December 15th 2022

Chapter 349
Our Cheers For Art

The days that followed were something of a haze for everyone for different reasons. Most of the students who were participating in the auction had their pieces to complete and hand in along with their regular schoolwork and, seeing as they were getting closer to June by the day, that meant they were getting closer and closer to finals, which reflected in their work. Those involved with the musical were getting closer to the premiere, those on sports teams to the end of their seasons… The teachers were busy, too, in whatever their given tasks were.

In Maya's case, these days, there was a whole lot going on, both in and out of school. She was involved in the running of the musical, and the quiz team, and the art auction. She had detention with Lydia and Lamar, which sometimes needed to be run concurrently with one or another of these activities. Then at home, aside from having a husband, six small daughters, and seven dogs to see to, there was the youngest of her girls coming ever closer to her very first birthday. Would Aubrey know a normal family dinner from a big, hectic party full of balloons and music and color? Probably not. But she deserved a solid party for this occasion, the reasons as obvious as they could be solemnly held quiet.

And if all this wasn't enough, now, there was the battle for Kennedy Bell.

Of any number of situations involving her students and their lives outside of school that Maya had been involved in over her years as a teacher, there would always be a sort of… barrier for her to be mindful of, the one that told her when and whether she could involve herself or she should step back. It was a matter of knowing whether she was in any position to do what had to be done, she supposed, and in the matter of Ash and their little sister, who needed somehow to be put in the sole custody of the father who hadn't been in her life since he'd been forced out of it… It was not Maya who could help the siblings the most, but it was Topanga Matthews… And of all the people she'd known in her life, known even before her life had been transplanted to Texas, she would have trusted Riley's mother with her life and everything she held most dear.

She didn't know what had been going on in the Bell case since the night Ash's mother had come at them at Sydney Carter's house. According to Ash, the video captured by their girlfriend, Maia Bennett, could be the thing to resolve the whole mess, and for everyone's sake, she hoped this was true, but until there was more news, all she could do, all anyone could do was wait… and hold their breath.

Well, now, today, they were still waiting, but they also had to turn their attention over to another event. It was Art Auction day. From morning to afternoon, that meant that the gym had been transformed into a gallery, putting the students' work on display, while they, their classmates, and their teachers would come and visit the exhibit, ahead of the evening's actual bidding. Ash and Maia had helped with the set-up in the gym. Maya knew that ever since they'd been separated by grades, the two of them would do their best to find parts of their days where they could be together, making up for what they'd lost.

Maia Bennett had been as a shadow to her enbyfriend the whole time. Ash would go and collect the pieces, two by two. Maia would follow after them, picking out the right information card to tack next to it, and all the while, she'd be watching them with a look in her eyes like she was making sure everything was put the right side up… and Ash wouldn't run into a wall or something. There was so much worry bubbling inside them that they'd struggled to focus on much of anything over those last few days, and it weighed on their girlfriend that she couldn't be there with them in class. They had great friends looking out for them. MJ, Lydia, Lamar… But she wanted to be there, too.

Now, with classes ended and the auction officially open, they were all going around together, the four freshmen plus Maia and Angel Ríos. They looked at all the pieces, took their time. If they knew the artist and saw them nearby, they'd talk to them. The way she saw it, Maya guessed all of Ash's friends were doing their best to keep them engaged, out of their own head.

"Hey, find something you like?" Maya came up behind Marianne. She'd arrived, just minutes ago, as Lucas had brought her and her little sisters to see the exhibit, the way they did every year. And while Lucas had spotted his wife while casually situating the other girls, Marianne had not. She'd already started looking at everything, stopped to look at a series of paintings hung in a row. Now, at the sound of her mother's voice, she turned her head and smiled before looking back at the paintings.

"These ones go together, don't they?"

"That's right, they do," Maya confirmed. "Do you like them?"

"Yeah," Marianne nodded. She looked around again. "Is someone going to buy all of them? So, they can stay together?"

"I don't know. Hopefully. You're staying where we can see you, deal?" Maya bent to kiss the top of her daughter's head and received a nod. "Thanks, pumpkin," she told her before moving to Lucas and the others.

She couldn't even reach him before she was taken over by several eager small girls, and she could see the smirk on his face, a sort of 'aww shucks, missed my shot' look in his eyes, which made her laugh even as she bent to partake in the group hug of four small blondes. The only one who couldn't follow them was presently in her father's arm and reaching out, demanding to join her mother. They would joke, him and Maya, how they had 'another runner' on their hands. The joke, of course, was that they were all runners in their own way, for the right cause, even quiet little Lucy. And Mommy and Daddy were always one of their top reasons.

