Okayy well this is the chapter, kinda sad, but yeaa.
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Numb. The only times Kyle ever rememberd this feeling was when he was drunk, and when his mother had died those years ago. After those times, he never felt numb at all. He was always in touch with his feelings and his emotions, but he never ever acted on them.
His dad was driving, his eyes focused distinctly on the road. They were driving to THH, so Kyle could quickly let Nathan know that he wouldn't be there for the game. Then it was off to the airport to attend the funeral. They were already dressed in their suits, but Kyle had left his jacket in his bag, it was too stiff, too adult.
He still didn't understand why they had to have the funeral a day after grandfather died. Most families wait a few days to have things in order, but the Sammet/Giovanni family was anything but normal.
KYle's stomach dropped when he saw Nathan, in his shirt and tie, and Haley walking towards the quad.
"Uhh you can wait here, i'll just be a minute," Kyle murmured as he stepped out of the car, in his black pants and tie with a white shirt.
He walked towards them with his hands in his pockets. He hadn't looked in the mirrior this morning, he probably looks like hell. When he got home from the bridge, he sat down with the lawyer and his dad, and discussed that Andrew Giovanni's will was gonna be read in Virginia after his funeral.
Kyle stopped in front of Nathan and HAley, who were both looking at him with questioning looks.
Haley quietly excused herself, giving Kyle a small smile.
"Kyle, what's up? And why are you wearing black?" Nathan asked confused.
"Listen, something came up, and i have to go back to Virginia for a few days."
"But what about the game? That's today you know," Nathan was incredulously.
"I know, i didn't expect to be leaving, but my grandfather died.."
"Drew?" Nathan asked in disbelief. Drew Giovanni wasn't around that much, but when he was, it was fun. KYle and Nathan used to sit in his study going through this old books and knick knacks. Sometimes they would drink scotch when Drew offered it.
"Yeaa, he had a heart attack the other night. The funeral's today, that's why im dressed like this, no time to change when we land."
"Oh man, i'm sorry. I really liked your grandfather." Nathan said sadly.
"Yea, me too. But Nate i'm so sorry, but i can't get back in time to play..."
"You know don't worry about it. We'll be fine."
"YOu don't have to lie but thanks anyway," KYle laughed as they shared a manly hug.
"So i see your dad finally showed up," Nathan said as he stared at Michael Scott from across the parking lot.
"Yea, it only takes a death to get him to come around."
"When will you be back?"
Kyle shrugged, "I don't really know. Grandfather had a big house, we'll have to sort everything out, see who gets what. And the whole family has to be there when we sell it, so i really have no idea. BUt i'm gonna be back for the final game."
"Alright, that's good. Well call me when you get a chance," Nathan said.
"I will man, you guys will do good," KYle said as he backed away and headed over to the car.
"Hey what do you want me to tell Brooke?" Nathan yelled, "she's gonna wanna know where you are."
"Just tell her what i told you."
"No apologies, nothing?"
"I'm getting tired having to apologize and hear sorrys, she knows my number if she wants to talk."
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To say that the Giovanni's were a good size family would be an understatement. When Kyle was little, the only family he had ever known was his mom, dad, and grandfather. Ever since he was little, he was always told to call his grandpa grandfather, that it was more polite and important.
It was only after his mother died when he was 13, that he saw his whole family for the first time. He had alot of everything. Cousins, aunts, uncles, ranging from all different ages. At first he was mad at them. Where were they when his mother was alive? But little did they know that his mother had kept in touch with all of them, why Kyle had never met them, he didn't know. But the Giovanni's were a dynasty, one that would go on for years, maybe even forever. Kyle hadn't really considered himself part of that dynasty, he never really saw them alot. He remembered asking grandfather why he never really knew his family, and his grandfather had said that they didn't like the way he was being raised, with a dad that was never around. So they just didn't keep in touch. Kyle could've been angry, but he couldn't. He wouldn't wanna be around himself and his dad either.
As he entered the church, he heard murmurs, sniffling, and bawling. Grandfather's casket hadn't been brought in yet, but he knew it was coming. Since he was the deceased closest family, he was supposed to sit in the front, along with his uncles and aunts and their children, his cousins. His dad looked really out of place. His bronze hair and ivory skin did nothing for him in the presence of Italians. Kyle on the other hand, fit right in, with his tan skin and dark hair. He left his father at the end of the aisle and walked towards the very front. In the midst of the sniffling, he heard whispers, most likely talking about him.
There's Daniella's son.
Oh he looks just like his mother.
He'll get a big chunk from Drew.
His father actually had the nerve to show up here?
