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Chapter 13
Kenny's POV
Today is Drew's first day at his new school. I'm at home waiting for him to come home since he now rides the bus. I'm watching TV when Karen walks in with a letter in her hand smiling. "What are you so happy about?" I ask her.
She quickly hides the letter behind her back. "What? Nothing!"
I stand up and hold my hand out. "Come on, let me see what's behind your back!"
She hesitates for a minute before holding up the letter. "It's a letter from University of Colorado in Denver. I was accepted on a full scholarship."
"I see…" I look away from her.
"That's why I didn't want to tell you. I didn't want to upset you given everything that's happened you."
I look at her and smile. "I'm not upset. I'm really happy for you."
"Really?"
I nod. "Yes, you're a smart girl. I knew you wouldn't have trouble getting into college."
She hugs me. "Thank you! I'm so happy I was able to get a full scholarship. Now I don't have to worry about that expense."
"No you don't. Again, I'm happy for you." I smile once again.
"Thank you!"
Drew walks in the house and I immediately notice his face has a bruise on it. "Drew! What happened to you?"
"I fell down…" He sniffles.
I know he's lying to me. "You fell down? I don't believe this! Who did this to you?"
He shakes his head. "No one, I fell!"
I glare at Karen. "See? I knew he would be tortured in public school! It's only his first day and he's already gotten attacked!"
"Kenny, maybe Drew is telling the truth."
"I did fall, see?" He shows me his hands that are scrapped up. "I tripped before I got on the bus."
I let out a sigh of relief. "You have to be more careful!" I yell.
"I'm sorry daddy. I promise it won't happen again." I notice a look of fear in his eyes before he runs into our room and closes the door.
"You need to relax! Now you've upset him." Karen tells me.
"I'M upset! I thought someone hurt my son! Why am I the bad guy for being upset?"
"You're overreacting! I get that you're worried, but don't take it out on Drew!"
"I'm not overreacting! I need to get out of here and take a walk! Watch Drew for me!" I storm out of the house.
Stan's POV
"I think it's a good idea!" Wendy exclaims. Wendy is at my apartment and I have Kyle on FacTime. We're trying to discuss ideas to get Kenny out of the house. Every time we talked to him he sounds so down and stressed. We want to do something to help lift his spirits up. I suggested we throw a party. Kenny could experience a little bit of the college life.
"I don't know Wendy." Kyle tells her. "A college party with drinking could do more harm than good for Kenny."
"We'll tell everyone no alcohol." She suggests.
"Then you won't have any guests!" Kyle laughs.
"I just want him to get out and do things that people our age do! It's obvious he's feeling left out." I tell them.
"What about a small gathering at the apartment?" Wendy suggests.
Kyle nods. "Maybe a very small gathering would work. But you can't invite Bebe." He tells her.
"I wouldn't do that."
"Good, we want Kenny to enjoy himself and with Bebe there he won't because you know she'll bring Brad."
"Yeah, I don't want him to hurt Kenny again."
"Exactly! "
"What about Drew? Who's going to watch him?"
"Maybe we can ask Karen?" I tell them.
"She needs a break too. She was his guardian while Kenny was in rehab."
I nod in agreement. Karen definitely has taken on a lot of responsibility. "Well we definitely can't ask Kevin. Kenny would never go for that."
"We have friends here that could watch them." Wendy tells us.
Kyle shakes his head. "Kenny doesn't know them so he may not like the idea."
"How about you get some of the guys together and take him out bowling or something and I'll watch Drew?" Wendy offers.
I smile and nod. "I like that. What do you think Kyle?"
Kyle thinks for a minute before nodding. "That could work. Just make sure whoever you bring isn't someone who's going to do drugs."
"I don't know anyone that's on heroin."
"It doesn't have to be heroin, just any drugs in general."
"Do you think you could come?"
"Let me see if I can get a flight."
"That will work. If you come, I'll just leave at the three of us. That might be easier for Kenny."
Kyle nods. "Yeah, that way we don't have to worry about any outside influences."
I grin. "Great! Call Kenny and see if he'll go for it."
"I hope so. He's been down ever since he was expelled."
"I'm sure. Hopefully this guy's night out will help lift his spirits up."
"I kind of wish we did this earlier before he spiraled our or control like this. We should've been there for him."
"Yeah, but we were busy with school and when we were around him, we didn't see any signs that he was using drugs."
Kyle looks down. "I know. But we knew he was a struggling young single parent and he was still in high school. I should've gotten him a tutor."
"You guys can't blame yourselves." Wendy steps in. "You're there for him now."
"She's right." I tell Kyle. "I'll talk to Kenny and then we'll finalize our plans." Kyle agree and we hang up. I hope Kenny agrees to this. We want him to see there's another world and he can still enjoy his life drug free.
Kenny's POV
I invite Megan over and she spent the day with Drew and me. She helped him with his homework, fed him, gave him a bath, and tucked him in and read him to sleep. Once he's asleep, she comes in the living room closing the door behind him. "You're really good with him." I smile at her.
"Thanks!" She smiles back. "I love kids, I'm just not in the position to take care of one."
"Do you think maybe sometime down the line you may want another one?" I ask her.
She nods. "Definitely. I'm only 26, so I have plenty of time."
"That's true. I would like to have more when I'm a little older and established. Maybe once I'm able to provide a good life for Drew and me, I'll start dating again so I can find someone to settle down with."
"So are you over the girl you're in love with?" During one of our many talks, I told her all about Bebe.
I shrug. "I don't know if I'll ever be over her, but I have to move on. She has someone new and she doesn't want me because I have Drew. I understand though, she's young and beautiful and I'm sure she doesn't want to be saddled with someone else's kid."
"I see." Megan grabs my hand and squeezes it. "Well I'm sure the right woman will come around when you're ready. She'll love your son as much as you do." She smiles.
I can feel myself blushing. "I hope so. He means the world to me and we're a package deal." Just then my phone rings. I look and see it's Stan calling. "Hello?"
"Hey dude! Do you have plans this weekend?" He asks.
I'm a total loser, why would he think I have plans? "No, why?"
"Good. Kyle is coming to visit me so I thought maybe we can get together and hang out on campus."
"That sounds fun. But what about Drew? I need a sitter."
"Wendy already agreed to watch him!"
I wasn't expecting to hear that. "Oh wow, you guys have this all planned out."
"We do. I'm going to come pick you up and then we'll meet Kyle at the airport and go hangout. Bring a change of clothes."
I look at Megan. "Can I being a friend?"
"What friend?"
"Her name is Megan."
"Megan?" He sounds confused. I guess he forgot I told him about her.
"Yeah, she's the one I told you I met in rehab."
"Oh…well we kind of wanted to make it a guy's night out. Nothing personal against her. Maybe she can stay with Wendy and they can get to know each other."
"I'll see if she wants to come. We'll be in touch." I hang up.
"What was that about?"
"My friends want to have a guy's night out in Boulder at his school. Do you want to come?"
She doesn't look too sure about that. "Isn't it a guy's night out?"
I nod. "Yes, but you can hang out with my friend's girlfriend. I would like for you to meet my friends."
"Are they all college students?"
"Yes." I'm not sure why that matters.
She looks away. "I don't know Kenny. I mean it may be a little awkward especially since they know we met in rehab."
"My friends are I cool, don't worry!"
She thinks about it for a moment. "Okay!"
"Great! I know you'll have a good time. Plus Drew will be there. I think you and Wendy will really hit it off."
"I hope you're right." I'm looking forward to it. It's been a long time since Stan, Kyle, and I have hung out. Hopefully this will be like old times.