"Alright, so here's the deal," Maya told the four around her when she could finally crouch and address them all. "You all go around and find the one you like best, yeah? Just one," she held up a finger. "Can you do that? Can you find one that you all like?" It was a bit of a challenge, but they were up to it. "Alright, stay with your sister, right where we can see you," she told them, and the triplets and Mackenzie went scrambling toward Marianne. "Well, if it isn't my two favorite May birds…" she drawled as the giddy Aubrey was held out toward her. "Hey, sweet girl, hi," Maya laughed and kissed her squishy cheek before turning her head up to kiss Lucas. "Hey, sweet man, hi," she whispered.

"How do you manage to sound all innocent one second and then the next…" he gave her a look that finished his sentence for him.

"It's called 'we have several small children and I know how to be covert.' It's a gift."

"It sure is," Lucas agreed, and she laughed.

"We should probably keep an eye on them, Marianne's been looking at the junior series," Maya let him know, and it was all he needed to hear.

The night was going well. By now, they were still keeping the art classes stocked in sketchbooks solely on the earnings of Stevie Brett's painting a few years back, still donating the vast majority of what they earned at the auction to charity, but it was no less important for them to hold this night. It was important, for the students, for art, and sometimes for other things.

"Ash!"

The sound of a young girl's voice caught both Maya and Lucas' attention, and they looked around at the same time, spotted the caller, who was sprinting across the gym, weaving around the people in the way, even as the one she'd called detached from their group and went out to meet her. The girl threw her arms around the freshman who looked puzzled, uncertain what to make of this unexpected visit. They looked around, just a hint of a flighty expression on their face, likely due to the thought of being accosted by their mother here. Instead, they froze in shock when they saw who'd brought their little sister.

It had been years since she'd seen the man, when he'd brought Ash to some of the Stage Ready sessions, but Maya recognized him at once and told Lucas as much. That was Ash's father, his and Kennedy's, and there she was, hugging her older sibling. Ash's face said plainly that they thought they knew what this had to mean, but they couldn't quite believe it.

"Go on, I've got them," Lucas told Maya, and she set down Aubrey, so he could take her hand and get her walking for a bit. Meanwhile, Maya slowly walked to intercept the man.

"Hi, I don't know if you remember me, I used to work at the Silvan Hughes theater?"

"You're the art teacher," the man stated, even as he nodded. She extended her hand.

"Maya Friar."

"Cooper Bell," he replied as they shook hands. "Ash has told me about you, she… they," he stopped and corrected himself, letting out a breath. The last time he'd spoken to his eldest, they had still gone by 'she,' and he was still having to adjust, but he was doing it. "They told me how much you did, for both of them," he looked over to the pair, and it was clear already that something very good had happened, by the way Kennedy spoke and Ash reacted. Soon, Mr. Bell had her caught up, too.

Everything had changed very suddenly, the moment that video had come into play. Faced with what the consequences may have been for her if it was used in official proceedings, Ash and Kennedy's mother had given in. She had signed over the rights, allowing Cooper to take Kennedy. Whether Ash would decide to follow, now that they didn't have to, it remained to be seen, but there was a very good chance that they would end up following her and going to live with their father, too. It was as they'd always said. The most important thing to Ash was their little sister. Just now, they were holding to one another, and Ash's eyes looked ready to spill with tears, feeling the release of the recent days' stress.

"I thought they'd both be alright back there," Cooper shook his head. "I had to believe it. She wouldn't let me see them, and the way she'd go, she'd have me believe I was no good for them. She was just spinning her own story though, and she was very good at it." To look at him, Maya could imagine that he was still trying to figure out if he could be a good father again, after the last few years. You came when they needed you. You stepped up. And you won't be alone.

"Ash's piece is right over there if you want to check it out. I think it meant a lot to them," she revealed, hoping to telegraph her message to the man. He looked at her and nodded. He understood. She'd been all set to bid to win Sleepless 17, but maybe it would end up in a much more deserving home than her own.

"Mommy, we got one!" Lucy came hurrying over, grabbing Maya's hand, which made her laugh as she allowed herself to be led away.

"Oh, you did? Where is it?"

TO BE CONTINUED

See you tomorrow! - mooners