[September 16th, 2021]

Auggie's POV

I walked with Ava to class.

"Hey Mr. Jones," I said.

"Hello August," he said. "Hello Ava. You're early."

"I kind of wanted your input on my poem before I read it out loud today," Ava said. Mr. Jones, our English teacher, told us to write a poem.

"Well I thought it was interesting that you made Lucas Aaron the main character," he said, "and how you visualize his battle with cancer for the reader and listener."

"I'm in it too, right?" I asked Ava.

"Yeah, you're his loyal partner," Ava said.

"Well I can't wait to hear you read it in class, Ava." Ava smiled.

Other students came in and we sat down.

"You all will be reading your poems today," Mr. Jones said. "Who wants to go first?"

I raised my hand. I knew Ava didn't want to go first.

"Okay August, when you're ready."

I walked to the front.

"My poem is called Two Stories," I said. I started reading.

Two stories

Become one

The book

Is not done

Two stories

Build Cities

Two stories

Bring Destiny

Ava went next.

"My poem is called The Mighty L.A."

The Mighty L.A.

Scared, but bravely

Walks slowly

With August Warrior

Along the castle walls

Swords in hand

Here they stand

Standing tall

Different battles

But together they travel

To find the keys

To break them free

From their cages

The Mighty L.A.

August Warrior

The battle of the ages

Ava finished and everyone clapped.

KC's POV

"Hey, Dr. Wilson," I said into the phone.

"KC?" She asked. "I haven't spoken to you in years! How is Aaron?"

"He's just as much of a happy little boy as he was back then," I said. "I found out that he and I have a mutated gene that made my cancer hereditary. He has AML now."

"Well I'm sure he will pull through, especially if he's anything like his mother," she said.

"Thank you, Dr. Wilson," I said. "You don't know how much I needed to hear that."

"Yes, I do," she said. "You were the same way when you had cancer. Don't give up hope, KC."

"I'll try not to," I said. I started laughing. "Remember when I didn't like you?"

"Ah, yes," she said. "Most stubborn twelve year old I'd ever met."

"I was twelve when you became my therapist, wasn't I?" I asked. "That means we met almost ten years ago."

"So why did you call me after all this time?"

"I guess I just have missed talking to you," I said. "I'm sorry that I didn't call sooner, I've just been busy with life."

"And I'm glad to hear that," she said. "You sound a lot happier than you used to. I've seen articles about you online."

"You have?" I asked.

"Yes, and I have kept every headline about your band," she said. "I have your album in my music." I smiled.

"Are you serious?" I asked.

"Yes, I'm very proud of the woman you have become," she said.

"Thank you, Dr. Wilson," I told her.

"Call me Cecilia," she said.

"Thank you, Cecilia."

"When you told me your were moving to New York, I was very happy for you," she said. "You seem to have made the most of it."

"I have," I said. "I've built a relationship with my mom and sister and I gained a dad. I also learned of a sister on Anthony's side who I was the guardian of until my parents decided to adopt her. I'm married again with one on the way."

"Boy or girl?"

"Girl," I said.

"Well I'm happy for you, KC," she said. "I must get back to work, but it was nice speaking with you again."

"It was nice speaking with you too," I said.

"Call me if you ever want to talk," she said. "Goodbye, KC."

"Goodbye, Cecilia."

I hung up and checked on Aaron, who was taking a nap. I had to start home schooling him, so I only signed up for online classes this semester. Today, I thankfully had none, so I could focus on him and cleaning up. I started doing laundry.

Maya's POV

I took Christian with me to New York to visit family. I knew KC didn't have any classes today, so I figured I'd start with her. I knocked on her door. She opened it.

"Hey Maya," she said. "Hey Christian." She smiled.

"Am I interrupting something?" I asked. Her shirt was almost soaked and she had a bandana on, which she hardly did.

"Oh, no," she said. "I just did the dishes and I cleaned up a bit. Come on in."

"Okay," I walked in. "Where's Aaron?"

"In his room," she said. "He's working on homework."

"So what have you been up to today?"

"Homeschooling Aaron, cleaning," she said. "And oh! I talked to Dr. Wilson today."

"Your therapist from Texas?"

"Yeah."

"Was it fun?" I asked.

"Yeah, it was really nice talking to her again," KC said. "Josh couldn't come?"

"He had to work," I said.

"Oh okay," she said. "Farkle's at class, if you're wondering."

"I actually was about to ask that," I said. KC nodded. "I was wondering if I could take you and Aaron out for lunch."

"That would actually be really nice," KC said.

KC's POV

"Then Ava said that Auggie's a dork," Aaron told Maya while we ate. "And I started laughing." Aaron shoved fries into his mouth. "Auggie started learning new songs." His words were muffled.

"Aaron," I told him. He swallowed.

"I know- chew and swallow before speaking," he said. "Sorry."

"It's okay," I said.

"What new songs has he learned?" Maya asked him.

"A Little Bit Longer is one of them," he said.

"By the Jonas Brothers?" Maya asked. Aaron nodded. "I love that song."

"It's a nice song," I said.

"I bet Auggie really relates to it," Maya said.

"He does," Aaron said.

"Is there a song by them or one of them that you relate to or used to relate to, KC?"

"Yeah," I said. "Chainsaw by Nick Jonas." Maya nodded in understanding.

"Isn't that the one that goes like…" He drummed the chorus on the table.

"Yeah," Maya said. She handed Christian a fry. He's already able to eat them. "You have a great memory, Aaron."

"Thanks," he said. He took a bite of his cheeseburger.

Auggie's POV

I walked home with Ava. When we went into my apartment, I saw Riley helping mom with dinner. Penny was in the high chair.

"Hey Riley," I said. "Is Andrew coming for dinner too?"

"Yeah, once he gets off work, he's coming over here."

"Okay," I said. Ava and I went to my room and started looking through games to play.

We played Mario Cart until mom called us for dinner.

We sat down at the table and Andrew said the blessing and we started eating.

"How was work today, Cory?" Andrew asked.

"It was good," dad said. "What about you, Andrew?"

"Good," Andrew said. "I got a few compliments on my cooking today."

I looked over at Penny and she was smiling with sauce all over her face.

After dinner I walked Ava to her door.

"I love you," I said.

"I love you too," she said. She kissed me on the cheek and went inside. I walked back to my apartment.

Author's Note: I hope you liked this chapter. What did you think of KC talking to her former therapist? (KC meeting her is in The Texas Prequel)