For some reason I found this chapter hard to write. But here it is. I hope you enjoy it!

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Chapter 14

Dylan was home by Friday afternoon. Mrs. Michalchuk was over ecstatic with glee. She ran out the front door and embraced Dylan in a hug. Then Mr. Michalchuk got his turn to give a warm welcome to his son. I was watching from my bedroom window the whole time. I had never really hung out with Dylan. We talked a little when Paige and I were dating and we had gotten along pretty well. Things were different now. I slowly crept my way down the stairs. They were inside and Dylan was taking off his coat while Mr. Michalchuk stacked his suitcases to the side. Mrs. Michalchuk still filled with glee. She hugged him again once he had closed the closet door. I was half way down the stairway now. I wasn't sure if I should say anything. Dylan glanced up at me.

"Alex." He said acknowledging my presence.

"Hi." I replied taking another step down the stairs.

"How are you?" He asked

"I'm good." I said, I was beginning to feel a little awkward. "You?"

"I'm good. So your living with us now?"

I didn't have time to answer before Mrs. Michalchuk interrupted the conversation.

"Alright now. We can finish this conversation during lunch." She started to walk into the kitchen and we all began to follow her, "Oh, and Dylan, we will be making some adjustments to your normal sleeping arrangements." She finished as she went out of view. I could see Dylan's facial expression suddenly shift but he said nothing and walked into the kitchen.

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Lunch went smoothly. Mrs. Michalchuk made chicken soup, which I thought tasted excellent. I loved her cooking. We all endured a bit of awkward conversation but that was ended quickly by Mr. Michalchuk asking Dylan how his semester had gone. Dylan suddenly filled the room with his voice. He was just as talkative as Paige. He would glance over at me a few times during the conversation and I would awkwardly smile back. I wasn't sure if he was just being friendly or he was upset that I was here. During my time with the Michalchuk's I had almost forgotten they had children of their own. It wasn't something I was forced to confront everyday, but that was changing.

As I went back up to my room I could hear Mrs. Michalchuk talking.

"Oh, your just going to have to get over it. It's not your room anymore."

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I sat in my room for pretty much the rest of the day organizing my scrapbook of pictures. I hadn't realized how many I had actually taken. I felt so at peace looking at them. I had been so deep in thought that I jumped when I heard a knock on my door.

"Come in." I said.

The door knob turned and Dylan walked in.

"I see you're making yourself at home." He said.

"Yea, listen. If you want your room back while your here I can sleep in Paige's room. It's no problem." I said

"No. It's fine. Really." He didn't sound like he meant it. "Technically, I don't live here anymore anyways."

"You sure?" I asked

He nodded. "I like what you've done to the place." He said looking around.

"I haven't done anything." I corrected.

"Exactly."

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The following days went by smoothly. Dylan slept in Paige's room without problem. He seemed very welcoming of me and I was glad. Mrs. Michalchuk was cooking like crazy. There were so many Christmas cookies and dishes. I thought the smell of all the baked goods had permanently scented the house. I was still being over worked at the Mall and I was feeling a little fatigue. I had told my boss that I wouldn't be working here after the holidays. He seemed upset but he wasn't the one pulling all the shifts here. So I didn't care. It was only a week before Christmas and though the city was covered in snow it didn't look like we would be having an further snowfall. I had decided the presents I had gotten them would have to do. Everything now was either sold out or extremely overpriced. I had also decided to get Dylan a Mall gift card since I had no idea what he liked. Mrs. Michalchuk insisted we didn't put the presents under the tree until Christmas Eve. She mentions something about keeping people from peeking but she had shot a stern look at Mr. Michalchuk when she said it. I had finished wrapping all my present and had them safely at the back of my closet

I had been lounging around one day doing waiting until it was time for work when I heard the door bell ring.

"I'll get it." I yelled to Mrs. Michalchuk.

I unlocked the door and opened it and to my surprise I saw Marco standing there. He was looking out towards the street watching some kids snowball fight. He turned around at the sound of the door opening. He jumped back in amazement.

"Alex?" He asked.

"Hey Marco." I replied back.

He was laughing in disbelief, "What are you doing here?"

"What are you doing here?" I asked back.

"I'm here to see Dylan...my boyfriend."

"I live here." I answered his question.

"Wait? What?...You live here?" He asked. He sounded completely confused.

"It's a long story. Come in." I invited.

"Is Dylan here?" Marco questioned stepping inside.

"No, he went out with Mr. Michalchuk a little while ago."

"Oh." Marco said. He looked like he was getting ready to speak again but he was suddenly interrupted.

"Marco! Come here!" Mrs. Michalchuk exclaimed holding out her arms

"Mrs. Michalchuk!" Marco returned her excitement. They embraced in a long hug.

"How are you?" Mrs. Michalchuk asked.

"I'm good. And you?" Macro returned the question.

"Oh, I am doing wonderful." She was smiling widely. She looked over at Alex, "And you know Alex right?"

"Yes." Marco said smiling. He still seemed a little taken aback by my presence.

"Well," Marco continued, "I just swung by to drop off this gift for Dylan he said pulling out his wrapped present. "Just tell him I stopped by and that I'll call him later."

"Alright Marco." Mrs. Michalchuk said, "Well, let's make sure we see you again before the holiday's are over."

"You will." Marco laughed. "Bye." Marco looked at me. "It was good seeing you Alex. We will have to talk." He opened his arms and grabbed me in a hug.

"We will." I said.

It was good to see another friend again. Dylan seemed a little upset when he found out he missed Marco. He had ran immediately upstairs to call him. They must have been on the phone for the rest of the night. It was coming insanely close to Christmas and I had never found myself looking forward to it so much. I was almost counting down. Not because I thought I was going to get lots presents but because for once in my life I felt I was actually going to have a family to spend it with.

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Christmas Eve was spent with Mr. and Mrs. Michalchuk, Dylan and me. We all sat around the table talking, playing cards and eating the wonderful cookies Mrs. Michalchuk continued to make. The Christmas tree looked as beautiful as ever. Even Dylan had complimented the tree I had picked out. Everything felt so normal. As if it had always been like this. I felt so safe and happy. Just one night with Paige's family had made up for the eighteen years of loneliness with mine.

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Sorry for not having more of Dylan and Marco. I promise there will be more of them in the upcoming chapters and Ellie will also be making an appearance again soon. I shouldn't have as much writers block with the next chapter. So hopefully I will have that up late tonight or early tomorrow!