."

"Right. Right."

The three friends laughed.

"All right, ladies," The color guard/dance team coach called. "Let's get started."

Evelyn gave it all she had with her dance skills and flag twirling abilities. She made a big impression on the coach. But the coach had been impressed from the very beginning. Evelyn was as talented as her parents were at what they had done and did.

"All right," The coach said at the end of the try-outs. "Everyone did great. And I'm very pleased to say that everyone here made it to my flag girls and dance team!"

Evelyn jumped up and down with Liza and Christina as they were all excited.

"Congratulations everyone," The coach said. "I look forward to working with all of my newbies, but also my veterans if you will."

Everyone clapped.

"Give it up for them, ladies and gentlemen in the stands," The coach said turning to all the people who had been watching the practice.

Everyone in the stands clapped and cheered.

"All right, everyone," The coach said, turning back to her new color guard and dance team members. "Have a great night and weekend. I'll be in touch soon."

Evelyn smiled as she turned to Liza and Christina. "I'm so excited we all made it!"

"Everyone looked great to me," Liza said.

"She cut people last year when I tried out. But a few of them returned. Two over there are returning," Christina said.

Evelyn nodded her head.

"Come on, let's get our stuff," Liza said. "I'll call my stepdad and let him know he can pick us up, Evie."

"Sounds good. I'm glad we're having a sleepover tonight," Evelyn replied.

"Yes, and Mona will be joining us," Christina said.

"It'll be nice to be away from home just for the night. I love my brothers and sisters, but they have been driving me crazy this week."

"That's because of try-outs," Liza said.

"Fair point. But still."

The three friends walked over to their stuff at the side of the field. Liza called her stepdad.

"Hey ladies," A familiar voice said.

Evelyn grinned as she looked at Christina. Christina winked.

"Hey Andy and Trevor," She said.

"Hey babe," Trevor said.

Christina smiled. She gave her boyfriend, Trevor Roberts a quick kiss. He was Andy's best friend.

"Hey Evie," Andy said.

"Hi," Evelyn replied with a huge grin on her lips.

"Congratulations."

"Thanks. I am so excited!"

"Trev and I noticed as we watched."

"What did you think personally?" Evelyn asked.

"You did great!"

"Thank you. And drumline try-outs are tomorrow?"

"Yep. I can't wait to be playing that snare drum again."

"You'll do great too!" Evelyn exclaimed.

"Thanks," Andy smiled. "I hope you'll be coming out to watch Trev and me as we did you."

"Oh, we'll be here!" Christina exclaimed. "He's my boyfriend and you are his best friend. Plus, my friend. So yeah."

The four laughed.

"Congratulations, Evie," Trevor said.

"Thank you. Rooting for you for those tenors," Evelyn replied.

"Tenors and snare drums are where it's at."

"And we're going to go out to the movies tomorrow night if you would like to join us," Andy suddenly said.

Evelyn grinned. She looked over at Christina.

"Yeah, we're going out and you're more than welcome to join us," Christina said. "Maybe your parents will let you sleep over at my house too. Even though, we are staying at Liza's tonight."

"All I have to do is ask!" Evelyn exclaimed. "I will do it later when I talk to my mom. I know she'll say yes."

"Sweet!"

"Come on, Evie and Christi," Liza said. "My stepdad is here already."

"Time to go," Christina said. "I'll see you later."

"Just text later," Trevor said.

"Can do."

Evelyn smiled at Andy as he smiled back. "I'll see you tomorrow," She said.

"Looking forward to it," He replied. "And I hope your mom definitely says yes."

"Me too. Good-bye." Evelyn gave him a quick hug. "Bye," She said. She grabbed her small tote bag with all her stuff in it. She then walked away with Liza and Christina.

As the three teenage girls walked away, Andy turned to his best friend, Trevor with a bright smile.

"You need to ask her out," Trevor said.

"I will," Andy replied. "I'll do it tomorrow."

"That's my boy," Trevor said, patting his friend on the shoulder. Andy chuckled.

"Andy is so freaking cute!" Evelyn exclaimed as she walked with her two friends.

"He is!" Liza exclaimed herself.

"And he really likes you, Evie," Christina commented.

"I can tell!" Evie replied with a bright smile. "I wonder if this is how my mom felt about my dad like I do with Andy. You know that feeling of "he's so cute" and stuff."

"I'm sure it was," Liza said.

Evelyn giggled which made her friends laugh.