It was all things that KYle had heard before. His grandfather had told him that he looked like the boy version of his mother when she was a teenager. Everytime he came around, he would be commented on that. It wasn't that he minded, it's just that he already knew. It actually made Kyle laugh at the thought of the Giovanni's focusing on his dad. Sometimes he felt like his dad cheated him out of having a really close family. After his mom died, his dad pretty much cut off contact with the Giovanni's. Kyle didn't really understand why, but he figured it soon after.
As he approached the second pew, he saw his uncle Leo stand up and face him. Leo was definitely his favorite uncle, from what he's seen of him anyway. Funny, charming, he taught Kyle his first lessons in self defense, and Kyle used them all the way until now.
"Hey uncle Leo," Kyle greeted quietly.
"How you doing Kyle?" Leo asked, his thick accent showing.
"Pretty good. It's good to see you, if only it were under better circumstances," KYle said as he sat down at the very end of the second pew.
"If only huh?"
"Yeaa..." Kyle said before he saw his aunt Vivian lean forward and smile at him, "Oh my gosh, sorry aunt Viv i didn't see you there," Kyle said as he got up again to hug his aunt.
"Yeaa, it's kinda hard to with this big guy between us," she joked, "how've you been Kyle?"
"Good, like i told Uncle Leo, i wish it was under happier reasons."
"We all wish that. Sorry for now keeping in touch, it's just..."
"You don't have to explain anything. I know, it's not your fault," Kyle said smiling slightly as the music started.
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Nathan didn't think he was ever as nervous as he was today. Kyle wasn't gonna be in for the game, Lucas was benched, it was only himself. Sure back in junior year he carried the team by himself, but his ego was so big it filled in for another body. He wasn't like that anymore, so basically he was screwed.
After letting the team know, he knew Brooke had to find out somehow. And she would be pissed cause Kyle didn't tell her on his own.
So Nathan knew what he was expecting when Brooke barged up to him duirng lunch.
"Nathan where the hell is Kyle at?!?!"
"Umm Brooke--"
"No! He wasn't in English or any of our other classes, so?"
"Kyle had to go out of town for a couple of days--"
"WHAT? Nathan! The game is tonight!"
"Dont you think i know that? Kyle didn't know he was gonna be leaving either." Nathan said quietly.
"Well where did he go?"
"Virginia."
"He went back there?!?! So he's not coming back. That's just like KYle, to leave when--"
"Brooke that's not why. Drew had a heart attack the other day. Kyle and his dad are up there for the funeral."
"Oh my gosh, Drew died?" If anyone knew Kyle's grandfather, it was Nathan and Brooke.
"Yea, he's just up there for the funeral. There's also his will and stuff to do so Kyle has to be there for it. He came this morning and told me."
"Well why didn't he tell me?" Brooke asked angrily.
"Oh i don't know, maybe because the last time he talked to you, you guys were fighting?" Nathan asked sarcasticly.
"He still should've called me to let me know."
"He looked pretty bad when i saw him, i'm sure he'll call you later," Nathan said as he left Brooke to ponder.
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Despite the fact that the Giovanni's lived all across the world, every single one had managed to be there for the funeral, and if not then the reception.
Grandfather's house was filled with all his family. It still made Kyle laugh. He had all these relatives, but he had only seen them for funerals and family reunions. AFter that he never heard from them, until some other event came along.
His dad was standing in the corner, quietly talking to uncle Leo. Relatived kept on coming up to him and giving him hugs, kissing his cheeks, and shaking his hand, while all his dad got was a once over and a glare. He looked kind of surprised, but after awhile he was used to it.
What did he expect?
"AHem, may i have your attention please? If you all would sit down and get comfortable. I realize that there's not enough room for all of you to fit, so we'll just do this here." A lawyer had said. It wasn't the one that KYle had seen a couple of days ago. But grandfather did have alot of lawyers for his company.
"Alright. Now for all the ladies in the family, you all will be receiving Andrew's late wife, Yvonne's, jewelry. It will be devided evenly within the mothers, who will sort it out themselves between all their girls. They will also be receiiving all the family photo albums and college funds set aside for them. The grandaughters will be getting a sum of the inheritance"
"For all the children of Andrew and Yvonne, you will get a divided share of Giovanni Corp., but you will only run it if you get along and you are successful. And to give to the boys, some of his items and old books from his study. You also will be receiving college funds and an inheritance."
"And that brings me to Michael Sammet. You will be getting this house, do what you wish with it. Also his yacht located at the marina in Italy, you are to keep it in your name until your son is old enough, then he will receive it."
"Lastly Kyle Sammet. When you reach 18, you'll be receiving two beach houses. One in Greece and one in Italy. There's also a house in Spain that you will be inheriting along with a sum of money. Also photo albums saved containing pictures of the late Daniella Giovanni, and two family heirlooms, a ring and a necklace. Since you're already a senior and set for college, you'll get a certain amount of money for all your college necessities, like lab equipment, dorm payment, etc."
"If any of you have questions you can call my office," and the lawyer left.
"Well, looks like you're off pretty good eh Kyle," Uncle Leo asked.
"Looks like it. I didn't think grandfather would leave me alot," Kyle said quietly.
"I did. Father loved you, probably more than this whole family. Daniella always had father wrapped around her finger, and when you were born, he knew he had to be apart of your life."
"He was," was all Kyle could say.
"At least everyone's glad to see you, can't say the same for your dad though," Uncle Leo laughed.
"Yeaa, but he should've seen it coming. It's his fault. If he hadn't have stopped talking to everyone, then maybe everyone would welcome him. But i don't know, i haven't seen my dad in a few months anway." Kyle said as Aunt Vivienne approached them.
She added, "you know, that's exactly why the family doesn't accept him. Families stick together, your father obviously didn't understand that concept. He acted like he wanted nothing to do with this family, your mother's family. Daniella always wanted you to be close to us, but Michael wouldn't let it. And when we found out that he was leaving you by yourself for months at a time, everyone almost had a field day. We were saying how it would've been better if you lived with one of us."
Kyle's head snapped up, "You guys wanted me to live with you?"
Uncle Leo sighed, "Yes we were. After your mother died, your father was a mess. Always leaving you with grandfather, or at your friend's house. When father accidentally let it slip what was going on, we all went basllistic. How could you let your own son fend for himself? We were just about to come get you, and maybe kill your father, but my father wouldn't let us. He said that Daniella wanted Michael to be the one who raised you, not other relatives. BUt it seems you raised yourself on your own."
"It seems that way, but grandfather was always around. You know i remembered to call him the morning after he died. I was gonna do it that second, but i was gonna be late, so i decided to do it when i got home.."
"Life works in mysterious ways," Aunt Vivienne said, "but the bottom line is, everyone's skin is crawling with your father here. Not to be rude, but no one really wants him here."
"It's alright Aunt Viv. I wouldn't want him here either. I just wish he was around more. But he can't really stand looking at me because i look too much like my mom. And if he sticks around, then he gets reminded of her everyday, which is why he busies himself in work," Kyle sighed.
"Well, i guess we'll see you tomorrow for spring cleaning," Uncle Leo joked as Kyle walked them to the door.
"Yeaa, we're fixing to leave for the hotel--"
"You're in a hotel? BUt don't you live here?" AUnt Vivienne asked.
"Umm well i kind of moved back to Tree Hill a few weeks ago. I decided to finish off the school year there," Kyle said hesitantly.
"You see Leo, this is exactly what i'm talking about. We never know anything about--"
"We'll see you tomorrow Kyle," LEo said politely as he pushed his wife out the door.
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"That was a good reception," Kyle's dad said as they drove in silence to the hotel.
"Yea it was."
"It was kinda weird when everyone kept on glaring at me," Michael said.
"Well you can't really blame them," Kyle answered.
"Kyle, we've talked about this.."
"Actually we haven't. You're never around for me to say anything to you."
"I'm sorry but work is getting really hectic."
"So work has been getting hectic ever since mom died? And don't try saying otherwise because you know i'm right. Dad you and i both know that you work just so you don't have to be a single parent, because you don't want that. And you've only looked at me twice in the past two days? It kills you because i look so much like mom. And of course you got glares, they hate you for what you're doing. Did you know i found out today that Uncle Leo and Aunt Vivienne were ready to take me to live with them? I could've had a better life, with actual family that cares about me. But instead i got no family, and no parents."
"Kyle you know i never wanted it to be that way. It was just hard to go through everything. Don't think that i didn't want you because i did. When you were born, i was so happy, there was nothing i wanted more. But when your mother died, i just didn't know how to handle you."
"Well for someone who wanted a child, you have really bad parenting skills."
"Kyle--"
"Don't even, because after this i'm gonna go back to Tree Hill and win the Eastern Basketball Championship and graduate, and you're gonna go wherever and build houses for rich people and forget that you even had a son," Kyle said as he slammed the cardoor and walked into the lobby.
When he got to his room he stared out at the balcony. He could see most of downtown Richmond.
Kyle was pretty sure he would blame his dad his whole life. Because of him, he never really knew his mother's family. The people that grew up with her, that loved her. It was times like these he wanted to cry, but then again, he wouldn't.
He had an urge to call Nathan, but the game was probably still going on so he decided on later.
There was nothing left to do except wait for the morning.